How much time do you think it takes, on average, to finish your dissertation? Not one day, for sure. Sometimes it takes weeks and months, depending on the academic level. Writing a dissertation is a serious task to handle. And for many students, it can be challenging to come up with a proper method of completing it.

However, if a student finds the right approach, things can get easier. Here are the ten ultimate principles professional dissertation writers use when helping students overcome this challenge. Keep them in mind and see your dissertation writing skills improve.

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Choose the Right Topic

The topic you choose for your dissertation matters the most. It should be relevant to what you study but, most importantly, interesting to you. If the theme doesn’t spike your curiosity, then you will not feel as motivated to work on it.

To come up with unique dissertation topics, try out a Research Question Generator or Mind-mapping tools like MindMeister or XMind. It’s worth discussing them on Quora or study discussion forums on Reddit.

Don’t be shy to consult with your professors too. You might be surprised by how willing they are to help.

Think of Research Questions

Did you know that 50% of your dissertation’s success depends solely on your research? Gathering valuable information is paramount. And the process will look much easier if you create a list of the right questions.

Don’t just surf the web. Be intentional with every query. Your questions should be diverse but also down-to-earth. It will also make it easier to go deeper into the topic if you think of as many questions as possible.

Run Thorough Research

Now that you know what questions to ask, conduct extensive research. Try different ways and places of getting information: websites, books from libraries, and sources recommended by your professor and peers. But don’t keep the ideas in your head. Always take notes on the go.

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Put Up an Outline

Starting from a blank page can seem stressful. With a clear outline, putting down the words will become an easier task. You will have great navigation between the parts of your dissertation right away. This will alleviate the pain of staying on track. You could assign each part to a certain week or day too.

Make an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

Your introduction is like a book description or a cover – it tells what everything is about and if it’s worth continuing. Make sure it encompasses the main idea of the dissertation and raises curiosity. The introduction usually defines if the topic you are writing about is interesting and relevant enough.

Come Up With a First Draft

The next principle is to put the text down. It doesn’t have to be perfect at first and can exceed the needed word count. Try to use simple language while writing the first draft.

Add Evidence and Examples

One of the main tasks is to make the work look as authoritative as possible. Note down all of the resources you used while conducting research. When needed, provide examples to illustrate your points.

Using evidence to prove your claims and arguments is one of the most crucial principles to follow. Learn how to cite your resources the right way too.

Stay Focused

Don’t jump from one topic to another. Keep an eye on the main research questions. Do your best to unravel them instead of touching on other similar topics. Also, focus on one task at a time and proceed gradually, chapter by chapter. Don’t put effort into writing a draft and editing at the same time.

Edit Until You See Clear and Concise Text

To ensure that the text flows smoothly and meets expectations, take time to edit and proofread it. Ideally, take a few days or weeks off the assignment and return to it for detailed editing with a fresh mind. This way, you will have a better chance to look at it as a stranger.

Judge from a third-party point of view and apply all the needed edits. Remove the repetitive parts or passages that confuse you.

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Ask for Feedback and Help

No matter how good you think your paper is, it’s better to ask someone to give you constructive criticism. Be open-minded and ask more experienced and knowledgeable people to help you with editing and even writing.

If you don’t have close friends who specialize in dissertations, there are always paper writing services out there to use. Sometimes asking for assistance can save more time than you can imagine and pay off in the form of a high grade.

Conclusion

A dissertation is an incredible way to demonstrate gained expertise and give something back to the academic community. You can feel stuck when looking at a blank page on your computer. But once you have a list of dissertation writing principles, things get so much easier. Follow these above and write an A-worthy paper you can be proud of.