Completing Final Year
Projects or Dissertation
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Student Learning Development
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
What is a dissertation?
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Extended piece of work
Research/enquiry based
Underpinned by relevant sources
Personal focus and direction
Ethical issues?
Clear methodology
Critical thinking, argument, evaluation
Element of originality
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Core Strategies
• Planning
• Creating Structure
• Writing Strategies
• Motivation
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Goal Setting & Planning
• Desires & Wants vs. Goals & Tasks
• SMART
• Planning Tools
– Action plan
– Weekly
• Deadlines
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http://student-learning.tcd.ie
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
SMART Goal Setting
• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Action
• R = Realistic
• T = Time-based
Writing Timetable
• Deadlines
– Hard deadlines
– Soft deadlines
• Your thoughts and experiences?
Overview – Gannt chart
Months
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2
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Topic
Agreed
Aims &
Objectives
Opening
Sections
Draft
Outline
Literature
Review
Method/
Approach
Analysis/
Results
Discussion/
Conclusions
References
Acknowledge
Binding
Submission
to Tutor
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
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Possible Timeline
Submit - 27 January 2015
Proposed draft deadlines:
Draft 1
Ch. 1 - Introduction
Ch. 2 - Literature Review
Ch. 3 - Methods
Ch. 4 - Findings Interviews
Ch. 5 - Findings Document/Inventory
Ch. 6 - Discussion
Ch. 7 - Conclusion
Abstract
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Draft 2
Final Revision
Research Project
• Topic selected
• Literature search and review
– Making notes
– References
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Research – Data collection & analysis
Findings & Conclusions
Revisions
Submit
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Interactive reading & note taking
• Collect notes not articles or books
• What you think about others’ work
• Make use of reference management
software eg Endnote, Mendeley
• What do you make notes on?
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What to make notes on
– Big Picture
– Big Point
– Premise or Hypothesis
– Data, sources, arguments
– Theories or conceptual
– Analytical or research methods
– Results or analysis
– Quotations
– How it influences your research
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Structure / Outline
• Start with a 300-500 word summary
• Allocate word count for each section
• Design sub-sections
• Write in layers
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Outlining – Level 1
Background
Objectives
Method
Findings
Conclusions
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Outlining – Level 2
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Writing in layers
• Write a list of chapter headings
• Write a sentence or two on contents of each
chapter
• Write lists of headings for each section in each
chapter
• Make notes for each heading on how you will
develop the section
• Write an introductory paragraph for each chapter
• Write the word count, draft number and date at
top of first page
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Writing Strategies
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Book/journal
Write to prompts
Freewriting
Generative writing
Writing Sandwich
Practicalities
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Writing to prompts
• What writing have I done and what would I
like to do?
• Where do my ideas come from?
• How does what I read compare with my
own views?
• What I want to write about next is…
• What do I want to write about next?
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Freewriting
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Writing for 5 minutes
Without stopping
In sentences
Private – no external reader
No structure needed
Topic related to your research
Like brainstorming in sentences
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Generative writing
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Writing for 5 minutes
Without stopping
In sentences
Focusing on one topic (maybe from your
freewriting)
• To be read by someone else
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Practicalities
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Writing organisation
Backup
Style manual
Acquire reference system or software
Research & writing diary
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Overcoming blocks?
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Freewriting & Generative writing
Writing with supervisor
Mind-mapping
Verbal rehearsal
Write down all you know about ‘X’
Write down all your ideas on ‘X’
Visualise completed thesis
Combine strategies
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Motivation
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Wants and desires!
Focus on your efforts – what you’ve done
Alter expectations
Use rewards!
Positive language
– Reframe
– Thought stopping
• Small, bite size pieces = successes
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Tips for successful writing
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Plan to write regularly
Make a time plan and stick to it
Write up section as soon as it’s ready
Stop writing at a point where you could go on –
makes it easier to start next time!
• Decide where and when best for you
• Don’t write when exhausted
• Seek support
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Student Learning Development
Visit our website at: http://studentlearning.tcd.ie
Email Qs to
student.learning@tcd.ie
Phone us on
01-8961407
Blackboard
ASSL- TCD-201415 enrol instructions on
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
website