How to Write a First-Class Dissertation

Why do you need to read this book?

Because you are at university. Because you are a final year student. Because you have to write a dissertation. As simple as that.

The final year is the hardest year of university – and your dissertation is the most important piece of academic writing in your entire degree course.

Writing 10,000 words is no small task. First of all, you are supposed to come up with your own dissertation topic. How to make one that is easy to answer? Then you are assigned a supervisor to guide you, who tells you that you need to write a literature review and be more critical. However, more often than not you are supposed to figure out what a literature review is and how to be critical all by yourself.

In this book, Vlad Mackevic, a First Class graduate, shares his experience acquired whilst studying and working as an academic writing mentor.

This book will help you find answers the following questions:

• How do you create a simple, manageable dissertation question and then answer it?
• How to write critically? And what does it even mean?
• What on Earth is a literature review?
• Why do you need to write your introduction at the end?
• How do you make the research process as efficient as possible?

and finally…

• How to come out victorious out the battle for final year grades?

Enjoy reading and writing!

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. Dissertation: What Do You Get Marks For?

Chapter 2. The Topic and the Title

2.1. Narrow Your Scope Down

2.2. Object, Context, Method

Chapter 3. The Structure of Your Dissertation

3.1. The Funnel and the Hourglass

3.2. The Structure of Your Dissertation

Chapter 4. The Abstract and the Introduction

4.1. What Is an Abstract and What Should It Include?

4.2. What Is an Introduction?

4.3. Why Should You Write the Introduction at the End?

Chapter 5. The Literature Review

5.1. What Is a Literature Review?

5.2. Why Do You Need a Literature Review?

5.3. A Critical Literature Review

5.4. The Structure of the Literature Review

5.5. Examples of Good and Bad Literature Reviews

Chapter 6. Methodology

6.1. The Data

6.2. The Participants

6.3. The Research Process and Methods

6.4. Research-Related Dangers

Chapter 7. Analysis and Discussion

7.1. Analysis

7.2. Discussion

Chapter 8. The Conclusion

Chapter 9. Referencing

9.1. What Is Referencing?

9.2. Why Do We Need Referencing?

9.3. Main Referencing Systems

Chapter 10. The Writing Process

10.1. Planning and Structuring Your Assignment 10.2. How Do You Write a Paragraph? Chapter 11. The Language of Academia Chapter 12. Writing Tips 12.1. The Researcher’s Point of View 12.2. The Grammarian’s Point of View 12.3. The Writer’s Point of View Chapter 13. Formatting and Presentation Conclusion About the Author