Starting your dissertation on the right track with the perfect strategy can be overwhelming for students. But getting it right from selecting the topic to preparing the works cited list sets the tone for the whole journey. Students, whether in graduate or undergraduate studies, are required to write dissertations to showcase their research, critical thinking, and subject expertise.
If you are unsure about how to start your dissertation and get it right the first time, then you have come to the right place.
Proven Steps to Start Writing Your Dissertation
1. Choose Your Dissertation Topic
Before doing anything else, you should choose a dissertation topic that interests you. Choosing an intriguing yet rewarding topic is easier said than done. There are many important factors to consider when deciding on the topic you wish to write about. You may get an interesting and current research topic in our list of trending dissertation topics.
It could be that you have too many or too few ideas, and therefore, it is suggested to invest time and effort in background reading and thinking before reaching a decision about the topic.
How to Choose the Best Dissertation Topic?
Inspiration may come from different places when you are searching for a suitable topic of research. However, it is essential to select a research problem that can be addressed in a timely and appropriate academic manner.
Below are some questions that you should ask yourself before deciding on your dissertation project:
- Keeping the time and resources available in consideration, would I be able to research the topic I have selected?
- Have I found existing literature within which I could locate my work?
- Would I be able to perform comparative and critical analysis with my chosen topic?
- Will my research topic keep me interested over the period of six to eight months?
- What type of research will I have to base my dissertation on – primary or secondary, qualitative or quantitative?
2. Analyse: Is Your Dissertation Topic too Broad?
You should avoid a too broad a topic, particularly if you have to work with time and resource constraints. Being overambitious will land you only in hot water. Thus, it is recommended that you address a small yet manageable question rather than completely failing to find the answer to a complex and confusing research question.
The following approach of thinking can help you narrow the focus of your research.
- What type of data collection methods will I be able to deal with, keeping the various project constraints in mind?
- Is there a particular data collection method that would help me stay focused?
- How does the topic relate to my academic and professional ambitions?
- Is there enough data available on the topic for referencing?
3. Record Useful Information and Ideas
You may find it helpful to record your ideas and useful/relevant information in a research notebook. Objectives of making a research notebook could vary from recording your initial ideas and observations to important points from the literature review and problems you faced during the research process.
- Make sure that you are keeping an accurate record of the referencing details of all reading material that you read as part of your preliminary desk-based research.
- Become familiar with the MLA, Harvard referencing style, or other styles that you are required to use for your dissertation paper. This requirement is usually specified in the formatting guidelines and assessment criteria of your dissertation module.
- If possible, list all the reference resources in alphabetical order in a Word file.
- You can also manage your references using any authentic software like Mendeley or EndNote.
Also Read: How PHD Thesis is Different to a Graduate Level Dissertation?
4. Read, Read and Read!!!
In order to score high grades in your dissertation module, you will be required to do lots of reading. Explore the literary sources available on your chosen topic, like articles and journals published in online academic databases, research studies on a similar topic, and relevant textbooks and case studies.
As a rule of thumb, use at least 4 to 5 reference resources for every 1000 words you write in your dissertation. This means that a 10,000-word-long dissertation project will incorporate a minimum of 40 to 50 references.
5. Organise Your References and Data
The process of researching and writing a dissertation paper is evolving. It will be useful to you if you can continuously take notes of ideas, useful online resources and observations during the preliminary research and data collection process.
Humanly, it is possible to remember all the sources of information you came across. You can use tools and platforms to manage citations and save articles or books to cite later on in the dissertation literature review writing.
Recording important information, such as academic sources you found relevant/useful, references to follow up at a later stage, and notes on journals and articles you read, can be helpful in starting and completing your dissertation on time.
6. Pick the Right Time to Start Your Dissertation or Thesis
If you are an undergraduate student enrolled in a three or four-year degree, then you will be assigned the dissertation project during your second/third year. Graduate students, on the other hand, should check their course guidelines to know when they will be required to submit their dissertations. Give yourself at least six full months to produce a high-quality dissertation.
