Losing motivation? Tips for writing your dissertation this summer

Writing your dissertation in summer is the perfect way to try and get ahead ready for the year, it’ll save you time, stress and means you’ll be well on your way to understanding your chosen thesis, with more time for editing too! 

Make a list of goals

Writing a dissertation in summer will be extremely helpful, but will require a lot of motivation, especially with the deadline seemingly so far away, however it will quickly come around, so a great tip is to make a list of goals you have specifically for the summer. For example, you may want to get a rough plan or draft completed or have all your sources recorded and organised. Setting small goals will quickly add up and take off some of the pressure when the academic year restarts. 

But what is a dissertation? Sometimes called a thesis, a dissertation is a research project completed as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It’s an opportunity for you to show off your thoughts and ideas with the freedom to choose something you find engaging and meaningful. However, it can be extremely daunting, usually being the longest piece of academic writing, you’ll do at university, so it is essential that you prepare well. 

Arrange meetings with your supervisor

One of the best things to do is to arrange an appointment with your supervisor. If possible, go equipped with a list of questions you’d like to ask about your project, as this will help a lot when they may be less available during the summer months. It’s also a great way to meet your supervisor, get acquainted and comfortable and have an outlet to discuss your ideas. This will allow you to start writing with peace of mind and be assured you’re going in the right direction.

Research before meetings

However, before you speak to your supervisor, it’s a good idea to begin researching your subject area. This is especially helpful if you’re not sure on the specific direction you’d like to go in. Research doesn’t mean just googling, it can be speaking with people, visiting locations, even watching movies related to your thesis. 

Sketch out a rough plan

Another tip is to sketch out a rough plan of what you have to do and how long you have to do it, by having a timeline ready it’ll prevent future stress and mean you can get everything done by the deadline. It’ll also keep your work organised and mean you’ll be able to stay on course and work efficiently.

Even if you don’t get the entirety of your dissertation written, whatever you achieve will allow you one step closer to completion and lighten the load for the next year.  

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