So, if you want to get a high grade on your dissertation, start with a strong research proposal or opt for the best dissertation writing help in UK.
But how do you craft an effective dissertation proposal? Find a topic that is (a) interesting and (b) adds to the existing literature. Then, narrow your focus until you find an appropriate dissertation title. Once you’ve decided on a title, select an appropriate methodology and assess the project’s overall feasibility. Finally, structure your proposal succinctly and clearly.
Writing a dissertation proposal is similar to forcing your ideas through a funnel. You’ll start with a broad concept and narrow it down to a concise proposal.
That being said, let’s look at the five stages of writing a dissertation proposal recommended by academics at our dissertation writing service.
The dissertation proposal is similar to a business pitch. However, instead of pitching a business opportunity to a dragon’s den, you will pitch a research strategy to a panel of academics.
The goal is to persuade your professors that the project is:
Interesting\sFeasible
Worthy of support
Fortunately, you won’t usually need to give a presentation when pitching a dissertation. However, you will be required to write a thorough research proposal.
Students frequently worry about the length of their proposals. Is it overly long? Is it too brief? It should be lengthy to convey your point while remaining concise. After all, concise writing is more persuasive because it demonstrates that you understand the subject.
This means that dissertation proposals should be between 750 and 2000 words in length. However, for specific advice, consult your university’s dissertation handbook.
Not really! There is a difference between an essay plan and a proposal.
An essay plan summarises your arguments concerning your tutor’s essay question. A proposal, on the other hand, is a strategy for a research project that you have chosen.
A dissertation requires you to pitch a new idea and then plan the entire research process from start to finish, making it more strategic than an essay plan.
So, rather than approaching your proposal as you would an essay, try to think of it as a strategy or action plan.
It will be much easier for your supervisor to understand your proposal if you structure it like a “mini dissertation.” Also, if you’re unsure how to write a dissertation proposal, this is a great chance to practice!
Whatever angle you take, the proposal can appear intimidating.
So, what should you do if you’re overwhelmed by the dissertation proposal? Where should you begin?
It’s best not to rush these things like any other project. A step-by-step approach will allow you to devote the necessary time to develop a strong proposal.
The first step, as you might expect, is to select a topic for your dissertation. At this point, your ideas can be expansive. In fact, at this point, you should try to be as open-minded and flexible as possible. Don’t be concerned if you have a mental block.
There are numerous ways to generate dissertation topic ideas:
What am I interested in learning about?
What course of study would best complement my career objectives?
Which assignment did I get the highest grade on?
Visit the university library and take 5 books on topics that have previously piqued your interest to see if they can inspire you.
Select one relevant to your field of study. So, if you’re a nursing student, you should read BBC Health or Nursing Times. This will keep you updated on current events and debates that could form the basis of your dissertation.
Throughout the year, most universities host talks and events. Sign up for a few talks hosted by different faculties to get a sense of what topics they’re interested in. Interdisciplinary dissertations, after all, can be fascinating.
Some universities make last year’s dissertations available on the intranet. Browsing through these can be beneficial, but be careful not to plagiarise.
Often, most creative ideas come to us when resting. However, these concepts will be quickly forgotten if we are not careful, so if you have a sudden thought while at the gym or out with your friends, try to write it down, so you don’t forget it.
If you do all of this, you should be able to generate at least a few dissertation ideas. It’s a good idea to have multiple ideas at this stage because some may not be feasible.
Once you’ve identified a few topics, it’s time to narrow your focus. You’ll progress from the general to the specific at this point. This will assist you in determining your research question(s) and proposal title. But how do you narrow your scope? So, you need to take your chosen topic and go over the existing literature on that topic. Remember that a dissertation should acknowledge prior literature by:
1. Supporting it
2. Taking it on
3. Extending it/filling a missing gap
To ‘acknowledge’ the existing literature, you must first understand it thoroughly.
So, go to the library and check out handbooks/reference books on your main topic. Choose books on Marketing, Digital Marketing Strategy, Consumer Research, Environmental Marketing, and so on if you’re interested in Green Marketing. Look for books titled “Current Debates in [your chosen topic]” or take help from essay writing services UK. Search for journals/books related to your keywords using Google Scholar or your university’s search tool. Set the filter to return only results from the last ten years. Be creative with your search terms and experiment with different synonyms to ensure that you don’t overlook any relevant search results.
If you have difficulty narrowing your focus, seek advice from your lecturers. Alternatively, our PhD specialists can advise you.