Dreading writing your dissertation? Hit the ground running with these tips

Final year dissertation.. it’s generally the biggest piece of work a student will tackle and while it may seem like a mammoth task, it doesn’t have to be the source of sleepless nights.

Remember every journey starts with a first step. Try these hints and tips to hit the ground running in the new year.

Start early

The final deadline may seem an eternity away, but you’ll be surprised how quickly it comes around. It really is a case of the sooner you start the better. Give yourself plenty of time to fully plan your dissertation idea and establish how much research there is around your topic (or how much you’ll need to do yourself). Mapping out a plan early on will reduce the pressure you feel and help keep you on track once you’ve started writing.

Use your resources

Make the most of all the resources available to you, especially your dissertation supervisor. They are there to help you as much as they can so don’t be afraid to ask for guidance. Quite often a quick email and a fresh pair of eyes will make all the difference, and help you get back on track.

Research, research, research

Many students are surprised at the amount of time taken up by researching their chosen topic but it is a crucial stage of the process. In fact, it usually takes up more time than the writing itself. Try to read as widely as you can to get a good overview of your chosen subject. It will help you focus on what you want to achieve and provide plenty of material for you to work with.

It’s also always a good idea to record your references as you go. Not only will it save you time later, it means you’ll avoid any last minute panic as you desperately try to remember where you found a particular piece of information.

Make it manageable

One common mistake final year students make is trying to write their dissertation in one go, which can seem like an impossible task. Instead of seeing it as one piece of work, break it down into individual sections, each with its own mini-deadline. Trying to write a 1,000 word introduction one week, and then a 2,000 word literature review the next makes the writing process much more manageable.

The final push

The feeling of hitting that final full stop will be one of pure joy, but don’t celebrate too soon. When you’ve spent so much time looking at something, you can often become copy blind, and miss mistakes and typos. Give yourself a good break between finishing writing and going back for a final proofread. It’s also worth asking someone else to read the final version – such as a friend of classmate, to get another perspective. And leave plenty of time for printing and binding. These can often take longer than you think, especially when everyone else is trying to do the same thing.