Your dissertation projects will be the last major work you complete just before receiving your master’s degree or PhD, marking the end of your formal education and the start of your professional career. A lot of students find the rigorous work extremely daunting, but the reward that comes from completing an excellent work makes it worthwhile. After you’ve gathered enough content to begin the writing stage, you’ll have to first choose a dissertation format that is right for your discipline or area of study. Here is a helpful guide to help you choose:
The first step in choosing the right format is figuring out what sections your dissertation will need to include in its entirety. Depending on your area of study you may have different research methodologies or findings. Consider every component and keep this list with you as you get suggestions from those with more experience.
A great place to find templates to help you with your decision is on your department’s website. Most sites will have everything you need to know about submittal guidelines and provide with both samples and easy to use templates. If you can’t find anything online then it’s best to go directly to thedepartment’s main office.
Another good resource is using your graduate advisor for all the assistance you require throughout your writing project. It’s best to ask for samples and templates early in the semester when you will have access to a better selection. Bring the list of sections you made earlier and present them to your advisor. He should be able to give you a really good idea of just the right format you’ll need for submittal.
By the time you reach graduate school you would probably already have benefitted a few times from joining an online academic community. Don’t hesitate to use them again when you need to decide on the right dissertation format. You can post your inquiry and receive suggestions from all over the country. You might even be able to look at a sample from someone’s personal archives.
Lastly, have a look at how dissertations are formatted in academic journals and books. These are all peer-reviewed and will have all the required components you need to craft a great piece. Speak with the reference library to ensure you get a hold of the right publications to help you with your project.