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How to Structure a Dissertation – A Step by Step Guide

Published by Owen Ingram at August 11th, 2021 , Revised On September 20, 2023

A dissertation – sometimes called a thesis –  is a long piece of information backed up by extensive research. This one, huge piece of research is what matters the most when students – undergraduates and postgraduates – are in their final year of study.

On the other hand, some institutions, especially in the case of undergraduate students, may or may not require students to write a dissertation. Courses are offered instead. This generally depends on the requirements of that particular institution.

If you are unsure about how to structure your dissertation or thesis, this article will offer you some guidelines to work out what the most important segments of a dissertation paper are and how you should organise them. Why is structure so important in research, anyway?

One way to answer that, as Abbie Hoffman aptly put it, is because: “Structure is more important than content in the transmission of information.”

Also Read:   How to write a dissertation – step by step guide .

How to Structure a Dissertation or Thesis

It should be noted that the exact structure of your dissertation will depend on several factors, such as:

  • Your research approach (qualitative/quantitative)
  • The nature of your research design (exploratory/descriptive etc.)
  • The requirements set for forth by your academic institution.
  • The discipline or field your study belongs to. For instance, if you are a humanities student, you will need to develop your dissertation on the same pattern as any long essay .

This will include developing an overall argument to support the thesis statement and organizing chapters around theories or questions. The dissertation will be structured such that it starts with an introduction , develops on the main idea in its main body paragraphs and is then summarised in conclusion .

However, if you are basing your dissertation on primary or empirical research, you will be required to include each of the below components. In most cases of dissertation writing, each of these elements will have to be written as a separate chapter.

But depending on the word count you are provided with and academic subject, you may choose to combine some of these elements.

For example, sciences and engineering students often present results and discussions together in one chapter rather than two different chapters.

If you have any doubts about structuring your dissertation or thesis, it would be a good idea to consult with your academic supervisor and check your department’s requirements.

Parts of  a Dissertation or Thesis

Your dissertation will  start with a t itle page that will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic, degree program (the paper is to be submitted for), and research supervisor. In other words, a title page is the opening page containing all the names and title related to your research.

The name of your university, logo, student ID and submission date can also be presented on the title page. Many academic programs have stringent rules for formatting the dissertation title page.

Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments section allows you to thank those who helped you with your dissertation project. You might want to mention the names of your academic supervisor, family members, friends, God, and participants of your study whose contribution and support enabled you to complete your work.

However, the acknowledgments section is usually optional.

Tip: Many students wrongly assume that they need to thank everyone…even those who had little to no contributions towards the dissertation. This is not the case. You only need to thank those who were directly involved in the research process, such as your participants/volunteers, supervisor(s) etc.

Perhaps the smallest yet important part of a thesis, an abstract contains 5 parts:

  • A brief introduction of your research topic.
  • The significance of your research.
  •  A line or two about the methodology that was used.
  • The results and what they mean (briefly); their interpretation(s).
  • And lastly, a conclusive comment regarding the results’ interpretation(s) as conclusion .

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Tip: Make sure to highlight key points to help readers figure out the scope and findings of your research study without having to read the entire dissertation. The abstract is your first chance to impress your readers. So, make sure to get it right. Here are detailed guidelines on how to write abstract for dissertation .

Table of Contents

Table of contents is the section of a dissertation that guides each section of the dissertation paper’s contents. Depending on the level of detail in a table of contents, the most useful headings are listed to provide the reader the page number on which said information may be found at.

Table of contents can be inserted automatically as well as manually using the Microsoft Word Table of Contents feature.

List of Figures and Tables

If your dissertation paper uses several illustrations, tables and figures, you might want to present them in a numbered list in a separate section . Again, this list of tables and figures can be auto-created and auto inserted using the Microsoft Word built-in feature.

List of Abbreviations

Dissertations that include several abbreviations can also have an independent and separate alphabetised  list of abbreviations so readers can easily figure out their meanings.

If you think you have used terms and phrases in your dissertation that readers might not be familiar with, you can create a  glossary  that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.

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Introduction

Introduction chapter  briefly introduces the purpose and relevance of your research topic.

Here, you will be expected to list the aim and key objectives of your research so your readers can easily understand what the following chapters of the dissertation will cover. A good dissertation introduction section incorporates the following information:

  • It provides background information to give context to your research.
  • It clearly specifies the research problem you wish to address with your research. When creating research questions , it is important to make sure your research’s focus and scope are neither too broad nor too narrow.
  • it demonstrates how your research is relevant and how it would contribute to the existing knowledge.
  • It provides an overview of the structure of your dissertation. The last section of an introduction contains an outline of the following chapters. It could start off with something like: “In the following chapter, past literature has been reviewed and critiqued. The proceeding section lays down major research findings…”
  • Theoretical framework – under a separate sub-heading – is also provided within the introductory chapter. Theoretical framework deals with the basic, underlying theory or theories that the research revolves around.

All the information presented under this section should be relevant, clear, and engaging. The readers should be able to figure out the what, why, when, and how of your study once they have read the introduction. Here are comprehensive guidelines on how to structure the introduction to the dissertation .

“Overwhelmed by tight deadlines and tons of assignments to write? There is no need to panic! Our expert academics can help you with every aspect of your dissertation – from topic creation and research problem identification to choosing the methodological approach and data analysis.”

Literature Review 

The  literature review chapter  presents previous research performed on the topic and improves your understanding of the existing literature on your chosen topic. This is usually organised to complement your  primary research  work completed at a later stage.

Make sure that your chosen academic sources are authentic and up-to-date. The literature review chapter must be comprehensive and address the aims and objectives as defined in the introduction chapter. Here is what your literature research chapter should aim to achieve:

  • Data collection from authentic and relevant academic sources such as books, journal articles and research papers.
  • Analytical assessment of the information collected from those sources; this would involve a critiquing the reviewed researches that is, what their strengths/weaknesses are, why the research method they employed is better than others, importance of their findings, etc.
  • Identifying key research gaps, conflicts, patterns, and theories to get your point across to the reader effectively.

While your literature review should summarise previous literature, it is equally important to make sure that you develop a comprehensible argument or structure to justify your research topic. It would help if you considered keeping the following questions in mind when writing the literature review:

  • How does your research work fill a certain gap in exiting literature?
  • Did you adopt/adapt a new research approach to investigate the topic?
  • Does your research solve an unresolved problem?
  • Is your research dealing with some groundbreaking topic or theory that others might have overlooked?
  • Is your research taking forward an existing theoretical discussion?
  • Does your research strengthen and build on current knowledge within your area of study? This is otherwise known as ‘adding to the existing body of knowledge’ in academic circles.

Tip: You might want to establish relationships between variables/concepts to provide descriptive answers to some or all of your research questions. For instance, in case of quantitative research, you might hypothesise that variable A is positively co-related to variable B that is, one increases and so does the other one.

Research Methodology

The methods and techniques ( secondary and/or primar y) employed to collect research data are discussed in detail in the  Methodology chapter. The most commonly used primary data collection methods are:

  • questionnaires
  • focus groups
  • observations

Essentially, the methodology chapter allows the researcher to explain how he/she achieved the findings, why they are reliable and how they helped him/her test the research hypotheses or address the research problem.

You might want to consider the following when writing methodology for the dissertation:

  • Type of research and approach your work is based on. Some of the most widely used types of research include experimental, quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
  • Data collection techniques that were employed such as questionnaires, surveys, focus groups, observations etc.
  • Details of how, when, where, and what of the research that was conducted.
  • Data analysis strategies employed (for instance, regression analysis).
  • Software and tools used for data analysis (Excel, STATA, SPSS, lab equipment, etc.).
  • Research limitations to highlight any hurdles you had to overcome when carrying our research. Limitations might or might not be mentioned within research methodology. Some institutions’ guidelines dictate they be mentioned under a separate section alongside recommendations.
  • Justification of your selection of research approach and research methodology.

Here is a comprehensive article on  how to structure a dissertation methodology .

Research Findings

In this section, you present your research findings. The dissertation findings chapter  is built around the research questions, as outlined in the introduction chapter. Report findings that are directly relevant to your research questions.

Any information that is not directly relevant to research questions or hypotheses but could be useful for the readers can be placed under the  Appendices .

As indicated above, you can either develop a  standalone chapter  to present your findings or combine them with the discussion chapter. This choice depends on  the type of research involved and the academic subject, as well as what your institution’s academic guidelines dictate.

For example, it is common to have both findings and discussion grouped under the same section, particularly if the dissertation is based on qualitative research data.

On the other hand, dissertations that use quantitative or experimental data should present findings and analysis/discussion in two separate chapters. Here are some sample dissertations to help you figure out the best structure for your own project.

Sample Dissertation

Tip: Try to present as many charts, graphs, illustrations and tables in the findings chapter to improve your data presentation. Provide their qualitative interpretations alongside, too. Refrain from explaining the information that is already evident from figures and tables.

The findings are followed by the  Discussion chapter , which is considered the heart of any dissertation paper. The discussion section is an opportunity for you to tie the knots together to address the research questions and present arguments, models and key themes.

This chapter can make or break your research.

The discussion chapter does not require any new data or information because it is more about the interpretation(s) of the data you have already collected and presented. Here are some questions for you to think over when writing the discussion chapter:

  • Did your work answer all the research questions or tested the hypothesis?
  • Did you come up with some unexpected results for which you have to provide an additional explanation or justification?
  • Are there any limitations that could have influenced your research findings?

Here is an article on how to  structure a dissertation discussion .

Conclusions corresponding to each research objective are provided in the  Conclusion section . This is usually done by revisiting the research questions to finally close the dissertation. Some institutions may specifically ask for recommendations to evaluate your critical thinking.

By the end, the readers should have a clear apprehension of your fundamental case with a focus on  what methods of research were employed  and what you achieved from this research.

Quick Question: Does the conclusion chapter reflect on the contributions your research work will make to existing knowledge?

Answer: Yes, the conclusion chapter of the research paper typically includes a reflection on the research’s contributions to existing knowledge.  In the “conclusion chapter”, you have to summarise the key findings and discuss how they add value to the existing literature on the current topic.

Reference list

All academic sources that you collected information from should be cited in-text and also presented in a  reference list (or a bibliography in case you include references that you read for the research but didn’t end up citing in the text), so the readers can easily locate the source of information when/if needed.

At most UK universities, Harvard referencing is the recommended style of referencing. It has strict and specific requirements on how to format a reference resource. Other common styles of referencing include MLA, APA, Footnotes, etc.

Each chapter of the dissertation should have relevant information. Any information that is not directly relevant to your research topic but your readers might be interested in (interview transcripts etc.) should be moved under the Appendices section .

Things like questionnaires, survey items or readings that were used in the study’s experiment are mostly included under appendices.

An Outline of Dissertation/Thesis Structure

An Outline of Dissertation

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FAQs About Structure a Dissertation

What does the title page of a dissertation contain.

The title page will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic , degree program (the paper is to be submitted for) and research supervisor’s name(s). The name of your university, logo, student number and submission date can also be presented on the title page.

What is the purpose of adding acknowledgement?

The acknowledgements section allows you to thank those who helped you with your dissertation project. You might want to mention the names of your academic supervisor, family members, friends, God and participants of your study whose contribution and support enabled you to complete your work.

Can I omit the glossary from the dissertation?

Yes, but only if you think that your paper does not contain any terms or phrases that the reader might not understand. If you think you have used them in the paper,  you must create a glossary that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.

What is the purpose of appendices in a dissertation?

Any information that is not directly relevant to research questions or hypotheses but could be useful for the readers can be placed under the Appendices, such as questionnaire that was used in the study.

Which referencing style should I use in my dissertation?

You can use any of the referencing styles such as APA, MLA, and Harvard, according to the recommendation of your university; however, almost all UK institutions prefer Harvard referencing style .

What is the difference between references and bibliography?

References contain all the works that you read up and used and therefore, cited within the text of your thesis. However, in case you read on some works and resources that you didn’t end up citing in-text, they will be referenced in what is called a bibliography.

Additional readings might also be present alongside each bibliography entry for readers.

You May Also Like

Make sure that your selected topic is intriguing, manageable, and relevant. Here are some guidelines to help understand how to find a good dissertation topic.

Your dissertation introduction chapter provides detailed information on the research problem, significance of research, and research aim & objectives.

Not sure how to start your dissertation and get it right the first time? Here are some tips and guidelines for you to kick start your dissertation project.

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What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started

Published on 26 March 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 5 May 2022.

A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree.

The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the level and field of study. However, there are some key questions that can help you understand the requirements and get started on your dissertation project.

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Table of contents

When and why do you have to write a dissertation, who will supervise your dissertation, what type of research will you do, how should your dissertation be structured, what formatting and referencing rules do you have to follow, frequently asked questions about dissertations.

A dissertation, sometimes called a thesis, comes at the end of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It is a larger project than the other essays you’ve written, requiring a higher word count and a greater depth of research.

You’ll generally work on your dissertation during the final year of your degree, over a longer period than you would take for a standard essay . For example, the dissertation might be your main focus for the last six months of your degree.

