Writing a dissertation is a mandatory task in many courses, which makes it one of the most important tasks throughout the degree. As it helps convert theoretical learning into practice. However, the most essential part of the whole process is its structure. Good content is the start, but to make it shine, it is important to structure the paper correctly. Further, it also shows the student’s ability to think critically and structure their thoughts. Many students opt for dissertation help London to get some kind of assistance with the work. However, to learn how to structure a dissertation is not that difficult if one knows the steps. Hence, this article will give a step-by-step guide on structuring. But first, let’s understand why it is so important.
Why does structuring matter?
Structuring has more than one purpose. Firstly, one can easily differentiate between a well-structured and a poorly structured work just by its appearance. As this makes the content seem easier to follow. The sections and sub-sections make it even easier for the readers to focus on the content. However, for the writer, it makes writing and executing ideas simpler. And without a proper structure, even strong and well-rounded content may fail to make the same impression. For additional help, you can take help from writers of Instant Assignment Help. Hence, here is a step-by-step guide to structuring the dissertation:
Title page:
This is the very first page; it has all the key details. It includes the basic yet important details about the writer and the institution. So it includes the following:
- Title of the dissertation
- The student’s name and ID
- Department and the institution’s name
- Degree program
- Date of submission
Abstract:
This follows right after the title page and includes a concise summary of the work. This way, the reader can get a small glimpse of what the paper offers right away. This is typically 300-400 words long. Because it’s a concise summary of the paper, it only focuses on the key details. It includes the following:
- The aim of the research
- Methods used in the paper
- Key concepts and findings
- Conclusion
This is the section that one writes at the very end of the paper. However, it ironically appears first in the contents.
Acknowledgements:
This is sometimes an optional section; however, it is a very personal one on the list. It basically is a thank you note for the people who supported and helped in bringing the paper to life. For example, your professors, mentors, peers, friends and parents.
Table of contents:
Next is the page where the list of all the headings and subheadings is placed. And alongside it are the page numbers. This helps the readers in navigating the work easily.
Introduction:
This is one of the first main sections of the paper. It helps in setting the stage for the research. It includes a lengthy discussion on the following:
- Background of the topic
- Aims and objectives
- Research questions or hypotheses
- What makes this study worth studying
- And lastly, the structure of the entire paper
Literature review:
Following the introduction is a small but mighty section. This includes all the relevant past studies that are related to the topic. It has a couple of purposes, the first being that it shows how well-researched the paper is. Next, it helps locate the literary gap and places the existing research into the frame. The aims for writing this section are:
- Compare different angles and views.
- Locate similar trends and issues.
- And lastly, explain how your research helps in the research field.
Methodology:
In this section, explain the research process. What steps and methods were included to bring the research to life? This typically involves the following:
- The kind of research. Such as quantitative, qualitative or mixed
- The method of collecting the data. Either through surveys, interviews, etc.
- Any sampling methods
- Tools that are used for the analysis
- Other ethical considerations
This section will help other researchers follow in their footsteps. And helps in reproducing the same study if needed.
Result:
Next, the findings of the research are presented. It uses the following to state the point:
- Tables
- Charts
- Clear explanations
- Graphs
Moreover, in this section, the results are simply put forth without being interpreted.
Discussion:
Here, this section explains and discusses other ideas related to the results. Most importantly, try to link it to the research question. This helps promptly answer the questions and helps the readers find a link between the two. Here is a list of key points that this section should include:
- If the results support the earlier studies or not
- Any unexpected findings
- Lastly, the limitations of the study
Conclusion:
This section includes a summary of all the key discussions and points that the research discusses. Further, it also includes the limitations and potential future studies on the topic. Finally, highlight your contribution to the field and what difference it brought to the area of research.
References:
This section is seen towards the very end of the paper; it includes the entire list of resources. All the sources that were used in the study or cited are to be listed in this section. There are different referencing styles that one can follow. The popular ones include APA, MLA and Harvard. Also, run the content through a plagiarism checker UK to make sure that the work is original.
In conclusion, to present a good idea, the dissertation needs to have a proper structure. Not only does this step make it visually appealing, but it also makes it easier for the readers to follow through. The sections help divide the content into different sections to make it more impactful. However, if you have any difficulties, check out Dissertation Help London to get instant assistance online. Lastly, a dissertation with proper structure and good arguments has a better chance of getting an A+ grade.