Writing a Dissertation For Dummies

Producing a dissertation has become a major requirement of most university courses, both undergraduate and Masters. It's likely to be the largest single piece of work you'll have to submit - and also the hardest! Writing a Dissertation For Dummies walks you through all the practical and theoretical aspects of writing a dissertation to help you produce a first-class work. This guide is ideal for any student in the broad range of the social sciences, from anthropology to law, psychology to media studies. From choosing a topic, to researching the literature, utilising your supervisor, managing your time, and structuring and writing your dissertation, you'll be able to avoid all the common mistakes and stay on top of your workload throughout the process. You'll also find tips on the best way to reference your work, and expert advice on presentation and binding. This is a must if you want to maximise your marks on your university dissertation.

Writing a Dissertation For Dummies covers:

Part I: What is a Dissertation?

Chapter 1: So You Have to Write a Dissertation

Chapter 2: Thinking About a Research Question

Part II: Getting Set Up for Your Dissertation

Chapter 3: The Structure of Your Dissertation

Chapter 4: Getting Started

Chapter 5: Finalising Your Research Question, Dissertation 'Type' And Considering Ethics

Chapter 6: Reading Efficiently and Taking Useful Notes

Part III: Getting On With Your Research

Chapter 7: Researching in Libraries and the Using the Internet

Chapter 8: Creating Your Own Empirical Data

Chapter 9: Analysing Data And Drawing Conclusions

Chapter 10: Staying on Track

Part IV: Writing and Polishing

Chapter 11:  Managing Your Argument: 'Writing Up' Your Non-Empirical Dissertation

Chapter 12: Writing Up Your Empirical Dissertation

Chapter 13: Writing Effectively

Chapter 14: References, Bibliographies and Appendices

Chapter 15: Sorting Out The Presentation of Your Dissertation

Part V: Managing The Overall Experience

Chapter 16: Your Work Habits

Chapter 17: Looking After Yourself Physically and Emotionally

Chapter 18: Ten Common Dissertation Pitfalls to Avoid

Chapter 19: Ten Essential Tips For Completing Your Dissertation

Chapter 20: Ten Items For Your Very Final Checklist