1. Be involved. Genuine personal engagement with the issues under scrutiny is the foundation to generating original work. Being interested in what you are researching will not only give you the motivation to persevere and work thoroughly, but will mean that your mind is switched on and primed to make new insights.

2. Critical analysis. Originality need not just take the form of new data or fresh research problems; maintaining a critical perspective when reviewing the available literature can generate a great deal of novel insight and genuinely valuable work.

3. Thorough research. It is of course necessary in a good dissertation to provide evidence of intensive research activity, but consider also the value of uncovering obscure, esoteric or unusual sources by trawling the literature. Such finds may considerable increase your chances of generating new ideas.

4. Niche topics. Many areas of research in your subject areas may appear to have been pumped dry, but what about those occasional odd areas which typically draw limited interest? Do not feign interest in a niche topic for this purpose alone, but if your do feel some engagement, you may be at a distinct advantage with regard to originality.

5. Novel research questions. All good dissertations should have some measure of novelty in the questions posed, but some problems are more fresh than others. Even well-trodden issues can usually be considered from new and intriguing perspectives. Novelty in your initial statements of intent will pave the way for originality in findings.

6. Inter-disciplinary approaches. Very fashionable in some academic circles, inter-disciplinary approaches to your work benefit from novel combinations and relationships between fields of study which have enjoyed little comparison in the past. If you have competence in more than one distinct field then this could be a fruitful avenue for you.

7. Recombination. Pick old ingredients and mix together in a new way to throw up some potential for original discussion in your dissertation. How does new data look when viewed through the lens of forgotten theoretical paradigms? Can historical findings be re-evaluated from the perspective of contemporary issues in your subject area?

8. Mastery of your field. An intimate and rich knowledge of your subject area can act like a roadmap to direct you to the most fruitful avenues of research. Think about those areas of your field which buzz with controversy and the promise of academic progress.

9. Antagonism. Not just a personality defect, but a whole approach to academic work. An antagonistic approach will favour marginal positions, controversial issues, the dissection of false assumptions and the defiance of academic consensus.

10. Confidence. This component of your psychology is not something that can be learned here, but you should be able to see the relationship between assurance – even risk-taking – and originality. If you are convinced of a position, you may well be able to convince others, no matter how unorthodox your stance.

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1. Originality. Standard undergraduate essays usually do not require substantial originality, but your dissertation represents your own academic position. The main bulk of the piece will be based on an exposition of your own ideas, generated from an investigation of original stated objectives.

2. Content. Not only should you express original ideas, but aim also to demonstrate your understanding of the place of your dissertation topic within its academic context. A good 2.1 mark requires a valid and relevant subject of study, with research objectives that are interesting and manageable.

3. Data collection. In some form or other you will gather data for analysis and interpretation. The nature of this data will vary considerably depending on your subject area and objectives. Clearly demonstrate the reasons behind your chosen data collection method.

4. Conceptual framework. Data makes little or no sense outside of an appropriate conceptual framework. Confidence in handling and interpreting ideas is a must for a 2.1 dissertation. Bear this in mind when writing your literature review chapter.

5. Structure and organisation. Your dissertation is likely the longest single piece of academic work you have yet attempted. A diligent approach to structuring and organising the material is absolutely necessary to maintain coherence.

6. Quality of expression. The fullest expression of your thoughts depends on a number of factors: sound command of the English language, solid understanding of specialist vocabulary, coherence of argumentation. A failure in any of these areas will jeopardise your 2.1 mark.

7. Literature. A novel piece of research carries little meaning outside of the subject’s existing literature. You are required to show a thorough engagement with the existing research literature in order to contextualise your findings. Cast your net widely and show your competence in researching through a number of avenues.

8. Critical analysis. It is not enough simply to provide evidence of the breadth of your wider reading; you must critically analyse the relevant material. Identify key issues, flag up notable controversies and judge the comparative significance of various parts of the literature with regard to your own research objectives.

9. Findings. You have already formulated a clear and concise topic or set of research questions, so ensure that these are addressed directly in your findings. Your answer must be relevant to your stated aims. Failure to match up your findings with your original objectives will signal a lack of focus and inadequate research.

10. Academic conventions. Broadly speaking, these conventions encompass all aspects of your dissertation which mark it out as a serious piece of academic work. Ensure that you do not undermine your credibility by failing to use proper referencing, formatting and presentational devices.

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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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