Dissertation is defined as a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma. Typically, it allows students to present their findings related to their selected topic.
The main aim of dissertation is to assess students’ knowledge of conducting original research and to test the skills that they have acquired during their academic phase. Although, on a surface level, it seems easy, this is the most difficult part of the assessment and grading process.
Dissertation has its own advantages. You will get to know the subject of your interest. In addition, you will get to explore this subject to your heart’s content. Additionally, it is a validation for the knowledge gained through years of rigorous and strenuous learning.
There are two types of dissertation: empirical and non-empirical. The type of dissertation depends on the field of the study and the methods used for writing.
Empirical dissertation presents the practical work conducted to support your findings. This basically includes on-site exploration and data collection to conduct a study on your subject, for example, life sciences and natural sciences.
Non-empirical dissertation includes putting forward your arguments and cross-validating them with the existing literature. This type of dissertation is time-consuming since you will be required to analyze and demonstrate your results with regard to an extensive collection of literature. You must be sure about your logic and reasoning and must work around any counter-argument that could be raised by your supervisors.
You will need certain skills to write an extremely detailed and organized dissertation. You must be systematic in your exploration. Outlining your expectations for the dissertation is the first step toward that. Then, you need to confront the issues to be tackled. Search for sources from where you will gather your information. Once you have a brief sketch of your dissertation, evaluate it from all angles and draw your conclusion. Be articulate about the topic, and if you digress from your topic, ensure that it remains relevant to the idea you are trying to convince through your dissertation.
Although the length of the dissertation varies from country to country, the general word count is 15,000–25,000 at the master’s level and up to 50,000 at the PhD level. Some countries also conduct oral examinations where the students have to present their work in front of two or more professors. The students need to carefully navigate through any counter-argument the professors may raise.
Plagiarism is the most common challenge in writing dissertation. Although you may be tempted to do so worrying about your grade, this is the exact reason for which you should not attempt plagiarism. Tools for checking plagiarism are not uncommon nowadays, and your work will be disqualified even before it reaches the concerned supervisors. So, it is actually worthwhile to be aware of its cons and try to prevent it.