What Does An Undergraduate Dissertation Look Like

An undergraduate dissertation is the final project of your studies. When writing a dissertation, you are expected to take responsibility for your own learning. Thanks to writing this scholarly work, you are able to identify your own area of interest in the field of studies. You research this area thoroughly, defining your question, finding the required resources, and coming to the conclusions. This is your own project – from the beginning to the end, with only a little guidance from your supervisor.

A dissertation not only demonstrates what knowledge you have gained in your field of study, but helps to showcase the skills necessary for scientific research. When writing the dissertation you need to:

  • Do extensive research and readings regarding the subject;
  • Show your originality by choosing your own topic for the final paper;
  • Get engaged in in-depth analysis of the topic and be able to interpret and compare the data acquired;
  • Present the outcomes of your research in a clearly-written, sophisticated manner

The undergraduate dissertation usually contains the following sections:

  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
  3. Literature review
  4. Methodology
  5. Results
  6. Discussion
  7. Conclusion
  8. Reference list and appendices

For many undergraduates, writing a dissertation seems like quite an overwhelming task. In order not to get lost in the many details, create a plan for yourself and stick to it. Here are a few useful tips on writing a successful project

  1. First of all, determine the topic of your final paper. Choose something that is close and interesting to you in order to engage your reader in it.
  2. Gather the needed literature for your project. Determine the primary and the secondary sources. From the literature, collect the necessary data.
  3. Think about the methodology you will employ.
  4. Analyze your material, organize it and start writing. Remember, each chapter of the paper is a separate entity. The chapters do not need to be of the same length. However, keep in mind that all the chapters are parts of the same paper. Therefore, they need to be connected. The conclusion of each chapter needs to link back to your research question.
  5. You do not have to start writing with the introduction. Write the chapter you are most comfortable with first.
  6. In the end, check and proofread your writing.

The undergraduate dissertation is the ultimate finale of your studies. It gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your subject expertise as well as your research and organizational skills.