{"id":10686,"date":"2019-12-29T11:47:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T11:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peachyessay.com\/?p=10686"},"modified":"2025-08-27T17:13:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:13:58","slug":"writing-masters-dissertation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peachyessay.com\/blogs\/writing-masters-dissertation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips on Writing Your Master’s Dissertation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing a dissetation for your Master\u2019s <\/strong>Degree can be a very daunting task.\u00a0 This is because a Master\u2019s Degree dissertation depends solely on the capacity of the student for comprehensive research. Dissertations are the last stage necessary for the student to complete before he\/she can be awarded a Master\u2019s or Doctoral certificate. \u00a0For most students, it is the longest, hardest part of the study as you are required to conduct an in-depth study into the nature of the topic.<\/p>\n

What is a Dissertation?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cambridge Dictionary has defined \u201cdissertation<\/em>\u201d as \u201ca long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive a degree at college or university\u201d. \u00a0In other words, dissertations<\/strong> <\/a>are treatises advancing a new point of view as a result of adequate research and it is usually a requirement for an academic degree.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Which is Correct:<\/strong>\u00a0Dissertation or Thesis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Often times, the words \u201cdissertation\u201d and \u201cthesis<\/strong><\/a>\u201d are often interchangeably used. There are variations, however, across countries and universities or colleges. In some academic arena, the word \u201cdissertation\u201d refers to the final project writing required of prospective Master\u2019s and Doctorate Degree students before they can be awarded the degree for which they are studying. It excludes the Undergraduates. In some other countries and academic parlance, it refers to both the Undergrads and the Master\u2019s Degree writing requirement. In some countries and universities belonging to the third category, however, \u201cdissertation\u201d is exclusively used to refer to only Doctoral Degree program writings with the exclusion of both Undergrads and Masters.<\/p>\n

Some Academics have gone further in using the two nomenclatures to differentiate the constituent of the research work itself. Some argue that \u201cdissertation\u201d refers to the work as a whole, while \u201cthesis\u201d refers specifically, to that statement or sentence which conveys the issue or subject matter of the research. Whichever is the case in your country and university, it is more prevalent in the UK for both terminologies to be used interchangeably.<\/p>\n

Dissertation in the United Kingdom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the United Kingdom, a student is often required to write a dissertation and then appear before the Dissertation Committee for the defense of the Dissertation. The thesis defense is often called viva voce<\/em> <\/strong>which in Latin roughly translates to \u201cby live voice\u201d. This depicts the oral defense style that is often employed in which the Masters’ Student would be required to stand before a dissertation committee of two to three Supervisors. The first Supervisor would be a lecturer in the student\u2019s university department. The second defense supervisor would be an external supervisor from another University entirely. At times, there could be a third supervisor who would often be \u201cThe Chair\u201d, ensuring that the dissertation examination<\/strong><\/a> process is fair.<\/p>\n

All three supervisors are knowledgeable Academics in the area of focus of the thesis. While the first and second lecturers are both allowed to ask questions and examine the student, the third supervisor \u2013 \u201cThe Chair\u201d is not to ask, answer or contribute to the examination of the student. He\/she is more or less an inactive observer. A lecturer depending on the bulky or complex nature of the dissertation would have been assigned to monitor, review, and render any form of academic guidance to the student in the process of carrying out the research. The Supervisor who was directly involved in assisting the student in the research process is not mandated to be present. And if present, such a supervisor is not allowed to ask, answer, or make any comment during the thesis defense.<\/p>\n

The Importance and Purpose of the Master\u2019s Dissertation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The importance of a Master\u2019s Thesis<\/strong> can never be overstated. It should be categorically stated here that your Master\u2019s thesis can prevent you from being awarded your Master\u2019s Degree if you fail to meet the required standards. It is as important as that. There\u2019s virtually no university you will attend where you won\u2019t be required to engage in dissertation writing when you are nearing the completion of your course. This is why some Universities would write on the cover page of the dissertation \u201c\u2026in partial fulfillment of his\/her M.A. \u2026\u201d Dissertations are a requirement before students can be awarded their Master\u2019s Degree.<\/p>\n

The purpose of a Master\u2019s Dissertation <\/strong>is that, firstly, a Master\u2019s Dissertation<\/a><\/strong> grants you an opportunity to develop or prove that you have gained a deep knowledge and understanding regarding a specific area of study. The thesis should be sufficient to prove that you are skilled in identifying area\/areas suitable for research. It teaches you the art of locating, setting research objectives, selecting and adopting the right research methodology, analyzing data, and the ability to give relevant recommendations.<\/p>\n

In addition, though not always, it can also serve as the stepping stone for your doctoral work. Furthermore, it is a demonstration of your research and writing skill; both of which are necessary for every Masters’s student.<\/p>\n