Taking on a dissertation is no small feat. It requires months of intensive research, analysis, and writing to develop a substantial piece of original academic work under supervision. However, maintaining a structured, step-by-step approach can help break down the daunting process into more manageable chunks.   In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire dissertation journey from start to finish. We’ll explore how to choose an engaging research topic and craft a compelling research question to drive your work. We’ll demonstrate how to design a sound methodology to effectively answer your question. You’ll also learn tips for conducting efficient literature reviews and organizing your findings. We’ll guide writing each section, from the introduction and literature review to the methods, analysis, discussion, and how to write a dissertation from start to finish. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to follow that will help you learn how to write dissertation. We aim to demystify the process and give you the confidence and skills to produce a first-class piece of original work. Are you ready to begin your dissertation journey? Let’s get started!

What Is A Dissertation? A Grounded Analysis

So what is a dissertation? Or what is a dissertation paper?

Well, a dissertation is a formal document that presents the results of your original research on a specific topic within your discipline. It usually consists of several chapters, each with its purpose and structure, forming a coherent argument that answers your main research question.

The length and format of a dissertation vary depending on your field, institution, and department. However, most dissertations in the social sciences and humanities follow a similar structure that includes:

1. A title page that contains the title of your dissertation, your name, your degree program, your institution, and the date of submission.
2. An abstract that summarizes the main points of your dissertation in about 150-300 words.
3. A table of contents that lists all the chapters and subheadings of your dissertation and their page numbers.
4. A list of figures and tables that display all the visual elements (such as graphs, charts, images, etc.) that you have used in your dissertation and their page numbers.
5. A list of abbreviations that defines all the acronyms and abbreviations that you have used in your dissertation.
6. A glossary that explains any technical terms or concepts that are not widely known or used in your field.
7. An introduction that introduces your topic, provides some background information, states your main research question and objectives, explains why your research is important and original, and outlines the structure of your dissertation.
8. A literature review that surveys the relevant sources (such as books, articles, reports, etc.) that have been published on your topic and shows how they relate to your research question and objectives. It also identifies the gaps or limitations in the existing literature and explains how your research fills them.
9. A methodology chapter that describes and justifies the methods that you have used to collect and analyze your data. It also explains how you have ensured the reliability and validity of your research.
10. A results chapter that presents and summarizes the findings of your data analysis. It also explains how you have addressed any ethical issues or challenges that arose during your research.
11. A discussion chapter that interprets and evaluates the results of your data analysis about your research question and objectives. It also discusses your research’s implications, limitations, and recommendations for theory, practice, and future research.
12. A conclusion chapter summarizes the main points of your dissertation, answers your main research question, reflects on the contribution and significance of your research, and suggests some directions for further research.
13. A reference list that cites all the sources that you have used in your dissertation according to the citation style required by your field or institution (such as APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.).
14. An appendix or appendices that contain any additional or supplementary material (such as data sets, questionnaires, transcripts, etc.) that support or illustrate your research but are not essential for understanding it.

Hopefully, this should tell you whats a dissertation.