Why is the dissertation important?

The dissertation is a test of your capacity for independent research. You are given a lot of autonomy in writing your dissertation: you come up with your own ideas, conduct your own research, and write and structure the text by yourself.

This means that it is an important preparation for your future, whether you continue in academia or not: it teaches you to manage your own time, generate original ideas, and work independently.

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During the planning and writing of your dissertation, you’ll work with a supervisor from your department. The supervisor’s job is to give you feedback and advice throughout the process.

The dissertation supervisor is often assigned by the department, but you might be allowed to indicate preferences or approach potential supervisors. If so, try to pick someone who is familiar with your chosen topic, whom you get along with on a personal level, and whose feedback you’ve found useful in the past.

How will your supervisor help you?

Your supervisor is there to guide you through the dissertation project, but you’re still working independently. They can give feedback on your ideas, but not come up with ideas for you.

You may need to take the initiative to request an initial meeting with your supervisor. Then you can plan out your future meetings and set reasonable deadlines for things like completion of data collection, a structure outline, a first chapter, a first draft, and so on.

Make sure to prepare in advance for your meetings. Formulate your ideas as fully as you can, and determine where exactly you’re having difficulties so you can ask your supervisor for specific advice.

Your approach to your dissertation will vary depending on your field of study. The first thing to consider is whether you will do empirical research , which involves collecting original data, or non-empirical research , which involves analysing sources.

Empirical dissertations (sciences)

An empirical dissertation focuses on collecting and analysing original data. You’ll usually write this type of dissertation if you are studying a subject in the sciences or social sciences.

  • What are airline workers’ attitudes towards the challenges posed for their industry by climate change?
  • How effective is cognitive behavioural therapy in treating depression in young adults?
  • What are the short-term health effects of switching from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes?

There are many different empirical research methods you can use to answer these questions – for example, experiments , observations, surveys , and interviews.

When doing empirical research, you need to consider things like the variables you will investigate, the reliability and validity of your measurements, and your sampling method . The aim is to produce robust, reproducible scientific knowledge.

Non-empirical dissertations (arts and humanities)

A non-empirical dissertation works with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, critique and argumentation, but no original data. This approach is typical of arts and humanities subjects.

  • What attitudes did commentators in the British press take towards the French Revolution in 1789–1792?
  • How do the themes of gender and inheritance intersect in Shakespeare’s Macbeth ?
  • How did Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia influence nineteenth century utopian socialist thought?

The first steps in this type of dissertation are to decide on your topic and begin collecting your primary and secondary sources .

Primary sources are the direct objects of your research. They give you first-hand evidence about your subject. Examples of primary sources include novels, artworks and historical documents.

Secondary sources provide information that informs your analysis. They describe, interpret, or evaluate information from primary sources. For example, you might consider previous analyses of the novel or author you are working on, or theoretical texts that you plan to apply to your primary sources.

Dissertations are divided into chapters and sections. Empirical dissertations usually follow a standard structure, while non-empirical dissertations are more flexible.

Structure of an empirical dissertation

Empirical dissertations generally include these chapters:

  • Introduction : An explanation of your topic and the research question(s) you want to answer.
  • Literature review : A survey and evaluation of previous research on your topic.
  • Methodology : An explanation of how you collected and analysed your data.
  • Results : A brief description of what you found.
  • Discussion : Interpretation of what these results reveal.
  • Conclusion : Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your findings contribute to knowledge in your field.

Sometimes the order or naming of chapters might be slightly different, but all of the above information must be included in order to produce thorough, valid scientific research.

Other dissertation structures

If your dissertation doesn’t involve data collection, your structure is more flexible. You can think of it like an extended essay – the text should be logically organised in a way that serves your argument:

  • Introduction: An explanation of your topic and the question(s) you want to answer.
  • Main body: The development of your analysis, usually divided into 2–4 chapters.
  • Conclusion: Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your analysis contributes to knowledge in your field.

The chapters of the main body can be organised around different themes, time periods, or texts. Below you can see some example structures for dissertations in different subjects.

  • Political philosophy

This example, on the topic of the British press’s coverage of the French Revolution, shows how you might structure each chapter around a specific theme.

Example of a dissertation structure in history

This example, on the topic of Plato’s and More’s influences on utopian socialist thought, shows a different approach to dividing the chapters by theme.

Example of a dissertation structure in political philosophy

This example, a master’s dissertation on the topic of how writers respond to persecution, shows how you can also use section headings within each chapter. Each of the three chapters deals with a specific text, while the sections are organised thematically.

Example of a dissertation structure in literature

Like other academic texts, it’s important that your dissertation follows the formatting guidelines set out by your university. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

Formatting guidelines concern things like:

  • line spacing
  • page numbers
  • punctuation
  • title pages
  • presentation of tables and figures

If you’re unsure about the formatting requirements, check with your supervisor or department. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

How will you reference your sources?

Referencing means properly listing the sources you cite and refer to in your dissertation, so that the reader can find them. This avoids plagiarism by acknowledging where you’ve used the work of others.

Keep track of everything you read as you prepare your dissertation. The key information to note down for a reference is:

  • The publication date
  • Page numbers for the parts you refer to (especially when using direct quotes)

Different referencing styles each have their own specific rules for how to reference. The most commonly used styles in UK universities are listed below.

You can use the free APA Reference Generator to automatically create and store your references.

APA Reference Generator

The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:

  • In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD.
  • In the US, it’s the other way around: you may write a thesis at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a dissertation to complete a PhD.

The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.

Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

  • An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
  • A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
  • A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.

A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.

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7 steps to writing a dissertation

While you may be experienced in revising and writing essays, your dissertation requires careful planning, extensive research, and time management to succeed

Your dissertation is a key part of your degree course and a testament to your ability to conduct research, analyse data, and write a clear argument. Dissertations can be challenging, but they are also rewarding experiences that allow you to explore a topic in-depth and make a significant contribution to your field of study.

To achieve your academic goals, it is important to act on feedback, use your supervision time to your advantage, and demonstrate a strong knowledge of your subject. Whether you're writing an undergraduate, Masters , or PhD dissertation, these seven steps can help you stay on track.

1. Choose your topic wisely

Selecting the right topic is the foundation of a successful dissertation. It is important to choose a topic that is:

  • Relevant to your academic discipline and interests. This will ensure that you are passionate about your topic and have the necessary background knowledge to conduct meaningful research.
  • Intriguing and thought-provoking . A well-chosen topic will inspire you to ask interesting questions and develop original insights.
  • Specific enough to allow for in-depth analysis, yet broad enough to provide enough research material. A topic that is too narrow may be difficult to research or produce meaningful findings, while a topic that is too broad may be difficult to cover in the allowed time and word count.

Consider your career goals and what topics are relevant to the field you hope to work in after graduation. It's also important to be open to change, as it's common for students to modify their dissertation topic as they explore the subject more.

Once you have identified a potential topic, seek guidance from your supervisor. They can help you to refine your choice, identify relevant sources, and develop a research plan.

2. Check what's required of you

Read your marking criteria carefully. It is also important to consult the module guidelines and follow the instructions on any additional parts to your main assignment, such as a project plan, literature review or a critical reflection.

Neal Bamford, associate lecturer at London Metropolitan University, reports that his marking process always begins by 'distilling criteria to what students need to provide and how many marks this is worth.'

'Several dissertations I mark don't include a project plan in their submission. This is worth 20% of the overall mark, so students lose out on a significant portion of their grade'.

Before you begin to plan, make sure you understand what's expected of you. Find out:

  • what academic writing looks like in your discipline
  • the word count
  • when and where you must submit your dissertation.

3. Conduct in-depth research

Research at this stage in the process is often referred to as a literature review. This is where you are expected to gather relevant sources, articles, and studies from libraries, and online academic resources to identify the existing research on your topic and to develop your own research questions.

'Form your own opinion and argue for it using research. A history of the topic is always helpful, as it shows that you understand how things got to this point in time,' says Neal.

Be sure to take careful notes on each source and organise them for easy reference. You need to critically evaluate and analyse the sources to ensure their credibility and relevance to your research. This will be helpful when citing your sources in the writing stage.

Don't forget to seek guidance from your advisor throughout the research process. They can provide you with valuable feedback, relevant sources, and support.

4. Develop a strong thesis statement

A well-defined thesis statement is a roadmap for your dissertation. It should concisely state your main argument or research question and provide a clear direction for your paper. Your thesis statement will guide your entire writing process, so take the time to fully understand it before you begin to write.

When writing a thesis statement:

  • Be specific and focused - avoid broad or vague statements.
  • Remember that your thesis needs to be arguable - it should be a statement that can be supported or proved false with evidence.
  • Make sure your thesis is realistic - you need to be able to research and write about it in the allotted time and space.

Once you have a draft of your thesis statement, share it with your supervisor and other trusted peers. They can provide you with feedback and help you to refine your statement.

If your research disproves your original statement, it can be a disappointing experience. However, it is important to remember that this is a normal part of the research process.

'Many of my students believe that if they don't find the answer they're expecting, then their work is worthless,' says Neal.

'This is not the case. You don't have to find the answer to produce valuable research. Documenting your process and conclusions, even if they are inconclusive, can help others to avoid repeating your work and may lead to new approaches.'

5. Proofread and edit

After working on your dissertation for such a long time, it can be tempting to end the process once you have finished writing, but proofreading is an essential step in ensuring that it is polished and error-free.

To help with the proofreading process:

  • Read your dissertation aloud . This can help you to catch errors that you might miss when reading silently.
  • Change your environment to see your work with fresh eyes.
  • Focus on one thing at a time such as grammar, spelling, or punctuation to avoid getting overwhelmed.

To edit your dissertation, begin by reviewing its overall structure and flow. Make sure that your arguments are well-organised and that your ideas are presented in a logical order.

Next, check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation carefully. You can use a grammar checker, but it is important to proofread your work yourself to identify stylistic or subject-specific errors.

'Make sure you understand the reference style your university prefers. Formatting and labelling of images, tables etc. is vitally important and will be marked,' says Neal.

You should also ensure that your dissertation is formatted using the correct font, font size, margins, and line spacing.

6. Seek feedback and finalise

Once you have made your final revisions, seek feedback from your advisor or board members.

To get the most out of your feedback, be specific about what you are looking for. For example, you might ask for feedback on the overall structure and flow of your dissertation, the strength of your arguments, or the clarity of your writing.

Be open to feedback, even if it's negative. Remember that your advisor is there to help you improve your work, so it's important to take the time to understand and implement the feedback you receive.

Once you have addressed all the feedback, you can prepare your final submission. It's important to follow the guidelines carefully before submitting. Be sure to hand in your dissertation on time, as late submissions may be penalised or even rejected.

Online hand in is the most common method of dissertation submission, and you will typically need to upload a PDF file to an online portal. Follow the instructions carefully - you may need to provide additional information, such as your student ID number or the title of your dissertation.

Some institutions still require dissertations to be submitted in hard copy. If this is the case, you will need to submit a bound copy of your dissertation to your department office. You may also need to pay the binding fee.

Be sure to check with your advisor or department office for specific instructions on how to submit your dissertation in hard copy. You may have to submit multiple copies of your dissertation, and you be required to to include a title page, abstract, and table of contents.

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Grad Coach

Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

Dissertation structure and layout - the basics

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

  • Acknowledgements page
  • Abstract (or executive summary)
  • Table of contents , list of figures and tables
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Literature review
  • Chapter 3: Methodology
  • Chapter 4: Results
  • Chapter 5: Discussion
  • Chapter 6: Conclusion
  • Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

  • The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
  • The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
  • The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
  • The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

A dissertation's structure reflect the research process

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

  • Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
  • Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
  • Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

  • The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
  • The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
  • Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Dissertations stacked up

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

  • Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
  • Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
  • Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
  • Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

  • Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
  • Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
  • Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
  • Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

how to do dissertation step by step

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

  • What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
  • Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
  • What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
  • What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
  • How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
  • How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

  • What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
  • Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
  • How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
  • How does your research contribute something original?
  • How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Dissertation writing

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

  • Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
  • Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Dissertation and thesis prep

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings? In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

  • Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

how to do dissertation step by step

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

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Dissertation and thesis defense 101

36 Comments

ARUN kumar SHARMA

many thanks i found it very useful

Derek Jansen

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Sue

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

hayder

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Tim

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Ade Adeniyi

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Aswathi

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Jp Raimundo

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Karmelia Renatee

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

moha

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Krishnan iyer

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Alwyn Malan

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Rose

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

yemi Amos

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

Kgomotso Siwelane

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

dauda sesay

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Patrick Mwathi

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Adao Bundi

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

SAIKUMAR NALUMASU

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

mwepu Ilunga

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Rami

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

Chrisogonas Odhiambo

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

Luke

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Judy

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Christine

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Simon Le

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

Brhane Kidane

It is so necessary or avital course

johnson

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

avc

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

Emmanuel Manjolo

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

Paul I Thoronka

This is so good

Tesfay haftu

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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The Dissertation Process Explained in 6 Simple Steps

adult-student-going-through-the-dissertation-process

Completing your doctoral program is no easy feat, yet the payoff makes it all worthwhile. You’ll challenge yourself with academic rigor and defend your thesis as you showcase your knowledge to a panel of experts.

