Writing a Dissertation

Guidance on developing a thesis statement, crafting a compelling academic argument and structuring your dissertation.

Writing a Dissertation image

Getting Started with Your Dissertation

Embarking on your dissertation journey begins with planning! Check out the study skills section of the Student Success website for guidance and tips on time management, mastering goal setting, and motivation.

Dissertations for Different Disciplines

A dissertation is sometimes referred to as a thesis and can take many forms in Higher Education. At the postgraduate taught level in Ulster, Faculties and Schools will have different formats of assessment for your research module.

Here are some types of dissertations students will complete at Ulster

Methodologies and structures will vary across disciplines. The information provided here is a guide for students completing their dissertation module but not all components will be relevant. It is important to consult your module handbook for guidance specific to your assessment.

Top Tip

“Planning is the most important step of the research and writing process.
Without a good and realistic plan, your project will not be as successful as it can be.”

Postdoctoral Researcher

Planning and Time Management

Having a plan and managing your time when undertaking research and writing your dissertation is important for a few reasons.

It will help you:

Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are a valuable tool for time management because they offer visual representation of all the tasks you need to complete during the research process.

There are various software that provide free Gantt Chart templates that you can edit, such as Microsoft Excel and Canva.

Here is an example Gantt Chart created in Microsoft Excel, for a research-based project. This could be further developed, by looking at each of these tasks and identifying additional goals.

It can be useful to break each month into weeks and develop a weekly plan for your research. A weekly to-do list will help keep you on track to achieve the larger tasks.

Writing a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is not just a factual assertion, but a compelling claim that invites scholarly debate. It should be clear enough that the reader understands your stance from the outset.

For example, a strong thesis statement could be:

"This study demonstrates that integrated renewable energy solutions can effectively reduce urban carbon footprints, challenging conventional critiques that consider them impractical."

Let us consider aspects of a thesis statement and how this example meets these.

Identifying Relevant Supporting Evidence

When building your academic argument, the quality of your evidence is paramount. Focus on gathering authoritative sources that are directly relevant to your thesis statement. Prioritise the most recent publications to ensure your dissertation reflects the latest research.

Here are some things to consider when searching for relevant evidence:

Structure and Components of a Dissertation

A dissertation is a substantial piece of academic writing based on independent work and original research. Each discipline may have specific instructions for the structure and components to be included but some general components of a dissertation are included here.

  • Title Page

    The first page of the dissertation, also known as the title page or the cover page, typically includes the following:

    • Dissertation title
    • List of the authors
    • The name of the institution and department
    • Supervisors name(s)
    • Submission date

    Detailed instructions on what you should include will be provided in your module handbook, so make sure to read this for specific formatting or structure guidelines.

  • Contents Page

    Microsoft 365 provides online support on how to insert a table of contents.

    This can make navigating long documents like a dissertation much more manageable.

    Check your module handbook for specific instructions on what level of detail is required on the contents page. For example, some disciplines require each table and figure to be included within the table of contents.

  • Abstract and Keywords

    The abstract is a concise summary of your research and will often have a word count between 200-350 words. This is often the first piece of your dissertation that someone will read to identify whether it is relevant or of interest to them.

    This is often the last piece of your dissertation that you will write.

    It is important to include the main topic and aim of your research, the methods used, a summary of the results, and the main findings.

  • Introduction or Literature Review

    Each dissertation will have different requirements, so it is important to check your module handbook. Some will include an introduction and a separate literature review, whereas others will only require an introduction.

    The introduction should clearly define the focus and purpose of the dissertation.

    Here are some things to consider including:

    Interesting and relevant facts, figures, or statements to grab the attention of your reader.

    Provide a broad introduction to the topic area, including any keywords, definitions, concepts, or theories, to provide context for the reader.

    Provide context and background information about the problem or opportunity that the research will address.

    Explain why this topic is important and relevant.

    Clearly articulate the specific problem or issue that the research aims to investigate.

    If the literature review is part of a dissertation or thesis, restate your main problem or research question and provide a concise overview of the scholarly context.

    Consider including this content in an introduction:

    • Highlight the significance of the problem and its implications.

      Include a thesis statement, also known as the research question. In simple terms, this is the focus of the literature review.

      Provide a road map of the topics that will be covered in the literature review. The order you present this should be the order you follow in the main body.

      Provide a smooth transition from the introduction to the main body of the literature review

    • introduce the research topic
    • provides background information
    • state the purpose and relevance of the research
    • outline the research aim, objectives, and research questions or hypotheses
    • describes the structure of the dissertation.

