When you begin your thesis or dissertation process, you might feel overwhelmed at first, and then relieved to be able to put anything on paper at all. However, a few common missteps are worth keeping in mind, as failing to do so can severely impact the finished product. Here are some of the mistakes we see most often as academic editors.
1. Not doing “enough” research
The amount of research you’ll undertake for a master’s thesis will be substantially more than anything you’ve done before—even more so if you’re doing your doctoral dissertation. When you have enough research, you’ll have a rich trove of ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Only then can you generate original ideas that will form the crux of your work. When your arguments aren’t backed up with adequate references, it really shows. In fact, it can undermine all the other work you’ve put in.
It’s also a mistake to perform a lot of research, but only in a very narrow way. Read widely in your field. A variety of resources lends your work credibility and lessens any appearance of bias.
2. Putting things off until the last minute
The average dissertation is between 100 and 200 pages (although, depending on the topic, a dissertation could be even longer). In any case, that’s a lot of work to leave until the last minute.
You’ll have to submit several drafts and give your supervisors and other readers enough time to digest it. You’ll also require time act on their feedback. And these will have to happen on top of the classes and other responsibilities you and they already have. If you hurry your writing, you might make careless mistakes, but more importantly, you won’t have enough time to convey a truly unique insight in your work.
Plan well and then add more cushion to that plan than you think you’ll need.
3. Choosing the wrong topic
If you choose a topic that’s not interesting to anyone but yourself, or that you’re not particularly interested in, you might have a problem maintaining others’ or your own attention after working on it for several months or even years. That’s a bad position to find yourself in when you’re trying to finish.
There are other ways to choose poorly. Don’t pick a topic that’s stereotypically “academic” in order to impress others. You’ll bore yourself and also potentially not be up to the task. Also, consider whether your specific angle is outdated or has been written about hundreds of times before.
4. Being disorganized
This applies not only to your research methodology, particularly in the sciences, but also to the writing process itself. You must have a system in place so that you can keep track of your quotes, sources, and citations. And each part of your dissertation should display a clear structure and progression of ideas. Your work can be brilliant and groundbreaking, but a lack of organization will make it completely inaccessible.
5. Providing too much information
Yes, there is a such thing when it comes to staying focused on the central ideas in your work. Giving enough background and context is essential to write a credible document, and doing a great deal of research will give you a strong base. However, tangential thinking and irrelevant ideas are distracting. They also give the appearance of being “filler.”
6. Committing plagiarism
We’ve already talked about plagiarism, but it’s worth mentioning again. Avoiding it is tied into having an organized writing process, but even the most well-meaning writer can slip up if they aren’t careful. You will put your reputation and your work at serious risk if you plagiarize, even if it’s accidental. If it doubt, use a plagiarism checking service to make sure your work is all above board.
7. Choosing readers and editors who aren’t critical enough
The successful thesis or dissertation (fortunately or unfortunately) is not just up to you. You’ll need advisors, readers, and committees to evaluate your progress, challenge you, assist you, and ultimately grade your work.
We all need encouragement, especially with tasks that are as overwhelming as the capstone research that can define your academic career. However, if readers aren’t finding anything wrong with your work, they are doing you a disservice. Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone can improve their work. Be sure that the people you choose to be your readers during the various drafts give you positive feedback and constructive criticism that you can actually work with.
8. Checking the final product for grammar and spelling mistakes only
Proofreading and editing your dissertation or thesis is not just about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typos. Whether you do it yourself or outsource this task to a professional editor, it’s essential that you check the flow and consistency of the writing as well as the coherence of your ideas. Your work should be well supported and well structured, with correct syntax and academic language. And don’t forget about formatting and citations, which vary from field to field.
Stickler Proofreading provides academic editing services for dissertations and theses, of any length and on any subject matter. Our editors are experienced with all major citation formats and formatting conventions, and will ensure your work follows your school’s style guidelines to the letter. We offer instant quotes, and no job is too big. Contact us today and get your dissertation or thesis into tip-top shape.