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Use Time Management and Planning Skills
Students should list down all critical stages of their dissertation project, from finding the topic to the dissertation discussion chapter writing, which is usually completed over a long period of time.
The key is to break down your dissertation into small and manageable chunks and develop a plan to set a deadline for each section. This strategy will go a long way towards helping you get your project done in a timely manner.
You will need to allocate a sufficient amount of time to the following activities:
- Finding the best dissertation topic.
- Desk-based research at an initial stage to find relevant academic sources.
- Devising the aim and key objectives of your research.
- Writing the introduction chapter.
- Reviewing the literature available on your topic
- Develop a methodology framework and select the most appropriate methods
- Collection of primary data using questionnaires, surveys, and interviews
- Transcribing data
- Analysis of data using qualitative/quantitative analysis
- Writing the discussion and conclusion sections
- In-text citations and listing all reference resources used for your study
- Developing the appendix section
- Proofreading and editing your work to avoid plagiarism, even by using the paraphrasing tool to change similar chunks.
Useful Resources to Learn How to Start and Write Your Dissertation
- Moore, N. (2000). How to do research. The complete guide to designing and managing research projects. 3rd ed., London, Facet Publishing, chapters 1 & 2 – objectives and planning
- Rowntree, D. (1998). Learn how to study. 4th ed., London, Warner Place, chapter 9 – writing notes
- Seale, C. (2006). Researching society and culture. London, Sage, chapter 7 – planning
- Thomas, G. (2009).How to do Your Research Project. Sage, Los Angeles.
- Walliman, N. (2011).Your Research Project. Sage Publications, London.
- Winkler, A. & McCuin-Metherill, J. (2011). Writing the Research Paper. Thomson Wadsworth, Boston.
Useful Tips and Advice to Start Your Dissertation
- If you have been assigned a dissertation supervisor, talk to them at an early stage about the topic ideas floating in your mind. If possible, set up a meeting with them to discuss your ideas.
- Search online libraries and academic scholarly databases like Google Scholar to find useful articles and journals. Do some desk-based research to become familiar with the authentic search sources available on the internet.
- Draw upon your experience as a student, a patient, a member of a team, an employee, and so on.
- Read newspapers and magazines to find current issues in your area of study and develop your research topic from your reading and knowledge.
Use Time Management and Planning Skills
Students should list down all critical stages of their dissertation project, from finding the topic to the dissertation discussion chapter writing, which is usually completed over a long period of time.
The key is to break down your dissertation into small and manageable chunks and develop a plan to set a deadline for each section. This strategy will go a long way towards helping you get your project done in a timely manner.
You will need to allocate a sufficient amount of time to the following activities:
- Finding the best dissertation topic.
- Desk-based research at an initial stage to find relevant academic sources.
- Devising the aim and key objectives of your research.
- Writing the introduction chapter.
- Reviewing the literature available on your topic
- Develop a methodology framework and select the most appropriate methods
- Collection of primary data using questionnaires, surveys, and interviews
- Transcribing data
- Analysis of data using qualitative/quantitative analysis
- Writing the discussion and conclusion sections
- In-text citations and listing all reference resources used for your study
- Developing the appendix section
- Proofreading and editing your work to avoid plagiarism, even by using the paraphrasing tool to change similar chunks.
Frequently Asked Questions
To start writing a dissertation, begin with a clear research question, outline your chapters, gather relevant sources, and establish a writing schedule for consistent progress. Don’t forget to seek guidance from your advisor throughout the process.
Smart students progress a bit every day instead of writing 1000-15000 words a day. They set manageable goals and write, e.g, 300-500 words day to day.
Yes, it’s possible to complete your dissertation even within a few weeks if you’ve thoroughly read around the topic and planned smartly to tackle one chapter a week or in days instead of trying to write all sections in a day.
