Master’s Dissertation: Celebrate Your Competence!

If you have survived all those years of studying and are finally heading for a master degree, you are a happy person! At last, there is a chance for you to apply the knowledge you have gained and the research skills you have developed in a master’s dissertation! Maybe the name sounds scary to you, but it actually should not. Read on and find out how writing your master’s dissertation can be efficient and enjoyable at the same time!

Master’s Dissertation: The Basics

When planning your master’s dissertation, keep the following points in mind:

1. Since deadlines for submitting your master’s dissertation are crucial to meet, allow plenty of time for its writing, taking into account library closures and public holidays, as well as technical setbacks such as computer and printer problems;
2. Be prepared to write from 10,000 to 20,000 words, depending on your school’s requirements to master’s dissertation length;
3. Remember that your master’s dissertation will be graded on such qualities as good organization and coherent argument, critical evaluation of secondary sources, ability to locate and analyze relevant data and tie it to the hypotheses researched.

Master’s Dissertation: The Topic

Choosing a good topic is crucial for success of your master’s dissertation, therefore consider the following:

1. Choose a general area within your studying program that you found especially interesting for yourself;
2. Start reading research literature to single out a specific problem within the general area that you would like to research in your master’s dissertation;
3. Identify gaps in the available literature or the new ways to look at already existing issues.

Master’s Dissertation: The Process

Typically, you will follow a standard working pattern when creating your master’s dissertation:

1. Research a sufficient amount of material including both primary and secondary sources;
2. Consult your supervisor continuously for revision and guidance on your master’s dissertation;
3. Write your master’s dissertation including such obligatory sections as summary; introduction; theoretical and practical context; presentation, discussion, and analysis of your specific research topic; conclusion; and bibliography;
4. Check for proper referencing of all sources to avoid plagiarism.