1. An LDU short course
presentation
Dissertations & Major Project
Writing
Week 1 of 5:
An introduction to writing
dissertations & large projects
Robert Walsha, LDU City campus, Calcutta House, CM2-22

2. Dissertations & Major Project
Writing week 1
This week’s topics:
• An introduction to writing dissertations & large
projects (including overview of importance of
critical analytical thinking, comparing &
contrasting & building & sustaining
argument);
• focusing & formulating the topic;
• developing & writing the proposal;
• time & project management;
• working with your supervisor

3. An introduction to writing
dissertations
• So, how does it differ from essays, reports,
etc.? Is there anything I can take that I’ve learnt
from my academic studies, i.e., on smaller
written assignments so far?
• critical analytical thinking
• ‘comparing & contrasting’
• ‘engaging with “the debate”’
• looking for ‘similarities & differences’ in the
literature/knowledge base
• ‘building’ & ‘sustaining’ ‘argument’

4. Focusing & formulating a topic
• pick a topic which will sustain your
interest;
• Ensure the project is manageable;
• Don’t pick too general a topic;
• Instead: narrow down within a general
topic;
• Try to identify areas worthy of
investigation, areas where there is
worthwhile ‘debate’ – does your initial
reading throw up interesting questions?;

5. Focusing & formulating a topic
• Don’t go too narrow – is there some
discussion out there, even if not
academic?;
• think about what kind of research you
will have to undertake, to do justice to the
project – is it feasible (time), is it realistic
(attainable);

6. Focusing & formulating a topic
• Seeking initial advice;
• Be as thorough as you can in your initial
survey of the literature;
• Begin to develop a realistic work plan

7. Focusing & formulating a topic
• Hypothesis vs. identifying an area of
investigation;
• Identifying the most appropriate
methodological approach(es);
• Thinking ‘quantitative’ versus ‘qualitative’
research;

8. Developing & writing the
proposal
it (!)
sy b
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me
– th dt itle. ject.
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•B atio ill hav su b
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• B int e nw
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an d pe it.
• … sted in
in tere

9. Developing & writing the
proposal
e of u pon
utlin ased
ief o ts b n of
s a br u gh o
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rhap l tho inv doesti you
• Pe initia
r i nary here
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our eratur oing? e s hort
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th ep h ave ature u rces …
may y liter hed so why
• You inar s
u b li u l – a n
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p relimng key usef
tlini ly to be
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10. Developing & writing the
proposal
will e an
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ly, y inc g of r).
rtain ve to aphy ( ted listin so fa
e
• … c ly ha liogr loca
b b s (and
p roba tive bi source cted e
ica lished x p e ak
ind ub be e ) to m
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ill p inly t plo
•Y ou w erta out
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wh
and

11. Developing & writing the
proposal
t on ts with
men rsec
a com inte je c t
.
ant, earch the sub
elev res
• If r our c h on rch likely to
o w y resear a
ese u are
h n g y r yo mp t
xisti o n a n in k l atte
e ent ou th you wil s.
omm ties y h o w r o b le m
•C u l d h av e
d iffic nter, an these p u will ated
o u d t yo nticip
enc t aroun tha e a
to g
e sible on th
pos efly
is also t bri (s).
• It mmen come
to co ou t
arch
rese

12. Developing & writing the
proposal
ainly of the n
cert idea
ost me d ow t –
ill alm de so reak esen
u w rov i
Yo o p p ter b at pr will
• t /cha g of it and
h ave section inkin this, ter).
in th d b y a r y la
m a ou are e boun es s n of
(a s y l n o t b t if n e c ‘pla ing
il i de a allow
o u w a d ju s
t rovi are
y to to p you
ble ave ime from
a ay h the t o je c t
u m .e.,
• Yo n’, i e pr
e of th
a ctio ch stag
a
f or e o finish
t
s tart

13. Time & project management
• An overall plan/schedule;
• Weekly goal-setting and performance
monitoring? ~ are you keeping up?
• Don’t hesitate to commence work – don’t
‘get the coursework out of the way first‘!

14. Time & project management
• Peter Levin (Excellent Dissertations!,
2005), suggests 3-tiered approach:
– Create a ‘dissertation calendar’;
– Set a ‘comfort deadline’;
(Excerpt from Levin, 2005, pp.64-65)

15. Time & project management
– Create ‘to-do’ lists.
…
• Consult text books on survey research methods: 2 days
• Produce preliminary draft of questionnaire: 2 days
• Redraft questionnaire: 1 day
• Pilot questionnaire & revise if necessary: 7 days
• Carry out 100 questionnaire-based interviews: 14 days
• Transcribe quantitative data from interviews: 4 days
• Collate qualitative data from interviews: 8 days
• Analyse data, formulate findings & think about their
significance: 7 days
…
(Excerpt from Levin, 2005, pp.64-65)

16. Working with your supervisor
• The importance of establishing an
effective working relationship;
• What the supervisor can offer:
– Sympathy & encouragement?;
– Expertise in the field ~ e.g., good knowledge
of the literature;
– General advice ~ e.g., on methodology,
planning
– Acting as a ‘sounding-board’ for your thinking;

17. Working with your supervisor
• Problems that typically occur:
– Meetings seem of little value / unproductive
~and how to motivate your supervisor;
– Supervisor impossible to track down;

18. Working with your supervisor
• Keep a record of what is discussed/agreed
at each meeting;
• When should I see my supervisor?

19. The planning stages
1. Draw up a shortlist 2. Select a topic for
of topics. investigation.
Consult library Discuss possible
catalogues, past outcomes with your
lecture notes, 2 or 3 supervisor and
core texts. decide what the
emphasis of your
study is to be.
Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

20. The planning stages
opic for 3. Establish the 4. Decide on the aims
n. precise focus of the and objectives of the
ible study. study or formulate a
h your Draw up ‘first hypothesis.
nd thoughts’ list of Think carefully about
he questions and subject what is and what is not
your each to rigorous worth investigating.
. examination.
Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

21. The planning stages
aims 5. Draw up an initial 6. Read enough to
the project outline. enable you to decide
ea List aims and/or whether you are on
objectives, questions to the right lines.
ut be investigated, possible The initial reading may
not methods of investigation give you ideas about
. and literature to be approach and methods
consulted. Consult your and how information
supervisor. might be classified.
Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

22. The planning stages
o 7. Devise a timetable to
ide enable you to check that
n all stages will be covered Begin in-depth
and time allowed for reading
may writing. and research
ut It is easy to take too long
hods over one stage and so
n have insufficient time to
carry out essential tasks in Don’t forget to
the next stage. Consult consult your
your supervisor over the supervisor at
viability of your timetable. stages 2, 5 &
7!
Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3