One of the hardest parts of the dissertation process is simply getting started. Here are six steps to guide you to successfully earning your doctoral degree by tackling your dissertation, from start to finish.

Step 1: Brainstorm Topics

Finding a research topic that’s right for you and your doctoral studies requires some serious thought. A doctoral program can take years to complete, so it’s important you choose a topic that you’re passionate about. Whether that’s in the field of education administration or entrepreneurship, find an area of study that suits your academic interests and career goals. 

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll take on the role of an independent researcher, which means you’ll be facilitating your own studies and academic milestones. Choose a topic that gets your wheels turning and stirs up an urgent sense of curiosity. However, take note that not every idea will suit a doctoral dissertation and the manuscript formatting. Many students make the mistake of choosing a topic that is too broad. Doctoral dissertations must be researchable and demonstrative based on qualitative or quantitative data. 

Do some preliminary research to determine if someone has already conducted similar research. Being flexible with your brainstorming will allow you to refine your topic with ease. Take constructive criticism from peers and mentors seriously so that you set yourself up for success from day one. If you find yourself feeling a bit lost, don’t be afraid to turn to experts in your field for their opinion. At this initial stage of the dissertation process, you should be the most open to exploring new ideas and refining your area of research.

Step 2: Find a Faculty Mentor and Committee Assignment

Once your topic is approved by the university, you’ll be tasked with selecting a faculty mentor. Finding a faculty chairperson is one of the most important steps you will take in your dissertation process , apart from crafting and delivering your manuscript. After all, your mentor will guide your academic work over the course of your doctoral studies for the next several years. You two will develop a working relationship, so it’s crucial that you choose a mentor you can collaborate and communicate with effectively.

At most universities, your faculty chair will be dedicated to the dissertation process full time. That means they will have the skills, expertise and time to support all of your needs. However, for the other members of your dissertation committee, you’ll want to consider logistics as well. You may have a dream faculty mentor you’d appreciate working with, but they must have the time and attention to dedicate to make the investment worthwhile for you both. Be upfront about your intended timeline, weekly and monthly time commitment, and expectations around communication. When you approach a faculty member about serving as part of your dissertation committee, leave the door open for them to say “no,” so you’re sure to find the right fit and someone who can commit in the long run. 

Some universities make the selection process easy by assigning a dissertation chair and committee to you. For example, doctoral students at SNU are assigned a committee comprised of four people: a dissertation chair within the program’s department, a second departmental faculty member, a member from outside the department who has scholarly expertise in the student’s research topic, and the Dissertation Director who coordinates all communication among the committee members.

Step 3: Develop and Submit a Proposal

Think of the proposal as an opportunity for you to both suss out your ideas and create a convincing argument to present to the faculty committee. Your proposal is the first look at your thesis statement, where you:

  • Introduce the topic
  • Pose a set of related topics
  • Outline the qualitative and quantitative data you hope to extract through careful research  

Again, be open to critical feedback. During this stage, you have the opportunity to reflect and refine the direction of your research. Faculty members will likely reciprocate your proposal with pointed questions that identify gaps in your proposal development or information-seeking process. 

You’ll go through a set of one or more revisions based on faculty feedback. You’ll then submit your proposal application for final approval. Once you have the entire committee’s approval, you’ll begin to collect data.

Step 4: Conduct Research and Data Analysis

In your proposal, you’ll outline your plan to conduct careful research, collect data and analyze that data. Throughout the research process, refer back to your outline to chart your own progress and to build a collection of measurable results to present to your faculty mentor. 

The next step is to add the data you collect to your proposal in two sections. The first section will summarize the data, and the second will offer an interpretation of that data. This step also lends itself to a series of revisions between you and the dissertation committee. Be prepared to implement those changes as you begin to draft your manuscript .

Step 5: Draft Your Manuscript

First, consult with your university’s policies and procedures regarding the doctoral manuscript academic requirements and scholarly style. Check with your department to inquire about additional departmental procedures. 

Consider Your Format 

Develop a consistent format in the early stages, so that submitting your thesis to the Advisory Committee and Examining Committee will run smoothly and you can receive swift feedback. You want to create both a professional and intuitive system for the academic committee and your general audience to be able to easily peruse your thesis. 

Pay close attention to proper sourcing of previously published content and provide a numbering system (page numbers and charts) that reflects the formatting of your thesis, not the numbering system of a previous publication. Devise chapter layout with the same level of scrutiny. Number chapters sequentially, and create a uniform system to label all charts, tables and equations. And last but not least, be sure to follow standard grammatical conventions, including spelling and punctuation. 

Cite Your Sources

As you gather research and develop your manuscript, you must cite your sources accurately and consistently. Check with your department ahead of time in case you should be formatting your resources according to specific departmental standards. In the absence of departmental standards, create a format of your own that you can adhere to with consistency. Most doctoral candidates will choose to include sources at the end of each chapter or in one single list at the end of their dissertation. 

Craft Your Content

You’ll spend the bulk of your time crafting the content of the manuscript itself . You’ll  begin by summarizing relevant sourcing and reviewing related literature. The purpose of this first section is to establish your expertise in the field, establish clear objectives for your research, identify the broader context within which the research resides, and provide more acute context for the data itself. You’ll then discuss the methods of analyzing the research before transitioning into data analysis in a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Finally, in your conclusion, you’ll link your direct research to the larger picture and the implications of its impact in your field.

Step 6: Defend Your Thesis

The pinnacle of your research will be defending your thesis in front of a panel of experts — the dissertation committee. Sometimes this takes place in person, or, as has proved increasingly common during the past year, by video/voice conferencing. 

This is your opportunity to demonstrate all that you have learned over multiple years of careful research and analysis. The committee will pose questions to both clarify and challenge your level of knowledge in an impromptu fashion. In some cases, based on the committee’s perception, you may need to submit a secondary oral defense. Ultimately, the committee will determine a successful delivery of your dissertation and the chance to proudly assert your doctoral status after completing all degree requirements. 

No matter which path you choose to pursue en route to your doctoral, online and in-person education options can make your dream of completing your degree one step closer to reality. Take a look at SNU’s online and on-campus course offerings today.

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How to Write a Dissertation - Ultimate Guide

How to Write a Dissertation

how to do dissertation step by step

Select a relevant topic, understand academic requirements, conduct thorough research, formulate a solid thesis, revise thoroughly, seek feedback for finalization.

A graduate school class will not be complete without writing– or at least preparing– a dissertation. How to write a dissertation step-by-step is probably the most important question out there, but as a PhD student with many things to consider, this might not be an easy route for you. 

As many graduate students share the same brunt and difficulty in putting together things for their dissertation, this blog is surely geared to help you create only one thing in particular– a cheat sheet– that will help you navigate the grueling process of crafting your research manifesto in the easiest way possible. 

This cheat sheet, having to consider the different dissertation formats and other auxiliary components that might help enrich your paper, will not just empower you to complete your dissertation in no time. Still, it will also let you be empowered and inspired to value your craft in research and contribute meaningfully to the ever-growing knowledge base of your field of study.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a substantial academic work, typically required for a doctoral degree. It involves original research, focused on a specific question, and demonstrates extensive knowledge in the field. This lengthy document includes structured analysis and often culminates in a formal defense.

A dissertation represents the zenith of academic pursuits, a testament to scholarly dedication that signifies a transition from student to scholar status. Let's delve into what constitutes a dissertation and its pivotal role in academia.

The Essence of a DissertationFundamentally, a dissertation is a comprehensive, systematically organized document that reports on an original research project. This extensive work is usually a requirement for obtaining a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. or Ed.D. While the exact specifications and structures can differ across various academic disciplines and institutions, certain key aspects universally characterize a dissertation:

Novel Contribution : Central to a dissertation is its contribution of new understanding, methods, or theories to a specific field. This involves carrying out fresh research, which often includes gathering and analyzing new data.

Deep Investigation : A dissertation delves into a particular topic or query in great depth. It encompasses a thorough review of existing literature and an in-depth exploration of the subject matter.

Organized Composition : Typically, dissertations are presented in a well-organized format comprising sections like an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Though the structure might vary slightly, it follows a coherent and logical order.

Scholarly Excellence : Upholding high scholarly standards, dissertations demand critical analysis, sophisticated analytical capabilities, and proficient academic writing. They must conform to the accepted norms of academic citations and referencing.

How to Write a Dissertation Step-by-Step

Writing a dissertation is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

  • Choose Your Topic : Select a topic that interests you and is relevant to your field of study. Ensure it's specific enough to be manageable but broad enough to allow for comprehensive research.
  • Develop a Research Question : Formulate a clear and focused research question or hypothesis. This will guide your research and writing.
  • Write a Proposal : Prepare a proposal outlining your research question, methodology, and how your work will contribute to your field. This usually needs approval from your academic supervisor.
  • Conduct a Literature Review : Review existing literature to understand the current state of research on your topic. This helps to identify gaps your dissertation can fill.
  • Design the Research Methodology : Decide on the methods you will use for data collection and analysis. This could be experimental, survey-based, a literature review, etc., depending on your field.
  • Collect Data : Undertake the research as per your methodology. This might involve experiments, surveys, fieldwork, or other forms of data collection.
  • Analyze the Data : Interpret your findings, considering how they answer your research question. Use appropriate statistical methods if your study involves quantitative data.
  • Write the Dissertation : Start writing your dissertation. Commonly, this includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
  • Edit and Revise : Revisit your draft, refining your arguments and ensuring clarity. Pay attention to the structure, coherence, and academic style.
  • Feedback : Share drafts with your supervisor and possibly peers for feedback. Use this to improve and refine your dissertation.
  • Finalize Your Dissertation : After revisions and ensuring that all sections are cohesive and well-presented, finalize your dissertation. Make sure all parts are well-formatted and adhere to your institution's guidelines.
  • Prepare for the Defense : If your program requires it, prepare to defend your dissertation in front of a committee. This involves presenting your research and answering questions.

Remember, each dissertation journey is unique. The key is to stay organized, consult with your advisor regularly, and manage your time efficiently.

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Key Factors to Consider for a Successful Dissertation

In providing the steps to writing a dissertation, it will be easy for one to understand the factors that could play nice– or dirty– on your preparation process. By now, you might be wondering why these factors are so important in all sorts of writing endeavors.

Different and specialized in dissertation writing, knowing these factors will save you from the rigorous and often brutal process of validating your paper. 

Since you are vying for the highest academic degree, there is virtually no room for errors, and your paper must embody your victory to contribute meaningfully to your field of study, whether theoretically or practically.

Trust me: these factors are not just some sort of advice or pointers that you need to remember once; these are elements that will greatly influence your success on the defense panel. 

Originality

When writing your dissertation, your first question must be in this form or something related to this: “What makes this paper NEW?” If you are planning to do something plain, predictable, or common, then I have to burst your bubbles.

That will not even go through the pre-defense panel, to say the least. You, as a doctoral student, are expected to write a dissertation that “breaks the grounds” of your stream of study. It has to be original or something that continues to unravel the mystery of something unknown.

When talking about this element; you have to likewise involve yourself in the discovery of new knowledge, innovative methodologies, or the expansion of new theories.

Interdisciplinarity

Considered a novel method in advanced research writing and how to write a dissertation, interdisciplinarity explains how other fields or streams of study can help enrich one’s understanding of a question or problem using concepts, methods, and literature from various academic disciplines.

The element of interdisciplinarity may come from different approaches and strategies. It may look something like defining terms in different contexts, synthesizing a body of knowledge, including some insights from other disciplines, and employing methodological pluralism, which uses a variety of research methods to provide holistic findings to complex research questions and enhance the robustness of the dissertation.

Practicality

Practicality is probably the most overlooked element in traditional research writing, and that is okay, as it is unnecessary when your scope is only that much. However, when writing your dissertation, the knowledge from your research must bear fruit that people within your field of study may find useful.

It may be an intervention plan, a physical invention, a theory or model, or an ordinance, among others. The common denominator of these practical things that arose from dissertation writing is their usefulness in providing a concrete solution to an identified problem. 

Extensiveness

The large breadth of effort and knowledge a dissertation paper is trying to provide is more than what you can expect from a research paper done by high schoolers and undergraduates.

In pursuit of new knowledge or expanding a theory, for example, one must find pieces of evidence not often found in the common repositories.

Your literature review likewise demonstrates this element by thoroughly examining findings from reputable sources that are otherwise not used frequently in most scholarly works.

The display of variables in the study is articulated in the most specific way by using tailor-fit conceptual frameworks.

These four elements of an excellent dissertation paper need to be seen throughout the paper, and luckily, a dissertation writing service like Studyfy can make that possible for you.

Our team of experts, PhD holders, and seasoned researchers is dedicated to transforming your academic aspirations into reality by tailoring your paper to your specific needs and guaranteeing originality– a 100% pass from a plagiarism scan!

