Five Rules To Pick Up An Appropriate Dissertation Format
The Dissertation Format: 5 Important Rules To Keep In Mind
The longer you spend entrenched within the academic system, the more you will come to understand that everything that you ever do is formulaic. Okay, so there are slightly different formulas depending upon the nature of the work that you are undertaking, but in essence there is a formula attached to everything. Dissertations are no different, there is a strict format and deviate from it at your peril! However, before you start panicking here’re the 5 important rules to keep in mind.
- Follow the format!
- Beginning, middle and end
- Never plagiarize
- Bibliography
- Research
No, I am not winding you up here. The first rule of writing and composing a dissertation is to make sure that you follow the format to the letter. Dissertations are not an opportunity for you to express your creativity, there sole purpose is to give you the opportunity to prove that you deserve to be on that course. That you are taking on board the information that is being disseminated, that you are processing it and that you are capable of turning it into a well-crafted, paper.
This might sound as though I am trying to teach my granny how to suck eggs, or at very least that it is like being back in Kindergarden. However, in the same way that every good story must have a clear beginning, middle and end then so to must your dissertation. Namely in the form of an introduction, main body, and conclusion. If you stray from this important rule then you are in serious trouble.
You would hate it if you had spent months, possibly even years working on something only for some lazy sod to come along and steal your work and then take the credit for it. Well, the same applies to dissertations. Rather than being hacked off, whoever you steal work from is also likely to take legal action against you and far from simply being embarrassment or a thorn in your side, this could result in you being kicked out of college and could potentially jeopardize your future career. Don’t do it!
Following on from my previous point, the bibliography is the perfect place for you to acknowledge, and cite any works that you have referenced. Not only will this enable your readers to indulge in some additional reading and research if they so choose to, but crucially it will also cover your backside.
Your research might indeed be invisible to the naked eye, but trust me, without it you won’t have a dissertation. Make sure that you give your research the attention that it deserves.