We all know how depressing a bad start can be, and we all know how good it feels to get started on a project with a positive outlook. This guide is all about getting your dissertation off to a brilliant start with a thorough, persuasive dissertation proposal based on information and tips from the expert academics of the Oxbridge writing team.

Why your dissertation proposal matters

The primary reason for starting your dissertation with a good proposal is that it gives you a solid foundation on which to build your final piece of work. However, for some students, dissertation proposals actually contribute to their final grade, equating to 5-10% of the overall mark. Hence, taking the time to craft a good proposal will not only help you write a better dissertation, it could also help you attain the maximum possible marks.

Your dissertation proposal will give you a solid structure for creating your dissertation. If you can write a clear plan now, you’ll find researching and writing the essay far easier, more logical, and infinitely less stressful!

That’s why we’re taking some time to share our top dissertation proposal writing tips – to get you off to a flying start. A bit of effort at this stage will make the not-so-insignificant task of writing your dissertation easier, and you’ll be thankful for it.

Do I need to write a proposal?

Requirements for dissertation proposals vary widely depending on which university you attend, which course you are on and what module you are taking but the one is always important and it’s your research paper introduction so be very careful with it. Many universities will require you to write a proposal, some will include your proposal in your marks and others will not require a proposal at all.

However, even if you do not technically need to write a proposal, going through the steps outlined below and writing a thorough plan will help you to create a dissertation, with a strong logical framework, evidence of smart research, and a compelling argument which will really impress your markers.

What should my proposal include?

There are many elements which should go into your dissertation proposal. We’ll explore each section in more detail later on, but the general framework should feature:

1. A title

2. An introduction

3. Your aims & objectives

4. Your methodology

5. A literature review

Step 1: Writing your title

Settling on a title can be the trickiest part of starting your dissertation. The title you choose at this point will dictate how you spend your next few months, and can make or break your final dissertation.

As future employers may be interested in the title of your dissertation, if you have some idea about your future career choice, you might want to factor this into the topic you choose to ensure it interests and impresses in interviews.

Remember, your initial title isn’t set in stone and typically you’ll have lots of chances to discuss it with your tutor. However, it’s important to begin with a clear and focused idea to avoid a jumbled up dissertation which lacks coherence.

Title writing tips:

1. Select an area which really interests you, this will help you maintain focus and interest throughout your dissertation.

2. Take some time to look through previous dissertations in this area written by successful graduates. This will give you lots of inspiration, show you example titles with real potential, and help you find an inventive topic which hasn’t been covered before – originality can be a huge plus point.

3. Make the most of your tutor’s feedback. Use their guidance as a sounding board for your ideas. Tutors will be able to advise you whether your idea has potential, or whether you’re covering the same old ground.

4. Once you’ve found your title, stick to it. Have confidence in your choice. This will keep you focused and on track throughout your dissertation. Minor changes will inevitably happen, but having a clear goal is essential.

Step 2: Writing your introduction

This section of your dissertation proposal will give you and your tutor a clearer idea of your planned direction and expectations. It’s also your opportunity to explore your original idea and think more deeply about what you hope your dissertation will achieve.

Your introduction should include:

• An outline of the problem posed by your title – what are the key issues involved?
• An explanation of why you think this is worth investigating
• A description of how you will conduct your research and what you hope your research will reveal
• A summary of what you hope your dissertation will ultimately achieve

Introduction writing tips:

1. This is a great opportunity to think through your dissertation. Make sure you raise any possible issues you think you might confront and discuss them with your tutor to tackle them before they arise in the writing process.

2. Think carefully about the wider impact of your dissertation. A great topic will give you the opportunity to research and write about something which has implications beyond your degree. This is the very best type of dissertation, so be sure to highlight the potential for academic, societal or theoretical impact.

3. If you struggle to complete this section, then you’re not ready to get started, and may want to rethink your title. Be sure to discuss this with your tutor to get their expert input.

Step 3: Presenting your aims & objectives

After a short introduction, your section on aims and objectives is an opportunity to closely scrutinise your goals and expectations – then consider how you will achieve them. There is a clear difference between aims and objectives which you should make clear in your dissertation proposal:

• Aims should be broad, summing up what you hope to achieve with your dissertation in a general sense
• Objectives should be more specific, honing in on the smaller steps towards your overall aims and how you will achieve them

Your objectives section should also start to outline how you will measure the success of your aims. Some universities suggest using the SMART acronym to help you do this systematically:

• Specific – Are your objectives specific enough to succeed?
• Measurable – How will you measure whether or not you achieve your goals?
• Achievable – Are your objectives possible given your current circumstances?
• Realistic – Do you have all the resources you need to make this happen?
• Time-constrained – Is there enough time for you to achieve your objectives?

Aims & objectives writing tips:

1. There’s no set number of aims you should have. You may have one big, overarching aim, or several. As long as they are clearly expressed and your objectives explain how you will work towards them, you will be doing well.

2. Use strong, confident language to express your aims and objectives. This is not the time to be vague. Avoid using words like “perhaps”, “consider” and “possibly”. Instead use dynamic, active verbs which clearly describe your goals and your approach. Verbs like “develop”, “construct” and “measure” are all helpful.

Step 4: Writing your methodology

Your methodology is an absolutely fundamental part of your dissertation proposal. In this section, you will explain exactly how you will meet the objectives in order to achieve the aims of the work. It’s a great place to set down a plan you can follow as you get stuck into your actual essay. You’ll need to cover:

• The methods you will use as you research and develop your dissertation
• The conceptual frameworks and philosophies that underpin the essay
• How you will access information and find sources
• How you will collect data (if your dissertation is data-based)
• How you will analyse your data (see above)

Methodology writing tips:

1. Carefully explain how you will find your sources. It may be as simple as using the university library, but your approach should be systematically laid out to give readers confidence that your research will not be at random.

2. Don’t be afraid of sounding silly, take things back to basics and explain your method step-by-step.

3. Don’t include things like questionnaires and transcripts here – these belong in the appendix of your dissertation.

4. Be sure to discuss your approach with your tutor, particularly if you’re taking a more original approach to your dissertation. They may be able to offer advice and best practice for your methodology – or spot flaws in your plan

Step 5: Writing a literature review

It’s incredibly important to have a clear idea of the research and literature which already exists in your field of study. Failing to recognise leaders in your field could leave your dissertation looking patchy and amateur.

Your literature review (also known as a literature survey) is your opportunity to thoroughly research and document the most important sources in your area of study. This won’t just help you write a seamless dissertation which will impress the experts, it will also give you a fantastic starting point for your research.

Methodology writing tips:

1. Make sure your literature review clearly shows how your dissertation fills a gap in the existing literature and offers a significant contribution to the field

2. Ensure you reference resources included in your literature review carefully in step 10 of this guide. This is good academic practice and will help your research later on