Create your appendixes page, glossary, and bibliography (when applicable) 

It’s important to consult your university’s guidelines for creating an appendix page, glossary, and bibliography.

Here are some suggestions for creating an appendix page:

• • • • • • Label each appendix with a letter (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) and a descriptive title.
          • If you have multiple appendices, include a table of contents at the beginning of the appendix section.
          • Use consistent formatting (fonts, headings, spacing) throughout your appendices.

Now let’s understand more about the glossary of a dissertation. A glossary is usually placed after the table of contents or at the end of the document.

Here’s how to create a glossary for your dissertation:

• • • • • Mention terms that are specific to your field of study or that have a particular meaning in your dissertation.
        • Organize your glossary entries in alphabetical order based on the terms.
        • If your dissertation uses acronyms or abbreviations, include them in your glossary along with their full forms.
        • Provide the full form first, followed by the acronym or abbreviation in parentheses.
        • If certain terms are closely related or have overlapping meanings, consider including cross-references to other relevant terms in your glossary. Here is an example:

Artificial Intelligence (AI): A branch of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.

Now let’s learn more about the bibliography of a dissertation. A bibliography is a comprehensive list of all the sources you consulted during your research. It includes those resources you directly cited in your dissertation and those that informed your understanding of the topic.

A bibliography is usually mentioned at the end of a dissertation. Here are some important pointers while creating a bibliography:

• • • • • Consistently follow the guidelines and formatting rules specified by the chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, or other).
        • Use a reference management tool like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to generate citations and bibliographies.
        • Arrange your bibliographic entries in alphabetical order based on the author’s last name or the first significant word in the title.
        • If you have multiple works by the same author, arrange them chronologically by publication year.

8. Perform a plagiarism check

This is an important step to prevent any unintentional plagiarism. Here’s what you need to know to perform a plagiarism check:

• • • • • • Familiarize yourself with the different types of plagiarism, including mosaic plagiarism and self-plagiarism.
          • Use plagiarism checkers provided by Grammarly, QuillBot, PlagiarismDetector.net, etc.
          • Rewrite any plagiarized sentences.

Also read: How to Avoid Plagiarism in 2024 (10 Effective Strategies!)

9. Edit, proofread, and format your dissertation

This is where you check your text’s spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. If your sentences are lengthy and complex, you need to simplify them. Here are some useful suggestions:

• • • • • • Use grammar checkers provided by QuillBot, Scribbr, Grammarly, and Duplickecker to check grammar.
          • Use spell checkers provided by Reverso, Ginger, etc., to check the spelling. Alternatively, you can use online dictionaries like Merriam-Webster for US English.
          • You can also use writing software like Hemingway Editor to identify complex, wordy sentences, and weak words.
          • For formatting, check for consistency in the margins, line spacing, fonts, font size, all indents, alignment, headers, and footers.

10. Get feedback from your advisor

Getting feedback from your advisor is a crucial step after writing a dissertation. Your advisor will review your work and provide expert guidance. They will identify strengths and weaknesses, ensure alignment with academic standards, enhance clarity and coherence, address methodological issues, suggest additional resources, and help you prepare for the defense.

How long does it take to write a dissertation?

It can take 1-2 years to write the dissertation. However, the actual time can vary, depending on the topic’s complexity and the research required.

It’s essential to work closely with your supervisor and committee to ensure that you’re making steady progress.

What is the suggested dissertation length?

While there’s no universal standard, here’s a general guideline for dissertation length, keeping in mind that specific requirements vary significantly by institution, department, and research area:

Dissertation writing checklist