After you have found a topic to research for your dissertation proposal, your next step is to define your question. Writing dissertations can be challenging, but by choosing an interesting topic and carefully defining the parameters of your research you can make dissertation writing an enjoyable experience.
Writing dissertation titles
You want to formulate a question that is interesting and relevant to other academics working in the field. There is little purpose in researching something obscure that has no value to the academic community. Of course the primary reason for doing your dissertation is to complete the requirements of your course and pass your degree, but if you can ask a question that is thought provoking and useful it should give you a greater sense of purpose as you do the assignment. Look at some sample dissertations if you need to get a better idea of the sort of title you should be producing.
Dissertation research possibilities
It is perfectly possible to formulate a question that is either beyond your own intellectual abilities to answer, or that needs research materials that are hard to find. If you are writing a dissertation which needs to refer to documents that are held at the National Archives in Kew, while you live in Aberdeen, it is going to be a little tricky to get to the data you need. Think about the logistics of finding the research data you need.
Writing tips: the dissertation proposal
Before you begin work on your dissertation, you will submit a proposal to your supervisor. This helps you refine your dissertation question, which should be expressed clearly. A complex, waffling question may be the result of confused or uncertain thinking. Don’t hide behind long words that you don’t really understand. Express the dissertation problem that you are trying to solve in simple and clear language.
If you can’t express the question clearly, it may be that you’re not really sure yet about the problem you are trying to solve. Some students will write a vague dissertation question hoping to refine the problem later when they have done more reading. However, by the start of the final year of your undergraduate course you want to have the question finalised, stated clearly and agreed with your supervisor.
Dissertation help: interesting ideas
Finally, try your best to choose a topic and a question that really interests you. Some students can feel pressurised by the limits of time into choosing a question that they don’t really care for, or something that their supervisor has basically selected for them. If possible define dissertation topics that you really do care about. The dissertation writing process is a long one and your motivation is sure to dip at some point. If you care about the topic this can ease the difficulty of those unenthusiastic phases in your research. If you have any queries about dissertation topics, please leave a comment below.
