How To Write An Impressive Master's Dissertation: Effective Techniques

The last thing that most tertiary level students pursuing postgraduate qualifications have to do is write a dissertation. This may vary slightly depending on institution but is often a feature of Masters’ programs. This article outlines some of the things that can be done to write this final paper effectively.

Look at previous dissertations

There is no shame in this. Find previously written papers wherever you can. Ask your friends throughout the class, ask people who graduated a year or two previously. Go to libraries on campus and ask the staff within them. Whatever you do, just get as many as possible.

Make notes of their best qualities

Once you have a good few of these dissertations stacked up, go over them in detail. What are their best qualities? Once you have decided on this, make notes. These may be things that fit well in your own writing.

Find out what your professor likes

This may need to be done discretely. Some academics do not like to be asked about the way they decide on how to mark their students. If this sounds like the person you are teaching, asks everyone except him or her.

Brainstorm ideas

Having discovered what your professor enjoys reading in a dissertation, you can begin to brainstorm topics. Try not to be too obvious. If he or she suspects you of brown nosing, you may end up with an even lower grade than you actually deserve. Just avoid topics that have consistently fared poorly regardless of the writer’s talent.

Ask for your professor’s opinion

Once you know which of your brainstormed ideas you are most optimistic about you can present them to your professor. This is his or her chance to tell you which ones are most promising or if there is a clear winner. It helps to do this before you get too attached to them or start doing research.

Write with a team

Start composing your dissertation in the company of other Masters’ students. They can guide you back on track when you stray.

Review thoroughly for errors

Just because you are at the Masters’ level does not automatically mean that you are beyond a simple spelling error. These make your work hard to take seriously especially by professors. Eliminate all of these through proper proofreading and editing.