1. Have something to say. Your dissertation stands for your personal academic position, so it helps to believe what you write and write what you believe. Be well informed and secure in your position, then take confidence in your intellect and take a stand.

2. Rigorous research. Most dissertation will involve primary source and the collection of novel data, but even for library based research projects it is essential that you invest appropriate levels of time and brain power in this fundamental activity. The strength of research is the foundation for the entire dissertation.

3. Synthesis of ideas. Take ideas, information, theories and perspectives from wherever you think appropriate. Often it is advisable to take a wide-spectrum research approach. When doing so, it is all the more important to be careful and thorough in your systematic and coherent synthesis of ideas.

4. Time to think. You may very well be tempted to start making progress on this long piece of work as soon as possible; you would be right to do so, but remember that words on the page are not the single measure of progress. Do not write until you have something meaningful to say.

5. Know what is expected. Consult all available material detailing the specifications of the work you are undertaking. Talk to departmental staff, read old dissertations, scrutinise the marking and assessment criteria, and generally become familiar with what is expected.

6. Plan. Once you know the specifications inside out, you will be in a position to make a realistic plan of how to spend your time and how to structure your essay. Think ahead, anticipate problems and above all ensure you do not end up hurrying the write-up.

7. Care and attention. Dissertation essays are such substantial pieces of work that there are a great many aspects to be considered. Failure to meet the required standards in any one of these areas will put a ceiling on the mark you can expect to receive, so be diligent in all areas and demonstrate your professionalism.

8. Balance. Different parts of your dissertation will be weighted differently for their significance and the marks they carry. Bear this in mind when structuring your dissertation in order to reduce padding in minor areas and ensure substantial content in important sections.

9. End game. There can often be a considerable period of time between the beginning and end of just the writing stage of your dissertation project. Remember therefore to retain focus and keep your conclusions relevant to your original research questions. Clarity of focus is a strong indicator of your overall academic competence.

10. Review. Perhaps it seems a long time off now, but when you have finished writing the first draft, be certain to review it. Sometimes it serves to clear your mind of it before doing so to look at it afresh. Proofread for impeccable language and coherence of arguments as well as logical structure and sound reasoning.

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1. Planning. Think ahead clearly, before you begin, about how you want to put your essay together, what you want to say, and the nature of the relevant material. Strict deadlines can tempt you to put something on the page as soon as possible, but thorough planning will save you time by making the writing phase that much smoother.

2. Specifications. Are there any particular specs which must be followed? If so the structure of your essay should reflect the demands of the work. Discursive essays, analytical essays, critical reflections and reports each require different approaches.

3. editing. Having completed the necessary reading or other research, you must consider carefully what ‘makes the final cut’. Some material will have emerged as centrally important, some useful in support, and some more or less irrelevant. Decide what is in and what is out.

4. Logical argumentation. The external material may already fall into clear relationships, but where does your argument fit in, and how does it progress? More analytical essays will require evidence of logical progression of thought that is internally consistent and responsive to the work of others.

5. Development. Much of the structure of your essay will be determined by the source material and the progression of your own arguments, but it can be necessary to organise these further into a common arc. One example would be to begin with a review of classic texts, move onto an analysis of more recent works, then introduce original reflections and identify interesting new trends.

6. Introduction. Your opening section should outline your intended approach, refer directly to the question or title, and define key terms if necessary. This will set the tone for the entire piece and should be seen as an opportunity to demonstrate a proper engagement will the requirements of the work.

7. Body paragraphs. The main bulk of the text, this is where discussions are given full treatment and arguments can be developed. Aim to give each paragraph a particular direction and purpose, each one building substantially from the last.

8. Topic sentences. In each body paragraph you should aim to clarify as early as possible the line of argument or direction of thought. From here you can move on to referencing source material and developing a convincing analysis.

9. Subheadings. Effective use of subheadings can serve not only to clarify expression, but encourage clarity of thought. Generally subheadings should be used only when specified, but when employing them you can typically reduce the amount of exposition and directly address the designated issues.

10. Conclusion. More than just a restatement of your thoughts and findings, a good conclusion should also aim to synthesise the material and tie the piece together. This gives the reader their final impression of your work, and should be accorded due significance. Above all else, make sure you address the question.

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1. Confidence. It can be rather daunting to set about heavily critiquing authoritative texts, and takes some courage to put out fresh ideas of your own. As long as you are comfortable with the basic requirements of essay writing and academic conventions, you should be assured in your intellectual abilities and have the confidence to take a risk.

2. Unusual sources. Everyone’s ideas are informed by the other material out there. Rather than sticking to the basic texts or standard sources, consider following the footnotes to more unusual areas to find challenging new ideas in unexpected places.

3. Often originality will emerge after a long familiarity with central, core source materials and more contemporary and less established texts. In writing your essay, aim to move on quickly from repetitive discussions and cut to the chase. Establish the bulk of your analysis in new and emerging areas of research.

4. Critical perspective. A critical engagement with the available literature is essential for any hope of finding fresh and original ideas. Be on the look out for unwarranted assumptions in the arguments of others, and don’t be afraid to challenge these as you see fit. Disrupt the normal lines of argument to establish an original voice in your work.

5. Academic rigour. Only in mastering the basics can you reasonably hope to move on to more exciting and original substance in your writing. Familiarise yourself with the conventions of writing an academic essay, and with the standard lines of inquiry in your given subject area.

6. Wide reading and research. Originality seldom comes from isolated genius, but from critical exposure to the literature. Read widely and engage at a serious level with the available and relevant research in order to lay the foundations for originality in your essay.

7. Unorthodoxy. By choosing from the outset to adopt an unusual or marginal argumentative position, you set yourself a considerable challenge by aligning yourself against the weight of opinion. However, you will also increase the likelihood of demonstrating original ideas and avenues of inquiry. Be assured that you will be judged not on the position you take, but on the strength of your arguments.

8. Organisation. Often the main thrust of the major paragraphs in your essay will be determined by the material to which you are referring, and the references may well present an obvious set of relationships. Chronological arrangement is common as it represents the development of ideas; consider juxtaposing classic and contemporary sources to provoke new insights.

9. Language. It remains important always to use appropriate linguistic conventions and maintain the academic register throughout. Nevertheless, adopting a slightly more assertive tone can lift the quality of your writing by emphasising your own critical perspective and moving away from tired repetition of familiar discussions.

10. Outside theories. Many academic disciplines treasure a certain corpus of theoretical approaches. Occasionally, however, it is possible to bring in theoretical ideas from other related disciplines to shed a new light on old material. Such a tactic can be very enlightening, but be sure to do so only when your grasp of the outside theory is assured.

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