1. Originality. All dissertations involve the investigation of original aims or ideas. For a 1st class grade, however, you must demonstrate considerable originality in various areas, including objectives, critical thinking and findings. Think ahead when formulating your research questions in order to avoid being limited to spent areas of research.

2. Content. Careful decisions concerning the title of your dissertation can make the difference between a rather dull piece of work which struggles to generate fresh ideas, and an interesting and engaging topic which fits with the existing literature in unexpected and stimulating ways. Markers are only human: captivate them and maintain their interest.

3. Data collection. In aiming for a 1st class grade, you will be well versed in the comparative benefits and drawbacks of different data collection methods. Clearly demonstrate this thorough understanding of methodology to leave the marker in no doubt of your reasons for selecting one method over another.

4. Conceptual framework. An absolute must for achieving a 1st class mark, your conceptual thinking will be impressive to say the least. Emphasise the relationships between ideas and your consummate ability to identify the salient issues in any body of literature. Relate an established conceptual framework to your own findings.

5. Structure and organisation. Do not be fooled into thinking that paragraphs, subheadings and chapter organisation is trivial next to the impressive analytical acuity evident in your text. Sound structure is a prerequisite for proper comprehension, without which your glowing insights will be sadly lost.

6. Quality of expression. Spelling, punctuation and grammar will naturally be flawless. Your command of subject-specific vocabulary and specialist terms must also be very strong. Make each paragraph, and each sentence, count. Ensure all points move on from the last in a coherent and logical development of thought.

7. Literature. Plainly speaking, it is impossible to write a 1st class dissertation without a wide and meaningful engagement with the relevant subject literature. At no point when reading your essay should the marker be in any doubt of your many hours in the library. Reference broad ranging but relevant texts.

8. Critical analysis. Every piece of literature cited in your dissertation should have been submitted to your merciless critical eye. Is it relevant? Have you thoroughly understood it? Have you considered its comparative significance for the question at hand? Have you identified the key issues and appropriated them to your own ends? If not, it should not be there.

9. Findings. Having so diligently considered the merits of your research questions, and so painstakingly assembled, analysed and contextualised the data, it would be a shame to undermine the whole thing by concluding with findings that fail to address your stated aims. Make your findings relevant, interesting and compellingly argued.

10. Academic conventions. The consistent use of an appropriate referencing system should, in terms of marks for your dissertation, be money in the bank. There are no excuses at this level for shoddily assembled bibliographies, appendices and footnotes. For a 1st class grade become a serious scholar.

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1. Attribution of ideas. One purpose of referencing is to mark the origin of certain observations, ideas, theories, or data. Clearly, then, a rigorous approach to referencing should be seen as a strict necessity when discussing the emergence and development of ideas at any given time.

2. Aid further research. Another key purpose for referencing is to aid the reader to further investigate research issues that have emerged in your dissertation. Any properly referenced piece of work has the potential to become a step on another’s research trail, and should therefore follow strict conventions.

3. Avoid plagiarism. Perhaps the most salient use of referencing for your present concern is in absolving you of any charges of plagiarism. By taking the proper approach to referencing you provide a running commentary on the provenance of all material in your dissertation, demonstrating your concern with fair attribution of ideas.

4. Be systematic. Take a systematic approach by adopting one referencing system and being consistent with it. The proper choice of system will depend on the nature of your work, so it is best to consult the literature in your subject area and find a model to adopt.

5. Bibliography. This is the counterpart to your referencing system, providing an alphabetical list of all materials cited in the text or essential for the formulation of your ideas. Often this is distinct form the List of References which includes only those works directly cited in the dissertation. Understand conventional usage and stick to it.

6. Evidence of wide reading. The work that you decide to reference will indicate the scope, direction, depth and engagement of your wider reading. Bear this in mind when deciding which works to bring into sharper focus.

7. Evidence of accomplished research. As with the previous tip, those reading your dissertation will draw certain conclusions about the strength of your work from the choice of material to which you have referred. A few obscure, unusual or rare texts might indicate an impressive thoroughness of research.

8. Specifications. How far does your approach to referencing fit with departmental specifications concerning your dissertation? If guidelines are vague, contact teaching staff and find out what your best options are.

9. Beware complications. In the rush to deal with the conceptual or technical content of the literature you are consulting, one can ignore subtle details of a more prosaic nature. Don’t be tripped up by ambiguities concerning multiple publication dates, translated editions, edited volumes and collaborations.

10. Look at how others do it. The very best way to be confident in your use of referencing is to consult published material and pick up the proper approach to notation, in-text referencing and footnotes.

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1. Purpose. The purpose of an abstract is to summarise in a systematic and formulaic manner the content of your dissertation. The abstract serves as a short-hand for the entire piece, indicating whether or not it would be worthwhile to read. Bear this purpose in mind when drafting your own abstract.

2. Length. Typically an abstract should not exceed one page of text, but it is essential to check departmental specifications to be sure that your abstract conforms with requirements. Exceeding stated limitations in length is a serious failure which will indicate a lack of understanding as to the purpose of an abstract.

3. Avoid verbosity. The biggest challenge in writing an abstract is to retain focus and not exceed the word count. It is therefore necessary here to avoid unnecessarily florid and superfluous language. Keep it simple, clear and within specifications.

4. Thoroughness. The abstract must represent the entire dissertation, not just certain elements of it. Objectives, reviewed literature, methodology, analysis and conclusions: all should be summarised in the abstract. Remember that abstracts are used to inform the reader of what they are about to read, so don’t leave too many surprises.

5. Terminology. The inclusion of key terms – both general and specific to your subject area – will provide a means for browsing research academics to identify the character and purpose of your dissertation as a whole.

6. Authority. Set the tone for your dissertation by establishing an authoritative academic voice early on in your abstract. Demonstrate your comfort with the academic register to set up the impression that your work is professional and credible.

7. Salesmanship. A rather crass way to think about the purpose of your abstract, perhaps, but useful nonetheless. Academics will read your abstract to decide whether or not your dissertation as a whole is likely to be useful to them. Indicate the significance of your research and emphasise the rigour of your methods.

8. Balance. In the same way that the dissertation as a whole must maintain the proper share of space between different chapters, so too the abstract should reflect this balance. Look at the marking criteria to see which aspects carry how many marks, and organise your abstract appropriately.

9. Clarity of expression. As already mentioned, abstracts require a concise writing style to keep the word count low. In summarising such a large volume of material, be mindful also of the danger of obscurity and lack of clarity. Make sure the abstract is not entirely incomprehensible to an intelligent layman.

10. Consult published material. As with many aspects of writing a dissertation, useful models and templates can be found in comparable published material. Read published dissertations and familiarise yourself with how good abstracts are written.

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