Dissertation

Title:  Page and Contents

Abstract : Completed at the end of your project but situated at the start. This is a concise summary of the purpose, findings and conclusion of your project.

Introduction

•  Use your Project Proposal Form to help you with this.
•  An explanation of the research question (What is it about, why does it need researching? Why is it important? Key data/sources?)
• The rationale for the choice of question (Why do you want to study this in-depth?)
• Identification of any controversial aspects of the question (a debate, argument)
• Explanation of any key terms and the gist of what you will explore and how you will analyse it.

Literature/Research Review

• Using a range of research, give an outline of the literature that underlies your project (key dates, developments, major events)
• Explore previous research in the area, identify arguments for and against and demonstrate your depth and breadth in your subject.
•  You should be differentiating between fact, speculation and subjective opinion but also consider the validity, reliability, methodological issues and any bias that your sources present.

Discussion

• This is the main bulk of your project where you discuss your question and provide a range of research to clearly identify, support and challenge each viewpoint.
• You should be differentiating between fact, speculation and subjective opinion but also
• consider the validity, reliability, methodological issues and any bias that your sources present.

Conclusion 

•  Consider both viewpoints and come to a clear conclusion which involves weighing up all research explored.
• You could suggest areas for further research or recommendations for your field.

 Bibliography (not included in the word count)

• A final list of referencing in alphabetical order using the Harvard style (see the resource page for help on how to reference)

Appendices (not included in the word count)
Activity Log

•  In this section you would include materials you have used/created that the reader may want to see. Eg, questionnaires, interviews, extracts, images.
  Project Proposal Form

 Evaluation (not included in the word count)

• To what extent did you achieve what you planned to?
• Weaknesses in your interpretation of your resources and how you used them?
• How well did you perform at different stages of the project?
• What didn’t go to plan? How did you overcome this?
• What would you do differently next time and why?
• What have you learned from this process? How useful has it been?