Tips for Writing a Dissertation

Since this is a cheat sheet for answering the question of how to write a dissertation in no time, I will not give you much of an introduction on this part, but all I want you to know is that you are in for a major treat!

Pre-Planning Phase

  • Select a Specific Stream or Subgenre : Identify a field or subgenre with recognizable gaps or understudied aspects to focus your research.
  • Develop Unique Research Questions : Formulate precise and original questions aimed at extracting useful findings and contributing to new knowledge.
  • Conduct a Targeted Literature Review : Focus on peer-reviewed materials, articles published in reputable journals, and authoritative sources that are open to further exploration.
  • Undertake Extensive Background Research : As many dissertation topics are novel, delve into primary sources of information and document them comprehensively to deepen your understanding of the subject.

‍ Manuscript Writing Phase

  • Divide Introduction into Chapters : Breaking the introduction or background information into chapters enhances clarity, allows focus on specific aspects of each section, and prevents overwhelming readers with too much information at once.
  • Detailed Introduction : Don’t hesitate to extend your introduction if necessary. A detailed introduction sets a solid foundation for your dissertation, avoiding ambiguity and providing clear context.
  • Utilize Mixed Method Design : This research design combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, offering a more nuanced view and stronger inference for complex problems.
  • Holistic and Interdisciplinary Approach : Present findings in a way that contributes to the broader research ecosystem. Incorporating interdisciplinary insights can enhance the value of your work to other fields.
  • View the Manuscript as Iterative : Accept that your dissertation will undergo multiple revisions. Use feedback constructively to avoid repeating issues and continuously improve your manuscript.

Post-Manuscript Phase

  • Develop a Submission Checklist : Prepare a checklist to track tasks such as finalizing appendices, reviewing citations and references, and submitting your paper for ethics clearance. Ensuring compliance with these details is crucial for degree completion.
  • Refine Your Abstract : Focus on crafting a clear and comprehensive abstract, as it represents the key elements of your paper and is often the first part reviewed by advisors or for presentations and publications.
  • Edit and Format According to a Style Guide : After writing, rigorously edit and format your manuscript, aligning it with a specific academic style guide. Consult with your advisor or research committee if unsure about the appropriate style guide.
  • Create a Condensed Version of Your Manuscript : Prepare a condensed, annotated version of your dissertation for use during defense presentations. Annotate with potential questions and criticisms to prepare thoroughly.
  • Prepare for Presentation or Publication : If your goal is to contribute to your field, prepare your dissertation for potential research conferences or journal publications, expanding its reach and impact within the academic community.

Enjoyed our article?For further assistance, dive into our network of professional writers and access expert dissertation writing services!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it typically take to write a dissertation.

The duration for writing a dissertation varies significantly based on research complexity, field of study, and individual work habits. Typically, for doctoral students, the process can span from a year to several years post-coursework. This timeframe encompasses developing a research question, conducting a literature review, crafting a methodology, data collection and analysis, writing, and revisions. Effective time management and regular consultation with advisors are crucial for progress.

For master's programs, this period may be shorter, often around one to two years, depending on the program's intensity and requirements.

If you're struggling with your dissertation and considering alternative solutions, it's important to research and understand the options available, such as the choice to buy a dissertation , ensuring it aligns with your academic goals and requirements.

What is the best way to structure a dissertation?

To effectively structure a dissertation, start with an introduction where you set the stage for your research, stating the problem, objectives, and its significance. Follow this with a literature review that situates your work within the existing body of knowledge, demonstrating how your research fills a gap or adds a new perspective. The methodology section should then detail the methods you used for data collection and analysis, explaining why they were appropriate for your research question. Next, present your results, laying out the data and findings clearly.

In the discussion section, interpret these results, connecting them back to your hypothesis and the literature review. Conclude with a summary of your findings, their implications, and potential directions for future research. Throughout, ensure your work is supported by appropriate references, and include any necessary appendices for supplementary material. This flow ensures a coherent and comprehensive presentation of your research journey.

If you need assistance in structuring and articulating your ideas, a dissertation proposal writing service can be a valuable resource.

What are the essential steps in writing a dissertation?

Writing a dissertation involves several key steps. First, select a topic that's both relevant and interesting to you. Then, write a research proposal outlining your question and methodology. Conduct a comprehensive literature review to understand the existing research landscape. Define your research methodology, detailing how you'll collect and analyze data. After gathering data, analyze it to draw conclusions. Finally, write your dissertation, presenting your research, findings, and conclusions in a structured format. This process includes extensive writing, revising, and often culminates in a formal defense of your work.

How do I choose a dissertation topic?

Selecting a dissertation topic involves identifying a subject that interests you and is relevant to your field. Start by considering areas you're passionate about and explore how they intersect with your academic discipline. Review current research and trends to find gaps or unanswered questions in your field. Consult with your academic advisor or mentors to refine your ideas, and consider the feasibility in terms of resources, data availability, and time constraints. Choose a topic that offers scope for original research, contributes to your field, and aligns with your career goals. It's also important to ensure that the topic is manageable in scale for the duration of your program.

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How to Write a Dissertation: Step-by-Step Guide & Tips on Writing

how to write a dissertation

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Students are typically required to write a dissertation when pursuing a doctoral degree. A dissertation is a major research project that allows students to demonstrate their expertise and make a significant contribution to the existing theoretical knowledge. Writing a dissertation involves conducting original research on a specific topic and presenting key findings in a structured, scholarly format. Writing a dissertation or thesis can be a complex and lengthy process even for a graduate student. It requires a high level of preparedness, which is why our dissertation writing service is here. But producing a truly valuable and innovative study is even more challenging, prompting us to help you learn how to write an effective dissertation.  In this step-by-step guide, we will explain how to write a dissertation or thesis and make it astounding. 

When Do You Write a Dissertation or Thesis?

In the United States, you must write a dissertation to complete a doctorate degree, while a thesis helps to earn a Master’s degree. This also applies to most universities around the world. Sometimes, a student may be expected to complete a thesis for their Bachelor's degree, which will help them form the basis of academic research, thus requiring time and dedication. You must be prepared to conduct extensive analysis of the topic, draw conclusions, and write a thesis. Let us now look into the basics of completing this type of paper.

Understand the Basics Before Writing a Dissertation

To begin writing your dissertation or thesis , you must understand its primary purpose. A PhD thesis serves as a comprehensive record of your research and the results that follow from it. This document aims to validate your scholarly competence in your field of study and to present a detailed description of the research experiments, theories, and conclusions you have developed. Before you create your study, you will need tips on writing a dissertation to begin your research, devise a plan of action, and start the actual writing process. It is important to understand that PhD dissertation writing requires you to be organized and self-disciplined. You must plan ahead of time, thus ensuring enough period to write, research, and evaluate results.  Your ability to write a good dissertation just like a capstone project will significantly impact your overall grade and, in some cases, determine the completion of your university program.

How to Write a Dissertation Step-By-Step?

You most likely need help with understanding how to write your dissertation since it significantly differs from the previous academic assignments you have done. The process can be daunting: from selecting a topic to submitting the paper, you might experience feelings of euphoria, self-doubt, and anxiety. Every thesis writer can, however, overcome these fears by spending some time learning more about them.  We have come up with steps to writing a dissertation or thesis that will help keep you on track while preparing a stellar practical document. Let's get started! Alternatively, you can seek expert academic help from our professional writing service. Send us your requirements along with ‘ write my dissertation ’ order and our qualified writers will provide you with a custom study.

How to write a dissertation according to structure

1. Come Up With an Original Topic

Students are often advised to choose dissertation writing topics they find interesting. Selecting an original title is essential since it will form the foundation of your thesis. Depending on the field of study, you can find research sources in the library, online databases, and other places. However, coming up with dissertation topics can be tricky and difficult, so there are some characteristics of a good topic that we provided below to guide you in writing Ph.D. thesis or dissertation:

  • Relevant to your field of study: The topic should be closely related to the field in which you plan on pursuing further research.
  • Original: Present a unique and novel topic idea that has not been explored before.
  • Manageable in terms of the amount of time available to complete it.
  • Interesting: Write your dissertation on a current topic that will engage the reader.
  • Feasible: It should be achievable to complete the work in the given time frame, and there should be enough available resources related to the chosen subject.

One example of a good topic is " The Impact of Social Networking on Mental Health. " This dissertation topic is original and interesting and can also be managed by completing research within a reasonable time frame. An example of a bad topic is " The Influence of Weather on Human Behavior ." This topic is too broad, and you might not manage to finish your paper within a reasonable period. You must discuss your dissertation writing topic with your professor, thus ensuring it aligns with your thesis requirements. This will guarantee that you start your writing project being on the right track and that you can complete it successfully. The advisor will also ascertain that you write a dissertation or thesis that meets the academic guideline, which will help you avoid a situation where you might have to resubmit your paper.

2. Do Preliminary Research

Before you write a dissertation, you must conduct in-depth research on the literature. Preliminary research includes searching and reading relevant books, journal articles, research papers, and other sources to get an overview of the study area. This will enable you to gain knowledge about the topic and how it was addressed in the past. It will also help you identify potential gaps your dissertation can fill. Taking notes is critical in this step since it organizes your thoughts and ideas, thus ensuring that the thesis flows adequately. We hope this helped you understand how to write a high-quality dissertation.

3. Write a Research Proposal

A research proposal is an essential document in which you outline your dissertation's topic, objectives, and research methods. This step serves as a plan for writing a dissertation or thesis and provides details for how each part will be carried out. A dissertation proposal helps define the project's scope and ensures that it remains focused on your line of research. It also enables you to identify potential problems early on and plan accordingly.  To prepare an effective research proposal, you must understand the topic and structure your ideas logically. Additionally, it is crucial to have detailed information about your sources and ensure they are reliable.  A well-structured research proposal will demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the subject and understand how to convey a proper investigation into it. It will also enable you to gain insight from your supervisor on whether you are doing what is expected, which is necessary for writing a doctoral dissertation.

4. Develop a Research Question

Learning how to develop a research question is essential for understanding how to write a Ph.D. dissertation. A well-framed research question should be specific, focused, and manageable. It should also be relevant to your field of study while simultaneously being exciting and original. As such, you must spend sufficient time on this step since a good research question will guide the rest of your dissertation writing.  An example of a proper research question is:

What are the most effective strategies for preventing teenage pregnancy in low-income communities?

The question focuses on how to prevent teenage pregnancy in a specific demographic. On the other hand, below is an example of a bad question:

What is teenage pregnancy?

It is an awkward research question. This question is too broad, and the answers provided may be too general. As a result, it lacks direction for further research. With this knowledge, you can write your dissertation or thesis with a workable research question to help you fully focus on the writing process.

5. Prepare a Literature Review

Dissertation writing requires you to conduct an in-depth literature review of the research related to your topic. This stage is critical for any dissertation since it provides the basis for further analysis. As such, it is vital to do a thorough study and read as much as possible on the relevant topics. Evaluating the different sources for their reliability and accuracy is also essential. This will help you ensure that any information presented in your dissertation is valid and reliable. Once you have gathered all the necessary information, it is important to synthesize the existing research, thus developing a comprehensive overview. This will allow you to identify areas where further investigation is needed, which can be used in creating your project. To successfully write a dissertation or thesis, it is essential to identify a research gap in your field of study. This means you need to spot a need or area where no previous research has been done and then use your thesis to fill this niche. This will help you develop an original topic and produce a successful thesis that will ascertain you score a good grade. Check our guide on how to write a literature review for more information. By following these steps, you learn how to write dissertation with a relevant literature review. We also prepared a blog on how to write a literature review outline  with various examples.

6. Create a Dissertation or Thesis Outline

A well-structured dissertation requires you to prepare a thesis outline to present all the information coherently and comprehensibly. In writing an effective dissertation, a good outline will help keep you organized and on track to meet your goals. It should include a list of key topics, the research approach, and the evidence to be included in each section. The outline should also contain the structure of your dissertation, subheadings, and a timeline to provide a framework guiding you in writing the thesis and ensure that all sections are adequately covered. It's essential to make sure that the headings and subheadings are easy to read and understand, as this will improve the overall flow of your work. Your outline should also include references, which will be used to provide evidence for your arguments. By following these steps, you get to write an outstanding dissertation or thesis, thus scoring good grades.

7. Conduct Your Own Research or Experiment

To write your thesis or dissertation, you must collect data and verify existing theories related to your topic. You may also need to develop new theories in support of your research and conclusions. The data collected needs to be analyzed, interpreted, and presented logically to support your conclusions. Additionally, your research should be backed up by reliable evidence and examples.  In case you are conducting an experiment, you need to ensure that the sample size and methodology are appropriate for your study. This way, you will write a dissertation that is well-grounded, convincing, and backed up by evidence.

