It is probably not the key question you are interested in at the moment. If you know that writing there is this kind of task waiting for you, you don’t want to play around with definitions but need clear guidelines of how to cope with it. But to succeed at it, you need to know all about it. Let’s go back to the original question: “What is a dissertation?” To give you the short answer – it’s the final obstacle on your way to getting a Ph.D. degree.
Since you’ve made the decision to pursue the academic career and contribute to the world of science, you must be aware of the fact that writing a dissertation occupies almost all of your time and requires dedication. It should discuss not only the information you’ve discovered in the numerous sources but also present your own findings and conclusions. The dissertation definition can be found with the origin of the word. It has Latin roots (“dissertare”) and means “to debate”. Therefore, your paper should include different points of view and not only those that support your own ideas.
To find the dissertation meaning, let’s use a Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
“an extended usually written treatment of a subject”. What it means is that you will spend a considerable amount of time exploring the topic of your choice. And then, you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of time once again describing your discoveries and discussing the drawbacks of the discoveries other scholars made in the past. It might seem rather overwhelming but in reality, it’s not that bad. Especially, if you pick the topic you are fond of and find it to be interesting.
The most important thing is to give yourself some space. Don’t be in a hurry and make a plan of your work. tell you family and friends that you won’t be always available for them and you need to focus on this task.
Show them you know what you’re talking about. Your paper should display your profound knowledge of the main concepts. But you have to go beyond that and prove that you can easily apply them in your own research and make logical conclusions.
Don’t describe, analyze. It’s not a descriptive essay you’re writing so try to get rid of all the vague passages that bring no value to the topic. Present your critical evaluation and discuss the central points relevant to the topic.
Choose a specific and comprehensive title. There has to be a very specific goal of your work. Don’t write anything just for the sake of writing. It becomes obvious that you are not interested in the paper at all and just want to get it over with as soon as you can. Work on your thesis and don’t be afraid of changing it half-way through the writing process. the results of your experiments will have a tremendous influence on it.
Use academic language. Forget about colloquial phrases as this is a serious piece of work. You are about to enter the club of educated scholars and it’s better if they respect your work and professionalism from the very beginning.
Format your dissertation in a proper way. Keep in mind all of the guidelines for the correct referencing and use them. Your dissertation should be structured according to the accepted standards. There has to be a logical flow of thoughts between the sections. Also, make sure there is no sign of plagiarism as this is one of the worst things that your paper can contain.
There is nothing to be afraid of when writing this paper. Think of it as of another task you have to cope with on your way to the desired goal. The most difficult part of the process is to start writing it. You’ll be surprised how smooth and exciting the process can be when you are fully involved in it.