How to Write a Dissertation: Guide for Students

Staring at a blank page, coffee on the table, and questioning your life choices - if this routine sounds familiar to you, you might be right in the middle of writing a dissertation. Did you know that among different fields, between 49%-65% of students never finish their dissertation? That’s how stressful it can get. 

If you find yourself unsure of how to write a dissertation, this article might be just for you. This guide breaks down the entire process step by step, making it more manageable. And if you need extra support, WritePaper has your back! From the first draft to the final dissertation defense, our experts are ready to help.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a full-scale research project that stands between you and your degree. It demands critical analysis, a well-structured argument, and, let’s be honest, a lot of patience. No surprise it’s one of the biggest academic hurdles out there.

How Long is a Dissertation?

The first thing most students wonder when planning to write a dissertation is, "How long should this thing be?" There’s no universal answer as it depends on your degree level and university guidelines. That said, here are some general expectations.

• Undergraduate Dissertation: Typically 8,000 - 15,000 words to ensure you can demonstrate your knowledge of important concepts and research methods.
• Master's Dissertation: At this stage, the focus shifts to independent research, critical analysis, and a strong theoretical foundation, so the word count usually ranges between 15,000 and 25,000 words.
• Doctoral Dissertation: A doctorate is the highest level of college education that you can get - a doctoral dissertation requires original contributions, which is why it sometimes takes several years to complete and can be anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 words. 

There certainly are some requirements when it comes to the word count, but remember that quality matters more than quantity.

Checklist for Writing a Dissertation

Have you finished writing your dissertation? Go through this checklist to make sure you made no errors while creating and structuring a dissertation.

Dissertation Structure

Title Page

This page is the first thing in your dissertation that anyone reads, so it needs to be precise and professional. When you write a dissertation, make sure it does the job of describing your research and grabbing the reader's attention from the get-go. This part usually includes:

• The title of your dissertation
• Your full name
• The name of your university or institution
• The department and degree program
• Submission date
• Your supervisor's name

Acknowledgment

Here, you can express your gratitude to anyone whose support you've received throughout writing. This might include your academic adviser or supervisor, as well as any professors and mentors who have contributed to your academic success. It's also common to thank research participants or institutions that played a role in your study, along with family and friends who offered emotional support during the dissertation process. 

Abstract

The abstract is a 150-300 word-long summary of the dissertation. You have to use this short text to introduce the research question and the methodology you used, along with key findings and a short explanation of your study's significance. What a lot of students don't know, though, is that it's easier to write the abstract after completing the main text - this can help you guarantee you don't miss any important information from your work. 

Table of Contents

The purpose of the table of contents is to make it easier to find what you need in the document. This part outlines all parts of your dissertation: chapter titles, subheadings, appendices, and references. You don't have to include every single subheading you included in the final work, only level 2 and 3 ones.

List of Figures and Tables

While this part is not mandatory, it's generally a good idea to include a list of figures and tables if you've used a lot of them in your work. The list can help readers find specific visual data so they can easily follow your research. Therefore, it is mostly for clarity.

List of Abbreviations

Abbreviations, similar to figures and tables, are often listed to make it easier for readers to follow the document.  Including this section in your finished work is a guarantee that no reader will have to guess the meaning of unfamiliar abbreviations, especially if you've used a lot of shortened forms in your dissertation.

Glossary

If you're worried about readers not fully understanding some specialized terminology, it's always a good idea to include an alphabetized glossary. A well-organized list of important terms will make your writing far more accessible to readers from all academic backgrounds.

Introduction

The dissertation introduction sets the stage for your research and tells the reader exactly what to expect from your work. Here's how you should build the general structure of the introduction:

• Introduce the topic and provide relevant context to explain why this topic is important.
• Talk about the existing research on this topic, identify what gaps your dissertation will address, and state your work's relevance to a broader debate.
• Clearly state your research aims and questions you will try to answer.
• Describe the structure of your dissertation and briefly outline what topics each chapter will cover. 

By the end of the introduction, the reader should have no questions about the what, why, and how of your dissertation.

Literature Review

The literature review helps you thoroughly understand all the existing research on the subject. Don't think of it as just a summary of different sources, but rather an analysis of current knowledge that includes:

• Finding credible sources
• Determining the credibility of said sources
• Finding the gaps where the research falls short, thus justifying the need for your work.
• Identifying themes and patterns between different sources that help strengthen your statement.
• Connecting theories and concepts to your research question and building a theoretical framework. 

Methodology

The methodology chapter describes how you conducted your research so the readers can assess the credibility of your work. A clear methodology is what validates the reliability of your research. Here's what you should include in your methodology chapter while writing your dissertation:

• The general research approach (whether it's qualitative or quantitative) and research methods.
• Data collection methods - namely, how exactly you gathered your data and whether it was through surveys, interviews, or experiments.
• Detailed description of who participated in your study and how these people were selected, as well as where and when the research was conducted. 
• Techniques that you used for data analysis
• Ethical considerations of your research and how you ensured that the standards were met.

Results

The results section must objectively conclude what your methodology discovered and should present your findings without interpretation. The results for empirical dissertations mainly focus on tables, charts, and graphs that clearly show statistical data, while nonempirical dissertations mostly rely on theoretical insights, document analysis, or literature-based findings. Make sure this section reports all results relevant to your research topic and questions, and don't forget to include those that didn't meet your expectations.