1. Prepare a Study Design

A good research design will allow you to effectively collect relevant data, analyze it, and draw meaningful conclusions when writing a doctoral thesis. You must design a research strategy appropriate for your topic. This involves deciding on the best methods, such as conducting surveys , questionnaires, interviews, or experimental designs . Make sure that the research instruments are valid and reliable for your study. You should craft a methodology chapter to explain your chosen methods and how they were applied. Your dissertation methodology chapter should address the research design, data collection methods, sampling techniques, and data analysis procedures. This will provide an overview of how your dissertation was conducted and make it easier for readers to understand the results. Following these steps will teach you how to write a dissertation with a practical study design.

2. Gather and Analyze Data

Data required to write your doctoral dissertation can be collected through qualitative or quantitative methods . 

  • Qualitative research methods involve collecting data from interviews, surveys, focus groups, and participant observations. Through these methods, you can gain detailed insights into people's experiences within a particular context. 
  • Quantitative research methods involve collecting numerical data that is amenable to statistical analysis. Examples include surveys, experiments, and quantitative observations.

Once you have gathered the data, you need to analyze it to complete this step. Statistical analysis may be required for quantitative data, while qualitative analysis is often used for qualitative data.  It would help if you also used appropriate data analysis software, such as SPSS or Excel. Finally, present the findings of your data analysis and conclude the discussion section of your thesis. This way, you can write a quality dissertation or thesis well-supported by data and analysis.

8. Introduce the Results

Your efforts in writing dissertation or thesis will help you present the results of your research in an organized and transparent fashion. In the results section , you will need to briefly overview your research findings and explain how they relate to your theoretical framework.  It should also be noted that you should not go into too much detail in the results section. Instead, it would be best to point out the most critical findings in concise yet comprehensive summaries. For instance, if your study is about an experiment that investigated the effectiveness of a new medication for treating anxiety, then you can present the results by writing a summary of the key findings, for instance, this way:

The new medication was found to be more effective for reducing anxiety levels than the placebo.

Similar approach will help you develop a comprehensive results section that readers can easily understand, ensuring you write an astounding dissertation.

9. Discuss Your Key Findings

Once you have presented your results and their implications, it is vital to guarantee that readers clearly see your research's overall picture. You must make sense of the data and explain why specific findings are significant. In other words, you need to interpret your findings, making them meaningful for readers. The dissertation discussion chapter is meant for this purpose. Discuss your findings in detail, outline what value they brought, and how they align with the theoretical framework of your study.  For example, let's say you make a dissertation conducting a study examining the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress levels. You found that participants had significantly lower stress levels after eight weeks of mindfulness practice. To make this finding meaningful, you must explain why this is remarkable and what it suggests for future research.  For instance, you might write:

The findings of this study indicate that mindfulness meditation can be a useful tool for reducing stress levels, which could lead to improved overall well-being and quality of life. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of mindfulness on mental health outcomes.

>> View more: Research Topics on Mental Health

By providing an interpretation of your results, you make it easier for readers to make sense of your findings and understand the implications of your research. This section substantially helps you in creating a dissertation that provides your professor or research committee with a well-rounded and meaningful answer to your research question.

10. Write a Dissertation Conclusion

The conclusion is vital when writing your dissertation or thesis as it is the last part of your paper that readers will read. It is essential to leave them with a lasting impression. To ensure your conclusion for thesis is effective, you should include key elements in summarizing your research and discuss its implications. A template for writing a dissertation conclusion includes the following:

  • A summary of the main findings of your research.
  • An overview of how the findings relate to existing literature or knowledge in the field.
  • Links between crucial findings and any recommendations for future research.
  • A brief statement that will state how results can be used in practice.

The closing paragraph should respond to the main problem statement . In Ph.D. thesis writing, an effective conclusion will include all the points previously mentioned in the paper while also providing concluding thoughts for the reader to understand the results of the research. This allows readers to appreciate the significance and value of your findings and how they can be used in practice. Students might ask themselves, "how do you write an effective dissertation that leaves readers with a lasting impression?". Following the guidance provided in this step will definitely help you achieve just that and make a difference in ensuring that your work stands out.

11. Develop an Introduction Chapter

The next step in how to write a great dissertation is preparing an introduction. First, it outlines what readers should expect to learn in the rest of your work. The PhD thesis introduction chapter should provide a brief overview of the paper, including your research question and objectives, the methods used for data collection and analysis, key findings, and implications. Additionally, it can be helpful to introduce any relevant literature that directly relates to your topic. This is a great way to give readers some context on how your work fits in with what is already known in the field. Lastly, the introduction should include a brief outline of what readers can expect to learn in each chapter.  This helps readers keep track of the dissertation's structure and provides an overview of key points discussed. By knowing what to include in your introduction, you can ensure that readers will have a clear understanding of your thesis, its purpose, and potential contribution to the field.  It is important to note that most dissertation writing guides suggest that you prepare the introduction and dissertation abstract last since it is the best way to ascertain that your introduction is practical and transparent, covering all necessary points.

12. List References and Sources

When writing a dissertation or thesis, it is essential to list sources as it allows readers to gain insight into how the research was conducted and how conclusions were reached. It is also crucial for students to cite their sources to demonstrate how their work builds upon existing knowledge in the field. Additionally, listing references can help readers verify facts and check your paper for accuracy.  There exist multiple different formats, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style, that can be used for that purpose. It is essential to check the specific guidelines set by your institution or journal to ensure that you cite your sources and format references correctly.  Having an accurate list of references also allows readers to quickly refer back to sources when they consider how your research is connected to the broader field. With the knowledge we provided in this step, you should be equipped with knowledge on how to write a good dissertation list of references.

Dissertation Writing Style

  • The dissertation writing style should be consistent and professional.
  • It is universally recommended for your papers to be written in an active voice since it emphasizes the researcher.
  • You should also use past tense when describing your own research since it is completed beforehand.
  • Present tense , on the other hand, should be used when discussing existing theoretical knowledge in your field of study, other people’s research, or in the analysis section.
  • Future tense suits for discussing the implications of your findings and predictions.
  • Having a consistent tone and voice throughout your dissertation will help readers follow your argument more easily.
  • Paying attention to style and readability can help write dissertation that is easier to read.
  • Incorporating simple sentence structures, avoiding jargon , and proofreading to eliminate errors can help make sure that your work is well-written and professional.

The guidelines on style guide students on how to write a doctorate dissertation that meets submission requirements.

Tips for Writing Dissertation

If you still find it challenging to write a dissertation paper, we have more useful information that can guide this writing journey:

  • Create a timeline and stick to it to ensure that you take appropriate steps toward completing your dissertation promptly.
  • Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, making them easier to finish.
  • Set aside time for research, note-taking, and writing, thus ensuring that you stay on track in your writing.
  • Get feedback from your supervisor or mentor to ascertain that you make good progress in the right direction.
  • Ask for dissertation writing tips from your peers or other experts, which can be a great source of information throughout the writing process.
  • Take regular breaks to avoid burnout and keep yourself focused and motivated over the course of working on your dissertation.
  • Proofread your work to make sure that there are no errors while editing when necessary.
  • Keeping track of all changes you make to your dissertation can help ensure that important information is not lost during the writing process.

These tips for writing a dissertation will help you prepare an excellent thesis that meets the requirements of your institution.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Dissertation or Thesis

Now that you have learned how to write a doctoral dissertation, we are providing some common mistakes to avoid:

  • Procrastinating Putting off the writing process leads to delayed submissions and revisions, increasing stress levels in the long run.
  • Writing without an outline or checklist Developing a dissertation outline or checklist can help track how far along you are in your writing process and know what tasks need to be accomplished, thus allowing you to write a good dissertation or thesis.
  • Not taking breaks Regular intervals can help keep your mind fresh and energized, thus avoiding fatigue or burnout during the writing process.
  • Ignoring feedback Getting feedback from your supervisor or peers is essential to produce a successful dissertation, as it can help identify areas for improvement.
  • Forgetting about formatting Ensuring that all of your references and citations are correctly formatted according to your institution's standards increases your paper's overall quality.

This list of common mistakes can, in a certain sense, act as a dissertation writing guide to ensure that your work is of the highest quality and meets all requirements set by your institution.

Dissertation Writing Checklist

A checklist can be helpful when writing a dissertation. Here is a writing checklist to help you guarantee that your thesis meets the requirements set by your institution:

  • checkbox My title page includes all elements required by the instructor.
  • checkbox The dissertation acknowledgements page contains a message thanking everyone who positively impacted the journey in writing the dissertation.
  • checkbox My dissertation table of contents covers all chapters.
  • checkbox My abstract is short and provides a brief introduction to my thesis topic, its relevance, and the results of my research.
  • checkbox Introduction offers an in-depth overview of the topic, methodology, and aims of writing the thesis.
  • checkbox The methodology section describes the methods and techniques used to research, collect data, and analyze results.
  • checkbox Included results that present findings from the investigation and analysis.
  • checkbox Discussion section goes beyond providing conclusive results, offers insights, and gives advice on the implications of my study.
  • checkbox A conclusion summarizes key findings of my research and writing process and presents ideas for further research related to my topic.
  • checkbox Reference list includes all sources used to research the topic.
  • checkbox Valuable documents that can't be incorporated in the main body are added to the dissertation appendix .
  • checkbox Proofreading is done to ensure there are no errors, omissions, or spelling issues in my writing.

Bottom Line on Writing a Dissertation or Thesis

Writing dissertations doesn't have to be complicated. With the right dissertation and thesis guide, you can guarantee that your dissertation meets all the requirements set by your institution and is of high quality. We have offered you a clear step by step guide to writing a dissertation and described some common mistakes to avoid, thus helping you write a good paper. Following these writing dissertation tips will help ensure your paper is successful. Your ability to master thesis writing can also give you an advantage in the job market since it is a skill that employers highly value. We wish you all the best as you get ready to begin your thesis writing journey!

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How to Write Your Best Dissertation: Step-by-Step Guide

how to write a dissertation

Why Is Writing a Dissertation So Hard?

Choose the theme, question, and title, structure of the dissertation proposal, step 2: conduct an effective research, step 3: write a mind-blowing dissertation, step 4: edit and proofread the dissertation like a pro, step 5: get feedback, wrapping it up: how to write a dissertation.

When you get to the point of writing a dissertation, you're clearly near the end of an important stage of your educational journey. The point of this paper is to showcase your skills and capacity to conduct research in your chosen discipline and present the results through an original piece of content that will provide value for the academic and scientific community. You should also make the dissertation interesting and unlike any other academic paper that's already been published.

Your mindset is an important part of the process. Think of it this way: if you follow this dissertation guide and you still don't manage to write the paper, you can always rely on the best dissertation writing service . With that sense of security, you'll carry on doing your best.

Let's Start with the Definition: What Is a Dissertation?

Dissertation - the final project that PhD candidates present before gaining their doctoral degree.

However, the term dissertation is also used for the final project that PhD candidates present before gaining their doctoral degree. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about an undergraduate or PhD dissertation; the form of the assignment is very similar, although the PhD project is much more serious.

This guide from our professional thesis writing service will be useful both for undergraduate and PhD students, who are working on their dissertation projects, as well as for students developing theses for MA programs.

Most candidates usually start with great enthusiasm, but this intimidating project can throw them to despair. The process of planning, research, and writing will be the longest and most complex challenge you've ever committed to. The end result will be very rewarding, but you might go through several obstacles to get to that point. These are some of the most common problems students have when writing their dissertations:

  • Procrastination . They think there is plenty of time to work on the project, and they keep delaying the starting point. This is a big problem, since these students usually find themselves in frantic stress when the deadline approaches. Procrastination is one of the first signs that you need academic writing help.
  • Lack of research. Students who don't have enough experience with academic writing think they just need to collect few relevant resources and extract relevant quotes from them. That's far from the truth. You need to analyze those materials thoroughly and discuss them in the paper.
  • Lack of writing skills. The dissertation paper should follow the strict rules of academic writing. You can choose unusual dissertation titles, but you should write in proper form, style, and language; and make sure to implement the correct citation guidelines.

The dissertation may seem like an overwhelming challenge. We offer the tips that make the dissertation seem like something you can do. You'll slowly head into the right direction when you follow this guide on how to write a dissertation step by step.

Step 1: Write a winning dissertation proposal

dissertation writing

We already explained what a dissertation paper is, but what is a dissertation proposal?

As the term itself suggests, this is a proposal for the final dissertation project, which should persuade the committee members that you're going to commit to a valuable, interesting, and complex questions. This is a shorter paper than the final dissertation, but it's equally as important because this is the point when you'll think of a significant question and you'll set up a plan for assembling information and writing the paper. Even if the proposal is not mandatory in your university, you should still write it and discuss the points with your mentor.

how to do dissertation step by step

These are the main points to pay attention to when wondering how to write a dissertation proposal:

- What problem is your dissertation going to tackle?

- Why is it a problem for the research, academic, and scientific community you'll belong to?

- Why is it important for you to find a solution?

- How are you going to search for the answers?

All these questions are important for making the final commitment. Make sure to brainstorm and choose a theme that will be valuable, unique, and reasonable. You don't want to end up with a too complex question that would trick you in a dead end. The question you choose should lead you to a testable hypothesis that you can prove with strong arguments.

Discuss few alternatives of the dissertation title with your mentor before you start writing the proposal.

