Dissertation: Workshop Notes

Dissertation: Workshop Notes

Today we had a workshop in the library designed to help us prepare for and write our dissertation. 

One question I hope this lecture would answer was: How can I find enough relevant information to allow my dissertation to centre around just a small handful of theorists as apposed to a bigger expanse?

Make sure each chapter follows on from the last and relates back to the question.

Have your research prepared before you start writing a chapter (plan out your research in advance). 

Chapter 1 may contain definitions of terms you will use in the paper, basic theories, background information, and possibly some historical context.

Page 3 girls??

Chapter 2 builds and expands upon the theories introduced in chapter 1, it begins to discuss the topic in depth, making comparisons and highlighting points in a modern context. It uses specific episodes or points in your source material for reference and explores them and how they do/don’t fit your theories (with some of your own opinions drawn).

Chapter 3 should begin to answer your question and draw certain conclusions based on the points you have raised and comparisons you have been making.

In your dissertation make sure you use both direct referencing and paraphrasing (where it makes sense to do so) allowing you to give your own interpretation. Or you could even argue a direct quote.

When interpreting what an author is saying you should try and mix up the language you use. Some examples are:

This point seems to be stating…..

Hence/Thus it can be said that…..

This seems to demonstrate that…..

This evidence points to……

What can be concluded is…..

Therefore it could be argued that…..