How to structure a dissertation?

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INTRODUCTION & TABLE OF CONTENTS

 A dissertation or thesis is a long piece of academic writing based on original research. It is usually submitted as part of a PhD or Masters, and sometimes as part of a bachelor’s degree. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you’ve ever done, and it can be intimidating to know where to start. This article helps you work out exactly what you should include and where to include it. You can also download our full dissertation template in Google Docs format . The template includes a ready-made table of contents with notes on what to include in each chapter. You can adapt it to your own requirements.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.  The front matter of your thesis

2.     Title page

3.     Acknowledgements

4.     Abstract

5.     Table of contents

6.     List of figures and tables

7.     List of abbreviations

8.     Glossary

9.     Introduction

10.  Literature review / Theoretical framework

11.  Methodology

12.  Results

13.  Discussion

14.  Conclusion

15.  Reference list

16.  Appendices

17.  Editing and proofreading

18.  Checklist

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1.  The Front Matter of your thesis

Not all dissertations are structured exactly the same – the form your research takes will depend on your location, discipline, topic and approach. For example, dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay, building an overall argument to support a central thesis, with chapters organized around different themes or case studies. However, if you’re doing empirical research in the sciences or social sciences, your dissertation should generally contain all of the following elements. In many cases, each will be a separate chapter, but sometimes you might combine them. For example, in certain kinds of qualitative social science, the results and discussion will be woven together rather than separated.

The order of sections can also vary between fields and countries. For example, some universities advise that the conclusion should come before the discussion. If in doubt about how your thesis or dissertation should be structured, always check your department’s guidelines and consult with your supervisor.

 

2. Title page

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation’s title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo. Many programs have strict requirements for formatting the dissertation title page.

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3. Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section is usually optional, and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you.

4.  Abstract

The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150–300 words long. You should write it at the very end, when you’ve completed the rest of the dissertation. In the abstract, make sure to:

  • State the main topic and aims of your research
  • Describe the methods you used
  • Summarize the main results
  • State your conclusions

Although the abstract is very short, it is the first part (and sometimes the only part) of your dissertation that people will read, so it is important that you get it right. If you are struggling to write a strong abstract, contact us: Skype Call or Chat  WhatsApp

 

5. Table of contents

In the table of contents, list all of your chapters and subheadings and their page numbers. The dissertation contents page gives the reader an overview of your structure and helps easily navigate the document. All parts of your dissertation should be included in the table of contents, including the appendices. You can generate a table of contents automatically in Word if you used heading styles.

6. List of figures and tables

If you have used a lot of tables and figures in your dissertation, you should itemize them in a numbered list. You can automatically generate this list using the Insert Caption feature in Word.

7. List of abbreviations

If you have used many abbreviations in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.

7. Glossary

If you have used many highly specialized terms that will not be familiar to your reader, it might be a good idea to include a glossary. List the terms alphabetically and explain each term with a brief description or definition.

 

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4. How to write your thesis?

5. What would a PhD graduate advise a new PhD student?

 

By Thesis Doctor

Follow Us on: Website  Facebook Page Instagram YouTube Channel 

Contact Us:  Skype call or Chat  WhatsApp BisApt

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