Dissertation

UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

Week 13 & 14:

Tips for checking the

dissertation before the

final submission

Topic goals

To follow the guidelines and structure for the final check of the first three chapters of the dissertation

Task

Task: Submit the first three chapters of your dissertation. The length of the study needs to be 3000 words (+10%, -10%).

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

TIPS FOR CHECK THE WHOLE TEXT OF DISSERTATION BEFORE THE FINAL SUBMISSION

1. Give yourself enough time

After completing the writing up stage, get a break from it for a few days before

going back to the last check. This will give the opportunity to your brain to 'forget'

what you've been writing and reduces the risk for reading additional information,

rather than what's actually on the page.

2. Overall structure

Check the overall structure of the text.

Is the structure of the text logical?

Does it have an introduction which briefly includes what your dissertation is

about?

Is there a logical progression through the sections?

3. Formatting

Are the headings and subheadings being consistently formatted - are you

using title case or sentence case?

Does the section numbering keep an order?

Have you used captions for all your figures and tables: Is the numbering logical

and consistent? Was there a correct order being followed? Are they referred in

the text with the correct number? Do the captions accurately reflect the

contents?

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

4. Consistency

Is there consistency in your text in relation to capitals and hyphenation?

Do you use the numbers in the same way for whole your text?

You have to be careful about the use of British English and American English.

You have to choose to use of one them.

Are you using italics correctly?

5. Spelling, punctuation and grammar

It is not enough to use your spelling and grammar checker. It will identify some

obvious errors, but avoid many, many others. For example, homophones – words

that sound the same, but which are spelled differently – for example, bear/bare;

site/sight or stationery/stationary can be used incorrectly in one sentence.

However, the checker is not able to identify this mistake, since the word is

corrected written.

6. Acronyms and abbreviations

If you use acronyms, initialisms or abbreviations in your text, don’t forget to

write the whole name at the first use and the use of the acronym.

For example, you might first refer to the World Health Organization (WHO)

but then use WHO whenever you next refer to it.

It will also be useful to provide a list of acronyms at the front of your thesis

if there are a lot of them. This list will not be part of your word count.

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

7. Plagiarism

It is very important to type the citation for all the information that you will use

from other sources in your text (in-text citation) and at your reference list.

Plagiarism is also referred to images, tables, charts, graphs and websites and is

very seriously. Don't risk it.

8. Referencing system

Make sure you have used APA referencing style following APA Unicaf reference style.

You can find information at the Welcome section of the module.

9. Make several passes It will be helpful to review in different ways your text. Here's an example of how

you could make several passes:

1. Cross check headings, sub-headings and page numbers against the table of

contents

2. Check figures and tables are in the right order and numbered and

captioned correctly

3. Check that in-text citations match your reference list

4. Are you references styled according to your institution's requirements?

5. Have you defined all your acronyms and abbreviations where they first

appear?

6. Lastly, read through to check spelling, grammar and sense

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

10. Get outside help

At this time you need an objective person to read your dissertation. This person

will be more able than you to identify any spelling mistakes and other errors which

you have avoided identifying since you've read it so many times that your brain

sees what it expects to see, and not what it is actually written.

(12 Tips for Proofreading Your Dissertation or Thesis. (n.d.))

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

STRUCTURE OF DISSERTATION/SUMMARY OF THE CONTENT OF EACH CHAPTER

Cover page:  Title of Dissertation

 Student’s Name

 Title of Programme of Study

 Year of Submission

 Name of University

Abstract: This should include an outline of key words, aims, methods, results, conclusions and implications of the study. It should be single line spaced and fit onto one page (200-300words approx.)

Chapter 1-Introduction Clearly stated scene setting, research background, research gaps, purpose of the study (500words approx.)

Tips for the Introduction:

Think of the introduction as a mental road map that these four answers

questions:

1. What am I studying?

2. Why is this topic important to investigate?

3. What do we already know about this topic or what have other experts discovered about the topic?

4. How will my research advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding?

Chapter 2-Literature Review Carefully designed sub-chapters, critical review of current literature, and argumentative structure of theoretical frameworks, views are properly developed and supported with in-text citations (1500 words approx.)

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

Tips for the Literature review:

1. Identify the broad problem area, but avoid global statements

2. Early in the review, indicate why the topic being reviewed is important

3. Distinguish between research finding and other sources of information

4. Indicate why certain studies are important

5. If you are commenting on the timeliness of a topic, be specific in describing the

time frame

6. If citing a classic or landmark study, identify it as such

7. If a landmark study was replicated, mention that and indicate the results of the

replication

8. Discuss other literature reviews on your topic

9. Refer the reader to other reviews on issues that you will not be discussing in

details

10. Justify comments such as, "no studies were found."

11.Avoid long lists of nonspecific references

12. If the results of previous studies are inconsistent or widely varying, cite them

separately

13. Cite all relevant references in the review section of thesis, dissertation, or

journal article.

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

Chapter 3- Methodology

Before finalize your chapter 3-Methodology (1000words approx.) make sure that

you have included the elements below:

 Clear research problem,

 Specific research objectives and research questions,

 Sample and participants (context of school, level of education, gender of participants, age,

total number),

 Research method,

 Research design,

 Research tool (e.g. interviews, questionnaires),

 Method of data collection (process of collecting the data),

 Method of data analysis (e.g. descriptive tables, data analysis software, thematic analysis,

etc),

 Ethical considerations

Conclusions

References

Appendices

Tasks –Forum

Submit the first three chapters of your dissertation. The total length

of the chapters needs to be 3000 words (+10%, -10%).

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UU-EDU731-1: Dissertation

References

Galvan, J. L., & Galvan, M. C. (2017). Writing literature reviews: A guide for

students of the social and behavioral sciences.

Swales, J., & Najjar, H. (1987). The writing of research article

introductions. Written communication, 4(2), 175-191.

Swetnam, D. (1997). Writing your dissertation: how to plan, prepare and present

your work successfully. Oxford: How to Books.

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