Basic Structure of a Postgraduate Dissertation

Writing a postgraduate dissertation is a serious and time-consuming process. After you’ve decided on the topic of your work, you need to think about how to organize it in the best way. In fact, all the studies are alike in their structuring, but at the same time, they are unique. Of course, any university may have its own general rules for formatting such works.

Possible Structure of a Dissertation

1. Title page.

Include all the relevant information about your work.

2. Abstract.

Summarize the background, methodology, and results of your research. Writing a good abstract is important, because by reading it other people can understand if the whole work is worthy of attention.

3. An introduction to the topic.

Give the introduction laconically and precisely. It has to be a brief description, a synopsis, of your research project and its aims.

4. Background information.

Explain the point of the thesis. The theme of your work may be complex and a lack of understanding may lead you to a complete fail.

5. Problem statement.

Write about a research question. It must be connected to your problem statement. Also, at this stage of the work, you need to explain the currency of the theme you’re investigating.

6. Problem solution.

Offer solutions for the problem you exposed. Prove that your findings are useful.

7. Conclusion.

Make up conclusions. Show your contribution to the discussed question. Extend this part of your thesis. When doing a serious scientific work, it is impossible to come up with only one conclusion.

8. References.

Include all the references you used in your writing in the reference list. Be very careful with references. If there are too many, it may look like plagiarism. Rewrite all the information you read in your own words. Do not copy any of someone else’s writing.

9. Appendices.

Support your references with appendices. Appendices may not be as important as references, but they may help show that your work is original and unique.

The Purpose of Writing a Dissertation

The dissertation is actually the last work of your education. The aim of this scientific investigation is to show that your skills and knowledge are enough to do a research project. It also proves your ability to perform certain tasks in the field of your study. Often this type of academic writing gives postgraduate students an opportunity to see if they can generally succeed in their goals.