Some groups of students such as joint honours undergraduates can opt out from writing a dissertation and choose to take up additional modules instead. If this applies to you, you may be wondering which option to pick. Below are some reasons why writing dissertation is a valuable experience.
Pursuing interests
Students of some courses have a chance to come up with their own dissertation titles. This may be both fascinating and challenging. You will have an opportunity to write about a subject that you find interesting and want to learn more about. But identifying a research subject is not always easy; especially if you do not have a clue what to write about.
You will have to do some research to identify areas and questions which have not been explored in the existing literature. But once you have chosen your topic, the floor is yours. You can approach your research from the angle you want and explore questions that you find interesting. Remember this is your piece of work.
Developing skills
You will possibly spend most of your final year working on your dissertation but do not forget that you will also have other course work to complete. This will require a great deal of planning and organisation. You will have to learn how to prioritise your work and keep the balance between your work and rest time. You will learn how to manage your time effectively and will develop your critical thinking.
These are the transferable skills that many employers are looking for. They will also add to your personal development and will help you perform well at work and in everyday tasks.
Sense of belonging
Your dissertation will become one of the most popular discussion topics in your final year. You will realise that there are many others who have similar concerns and questions like you. You can share ideas and exchange guidance provided by your supervisors. This will strengthen the sense of belonging and may help build connections with your course mates.
Satisfaction
Writing a dissertation is a rewarding experience; you will be proud of your achievements. You will conduct your independent research and will collect and analyse your own data. Your work will contribute to the existing research and you will gain specialised knowledge in your study area.
What do you think the benefits of writing a dissertation are? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo: Lindsay Holmwood / Flickr
Media & Communications graduate and freelance journalist.
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