Discussion

Your results section should definitely focus on objective findings without interpretation, but the discussion is where you can explore the implications of your data and how they relate to your research topic. Here are some guiding questions to help with your discussion:

• What do these results mean?
• How do they relate to existing research?
• What are the implications of the study?
• What limitations affected the study?

Interpret your results and discuss how they fit with the theoretical framework you built earlier. In this part, you also have the opportunity to offer explanations for any unexpected results.

Conclusion

Your dissertation conclusions must effectively answer your thesis statement so that the reader fully understands your argument and the research surrounding it. The final chapter of your writing should demonstrate how your research adds to existing knowledge and why it matters for the future of your field. Wrap your work by summarizing the most important findings and analyzing their broader implications. Once you've finished, revisit your research objectives to determine if they were achieved.

Bibliography

The bibliography is a reference list of all sources you've used to complete your dissertation. Be sure to follow the citation style required by your institution - it's mostly MLA, APA, or Chicago, but it's still usually set by your field. Don't forget to double-check for accuracy and consistency. 

Appendices

An appendix usually comes at the very end of your dissertation and includes additional information, such as raw data or interview transcripts. It's best if you reserve the main body of the dissertation for the information directly relevant to your thesis statement and add all supplementary materials as appendices. 

How to Write a Dissertation

Writing a dissertation is a test of endurance. But once you grasp its structure, the process starts making more sense. Here are the key steps you’ll need to follow: 

• Choosing the topic
• Conducting preliminary research
• Submitting the research proposal
• Conducting the main research
• Writing an outline 
• Regular consultations with your adviser 
• Revision according to the feedback
• Proofreading and editing
• Submitting the final draft

Choose the Dissertation Topic

The first and most important part of writing a dissertation is selecting the right topic, as this is the decision that will determine all the following steps of the writing process. Here are some tips if you're struggling with choosing the right topic:

• It should be something you're genuinely interested in.
• You must be sure there's enough existing research that can support your study.
• How feasible is your study? Consider the time, resources, and the access to data.
• Select several potential topics and discuss them with your adviser to choose the best option.
• Look for a research gap in the topic you're interested in.

Conduct Initial Research

If you've already decided on the topic of your study, it is now time to conduct preliminary research that will help you correctly structure your dissertation later on. Start by reviewing key literature to find gaps in the field and adjust your research questions according to them. You're not exactly finding all the answers to important questions at this stage, but preliminary research gives you some direction on where to look for them.

Submit Research Proposal 

In your research proposal, you will have to discuss the intentions of your study, along with how you plan to fill the research gaps and the methodology you'll use to do so. Create a strong proposal with solid arguments so you can gain approval to proceed with your studies.

Start Main Research

This is where the real work begins. The main goal of the principal research is to gather as much information about your dissertation topic as possible. The good thing is that, at this point, you've already conducted preliminary research, which means that you have the groundwork for all further research. Main research is exactly where your theoretical ideas are put into practice and turn your concepts into concrete findings.

Create a Dissertation Outline

A clear dissertation outline is essential if you want to guarantee your academic writing is easy to follow and understand. While it's not an official part of a dissertation, it can still help you effectively structure your dissertation. The outline must include all parts of your dissertation we've covered in the first part of the article, including:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion

Write the First Draft

Remember, in order to write a dissertation successfully, patience is key. If you've put a lot of thought into writing a detailed outline, the first draft becomes just about following the initial plans. Don't worry about this draft being perfect; just get your ideas on paper, and you can polish the details later.

Talk to Your Adviser

Regular meetings with your academic adviser are practically a must, especially right after you complete the first draft. Don't be hesitant to ask them as many questions as you want - they're here to spot problems and get you back on track if you face any challenges.

Receive Feedback

It's always a good idea to gather as much feedback about your work as possible before completing the final draft - besides your adviser, you should check in with your peers and mentors so you can get a fresh perspective and determine if you have any areas for improvement.

Complete the Final Draft

Revise your entire study and incorporate the feedback you've gathered before. You'll find that you'll leave some parts of the dissertation completely untouched but will have to rewrite several pages at a time. During the editing process, you might have to add brand-new sections that weren't included in the first draft. Don't be discouraged, though - you're almost there!

Proofread and Polish

Go through your entire dissertation with a fine-tooth comb to catch errors - you don't want to find grammatical mistakes and formatting issues once you've already submitted your work.

Defend Your Dissertation

A dissertation defense is an oral presentation to professionals or committee members. For some students, this part is even more stressful than the process of writing and editing, as your presentation directly influences whether you end up getting the degree. Once you present your dissertation, you'll have to convince the panel of the reliability of your work by answering their challenging questions. Remind yourself that the hard part is over - there's only one step left between you and your degree!

Final Thoughts

Let’s be real: working on a dissertation is no small feat. It’s a long process that pushes your research skills and critical thinking to the limit. Don’t forget these important steps when you write a dissertation:

• Select a topic that you have a genuine interest in
• Conduct thorough initial research
• Carry out the main research
• Write your first draft
• Consult with your adviser for valuable feedback and revise your writing accordingly
• Proofread and polish your work carefully
• Prepare for and deliver your dissertation defense

If you’re feeling swamped at any point, just know that help is out there. WritePaper has a team of academic pros ready to assist with any task, so no matter what you need, we’ve got your back every step of the way.