Writing your dissertation is a key milestone towards completing your degree program. It is a testament to your ability to conduct research, collect data, analyze, analyze the data, and present your findings coherently. It not only nurtures your academic prowess but writing a good dissertation can also be a way to make significant contributions in your area of study and possibly improve lives.
Unlike essays, however, dissertations need much of you to make a detailed study, research, and write your desertion. It is independent in nature and scope and requires your commitment and involvement. So, starting writing your dissertation on the right foot can save you the agony of severed expectations and a delayed graduation.
Tips on how to write the best dissertations in Sweden
On average, students take 1-3 to three years to complete the research work, but it does not have to take long. Here are tips to help you work on your dissertation and complete it on record time.
Start early
Starting in your course work can be foundational in helping you work and finish your dissertation on time. Start thinking early about possible areas you can explore. Usually, a good dissertation involves a lot of reading and consultations, so be sure to read a lot of published work in areas you find interesting and consult faculty members for any research gaps you can explore in your area of interest.
You may be forced to change your mind several times in the process, but that should not worry you. It is normal, and you can be sure that you will have a clear mind in the end. Going forward, things will not be that difficult.
Choose your topic
After reading and doing consultations, you will have gathered enough information to choose your topic. Note that the right topic is the cornerstone of a successful dissertation. Consider that your chosen topic is relevant and falls within your long-term academic and career goals.
Many students make mistakes in choosing topics they are not passionate about. When the tire hits the road, everything boils down to whether you are passionate about your research topic. To be on the safer side, choose a topic that will motivate you to carry on even when things go south.
A good topic should also be thought-provoking, inspiring you to go beyond the limits of current knowledge and develop original thought while developing new ideas.
A good research topic should also be specific in the sense that it is objective specific. A topic that will allow you to narrow down an area of study to a specific objective(s) but yet, broad enough to enable you to source evidence to support your argument in the writing process.
Check departmental requirements
Some departments will require you to draft a research concept paper, which you will present at the departmental defense to faculty members to assess your research topic, but this requirement keeps changing from one university to another. After establishing a research topic, be sure to check what is required of you by the department, faculty, or school.
Be sure to consult your department or school dissertation guides for a detailed direction and additional part of the main assignment, such as creating a research plan, amongst other details.
Make a schedule to guide your dissertation writing process
Now that you have your title, you have been given the green light to proceed with data collection, and you have analyzed it. It is time to sit down and start writing. Start by making a schedule and setting timelines to be met. You may want to complete a chapter or section in a given time and schedule your writing process in such a way that it gives time to reflect on your progress and you make improvements to your dissertation.
Start Writing your dissertation
With a detailed writing plan, it is time to get to your keyboard and start typing. There is no formula for getting started; just get started. Often, you get discouraged with feelings of inadequacy, feeling like you have not collected enough evidence or that you need to do more research, but these are usually false starts, which will delay you if you dwell on them.
The best way to go about such feelings is to get going with your best work on your arguments while writing rather than pausing and starting later.
Keep a record of your sources
Citing your sources is necessary in all academic works, but assessors are stricter in dissertation writing. It is good practice to keep your sources as you progress with the writing of your dissertation. You can do it manually or with the help of citation-generation tools like ZOTERO or Mendeley.
We recommend using citation engines because they are more convenient when you must generate your list of references and bibliographies.
Know what you want to say
Remember that when writing your dissertation, everything ties back to your research objectives, hypothesis, or questions that you seek to answer through your research. Always refer back to these key pillars of your research to help you stay focused and on course.
Do not try to be over-ambitious in your writing. Studying and exploring a specific idea fully using evidence in literature is a great practice rather than going for a broader theme and failing to support it adequately.
Backup your dissertation in multiple channels
A dissertation is a significant undertaking, and I am sure you don’t want to return to the drawing board if you lose your documents. Save the document on multiple devices, and if possible.
Equally, when writing your dissertation, there are multiple times you will be forced to go back to an earlier version of your dissertation, so make sure you keep every copy of your document because you will be working on several drafts before your dissertation is ready for submission.
Always seek advice and feedback from your academic advisor
Depending on your college, you will be required to work with an academic supervisor(s) while writing your dissertation. They will guide you in the writing process, providing important feedback and input into your work
Always stay positive about the feedback, even if it may seem negative. Remember, they are there to make improvements to your work.
Submitting your dissertation for assessment
After incorporating the feedback, you receive from your supervisor into your work, it is time to prepare your document for submission. Start by revisiting your departmental dissertation guide, which your assessors usually use to mark and grade your work. Make sure that you have captured every one of its details in your dissertation.
Proofread your work for grammar and fact-checking; once you are done, you can have the dissertation signed by your supervisor and bound and submitted.
