Writing your Dissertation or Extended Project

Working on your dissertation or extended project can be very rewarding. It’s an opportunity to explore topics that you have chosen, and to take your academic skills and confidence to the next level. 

But working on a dissertation or an extended project can also be challenging. It’s probably the most independent piece of academic work you’ve done so far, and this means it can be hard to know if you’re doing it right. 

Don’t worry, though. We’ve created a collection of resources for dissertations and extended projects to support you, and these tips and resources from the Academic Skills Team will help you get started, stay focused, and make progress. 

• Writing an effective proposal means tutors can give you useful feedback at an early stage. Use our Proposal Planner Tool to develop your initial ideas. 

• It can be hard to know where to begin searching for information, but your subject guide is the best place to start. 
  

• Tutors want to see you thinking critically about your topic, so check out our resources on critical thinking. 

• Feeling confused about your literature review? Then try watching what is a literature review?  

• When you’ve done plenty of reading, try mapping the literature to make sense of how it all fits together. 

• Dissertations have different parts that all need to work together. To find out more, watch structuring your dissertation. 

• Getting your introduction right is really important, so try watching how to write your dissertation introduction. 

• To write more critically, try using reporting verbs. 

• If you’re struggling to make progress, check out these tips for managing your time and motivation. 

• Editing should be about much more than just checking for typos. Use these tried and tested editing strategies to make it your best work. 
  

• And finally, remember you’re not alone. For support with finding information or referencing, book an appointment with a Librarian. For help developing other academic skills, book an appointment with the Academic Skills Team. 

Completing your dissertation or extended project is a marathon, not a sprint, so explore the resources and support that are available to you through the Library.