If you want to make the proposal convincing, its format has to be clean and easy to follow. Here are the points you should include in the proposal:

  • Dissertation title
  • Objectives - Aim for up to three objectives. If you're too extensive at this point, it will seem like your plan doesn't have a focus, so you'll need to narrow it down.
  • Literature - Ask your mentor if you're expected to list some specific references in this section. If that's not the case, you'll at least need to mention the areas of study, schools of thought, and other sources of information you're going to use during the research stage.
  • Research - This is the main section, where you'll elaborate the ideas of your research question. You will clearly outline the area of research.
  • Methodology - The dissertation project can be non-empirical (if the resources come from previously published projects) or empirical (if you collect data through questionnaires or other methods). In this section, you need to explain the methods of collecting data.
  • Potential outcomes - Where do you think you'll end up after all the research and analyzing? Explain the outcome you expect to come down to.
  • Timeframe - Create a schedule that explains how you will manage all stages of dissertation writing within a specific timeframe.
  • List of references - Ask your mentor if you're supposed to include this part, and he'll provide you with the instructions.

Often students get stuck with this part of the dissertation and ask for dissertation proposal writing help at professional services. That's also okay as it can be really difficult to write or there is completely no time for it.

dissertation guide

The dissertation research stage is going to determine the overall development of your project. It has to be methodical and effective, since you don't want to waste your time reading and analyzing irrelevant resources. Here are a few tips that will help you go through it:

  • Make a timeline for the research stage

It's important to find enough resources to fully understand the phenomenon you're focused on, but you'll need to stop researching at one point or another.

Many students fall into a trap: they think they have to read everything that was ever written regarding the dissertation question they are about to elaborate. How much time do you plan to spend in the research stage? Make a timeline and stay committed to it.

The point of the research stage is to show you have read around the topic and you understand the previous research that has been conducted, but you've also understood its limitations.
  • Find the right places to look for sources

The Internet is a good starting place during the research stage. However, you have to realize that not everything you read on the Internet is absolutely true. Double-check the information you find and make sure it comes from a trustworthy resource. Use Google Scholar to locate reliable academic sources. Wikipedia is not a reliable source, but it can take you to some great publication if you check out the list of references on the pages of your interest.

Librarians are really helpful at this point of the project development. Don't avoid the actual library and ask the librarian to provide you with some interesting publications.

  • Organize your resources

You have to take notes; otherwise you'll end up seriously confused and you won't know where you located a certain important argument that you plan to use. Use Evernote , Penzu , or another online tool to write down notes about your impressions, as well as the sources you plan to reference.

how to write a good dissertation

Now, you're left with the most important stage of the dissertation writing process: composing the actual project, which will be the final product of all your efforts.

It's surprising to see that many students have some level of confidence during the previous two stages of the process, but they crack when they realize they don't really know how to write a dissertation. Remember: you already did a great job up to this point, so you have to proceed. Everything is easier when you have a plan.

  • Make an outline

You already have the dissertation proposal, which is a preliminary outline for the actual dissertation. However, you still need a more detailed outline for the large project. Did the research stage lead you in an unexpected direction? Make sure to include the new points in your outline.

This is a basic outline that will make it easier for you to write the dissertation:

  • Introduction

To understand how to write a dissertation introduction you need to know that this chapter should include a background of the problem, and a statement of the issue. Then, you'll clarify the purpose of the study, as well as the research question. Next, you'll need to provide clear definitions of the terms related to the project. You will also expose your assumptions and expectations of the final results.

  • Literature Review

In this chapter of the dissertation, you will review the research process and the most important acknowledgements you've come down to.

  • Methodology

This part of the dissertation is focused on the way you located the resources and the methods of implementation of the results. If you're writing a qualitative dissertation, you will expose the research questions, setting, participants, data collection, and data analysis processes. If, on the other hand, you're writing a quantitative dissertation, you will focus this chapter on the research questions and hypotheses, information about the population and sample, instrumentation, collection of data, and analysis of data.

This is the most important stage in the whole process of dissertation writing, since it showcases your intellectual capacity. At this point, you'll restate the research questions and you will discuss the results you found, explaining the direction they led you to. In other words, you'll answer those questions.

  • Conclusions

In the final chapter of the dissertation, you will summarize the study and you'll briefly report the results. Don't forget that you have to explain how your findings make a difference in the academic community and how they are implied in practice.

At the end of this chapter, include a "Recommendations for future research" section, where you'll propose future research that will clarify the issue further. Explain why you suggest this research and what form it should take.

  • Bibliography

Use the recommended citation style for your field of study, and make sure to include all sources you used during the research and writing stages.

  • Manage your time

You'll need another timeline, but this one will be focused on the writing process. Plan how to complete your dissertation chapter by chapter. When you have attainable goals, it will be easier for you to write the project without getting overwhelmed by its length and complexity.

  • Write the first draft

There is no life-changing advice to give at this point. You just need to stay away from distractions, stick to your timeline, follow the outline, and complete the first draft. You already have what it takes; now you're ready to do the real work.

Findings stage is the most important in the whole process of dissertation writing, since it showcases your intellectual capacity.
  • Don't ignore these steps

Once you figure out how to write a dissertations, you may think you are done with efforts. Students assume that editing is an easy step they cover right before they hand out their project. Don't do that. Editing takes a lot of time, so stay committed to your project until it's 100% complete.

how to write a dissertation step by step

Now that you've completed the first draft of the paper, you can relax. Don't even think about dissertation editing as soon as you finish writing the last sentence. You need to take some time away from the project, so make sure to leave space of at least few days between the writing and editing stage. When you come back to it, you'll be able to notice most of its flaws.

  • Start editing

There is a substantial difference between editing and proofreading : editing is focused on the essence, and proofreading is focused on the form of the paper. You need to deal with the essence first, since it would be silly to proofread the dissertation to perfection and then start getting rid of unnecessary parts and adding more details.

Pay attention to the logical connection between each argument. Are there any gaps in information? Fill them in with more details you collected through the research stage. Maybe you got carried away with the explanations at some point? Make sure to reduce the volume of those parts and clarify them as much as possible. The point is not in quantity; it's in quality and clarity.

Finally, it's time to do the final few readings and catch all spelling, grammar, and style errors you made. Read word by word, sentence by sentence, and consult a dictionary or thesaurus if you have any doubts.

If you notice that you're struggling through the stages of editing and proofreading, you should know you're not the only one with such problem. You are too attached to this project and it's difficult for you to see the flaws in it. That's why it's recommended for students to use an proofreading service that will bring their projects to perfection. This is a smart investment that will save you from embarrassment after all that effort and stress you went through.

Editing is focused on the essence, and proofreading is focused on the form of the paper.

Before you can submit the dissertation project to the committee, you need to get some feedback.

Start with a friend or colleague who has knowledge in this discipline. You need to trust this person, since the dissertation is your unique intellectual property. Ask about their opinions and suggestions for improvement.

Then, discuss the project with your mentor. He/she will point out any possible weak points, and you'll get instructions on how to finalize the process before getting ready for the presentation.

The dissertation writing process is a great challenge, which not all students are capable to cope with. You need to keep in mind that you've come this far in your studies, so there is no other way to go but forward. Tackle the project stage by stage, and you'll soon complete the most important paper in your whole educational journey.

Don't let anyone make you think that writing a dissertation paper is easy. It's not. This may be one of the most challenging, lengthy and time-consuming projects you've encountered. On the other hand, you've achieved a lot during your academic journey. This is the tip of the iceberg - the last step that will open the doors to the career you've envisioned. All you need is motivation and guidance. Hope you already got this after reading our guide.

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How to Write a Dissertation: Tips & Step-by-Step Guide

Congratulations! A dissertation is your last step before getting your doctoral degree. But, no matter how great the excitement is, the frustration and panic might be overwhelming. And it’s understandable as there is a lot of pressure on you right now.

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A dissertation includes: an introduction, literature review, methods, results, descussion, & conclusion.

The good news is that there is nothing to worry about if you have quite enough time before the deadline. Indeed, you might even complete the paper in a week, but it’s just too much stress. Our comprehensive guide has everything you need to know about the dissertation. So try to set your mind to writing a successful paper and follow the instructions below!

❓ What Is a Dissertation?

  • 👣 Writing Steps
  • 🖋️ Writing Tips

🔗 References

A dissertation is a final project that students develop and present before getting their Ph.D. title. In fact, its format is quite similar to the one that undergraduates use for their thesis. However, the dissertation is much more serious work.

Ph.D. candidates are required to conduct original research and present the main findings in a piece of academic writing. It also has a specific structure that you should follow. The main parts to include in your dissertation are the introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, a discussion about the implications, and conclusion . Indeed, there may be other additional elements, but you should check with your supervisor and college requirements first.

The definition of this type of academic writing also suggests that you need to have a specific set of skills, such as methodological and analytical ones. However, if you are an excellent writer, beware of such obstacles as procrastination and poor time-management!

Dissertation vs. Thesis

The main difference between a dissertation and a thesis is that they are done at different levels of higher education . Usually, the work that Ph.D. candidates do is called the dissertation, while undergraduates and graduates present their thesis papers. Of course, the length of research is different for the two types of academic writing as well.

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How Long Does It Take to Write a PhD Dissertation?

A Ph.D. dissertation suggests that you would collect and analyze the data for your research throughout the whole studying process. Therefore, you should count on spending at least one to two years on everything . However, the writing itself can only take the last three months before the deadline.

Can You Write a Dissertation in a Week?

It is possible but not recommended. There are some exceptions when students managed to write the whole dissertation in one week. However, it doesn’t mean you should postpone it so much! The more time you leave for yourself, the less stress you feel. So we strongly suggest you to start preparing as soon as possible!

👣 How to Write a Dissertation: Main Steps

A dissertation is a serious academic document made in accordance with the requirements and containing the results of original research. Before one starts writing the text, it is necessary to do a lot. In this article, we will not dwell on how to conduct dissertation research. There is a considerable amount of materials on this topic. For example, Richard Reis (a Stanford University professor) talks in his blog about choosing a dissertation topic. Indiana University offers a short and straightforward algorithm for developing a research question. There are many materials on how to choose credible sources as well. Below we will explain what the components of a dissertation outline are and how to develop them.

How to Write a Dissertation Introduction

An introduction can be considered an attention grabber, which simultaneously sets your research direction for the readers. There are several questions a good introduction should answer.

Don’t forget that it’s not necessary to start with the introduction, but most students chose to begin the writing process with it since it can boost your motivation!

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How to Write a Literature Review

Everything you can find that is related to the chosen topic should be overviewed in this section. It includes books, articles, and even conference recordings. The aim is to give your readers the context by discussing the past findings in the field.

Moreover, thanks to a literature review , you can identify the gaps that may still exist in knowledge. Also, it clearly shows whether your idea is fresh or not. There is no point in doing so much work only to find out similar research already exists.

While this section is intended for the readers, you may deepen your knowledge of the topic during the literature research. By looking through other works, you might come up with the idea for the methodology since they are from the same field of study and can be applicable to your dissertation. And there are definitely the opposing points of view which can be useful as well.

How to Write a Methods Section

A dissertation is a serious academic writing piece, so you have to describe the methods you choose for research. A methodology section is where you discuss everything you do and how you do it. You would need to include several aspects.

  • Introduce your methodological approach. Here, you only give general information about the topic and highlight why you chose a particular research type.
  • Explain how you collect the data. Depending on the topic, you would prefer either quantitative or qualitative data collection methods.
  • Speak about how you’re going to analyze the data . However, don’t give too many details since the results should be presented later.
  • Justify your choices . You should be able to clarify why the chosen methods are the best for your research and why others wouldn’t be suitable.

Also, remember who you are writing for so that you give the appropriate background. You also need to be careful with picking only reliable sources.

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How to Write a Results Section

Only after explaining how you collected and analyzed the data, you should bring on the results! All the key findings need to be highlighted here in a coherent manner. However, avoid presenting your perspective in this section as it should be saved until the discussion.

Therefore, there shouldn’t be any interpretation of the results just yet.

Also, you are not always required to include the results section in your dissertation. It usually depends on the type of research. For instance, some qualitative papers mix the finings into the discussion section.

Quantitative research would usually present a lot of numbers, statistical results, and visual elements. For example, in qualitative methods that use interviews, you can only point out specific topics and themes. Pay close attention to the recurrent patterns and particular responses. You can add further information for both research kinds, such as tables, graphs, and interview scripts, in an appendix.

How to Write a Discussion Section for a Dissertation

Finally, it’s time to interpret the key findings! In this part, you are supposed to mention how the results are related to the thesis statement . Here’s a list of the essential components for a discussion section, but you are welcome to make any adjustments necessary.

  • Summarize the main findings . The summary should only be one paragraph with a brief but comprehensive answer to the thesis question.
  • Interpret the results . Highlight their significance and explain it to the readers even if it seems obvious. You might find it easier to follow the same structure you chose in the results section.
  • Describe the implications . It’s essential to show what place your findings take in the existing knowledge. Are there any fresh insights? Do the results challenge any theories?
  • Write a few words about the limitations . You should explain why something couldn’t have been derived from your study. It can be due to the methodology or unexpected obstacles.
  • Give some recommendations . Finally, suggest the direction for further research.

