The Dissertation Writing Process

Formatting the paper

Dissertation structures generally differ with different schools of thought. Knowing what is required of you by your university or faculty is the beginning of dissertation writing.

Normally every dissertation follows a similar structure. The basic outline starts with an abstract and ends with a small conclusion section. Anything in between may slightly vary but they are generally similar.

You need to guarantee that you incorporate page numbers, which really relate to your different chapters. Other than that, formatting your paper is all about ensuring that every chapter is on its own page, headings/subheadings don't wind up being at the base of a page, and that your list of sources is properly arranged to meet the referencing guidelines set by your school/institution.

It is imperative that you take your time to ensure that your dissertation paper is correctly formatted and that readers would have an easier time perusing through the document.

Proofreading tips

It is also important that you let another set of eyes go through your paper. Right from writing to proofreading, it would be very easy for you to skip several missteps. This is why you need to let someone else read your work because it would be easier for him or her to identify such mistakes.

For those whom English is their first language, definitely, there will be minor slip-ups with language that can be tended to by another person. But if English is not your native language, it is very critical that you ask others to proofread your work before submission.

Proofreading differs from criticism in that your reviewer searches for blunders in language structure, spelling, and accentuation.

Consulting your tutor

Supervisors are key figures in your dissertation writing process. Once you notice that your supervisor is eager to positively criticize your work, you should seize the opportunity right away since they most likely have a lot of knowledge in the subject and have lots of experience in panel beating. 

However, you should avoid giving your supervisor your paper during the last minutes. You need to engage them from the start and incorporate their input in every step of the way. This will ensure that your paper is consistent all through.

To help you manage feedback well and maintain good relationships with your supervisors, you should always remember that they are human too. Giving them a bulky paper and expecting them to provide you with feedback in a short time frame is irrational and uncalled for. Rather, strive to finish your paper early enough so that they may have plenty of time to criticize your work well. Furthermore, it would be a good idea to find out details of their accessibility and availability in advance so that none of you is inconvenienced.

In summary, it is very important that you use simple language as well as use a clear structure that will help guide your instructor during marking. Remember to follow the above tips and use them in your dissertation writing process. They will come in handy especially if you are interested in achieving excellence.