How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation

Bryan Greetham was an Honorary Fellow at the University of Durham, UK, and previously taught at University of Newcastle, Australia.Jennifer Boyle is Deputy Head of Student Learning Development at the University of Glasgow, UKScott Ramsay is Deputy Head of Student Learning Development at the University of Glasgow, UK

• AcknowledgementsIntroductionPART I: EXAMINERS AND SUPERVISORS1. The Dissertation: What Is It, and What is Your Role?2. The Dissertation: Your Audience – Supervisors and Examiners PART II: GENERATING AND DEVELOPING ORIGINAL IDEAS3. What Activities Suit You Best?4. Types of Research5. What Interests You Most?6. Generating Ideas: How to Come Up with New Ideas and Fresh Perspectives7. Developing Your Ideas: How to Structure Your Thinking 8. Refining Your Ideas: How to Test Your Thinking PART III: DECIDING ON YOUR PROJECT9. Academic Sources: Books, Articles and Literature. Knowing What to Look For10. Academic Sources: Books, Articles and Literature. How to Search11. Choosing the Topic: Making Sure It’s Manageable12. Choosing the Topic: What are Research Ethics, and Why Are They Important?PART IV: ORGANISING YOUR WORK13. Planning Your Research14. Managing Your Time15. Your Retrieval System16. Reading17. Note-taking18. PlagiarismPART V: DOING YOUR RESEARCH19. Research Types20. Secondary Sources21. Quantitative Research22. Qualitative ResearchPART VI: PLANNING YOUR DISSERTATION23. The Main Components and Introduction24. The Literature Review25. Research Methods, Findings, Conclusions and AppendicesPART VII: ORGANISING YOUR THINKING26. Components of a Consistent Argument 27. Connections Within a Consistent Argument28. Using Evidence: How to Describe It 29. Using Evidence: How to Make Sense of It30. Using Evidence – How to Avoid Mistakes31. Communicating ClearlyPART VIII: WRITING YOUR DISSERTATION32. The First Draft33. Finding Your Own Voice34. Writing With Style and Simplicity35. Referencing and BibliographiesPART IX: EDITING36. Editing Your Structure 37. Editing Your Content PART X: PRESENTING YOUR WORK38. Oral Presentations 39. Poster PresentationsConclusionBibliographyIndex