How to Write a Dissertation Conclusion

Writing a dissertation conclusion is not such a challenging task if you didn’t skip the previous sections. Generally, it shouldn’t take more than seven percent of the total word count. There you need to cover the points below.

  • Answer your thesis question. However, just repeating the same from the results section won’t do. You need to sum it up in a few clear and coherent sentences.
  • Include a quick summary of the research . You might want to explain the methodology and expectations once again. Basically, it would look like your plan of action.
  • Write some recommendations . If you didn’t mention them in the previous section, it’s time to do it here.
  • Highlight the significance . The readers should understand how valuable your paper is. Think about the contributions your research has made in the field of study.

After the conclusion, the dissertation usually needs to have an abstract, list of references, bibliography (if required), and appendices.

🖋️ Dissertation Writing Tips

There are huge differences among fields in what constitutes a great dissertation. Still, here are some tips to get you started on any dissertation.

Dissertation Topics

  • The effect of cybercrimes on public administration .  
  • Compare how the issue of medical negligence is addressed in French and British law . 
  • Analyze the current marketing position of Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd. 
  • Research the problems and solutions of translating Emirati proverbs .  
  • Explore the role of quality leadership in business institutions.  
  • Study the problem of gender inequality in the hospitality industry of different countries.  
  • Describe the role of smartphone technologies in healthcare .  
  • Examine the evolution of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia .  
  • Causes and effects of an abusive leadership in a contemporary work environment.  
  • Research how different leadership styles influence employees’ performance.  
  • The peculiarities of public-private partnerships. 
  • Study whether cultural events can increase the profitability of the tourist sector.  
  • Analyze the peculiarities and challenges of Information Systems implementation .  
  • Examine what kind of motivation has the most effective impact on organizational performance .  
  • Discuss the role of social media in the modern world.  
  • Explore the Lego serious play methodology and its benefits for organizations.  
  • Analyze the effects of poverty on health care in the US and Afghanistan . 
  • Research the causes that led to the increase of food and beverage outlets’ popularity among young adults .   
  • Compare and contrast cybercrime legislation in different countries.  
  • Examine the specifics of ethical theories applied in the healthcare sector.  
  • Explore the problem of computer fraud and corporate identity theft . 
  • Study the importance of effective construction waste management .  
  • Analyze the role of online shopping applications in promoting impulsive buying behavior.  
  • Can reading detective stories help improve the English language skills of ESL students? 
  • Research the causes of juvenile recidivism and the effectiveness of programs intended to prevent it.  
  • Discuss safety considerations of a commercial airport . 
  • Study the effect of COVID-19 on the automotive industry . 
  • Discuss the influence the Beijing Olympic games had on Chinese tourism.  
  • Examine the history of movie censorship and its role in modern cinema.  
  • Study the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing in India .  
  • Analyze the effects of emotional intelligence on adopting a leadership style.  
  • Explore the connection between international trade and human rights .  
  • Analyze and compare the shopping behavior of men and women .  
  • Describe the contemporary ways of dealing with juvenile delinquency and examine their effectiveness.  
  • Examine the target costing and the impact of targeting. 
  • The benefits and challenges of teaching American literature to ESL students.  
  • Research the impact of mass media on the rates of body image dissatisfaction among adolescents.  
  • Study the advantages and disadvantages of the education system in the US .  
  • Examine how globalization can improve the economy of developing countries .  
  • Discuss the role of media in social changes and shaping people’s opinions.  
  • Research the factors that influenced Van Gogh’s art .  
  • The challenges of management and strategic planning in universities .  
  • Analyze the specifics of intellectual property legislation in different countries.  
  • Research technical barriers to trade in goods and services. 
  • Explore the relevance of the corporate social responsibility concept and the contemporary approaches to its implementation.  
  • Study the concept of the glass ceiling , its forms, and the effective ways to solve the issue.  
  • Is color coding an efficient method to teach English grammar to ESL students? 
  • Examine how Brexit affected UK stock investment and startup companies.   
  • A comparative analysis of the Eurozone vs. Switzerland banking system. 
  • Research the role of a family nurse practitioner in managing different types of anxiety disorders.  
  • How to write your Ph.D. thesis | Science | AAAS
  • What is a Ph.D. Dissertation?
  • Ph.D. Dissertation Writing: A Short Guide – ThoughtCo
  • 10 tips for writing a PhD thesis | Times Higher Education (THE)
  • Dissertation Guidelines | Graduate School – Brown University
  • PhD thesis – PhD Programmes – Universiteit Utrecht
  • Theses and Dissertations | Duke Graduate School
  • Thesis/Dissertation Submission – Graduate School Website
  • The Writing Center | How to Write a Research Question | Guides
  • Research – Boston University
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Wonderful post. Dissertation Research is a difficult job but you share here amazing tips that help every student to write an essay.

Custom Writing

Thank you for your kind words, Jason!

Helpful post as usual! All students need to complete his dissertation results section! Thank for your help very much!

Hi, thank you very much for the help on writing a dissertation results section! I found your blog extremely helpful to students who have problems with writing their papers!

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Methodology

  • How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.

What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

  • Search for relevant literature
  • Evaluate sources
  • Identify themes, debates, and gaps
  • Outline the structure
  • Write your literature review

A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

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Table of contents

What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.

  • Quick Run-through
  • Step 1 & 2

When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

  • Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context
  • Develop a theoretical framework and methodology for your research
  • Position your work in relation to other researchers and theorists
  • Show how your research addresses a gap or contributes to a debate
  • Evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate your knowledge of the scholarly debates around your topic.

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

Literature review guide

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Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.

  • Example literature review #1: “Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature” ( Theoretical literature review about the development of economic migration theory from the 1950s to today.)
  • Example literature review #2: “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines” ( Methodological literature review about interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and production.)
  • Example literature review #3: “The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Thematic literature review about the effects of technology on language acquisition.)
  • Example literature review #4: “Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Chronological literature review about how the concept of listening skills has changed over time.)

You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .

If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .

Make a list of keywords

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.

  • Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok
  • Body image, self-perception, self-esteem, mental health
  • Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

Search for relevant sources

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:

  • Your university’s library catalogue
  • Google Scholar
  • Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
  • Medline (life sciences and biomedicine)
  • EconLit (economics)
  • Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.

Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.

You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.

For each publication, ask yourself:

  • What question or problem is the author addressing?
  • What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
  • What are the key theories, models, and methods?
  • Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
  • What are the results and conclusions of the study?
  • How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.

You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.

Take notes and cite your sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.

It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

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To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:

  • Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain approaches become more or less popular over time?
  • Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
  • Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
  • Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
  • Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.

  • Most research has focused on young women.
  • There is an increasing interest in the visual aspects of social media.
  • But there is still a lack of robust research on highly visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—this is a gap that you could address in your own research.

There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

Chronological

The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.

Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.

If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.

Methodological

If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:

  • Look at what results have emerged in qualitative versus quantitative research
  • Discuss how the topic has been approached by empirical versus theoretical scholarship
  • Divide the literature into sociological, historical, and cultural sources

Theoretical

A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.

You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.

Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.

The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.

Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.

As you write, you can follow these tips:

  • Summarize and synthesize: give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
  • Analyze and interpret: don’t just paraphrase other researchers — add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
  • Critically evaluate: mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
  • Write in well-structured paragraphs: use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.

When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !

This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.

Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • Sampling methods
  • Simple random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Likert scales
  • Reproducibility

 Statistics

  • Null hypothesis
  • Statistical power
  • Probability distribution
  • Effect size
  • Poisson distribution

Research bias

  • Optimism bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Implicit bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Anchoring bias
  • Explicit bias

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:

  • To familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge on your topic
  • To ensure that you’re not just repeating what others have already done
  • To identify gaps in knowledge and unresolved problems that your research can address
  • To develop your theoretical framework and methodology
  • To provide an overview of the key findings and debates on the topic

Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.

The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, September 11). How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved March 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/literature-review/

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Car and Driver

A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Charge a Car Battery

This article was updated in November 2023 with new products and information.

You drove home last night and everything was fine with your vehicle, but this morning, you have a dead battery. You need to get your car going again—of course. But how? You could use a portable jump starter or, worst case, finagle a jump-start from a neighbor, friend, or relative. But there's an important step even after that: recharging your battery.

This is especially important when you only drive a short distance after jumping your vehicle—your alternator doesn't have enough time to recharge the battery fully. This is where a battery charger steps in. Most auto-parts stores carry chargers, and they're readily available through online retailers such as Amazon.

So how do you properly charge a car battery? Don't fret—it's super easy. We'll show you how to recharge it in five simple steps with accompanying video clips.

A word of caution—if this doesn't work, then there are larger issues at play, such as a bad battery, parasitic draw, or other electrical issues. If this happens, your best bet is to jump-start the vehicle, and take it down to your trusty local mechanic for a proper diagnosis.

What to Expect:

  • Estimated time: 5 minutes for setup, 1–6 hours for battery charging, overnight for a full recharge
  • Experience level: Beginner
  • If you can't find the battery terminals under the hood, checking the owner's manual will save a lot of time.

What You'll Need

Along with a battery charger, there are a few things you might need when tackling this job—these will do the trick.

  • Battery Charger
  • Magnetic Light
  • Extension Cord (if needed)
  • Pocket Screwdriver for battery cover removal (if needed)

How to Recharge Your Battery: Step-By-Step

Step 1: find your vehicle's battery and locate the positive and negative terminals..

Most cars have their battery under the hood. The positive terminal is marked with a "+," and the negative terminal is marked with a "-." Sometimes the terminals are protected by plastic covers that need to be flipped out of the way. Other vehicles have their batteries in the trunk. If you're struggling to find them, consult that handy owner's manual.

Step 2: Verify your battery charger is unplugged and turned off.

Before attaching the battery charger, it's important to verify no current is flowing through it before connecting to the terminals on your vehicle. Unplugging it prevents sparks—which can be dangerous if your battery is leaking. Read the instructions that come with the battery charger, as each charger operates a little differently.

Step 3: Attach the battery charger to your vehicle's battery terminals.

Attach the charger's red clamp to the battery's positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative terminal. Give the clamps a little wiggle to ensure that they have a good connection to the terminals. For the greatest safety, keep the charger as far away from the battery as the cables allow.

Step 4: Plug the charger in and turn it on.

Some chargers can identify the battery automatically, while others need to be inputted manually. Once that's figured out, simply select which charging amperage you want. As a rule of thumb, higher amperage = faster charge times, while lower amperage is slower, but more gentle on your vehicle's battery, possibly extending its life.

Other chargers work differently; they may not shut off automatically but rather have gauges that let you know when the battery is charged. Many battery chargers deliver two to six amps and can take at least several hours to recharge a dead car battery. Double-check the instructions that come with the charger to be sure you're operating it correctly.

Step 5: Disconnect everything once the battery is charged.

When the battery is fully charged, shut off the charger and unplug it. Then remove the cables, unhooking the negative (black) clamp first.

Our Recommended Car Battery Chargers

How long does it take to charge a car battery.

This really depends on the amount of amperage the battery charger will output. On the low end, most range from one to three amps (often called a trickle charge) and top out between eight to twelve amps. There are other battery chargers that output higher amperage, but that amount can overwhelm your vehicle's battery.

Selecting a trickle charge will typically take overnight to recharge your battery fully. Such low amperage is usually used for maintaining the battery, but it can also be used to recharge if you have enough time. Higher output amperage will usually charge your vehicle's battery in anywhere from one to six hours, depending on the state of charge.

How long does it take to charge a dead car battery?

Expect to let the charger take its sweet time with this. For a totally dead battery, your best bet is to let it charge overnight at low amperage to prevent any additional stress to the battery's cells. You can rush it, but the risk of causing long-term damage to the battery is much higher.

How do I charge a battery at home?

All you need is a battery charger and an outlet. Locate your vehicle's battery terminals, verify your charger is unplugged and off, attach the charger to the battery, plug it in and turn it on, set the correct settings, and you're good to go!

How do I charge a car battery without a charger?

Ideally, your vehicle is supposed to do this on its own thanks to a handy part called an alternator. Simply, the alternator is a magnetic coil that is powered by the vehicle's engine. It then generates current that gets routed back to the battery, recharging it as you drive. A faulty alternator is often the cause of a dead battery. In short, you can't really charge a car battery without a charger—that's the job of the alternator.

How to Tell If a Car Battery Is Dead

The terminology can be confusing, but a "dead" battery is typically just a battery with a low charge. Thanks to the robust engineering that goes into these magic boxes, a simple recharge might be all it needs. But how can you tell?

Now, there are a multitude of reasons your car won't start—but a dead battery is a good place to begin troubleshooting. If you hear a " tick-tick-tick "or your engine "chugs" slowly while attempting to start, these can be indicators of a low battery. Some vehicles will even illuminate a red battery light on your dash—which says there's an issue with the charging system.

