Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success

by Nicholas Stephen Robert Walliman

Overview

In the second edition of this best-selling guide, Nicholas Walliman provides expert, step-by-step advice on managing and developing a successful undergraduate project.

This book takes you through each stage of your dissertation, answering questions including:

• How do I choose an appropriate topic for my dissertation?
• How do I write a research proposal?
• What's a literature review, how do I conduct it and how do I write it up?
• How can I ensure I'm an ethical researcher?
• What methods of data collection are appropriate for my research question?
• Once I have collected my data, what do I do?
• What's the best structure for my dissertation?

Full of examples from real student projects, interdisciplinary case studies and illustrated with cartoons to make you smile along the way, this book will tell you all you need to know to write a brilliant dissertation.

The Student Success series are essential guides for students of all levels. From how to think critically and write great essays to planning your dream career, the Student Success series helps you study smarter and get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips and resources for study success!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446253199
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	09/03/2013
Series:	Student Success
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

After twenty years in architectural practice in Scotland, England and Switzerland designing a wide range of buildings, industrial, commercial, residential, and renovating and restoring historic buildings, I returned to academic activities when I embarked on a Ph.D. at Oxford Brookes University.

My university teaching and examining experience has been at all levels, with the preponderance at postgraduate level. I have supervised to successful completion twenty Ph.D. students and two MPhils, 1 KTP, and examined 13 Ph.D. candidates. I have published several popular textbooks and guides on construction aspects and on how to do research for students and practitioners and how to write Ph.D. theses, Masters and Undergraduate dissertations.

As Senior Researcher, Oxford Institute of Sustainable Development – Architectural Engineering Group, my research was based mainly on the technology of building construction - innovative, existing and historic, on vernacular architecture, and issues regarding accessibility in buildings and surroundings. My published papers and reports are read internationally and have been presented at international conferences.

Table of Contents

What's It All For?
What Types of Studies are Suitable for a Dissertation?
What Will It Be About?
How Do I Get Started?
What's All This about Philosophy?
How Do I Write a Proposal?
What About Working and Planning My Time?
How Can I Find and Review the Literature?
How Can I Manage All the Notes?
What's All This about Ethics?
What Sorts of Data Will I Find?
How Do I Collect Data?
How Do I Analyse Quantitative Data?
How Do I Analyse Qualitative Data?
Why Do I Need Arguments?
How Can I Manage Such a Long Piece of Writing?
What About Referencing?
How Can I Make My Work Look Interesting and Easy to Read?
Who Else Might Be Interested in My Writing?
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

'This book is one of the most helpful I have seen in terms of helping undergraduate students understand the methods and principles involved in carrying out research for the final dissertation which many degree courses require. In essence it is a complete guide, covering every aspect of the process, outlining each step from selecting a theme to final writing and submission' - ESCalate

From the Publisher

'This is a refreshing and inspiring book, of equal value to both the anxious and the ambitious student'

Lucinda Becker

Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success under the series of SAGE Study Skills is a really successful tool specifically designed to guide students in writing their dissertations...Overall, this is a comprehensive book that achieves its aims of guiding students in writing their dissertations successfully. It is 'full of lucid explanations, practical tips' and gives students the opportunity to implement what they have learnt. It is true that SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Thank you, Nicholas, for this special gift. It is indeed a great book!

Tawanda Nhire Nelson António

Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success under the series of SAGE Study Skills is a really successful tool specifically designed to guide students in writing their dissertations...Overall, this is a comprehensive book that achieves its aims of guiding students in writing their dissertations successfully. It is 'full of lucid explanations, practical tips' and gives students the opportunity to implement what they have learnt. It is true that SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Thank you, Nicholas, for this special gift. It is indeed a great book!

Tawanda Nhire Nelson António