Where do I Start to Write My Dissertation?

Ahead are bright prospects of becoming a candidate or doctor of sciences. Where to Begin? Doctoral students already know the algorithm of action, since they have been down a similar path. But the stakes increase and the responsibility increases. Graduate students are entirely new to the process. Universal tips from our dissertation writing service to help you navigate and choose the suitable vector. In this article, we will describe where to start writing a dissertation.

Basic Structural Units of Dissertation Research

 Any dissertation research consists of obligatory structural elements or blocks.  These are:

• title page with identifying information;
• Contents with the numbering of sections;
• introductory part – about 4-5% of the work is allocated to the introduction;
• the main part or body of the thesis, which consists of chapters and paragraphs;
• the final block – the conclusion also takes about 5% of the total volume;
• bibliographic list – sources in the amount of 250 to 600 positions, depending on the level and subject of scientific work;
• appendices – elements of visualization in the form of charts, tables, diagrams, and graphs.

Another optional, but common element is a list of abbreviations used. If there is one, it is located immediately after the plan. The scheme of presentation of the material is quite logical: the beginning-cumulative-total. Without the consistent presence of all structural elements, there will be no admission to the defense.

Where do I Get Information to Write my Ph.D. Thesis?

This question can be considered basic, since the theoretical basis decides, if not everything, then very much. The requirements for the literature are quite specific:

• comprehensiveness – the material must cover all aspects of the issue and not be one-sided coverage of the problem;
• diversity – sources from different planes and schools are needed, i.e. books and electronic materials, archives and scientific articles Scopus, statistical data, and regulatory framework;
• relevance – outdated data and literature should not be used. This is especially important when you consider that it can take more than a year to write a study on your own. The general rule is that sources should not be older than 3-4 years. Exceptions, of course, apply to historical materials, basic, fundamental theory, and primary sources.

Sources – archives, libraries, scientometric databases, Internet, monographs, statistics, official websites, results of experiments.

Stages of Writing a Dissertation

 The entire complex, time-consuming and multifaceted process can be divided into three stages:

• Preparatory stage.
• The main period.
• The final part.

If we talk about the first stage, in fact, it begins with the selection and sources, working through the theoretical framework, and identifying the relevance and importance of the issue under consideration.

The selection and elaboration of the literature can take up to 80% of the total time allocated to the thesis. However, the more qualitative these actions are performed, the easier and faster the whole next process will take place.

The author then proceeds to bring all thoughts and knowledge together. A theoretical and practical chapter is written. As a rule, the following pattern applies: each task set in the study corresponds to a separate chapter or subchapter.

The final straight line is design, correction, and formatting. At this stage, all related documentation is also prepared.

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Defense and Defense of the Dissertation

Without these stages, the meaning of the written work is simply lost. As a rule, the pre-defense serves as a kind of dress rehearsal. But at the moment of its organization, the candidate must have all the documents on hand, and the work must have a completed, final form.

 Also, the report is prepared, for the presentation in which 20-30 minutes are given (up to 50 if it is a doctoral dissertation). Questions and answers follow. Reviews are formulated. The conclusion on the dissertation and the recommendation to submit it for defense (if, of course, everything went smoothly) serve as the result.

In fact, we can say that the writing of the dissertation is completed from the moment when all documents are staffed, the report is compiled, the reviews are prepared, and the last slide of the presentation is ready.

At the defense, the dissertation council renders its verdict by secret ballot. If it is positive, an academic file is formed, which is sent to the Attestation Commission.

Practical Tips for Working on a Dissertation

 The first tip is that you always need a plan. And its working version is made at the very beginning. It is important to prescribe a schedule, not just with dissertation items, but also deadlines. This makes it easier to navigate, organize the work, not miss the main thing, and not be distracted by unnecessary things.

 Always, regardless of the topic of the study, the main reference point remains the observance of copyright and the absence of plagiarism. The required percentage is very high, so every properly executed reference counts.

 Factual errors, misrepresentation of data, and the use of unverified information are not forgiven. To avoid such a scenario, you need to use official, verified sources. 

Common Mistakes in Writing Dissertation Research

Based on global practice and domestic realities, let us highlight the following points:

• Plagiarism. One way or another, illegal borrowing is regularly present. It is unacceptable to violate the lower limit on uniqueness.
• An insufficient number of publications on the results of the study. Most often this happens because there are problems with the right choice of journal, for example, which does not have a phaco category. Happens when the topic of the article is not directly related to the dissertation.
• Grammatical, syntactical, punctuation errors. Of course, isolated cases will not affect anything. But the unread text and illiterate presentation distort the whole perception.
• Using the sources of items that are not mentioned in the main part, and vice versa, the design of references and footnotes that are forgotten or ignored in the bibliographic list.

Tops the list of the irrelevance of the topic, and this dooms the study to failure.

An important recommendation – write a conclusion parallel to the introduction, and do it after the main text is ready. In this way, the main point is not missed, and consistency is ensured.