Structuring your MSc dissertation

Dr Peter Levin

(Teaching and Learning Centre, LSE)

June 2006
Please note this fundamental point:
Your MSc dissertation is the outcome of
a project.
You have to plan and manage your
project, then write it up and present it
as your dissertation.
You aren’t just writing a glorified essay!
A A Preliminaries
B What examiners like/don’t like
G C The student/supervisor relationship

D Finding a subject area

E E Choosing a topic
F Exploring/reviewing the literature
N G Project methodology
H Materials and sources
D I Time management and planning
J Alternative dissertation structures
A K The writing process
L Avoiding accusations of plagiarism
A. Preliminaries
Regulations and guidance
Purpose
Marking scheme
Handing-in procedure
Limitations on subject and title
Supervision/Assistance
Access to dissertations written
by past students
B1 What examiners like
Evidence of a well-thought-out project
Clear, appropriate methodology
Awareness of subtleties/
interconnections
Appreciation of wider context
Use of relevant literature
Independent critical thought
Thoroughness
Clear dissertation structure
B2 What examiners don’t like

‘Anecdotal evidence’
‘I think’, ‘I believe’
Straying outside your discipline
Absence of positively likeable
qualities
C. The student/supervisor relationship

Rights and expectations; responsibilities

See Code of good practice for taught masters programmes:
www.lse.ac.uk/resources/schoolRegulations/Default.htm

Observe your supervisor

Formulate your tactics
 
D. Finding a subject area
Something you’d like to explore?
Something topical?
New data or contacts you could use?
Case study to compare with?
Literature you’re critical of?
Personal experience to use?
International comparison?
E. Choosing a topic: checklist
Is it specific enough?
Is it narrow enough?
Have you a clear aim?
Have you a feasible approach?
Will you have an interesting conclusion?
Are you enthusiastic about it?
F. Exploring/reviewing the literature
Track down potentially useful publications
Start compiling a bibliography and
collecting publications
Don’t start writing your literature review
too soon
G1 Project methodology: Are you
Investigating/describing/aiming to explain
a phenomenon?
Aiming to test a theory, model, law or
hypothesis?
Aiming to test a proposition or
philosophical argument?
G2 Project methodology: Are you
Aiming to evaluate a policy, proposal,
action or technique?
Aiming to explore and resolve an issue or
problem?
Discussing a theme?
Arguing a thesis?
H. Materials and sources
‘Raw’ materials
Writings (the ‘debate’)
Use the library
Use the internet
Extract knowledge from materials
I. Time management and planning
Check your resources
Plan your work
Produce your first outline
Set realistic cut-off date for project work
Allow for 11th-hour rethink
J. Six draft outlines
Introduction

*
*
*
Discussion
Conclusion
J1 Draft outline: desk research

Introduction
Methodology
Materials
Findings
Discussion
Conclusions
J2 Draft outline: field research

Introduction
Literature review
Case study 1
Case study 2
Discussion
Conclusions
J3 Draft outline: testing a theory

Introduction
Literature review
Description of theory
Testing of theory
Discussion
Conclusions
J4 Draft outline: evaluative study

Introduction
Overview of the literature
Exploration
Evaluation
Discussion
Conclusions
J5 Draft outline: ‘theme’

Introduction
Aspect 1
Aspect 2
Aspect 3
Discussion
Conclusions
J6 Draft outline: ‘argument’

Introduction
The literature
Construction of thesis
Corroboration of thesis
Alternative theses: their defects
Discussion
Conclusions
K1 The writing process
Producing your first full draft and
finalizing your outline
From ‘writing as thinking’ to ‘writing as
assembly job’
Creating a ‘linear’ presentation
Your first draft
K2 The writing process
Improving your draft
Build on your first draft
Synchronize and tidy up
Make your dissertation reader-friendly
Write good English
Check your style
K3 The writing process

Guides to writing
W. Strunk & E.B. White,
Elements of Style
(4th edition, Longman 1999)

Joseph M. Williams
Style: Toward Clarity and Grace
(Univ. of Chicago 1990)
L. Avoiding accusations of plagiarism
Cite your sources
Incorporate quotes into your text correctly
Choose the most suitable referencing style
List your sources correctly
Resist temptation

Beat the witch-hunt! See

www.student-friendly-guides.com/plagiarism/index.htm
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Excellent dissertations!
by

Peter Levin
(Open University Press 2005, price £7.99)
 
On sale in Waterstone’s (LSE and Gower St
branches) and Foyles (Charing Cross Road)