If you jump-start a car and it starts, that's great—but it's important to figure out why you needed to jump-start it in the first place. Connecting it to a charger afterward is a good next step. From here, you can see if your battery takes or holds a charge. This can lead you to the next diagnostic phase, such as testing the alternator or checking for parasitic draw.

Another option is to swing by your trusty local mechanic for a battery test. This can give you an idea of the battery's condition and if you need to replace the battery. Remember, there's nothing wrong with having a professional check it out—it might cost more upfront, but it can save you from chasing around an electrical gremlin on a late Saturday night.

In the end, if your car doesn't start normally on its own, something is wrong. Just because it started when you jumped it, doesn't erase the fact that it needed to be jump-started. It's worth figuring out the problem—whether that be a low battery or something else—so you don't have to deal with it again.

Dealing with a low battery in your car? Don't worry—maybe all it needs is a bit of a recharge. Here's a helpful step-by-step on how to do this properly.

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How To Calculate Sales Tax: A Step-by-Step Guide

Worried mature Couple in Meeting With Advisor at home.

Knowing how to calculate sales tax is important, especially if you’re saving up for a large purchase. To calculate sales tax, multiply the total cost of the product by the sales tax rate levied in your area.

See Also: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Don’t Realize You Can Do This

Sales Tax Formula and Example Sales Tax Calculations

Here’s how to calculate how much you’ll pay in sales tax on a product.

Use the following sales tax formula: sales tax = list price x sales tax rate (as a decimal)

For example, Sarah is purchasing a refrigerator. The refrigerator is on sale for $1,200 and her sales tax rate is 6%. 1,200 multiplied by 0.06 is 72, so Sarah would pay $72 in sales tax. This would bring her total bill to $1,272.

What Is Sales Tax?

Sales tax is a tax paid on goods and services. The purchaser pays the tax to the retailer, who then relays it to the state and local governments. It accounts for 32% of all state taxes and 13% of all local taxes collected.

Sales tax is levied on nearly all goods and services. Some states exempt sales on products like groceries or other food not consumed on-site and any products or services sold business-to-business. 

In most cases, the sales tax rate you pay is a composite of state and local rates.For example, the total sales tax rate in Franklin County, Ohio is 7.5%. Since Ohio’s state sales tax rate is 5.75%, the local sales tax rate for Franklin County is 1.75%.

Revenue generated by sales taxes often funds state and local programs such as education, infrastructure and other general purpose projects. 

States That Don’t Charge Sales Tax

Delaware, New Hampshire, Montana and Oregon do not charge sales tax. Alaska does not charge a state sales tax but does allow local communities to leverage a local sales tax.

Some states may offer  sales tax holidays throughout the year to minimize the burden on necessary purchases like school or disaster preparation supplies.

States With the Highest and Lowest Sales Tax Rates

The average sales tax rate in the United States is 6.6%.

The states with the highest average sales taxes are:

  • Louisiana: 9.56%
  • Tennessee: 9.55%
  • Arkansas: 9.45%
  • Washington: 9.38%
  • Alabama: 9.29%

The states with the lowest average sales taxes are:

  • Alaska: 1.82%
  • Hawaii: 4.5%
  • Wyoming: 5.44%
  • Maine: 5.5%
  • Wisconsin: 5.7%

How Do You Calculate Sales Tax Backwards From a Total?

When you aren’t sure what sales tax you paid, check your receipt — the rate and total in dollars are often included there. 

If it isn’t, you can work backward to determine your sales tax by subtracting the purchase price from the total you paid at the register. For example, if Michael bought a new dog toy that cost $5, but he paid $5.30 at the register, he paid $0.30 in sales tax.

To determine the sales tax rate, divide the total sales tax paid by the product price. In this case, Michael would divide $5 by $0.30 to get 0.06, which means he paid a 6% sales tax.

Sales taxes are an important part of state and local revenue streams. Since the tax is added to your purchases, knowing how to calculate sales tax can ensure you have enough to cover your bill, especially if you are making large purchases like a car or home appliance. 

  • The IRS allows you to write off your state and local sales tax as long as you do not also write-off your state and local income taxes. This is one of many tax write-offs a person can claim to lower their taxable income and potentially lower their IRS tax bracket .
  • A sales tax is a consumption tax because it is levied on people when they make a purchase rather than deducted from their paycheck, like the Social Security and Medicare tax Other consumption taxes include valued-added taxes and excise taxes.
  • The acquisition basis of a capital asset is its cost to you, so you can include sales tax in that total. This can be helpful when determining whether you have a capital gain or loss, as raising the acquisition basis can lower the amount you earned if you sold it at a profit, thereby lowering the capital gains taxes you'll pay.
  • How long a tax refund takes depends on how you filed. Electronic filers receive their refund in about three weeks, while mail-in filers receive it in about a month.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy .

  • Tax Foundation. 2024. "2024 Sales Tax Rates: State & Local Sales Tax by State."
  • Tax Foundation. "Sales Tax Definition."
  • Federation of Tax Administrators. "Sales Tax Holidays."
  • IRS. "Deductible taxes."
  • IRS. "Basis of assets."

Share This Article:

  • What Is Regressive Taxes?
  • What Is a Tax Levy?
  • What Is Tax Exempt?
  • What Is Effective Tax Rate vs. Marginal Tax Bracket?
  • Can You Go To Jail For Not Paying Taxes?

Common Tax Questions

  • How Long Will It Take To Get My Tax Refund?
  • What Can I Write Off On My Taxes?
  • What Is My IRS Tax Bracket?
  • What Is the FICA Tax Rate?
  • What Is the Capital Gains Tax Rate?

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How to delete multiple contacts from your iPhone: Use this simple trick

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Did you get a new phone recently? Doing some spring cleaning of your tech devices ? Starting a new chapter? We all need a refresh now and then – that also extends to your virtual life. Clearing out old, unused contacts can save space and efficiently clean up your phone.

But deleting contacts one by one can be a pain. Here’s everything you need to know about giving your Contacts app a new look, including deleting multiple contacts and wiping the slate clean.

How to delete multiple contacts on iPhone

Most iPhone functions can be completed with the tap of a finger, but you’ll need two for this shortcut. Here are the steps you need to follow to delete several contacts at once on your iPhone:

  • Open the Contacts app
  • Using two fingers, tap and hold a contact
  • Keep one finger still, use the other to drag down and select the contacts you’d like to delete. You can also lift up and select other contacts using the same motion – they don’t have to be directly below each other.
  • Pick your finger up from the screen, then tap and hold the section of selected contacts with one finger
  • You’ll be presented with a four-option menu: Copy, Share, Merge Cards or Delete Contacts
  • Press “Delete Contacts”
  • Select the red “Delete Contacts” option when prompted with “Are you sure you want to delete the 5 selected contacts.”

Sick of Find My iPhone?: Here's how to turn it off, remove devices

How to delete contacts on iPhone

You can delete a single contact through the edit function. Follow these steps in the Contacts app:

  • Click on a contact
  • Click “Edit”
  • Hit “Delete Contact” in red at the bottom and confirm you’d like to delete the contact

How to delete all contacts on iPhone

You can drag and select all your contacts in the app, but it may take a while if you’ve got a lengthy list. Another, more efficient way to delete all your contacts in one fell swoop is to use your iCloud account :

  • Go to Settings, then Contacts
  • Go to Accounts
  • Select the account you want to remove contacts from
  • Toggle the “Contacts” setting to off
  • Select “Delete from My iPhone” to confirm you want to remove the contacts associated with this iCloud account

Start fresh: How to reset your iPhone in 7 easy steps

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How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Product care.

Periodic cleanings will keep shoes looking (and smelling) their best. Here’s how to clean shoes without damaging them.

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

  • Baking Soda
  • Household Cleaning Eraser (Optional)
  • Leather Conditioner (Optional)
  • White Vinegar (Optional)
  • Soft Clean Cloth
  • Suede Brush (Optional)

It’s tough to keep shoes pristine without regularly cleaning them. The minute those new sneakers come out of the box, you’ll want to wear them outside — where they’ll pick up dirt, mud, scuffs and stains.

To ensure peak performance of a pair of sneakers over time, it’s important to give them proper care and maintenance, including cleaning. Before getting started, place the shoes in a shoe tree or fill them with crumpled newspapers to help retain their shape during cleaning. Then, get to work.

These tips will help keep any sneakers – including lifestyle, basketball and running shoes — fresh and clean in just a few easy steps.

How to Clean Your Shoes, Step by Step

1. use a dry brush.

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Remove loose dirt from the outsole, midsole and uppers using a dry, soft-bristled shoe brush. No shoe brush? No problem. An clean, spare toothbrush works fine.

2. Make a Mild Cleaning Solution

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap.

For white and light-colored shoes, you can also make an effective cleaning paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and water.

Note: When it comes to using dish soap, it’s important to take caution and dilute the soap with plenty of water. On certain materials, using a high concentration of dish soap can cause discoloration or strip out natural oils in the material.

3. Hand Wash the Laces

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Remove the shoelaces and apply a small amount of the mild cleaning solution to them. Massage the laces with your hands, rinse, then dab dry with a soft cloth.

(Related: 3 Easy Ways to Clean Shoelaces )

4. Wash the Soles

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Apply the mild cleaning solution to a soft-bristled brush, toothbrush or washcloth. Clean the outsole and midsole thoroughly, taking time to clean every part of the soles. Dry with a soft cloth.

Note: If you need to wash the insoles, remove them first and clean them with the solution, making sure to give them time to dry before putting them back into the shoes.

5. Wash and Blot the Uppers

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Apply the mild solution to a soft-bristled brush, toothbrush or damp cloth to clean the uppers. Brush gently to avoid damaging the material.

Once satisfied with the look, use a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to blot and lift as much soapy moisture and dirt from the surface as possible. Repeat if necessary. Try to avoid drying by rubbing as it can wear down the shoe fabric or spread any remaining small bits of dirt.

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Air dry the sneakers at room temperature. Always allow shoes to dry completely before wearing them for your next workout or activity. For many shoes, it can take at least 8 hours to fully dry.

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps

Be sure to brush off loose dirt with a shoe brush or toothbrush before washing the shoe with a cleaning solution.

Special Considerations for Different Materials

Following these basic cleaning steps will help achieve a clean look for a pair of sneakers, but certain fabrics and materials may need a little extra TLC. Here’s what to know about using cleaner for different types of shoes.

  • How to Clean Leather Shoes Leather shoes can stain easily, so it’s important to clean them regularly. In addition to using a dry brush and mild dish-soap solution, you may want to use a household cleaning eraser or leather conditioner to remove stains. Avoid scrubbing the shoes too hard, or you could damage the leather.
  • How to Clean Suede Shoes Suede is notoriously difficult to clean. If you notice water marks, scuff marks, dirt or stains, it’s probably time to give your suede shoes a proper cleaning . Use these recommended tricks and special tools to get the job done. Use a suede brush or towel to wipe away surface debris, working in the same direction as the material (rather than going against the grain). Use suede rubber or a pencil eraser to rub away any marks on the surface of the shoe. For stubborn stains, use a cloth dipped in white vinegar to scrub the fabric in alternating directions.
  • How to Clean Knit Shoes Nike Flyknit shoes provide flexible support and breathability in many different types of footwear. To properly clean Nike Flyknit or other knit or mesh shoes , create a mild, soapy water solution with soap that doesn’t contain chemicals. It’s best not to use bleach or other harsh cleaning products, since they can damage the material. Use a shoe brush or clean toothbrush to rub the solution in the same direction as the knit. Wipe off the soap with a clean cloth and repeat as necessary. Let them air dry and avoid the dryer since excess heat can damage the shoes.

Shoe-Cleaning FAQs

Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. Properly hand washing shoes is the best way to ensure they won’t be accidentally harmed in the process. Delicate shoe materials can be damaged in the washer, and the heat from the dryer can deform a pair of shoes. Plus, it’s possible to damage your washing machine by washing bulky items like sneakers

(Related: Can You Put Sneakers in the Washer? Here’s the Best Way to Wash Your Nikes )

From time to time, it may be necessary to clean your insoles. To do so, remove the insoles and use the same cleaning steps for the outside of your shoes. Be sure to air dry them completely before putting them back in your shoes. If odor persists , you may want to replace the insoles. Replacement insoles are available at many sporting goods and shoe stores.

If shoes still look dirty after following and repeating the recommended cleaning steps, it might be time for a new pair of sneakers. Running shoes, for example, should be replaced every 300 to 500 miles.

Your cleaning schedule depends on how often you wear the shoes and where your feet take you. To keep them in top shape, aim to clean your shoes every two weeks or whenever they start to look dirty. Regular maintenance can help reduce cleaning time.

Shop Nike Footwear

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Nike Dunk Low Retro

Men's shoes.

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Nike Air Max 90 GORE-TEX

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Nike Air Force 1 '07

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Nike Air Max 1

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Nike Air Force 1 Shadow

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Air Jordan 1 Mid

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Nike V2K Run

Originally published: October 22, 2021

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