Top 10 Dissertation Writing Mistakes
1. Choosing the wrong topic
Getting the topic right is the key to a good dissertation
The topic should be relevant, relate very clearly to your subject, and chosen because you have an interest in it. For literature based dissertations, there should be enough original research for you to use to analyse the topic.
It is not enough to just pick a subject you are interested in. You need to be interested or you will not be able to commit to a longer essay like a dissertation. But the topic also has to be one which is very relevant to your subject or area of study. Too broad a topic means you cannot answer the question in enough detail. To narrow a topic means you cannot explore enough research or enough issues about the subject. For example, “an exploration of Shakespeare’s plays” is too broad, but “The characteristics of Shakespeare’s minor characters in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet” may be too narrow. But it has to be a topic that you can realistically get the original research or supporting information for.
2. Not setting a question or title
A good dissertation has a proper question or title which tells the reader exactly what the dissertation is about
The question or title is the basis of the dissertation. The focus of the dissertation is answering this question or problem raised in the title. Every part of the dissertation will be defined by this question.
The question is the issue the writer comes back to, over and over again, when writing the dissertation. It defines what information the writer will need to write the dissertation, and how that information will be analysed. It sets the tone for what kinds of conclusions will be reached through this dissertation. And it shows the reader what the point is, and what relevance it has for them.
3. Not answering the question
One of the most frequent mistakes is not to answer the question.
Because the question really defines the dissertation, it is the glue that holds the different parts of the dissertation together. It is what makes the dissertation make sense. Too many writers try to write a dissertation, and then go off on a tangent and waste valuable words on side issues that don’t really answer the question.
Answering the question should be foremost in the mind of the dissertation writer. Every section of the dissertation should relate clearly to the question, and if the writer can refer to the question or the key words from the question or title in each sub-heading, this is a good idea.
4. Research
A dissertation based on the wrong kind of material or research will not make the grade.
You have to select the right kinds of information and sources for your dissertation. A literature-based dissertation is usually based on original research published in peer-reviewed journals. A research based dissertation uses the right kind of primary research, making sure it will answer the question.
5. Referencing errors.
Errors in the citation of references in the text or the reference list are a common mistake that is easily rectified.
Every dissertation requires a certain number of references, from primary or secondary sources. Citing these correctly means using the right style, such as Harvard or APA referencing style, and citing the references according to this style, within the text of the essay and within the bibliography at the end of the dissertation. Errors include incorrect format, but another error is missing references – citations that appear in the text, but are missing from the reference list.
The easy way to ensure that you avoid such errors is to keep your reference list up to date from the beginning, and every time you find a new reference or citation, add it to the list before you use it. This does two things – it means you won’t lose any references and it means you practice citing references correctly from the beginning. A big error which frequently occurs is the failure to include your reference list. Without this, you could fail outright.
6. Word Count
Not writing enough, or writing too much, are common errors.
Dissertations are usually longer essays, and many people struggle with the idea of writing 8,000 or 10,000 words, or more, on one subject. Other students find it hard to restrict their writing to the word limit, because they have so much to say.
Either way, a key to sticking to the word limit is to plan the dissertation carefully, and plan how many words you are going to put in each section. This will make sure you stick to your word limit, because you set yourself smaller word limits for each section, which are easier to manage.
7. Using the wrong format.
People who ignore the required layout for the dissertation are making a serious mistake.
Quite often, people simply don’t look at the instructions for a task they have to do. You wouldn’t ignore the recipe for a meal you are cooking, so why would you ignore the guidelines for your dissertation? Read the guidelines, read them again, underline the key words, and then refer back to them as you plan and write your dissertation.
The markers are looking for your ability to follow the instruction. If you haven’t followed their format, you may be missing a vital section, such as a discussion of ethics, or a list of steps you took in your methodology, which means you will be losing marks.
8. Failing to proof read.
If a dissertation is not proof read, the writer misses a range of errors which could affect marks.
Proof reading means checking the dissertation reads well, that it makes sense, that it has all the sections it should have, and that all the citations are there. It also means checking for spelling mistakes, bad grammar, and typing errors. Some major mistakes or even missing paragraphs can be noticed when you proof read your work.
9. Not doing a plan.
Failing to plan the dissertation can mean that you make any of the mistakes cited above.
A plan is the key to a good dissertation, because it helps you to pay attention to detail, and to set achievable goals and deadlines for your dissertation. A plan contains the steps of the dissertation process, a timescale, and deadlines that you set for yourself to get the work done. A plan reminds you what you need to do, what you have already done, and keeps you in line.
10. Last-minute-itis.
Leaving the dissertation till the last minute.
You know the feeling. You spend weeks telling yourself that you must get around to starting the dissertation, and perhaps you collect a few articles, write a few notes. But you keep putting it off, thinking that you still have plenty of time. Then it’s two weeks before the deadline and you find yourself trying to start the dissertation.
A dissertation takes time. It takes time to focus, time to plan, time to research, and even more time to write. It is a process of steps, from beginning to end, and following these steps is fundamental to a good dissertation. So start as soon as possible, and keep working at it, a little at a time. If you finish it earlier than your deadline, that gives you more time to check it and polish it. Don’t put it off. Start it now!
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