How Hard is Writing a Dissertation

Dissertations are integral parts of PhD courses and some graduate level studies as well. If you are wondering how hard it is to write a dissertation, you should know that it is one of the most daunting tasks for any student. However, if you are comfortable with research and writing and have a keen interest in your subject, you might even enjoy writing your dissertation.

It is important to remember that planning, organization, thorough research, critical thinking and well articulated arguments are key to a great dissertation. It’s not all that hard once you get familiar with the basics and follow a methodological approach. Here we will introduce you to these basics and demystify dissertation writing.

Instructions

1

Selecting a dissertation topic

The first challenge you face will be of topic selection. Your topic can make or break your dissertation. The best way to go about this is to create a list of potential topics you can undertake and then narrow it down to your best choices.

Some institutions provide a list of approved topics, and if that is the case, half your work is done. If not though, you can always consult your supervisor and professor for help.

When you are selecting a topic you need to focus on your own strengths and pick something that gives you the chance to utilize them.
2

Planning and structuring

You can't just sit down one day and decide to write a dissertation. You will need to plan it and work towards a proper structure. Typically you start with a problem statement, that defines what issue you intend to address and how you are going to go about it.

Additionally, your specific studies might also require you to use footnotes, follow a certain citation method and create outlines etc. You have to follow these directions so that your dissertation is structured and formatted in an approved way.
3

Finding literature

The next step, and one that most students don't enjoy is finding related literature to review. For the purposes of your dissertation you will need to go through existing literature on the subject of your choice (the one being addressed in your dissertation) and evaluate existing proposals, give recommendations, criticize them or compliment them with your own findings.

Generally you can find journal articles through portals your institute will grant you access to, but you can also visit the library and ask your seniors or professors for key reading recommendations.
4

Designing research methods

The next step in your dissertation is to design your research methods. You will need to delineate how you intend to collect and gather real world data pertaining to your subject and ensure its accuracy and reliability.

In essence, your research will be taking up the major chunk of time you devote to your dissertation, and a sound research design will be helpful to your own self.
5

Presenting a hypothesis

This is typically the last step of a dissertation, where the student, having reviewed the existing literature and gathered data pertaining to his/her subject, comes up with a proposal or a hypothesis, commenting on the existing situation and recommending positive changes or solutions.