How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation: (Bloomsbury Study Skills)

This practical guide takes undergraduate students step-by-step through the process of completing a dissertation, from the initial stages of generating original ideas and planning the project through to writing their first draft and critically reviewing their own work. It shows students how to choose the most appropriate methods for collecting and analysing their data and how to then integrate this research into their dissertation. Students will learn how to develop consistent and persuasive arguments and write up their research in a clear and concise style. New to this Edition: - Contains guidance on working effectively with AI tools - The fourth edition has been restructured to make for a more accessible reading experience - Features additional pop-out boxes which explain key terms This book is an essential resource for undergraduates of all disciplines who are required to write a dissertation as part of their degree.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: EXAMINERS AND SUPERVISORS 1. The Dissertation: What Is It, and What is Your Role? 2. The Dissertation: Your Audience – Supervisors and Examiners PART II: GENERATING AND DEVELOPING ORIGINAL IDEAS 3. What Activities Suit You Best? 4. Types of Research 5. What Interests You Most? 6. Generating Ideas: How to Come Up with New Ideas and Fresh Perspectives 7. Developing Your Ideas: How to Structure Your Thinking 8. Refining Your Ideas: How to Test Your Thinking PART III: DECIDING ON YOUR PROJECT 9. Academic Sources: Books, Articles and Literature. Knowing What to Look For 10. Academic Sources: Books, Articles and Literature. How to Search 11. Choosing the Topic: Making Sure It's Manageable 12. Choosing the Topic: What are Research Ethics, and Why Are They Important? PART IV: ORGANISING YOUR WORK 13. Planning Your Research 14. Managing Your Time 15. Your Retrieval System 16. Reading 17. Note-taking 18. Plagiarism PART V: DOING YOUR RESEARCH 19. Research Types 20. Secondary Sources 21. Quantitative Research 22. Qualitative Research PART VI: PLANNING YOUR DISSERTATION 23. The Main Components and Introduction 24. The Literature Review 25. Research Methods, Findings, Conclusions and Appendices PART VII: ORGANISING YOUR THINKING 26. Components of a Consistent Argument 27. Connections Within a Consistent Argument 28. Using Evidence: How to Describe It 29. Using Evidence: How to Make Sense of It 30. Using Evidence – How to Avoid Mistakes 31. Communicating Clearly PART VIII: WRITING YOUR DISSERTATION 32. The First Draft 33. Finding Your Own Voice 34. Writing With Style and Simplicity 35. Referencing and Bibliographies PART IX: EDITING 36. Editing Your Structure 37. Editing Your Content PART X: PRESENTING YOUR WORK 38. Oral Presentations 39. Poster Presentations Conclusion Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Bryan Greetham was an Honorary Fellow at the University of Durham, UK, and previously taught at University of Newcastle, Australia. Jennifer Boyle is Deputy Head of Student Learning Development at the University of Glasgow, UK Scott Ramsay is Deputy Head of Student Learning Development at the University of Glasgow, UK