Dissertation deadlines are fast approaching and the panic is finally setting in. What have I been doing for the past year? And why haven’t I started writing? These thoughts fly around your head, making it impossible to focus. Well, you’re not the first student to leave your diss until the last minute, and you won’t be the last. Here are some tips to finish your dissertation, so there is no need to panic.
Write your abstract
Your abstract is important as it sets the tone of your work and outlines your arguments to the reader. Most people leave this until they’ve completed their work, but writing a confused and rushed abstract close to the deadline isn’t the best idea. Get your abstract out the way first, to make sure you’re clear on what you’re actually writing about. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you can always come back to edit it. But a focused abstract is useful to turn to when feeling lost in your work.
Break down your dissertation
When you’re only on word 217, reaching the 10-12,000 word count can seem impossible. Breaking down your work into smaller sections makes the task less overwhelming. Take the pressure off. Most students have completed 2000 words in one night before, so just do it again for your dissertation.
Write Every Day
One of the hardest parts of writing a dissertation is starting, and lacking the motivation to is understandable. But procrastination only makes your task more difficult. So start writing, set a daily goal of how much you want to write, and rest when you’ve reached the word count.
Edit at the end
Perfectionists will struggle with this, as there’s always a better way to word something. But designate time for editing until the end. Don’t spend an hour revisiting the same sentence as it just wastes time and adds frustration. But once you’ve reached the word count, edit away!
Don’t forget references
Leaving referencing until the end is one of the most stressful human experiences, especially if you haven’t kept a note of them! Keep track of your references on a separate document, so you can find them easily.