What is a dissertation?
A dissertation is an academic piece of writing that uses an author’s original research on a specific area and submitted as part of the requirement for the completion of an academic course in doctoral, masters, and or at the bachelor’s degree level. Dissertations are normally long and sometimes difficult to start. Therefore, it is important to understand a dissertation and how to write one. This article will provide a step by step on what a dissertation entails and its table of contents.
The Structure of a Dissertation
The dissertation follows a different structure that is dependent on aspects such as the location, subject and approach. Before starting on a dissertation, it’s important for one to consult their supervisor as well as adhere to the departmental guideline.
Title Page
This is the page that an author writes their title and other details of the institution. However, the title page is written depending on the requirement of the programs.
Acknowledgements
This section of the dissertation is usually optional and involves appreciating people who have supported you in the process.
Abstract
An abstract is a short piece of introduction that is usually between 150 to 300 words that address the main topic and objectives of the research. It also states the methodology and summarises the main results.
Table of Contents
The table of contents lists an overview of the item mentioned in the dissertation.
List of Figures and Tables
The tables and figures used should be numbered in a list.
List of Abbreviations
This list contains abbreviations that make it possible for readers to look up the meaning.
Glossary
These are highly specialized vocabularies that are listed alphabetically with a brief explanation or definition.
Introduction
It sets the topic, objective, and gives the reader a preview of what to expect in the paper.
Literature Review
It critically evaluates other scholarly sources and integrates them into the research.
Methodology
In this section, the author describes how they conducted research and the approach, therefore giving a reader the chance to assess validity.
Results
The results section is structured in such a way that answers the research question based on the hypothesis and topics.
Discussion
This section implores the implications that come with the findings of the results.
Conclusion
The preeminent part of the conclusion should ensure that the research question is answered.
Reference List
This contains a list of all the scholarly sources used in the study. The most common way of formatting includes APA and MLA.
Appendices
This is the section after the reference list that contains any other important information used in the dissertation.
