5 Reasons why Writing a Dissertation isn’t as scary as you think.
Dissertation hand-in looming? Are you worried about starting one next year? Read student, Laura’s perspective — it isn’t as bad as you think:
Your dissertation. The longest piece of work you may ever write but it isn’t as scary as you think!
Going into the third year of my Marketing degree the nerves are starting to set in — what am I going to write about, how will I find something to talk about for 10,000 words?
Thankfully at The University of Northampton the whole dissertation process is set out in manageable chunks that you can digest at your own pace. Your lecturers create a timeline for you and it is up to you if you stick to it or not as long as it is completed and handed in by April.
Along my dissertation journey I have learned some valuable lessons. Here are my five reasons why writing a dissertation is not quite as scary as you think…
1. You get to talk about what you want and relate it to topics that you are really passionate about. If you choose something you like then the whole process will be so much easier and even quite enjoyable!
2. You have so much support from lecturers and you have you very own private one-to-one supervisor who will advise you every step of the way! You will also have some lectures that explain every chapter in depth so you understand exactly how you need to complete your research and write up afterwards
3. 10,000 words may sound like a lot but it isn’t like you write it in one go. Just think of it as 3 assignments! It really isn’t that bad if you write each chapter individually as though they are separate assignments, add them all together at the end and then voila, you have your dissertation!
4. There are seven months to complete it! Provided you manage your time alongside the other modules there’s more than enough time to spend on your dissertation.
I wrote a plan on my calendar writing down the days or weeks I will spend on each chapter — just to make sure I am working towards the set out deadline and also for my own sanity
5. When its finished it will feel like one of the best things you have ever done! To be able to carry out your own research and write 10,000 words (or more!) on a subject is something pretty special and you never know, you might even want to continue to a masters or PhD one day.
If you have any advice to share students who might be starting their dissertation journey, email it to socialmedia@northampton.ac.uk
