Structuring a primary research dissertation

This gives the dissertation title, your name, student number, degree course, and month and year of submission. It's the first thing your reader sees, so it needs to match your course's requirements exactly. This doesn't count towards your word limit.

This is a formal statement confirming the work is your own and hasn't been submitted elsewhere. Your course will usually provide the exact wording you need to use. This doesn't count towards your word limit.

This is a short summary covering why your topic matters, your aims, your methods, your findings and your main conclusions or recommendations. Write it last, once the rest of the dissertation is finished, and it won't count towards your word limit. Read more about Writing a dissertation abstract.

This is where you thank anyone who supported your research. Try to keep it to a single page. This doesn't count towards your word limit.

This lists every section and subsection with page numbers. Generate it automatically using your word processor's heading styles rather than typing it out manually. It doesn't count towards your word limit.

This covers what your research is about and why it matters. It outlines how the research focuses your topic to something specific and manageable. The introduction also explains any key theories or frameworks that will guide your work. Read more about Writing introductions.

This answers the question 'what is already known about my subject?' It critically analyses existing research and highlights key themes and debates. It also identifies gaps that your research will address. Read more about Writing literature reviews.

This answers the question 'how did I do my research?' It states your research questions or hypothesis clearly. It also explains the methods and analytical framework you've chosen to answer them. An analytical framework is the theory or model you'll use to interpret your data. Read more about Understanding research methods.

This presents your data in a logical order so your reader can understand it quickly. Keep this section descriptive (saying what the data show) rather than interpretive (explaining what the data might mean). Save your interpretation for the Analysis section that follows.

This identifies the important themes and patterns in your data and explains what they mean. Link your points back to your research questions throughout. Read more about Using and interpreting data.

Some subjects prefer Findings and Analysis combined into one section, so check your course guidance.

This connects your Findings and Analysis sections to the Literature review. It shows what matched, what differed and what was new or surprising. Structure the discussion around your findings, your analytical framework, or the themes from your literature review.

Some subjects prefer Analysis and Discussion combined into one section. Discuss with your supervisor whether yours should be separate or combined.

This explains any problems you had during data collection or analysis that limited your research. Being open about limitations strengthens your credibility rather than weakening it.

This summarises the whole dissertation to show whether you've answered your research question. Include a reminder for your reader of your most important points and any recommendations for further research. Read more about Writing conclusions.

This reflects on the process of doing your research, or on how your thinking changed because of it. Not all courses require this. Some will ask for this as a separate section; others will expect it as part of the conclusion. Check your course guidance to see whether this section is required.

This lists every source you've cited or referenced, following your course's required referencing style. This doesn't count towards your word limit.

These hold material that's important but would interrupt the flow of your main text, such as questionnaires, raw data or your ethics form. In general, only include what a reader would need to check your work. However, check with your supervisor, as expectations can vary between courses. These don't count towards your word limit.