    It is important to establish a thorough understanding of your topic area before starting your research. This is achieved by undertaking a literature review of current evidence, providing a comprehensive overview of existing research related to the topic. The literature review identifies gaps in current knowledge and sets the context for the dissertation’s research question.

  • Methodology

    The methodology details components such as the research design, methods of data collection and analysis, and justifications for the chosen methods.

    It also discusses the ethical considerations of the research. Ensure you obtain any necessary ethical approvals for your research and maintain academic integrity by properly citing all sources and avoiding plagiarism.

    Further information on research study design and methods is available on the Student Success website.

  • Results

    This section presents the findings of the research. It is important you include data to support each of your objectives, to answer your research question.

    You can structure the results section using sub-headings or it can be arranged by objective or topic. The results should be presented before you discuss their meaning separately in the discussion section.

    This section includes data in the form of text, tables, and figures, and provides a clear presentation of the results without interpretation.

    Each table and figure must have a standalone title and relevant footnotes. The footnotes should be placed immediately below the table.

    If the footnote includes citations, ensure these are also listed in your references/bibliography section.

  • Discussion and Conclusion

    The results are interpreted in the discussion section. You need to explain their significance, how they fit into the broader context of existing literature, and the implications for the research questions. It is imperative to reference other academic evidence.

    The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also included in the discussion.

    A conclusion summarises and synthesises the main findings, often detailing how the research contributes to the field and providing a closing statement on the research topic.

  • Bibliography

    This is a comprehensive list of all the sources cited in the dissertation.

    The bibliography is sometimes referred to as the reference list and it must be formatted according to a specific citation style.

    The Library run referencing workshops throughout the academic year.

  • Appendices

    This includes supplementary material that is relevant to your dissertation.

    This might include supplementary tables that are too large for the main text, participant information, data collection forms or questionnaires.

    It is important that you make reference to the supplementary material within the main dissertation.

    Each piece of supplementary material should be placed in an appendix and clearly labeled (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.).

    Each appendix should have a title that describes its content.

  • Other Components

    Depending on your discipline here are some other components you may need to include:

    • Acknowledgements: Where you express gratitude to those who helped in the research and writing process, such as advisors, research participants, funding bodies and family members.
    • List of abbreviations: Any abbreviations used throughout the dissertation are included along with their full meanings. They can be ordered as they appear in the writing or as an alphabetised list.
    • Conflict of interests: This includes any conditions that impact the authors' independence or impartiality.
    • Funding statement: This includes the funding information declared by the authors.
Academic Writing Style

Academic Writing Style

Self Paced Guide

Aims of the guide:

  • Know how to structure your work.
  • Know how to write in an academic style.
  • Know how to use appropriate academic language.
  • Understand the importance of revising, editing and proofreading your work.

How to access the guide

Use the back and next buttons at the bottom right of the screen below to navigate through the guide. Alternatively, use the contents button to jump to a specific page.

Accessibility options are available at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

Crafting a Compelling Academic Argument

Your academic argument is the foundation of your dissertation, supporting and guiding your research and writing.

A well-crafted argument clarifies your perspective, and engages the reader. The evidence to support the thesis must be robust, drawing from credible and relevant sources.

Addressing counterarguments further strengthens your position, demonstrating the depth of your scholarship.

Writing with Persuasion

Your dissertation should demonstrate that your work makes an original contribution to the field. Persuasive writing can highlight the novelty and impact of your research, distinguishing it from existing studies.

Here are things to consider when writing with persuasion.

Critically Engage the Audience

Your literature review should not merely summarise existing research.

Instead, you need to analyse how each source contributes to or challenges your argument.

Establish Credibility

You need to establish your credibility as an expert in the field.

This involves demonstrating your thorough understanding of the existing literature and your ability to engage with it critically.

Present Coherent Arguments

Your academic writing must be structured in a way that guides the reader through a clear and logical progression of ideas.

Each paragraph and section should build upon the previous one, leading to the conclusion of your argument.

Appeal to Emotions

Consider how your findings or insights may resonate with your readers' values or experiences.

Dealing with Counterarguments

When handling counterarguments you need to acknowledge their validity before refuting them through stronger or more robust evidence.

This not only strengthens your argument, but also demonstrates your critical thinking skills and adaptability to other perspectives or viewpoints.

For instance, when discussing the feasibility of renewable energy solutions, you could acknowledge the economic challenges, but then counter with analyses of the long-term benefits supported by case studies or econometric data showing positive returns on investment.

This balanced approach to handling counterarguments will strengthen the overall persuasiveness of your academic argument.