8 Steps to Write Dissertation

When you start to write a dissertation or thesis, one of the first questions that will probably cross your mind is "How does this thing work?" Although it may seem like an overwhelming task at first, writing a thesis is not as difficult (and certainly not as lengthy) as you might think.

Here’s what happens when you start to write a dissertation.

1. Analyze the assignment and discuss it with your supervisor

If you haven’t completed this step already before you even begin to write your thesis or dissertation, make sure that you understand what the assignment is asking for. When you know exactly what is expected of you before setting out on a task, you will find that everything becomes a lot easier.

To avoid common mistakes and save time, discuss your assignment with your supervisor at least once before writing begins. Ask for clarification if necessary. This is the best way to avoid misunderstandings when you start writing. Make sure they know what you plan to do, why it’s relevant, and what you anticipate the results will be.

2. Develop a thesis proposal

Once your supervisor is satisfied that they know what you plan to do, you can prepare a proposal for your thesis or dissertation. A good proposal should contain the following:

• A literature review of existing knowledge on the subject and how it relates to your study

• A general statement of your main research question and hypothesis

• The methods you plan to use and why they will help answer your research question

Depending on the requirements for your assignment, this step may not be necessary. However, it can sometimes save time to present a clear plan of action early in the process. In any case, don’t expect to receive an assignment that is free of requirements.

If you are wondering how to write a thesis, this should be the first step in your process. A good proposal sets the foundation for all other writing activities. It provides direction and guidance to keep you on task, allows you to create an effective schedule, helps identify potential problems, suggests solutions for problems that may arise, and gives you something to work toward.

3. Develop an outline

Once your proposal is complete, it’s time to develop a detailed outline of everything that will be included in your thesis or dissertation. The next thing you need to know about writing a thesis is that this step does not have to be done all at once. You can create an outline as you conduct your research or even write it after the first draft is complete.

However, some people find it helpful to develop a detailed plan before writing any of their literature reviews, data analysis, or results in chapters. This allows them to organize their thoughts and ensure that everything fits together smoothly before they begin writing. It also allows you to highlight sections that can be left out of your thesis or dissertation if time is short or you cannot perform the task.

4. Write your literature review

For many students, this is the most difficult step in writing their thesis or dissertation because they haven’t yet begun collecting and analyzing data or conducting research. Keep in mind that this is where you lay out the groundwork for everything else. Although it might seem like a daunting task, writing your literature review is quite straightforward.

Start by writing down keywords or concepts related to your research topic on index cards. These words can represent people, events, ideas, or other things that relate directly to your research question. Group these terms into logical categories and expand each group as ideas occur to you. Some students find it helpful to create a mind map diagram or a graphic organizer chart. Although there are no set rules for doing this, the important thing is that you end up with an organized view of your thesis from start to finish before you begin writing.

5. Write your introduction and hypothesis

Keep in mind that this is where you communicate the purpose and significance of your thesis or dissertation, as well as describe why it is important. It’s also a good place to state your research question(s) and how they will be answered. The introduction introduces the reader to your topic, and the hypothesis presents what you expect to find and why it is important. The introduction and hypothesis must be logically connected because one explains how you arrived at your research question while the other states what you plan to do about it. Although these two sections sound alike, they are quite different.

6. Draft your methodology

This step should include a detailed description of the research design, sample, and data collection procedures, as well as an explanation of the statistical analyses that will be used to answer your research question. You may need to consult with your supervisor or committee members for guidance because this is not an area where every student feels confident. Some students prefer to draft their methodology after they complete their first draft. Others find it helpful to revise their methodology after each draft is complete.

7. Draft your results chapter(s)

Here, you describe what you found in your data collection and how this information meets the research objectives outlined earlier in your proposal. This is where all the work that went into collecting and organizing data pays off because you can show your reader what you did and found. Use graphs to illustrate trends and tables to present numerical results, if appropriate. If you collected several data sets for one research objective (e.g., survey responses from men and women), then describe how each group was similar or different in your findings. Make sure that the patterns should be strong because this is where you will see if your study can answer the original research question.

8. Draft your discussion chapter

Here, you draw on both qualitative and quantitative findings to make sense of what you discovered in your data analysis. How do these results relate to previous studies? What is the significance of your findings (e.g., limitations, implications for future research, etc.)? Don’t be afraid to include a little speculation as you discuss the implications of your research. This is where you offer your unique insights and observations because no two students or supervisors think alike.


After completing these steps, revise your dissertation one final time and then send it off to committee members for review. Although this may seem like a daunting task, it doesn't have to be. Planning and breaking the process into manageable steps helps you complete your dissertation or thesis quickly and painlessly.

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