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How to start writing a dissertation

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We have all been there. Just as you are getting ready to start writing your academic career’s magnum opus, you draw a complete blank. Writers’ block might as well be renamed students’ block; it certainly affects enough of the university-going population to be a nuisance.

When it comes to writing a sustained piece of coursework like a dissertation, this can be even more terrifying. So, here are a few simple steps to help get the juices flowing.

  1. Break down the topic

This does not have to be in the form of a concrete research plan or timeline – and the latter rarely comes to fruition – but a good way to start is to actually break down the chapters or sections of your dissertation. Not only does this give you an idea of what you will be getting into, it has the added bonus of making you realise that you are not writing a single 10,000+ word chunk of text, but several smaller essays that are interconnected.

  1. Do NOT start with the introduction…

Lecturers are prone to advising students to wait until they have finished writing the main body of their essay before writing the introduction. While this does not work for, say, a 1,500-word assignment, it is an extremely important rule to maintain for a dissertation. The introduction is long enough to warrant being its own piece of coursework and, if you start with it, you can end up feeling obliged to follow it through even if your research ends up taking you down a different path. Wait until you have written out all of your chapters before you write a proper introduction.

  1. … Do a literature review instead

Whether or not your department requires it, a literature review is a fantastic place to start your dissertation with. Effectively an analytical summary of the sources, primary and secondary, that you will be using, including seeing where different writings intersect and where they contradict each other, it is the best way to get your thoughts in order going forward. It lets you realise how much you actually have to work with, thus giving you a realistic idea of how you are going to break down your remaining word count, and it also motivates you to do actual research because that is the only way you can write a good one.

  1. Talk to your supervisor

Your supervisor should never be underestimated. If you are unsure of how or where to start, or are stuck for inspiration, get in touch with them and see what advice they give you. They are not just experts; they are also people who have been through the same academic hurdles that you are currently experiencing. It is easy to overlook the fact that they were once students too and can actually give you some pretty remarkable tips, especially since they know the details of your topic as well.

  1. The pub draft

Imagine you are in a pub with a friendly, and possibly tipsy, stranger who has taken a sudden interest in what you are writing. Imagine also that, despite their tipsiness, they are also exceptionally adept at reading academic language. The challenge is now to write a 1,000-ish word summary – without references, thankfully! – that you can use as a primer for anyone who wants to know about your work. While an abstract would be more formal, and definitely shorter, this pub draft is a good way to unclutter your brain and focus you on the task at hand. It is also a surprisingly useful tool when it comes to recognising what is crucial and what is frivolous for the purposes of your final essay.

Do you have any more tips on getting started with writing a dissertation? Let us know below!

Photo: mararie / Flickr

Ibtisam AhmedHow to start writing a dissertation

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