Scribd
Upload
294 views

Dissertation Task List

The document outlines 23 tasks for writing a dissertation in a suggested order: 1) Consider your personal interests in the topic. 2) Research broader contexts and find sources. 3) Choose a specific topic and get feedback. 4) Conduct research and compile a bibliography. 5) Evaluate your research and develop ideas. 6) Formulate a question and get feedback. 7) Structure your argument and ideas. 8) Do more research and feedback. 9) Write the essay body using sources. 10) Write the conclusion. 11) Write the introduction. 12) Write a synopsis. 13) Get final feedback and edits. 14) Compile the final essay and meet the deadline.

Uploaded by

Nicolateaching
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
294 views

Dissertation Task List

The document outlines 23 tasks for writing a dissertation in a suggested order: 1) Consider your personal interests in the topic. 2) Research broader contexts and find sources. 3) Choose a specific topic and get feedback. 4) Conduct research and compile a bibliography. 5) Evaluate your research and develop ideas. 6) Formulate a question and get feedback. 7) Structure your argument and ideas. 8) Do more research and feedback. 9) Write the essay body using sources. 10) Write the conclusion. 11) Write the introduction. 12) Write a synopsis. 13) Get final feedback and edits. 14) Compile the final essay and meet the deadline.

Uploaded by

Nicolateaching
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Dissertation Task List notes from Session 1 Theres no right or wrong way to set about writing an essay.

. However, there are ways of making the process easier. My key advice: break the process down into tasks and do the tasks in a sensible order. Below is my suggested order of tasks- the one we looked at together in class. I have added some notes to remind you why I put the tasks in this order. Ive also colour-coded it to help you see: you will switch frequently between different types of tasks. For example, its best not to do all your research at once. You will also notice theres lots of thinking at the beginning and most of the writing happens towards the end.
[Yes, of course ALL the tasks involve thinking really! Im just trying to help you see that thinking and having ideas is just as important as being able to write well, or find things on the internet] Researching Thinking Writing Editing/ feedback

Tasks Consider what interests YOU about music.

Why in this order?


You will be motivated to research and inspired to write a good essay if you are interested in the topic. Remember- this is about having ideas. How does the thing youre interested in fit in with the bigger picture? Thinking about this early will help you to have ideas. Keep an open mind. Theres no point picking a topic about which there is no information available you wont even get started! And some general background reading/watching of videos etc can inspire new ideas. Bibliography includes all the sources you look at, whether you use them directly or not. So as soon as you start reading, start adding. This is about narrowing it down to the thing youre most interested in AND can find good information about. I can help you pick, or check your choice is appropriate, point you in a more productive direction or advise you where to look next Youre not browsing nowyoure looking for info in a focussed, organised way. Dont leave this til the end or youll end up forgetting, losing stuff and doing all your research twice!

Consider loosely what broader topics (e.g. cultural themes, historical events) might provide context and background to your musical interests. Browse to find what research materials might be available around the musical/cultural/historical topics which you have identified. Start a bibliography.

Choose a more specific topic of interest, about which you now know you will be able to find primary and secondary research material. Get feedback from Nicola.

7 8

Do some research, collecting primary and secondary research material. Record the sources of all your information as you find it and add these sources to your bibliography.

Evaluate what you have collected and have some ideas about it.

10 10

Come up with a good quality essay question (by combining your own ideas and the requirements of the assignment brief). Get feedback from Nicola.

11

12 12

Begin to structure your ideas and information into an argument.

13 14 15

Do some more research, to help back up the points you have decided to make (and to help illustrate links to a wider context) Add more to bibliography. Check assignment brief and grading criteria (again) and edit your work if necessary. Get feedback from Nicola. Re-edit if necessary. Write the main body of the essay. Show use and evaluation of primary and secondary research material, plus discussion of relevant main points and wider context. Check assignment brief and grading criteria (again) and edit your work if necessary. Get feedback from Nicola. Re-edit if necessary.

What are your best sources/bits of info? What is most interesting about what you have found? What new things are you thinking as a result? This is a way of focussing the essay into (a) something manageable to research and write about and (b) meaningful and interesting to a reader. I can help you decide on an appropriate question. Or I can check the one you come up with. Lots of thinking, and sorting of information. You might type up some ideas and cut and paste this text later. You might map your research using a spidergram, or write ideas and quotes on post-it notes and move them around, or talk through your thoughts with someone else to help you order them. This is really focussed research now- you are looking for specific evidence. Every time you do any research OBVIOUSLY you read the brief when it was first issued, but you need to know it inside out! With all the steps youve done above, youll be surprised how easy this is to do! This is about upgrading and improving what youve got so far. Remember- youre all aiming for Distinction! To achieve it, you need to be very clear about what is required of you. Then it is simply a matter of doing those things As with most of the tasks, well do some learning activities to help you with this important section. Yes, after the conclusion! Remember- you cant introduce something until you know what youre introducing! This is a short summary. Well talk more about this later. (examples you might be familiar with: the blurb on the back of a book, or a movie synopsis on IMDB).

16

17

18

Write a conclusion. This should summarise the issues raised and indicate how firmly the question has been answered. Write an introduction.

19

20

Write a synopsis.

21

Check assignment brief and grading criteria (again) and edit your work if necessary. Get feedback from Nicola. Re-edit if necessary.

22

Put your work together into an essay of 2000 to 3000 words. Include references and bibliography (these are not included in the word count). Meet deadline and hand in work for final marking.

23

By this time youve written everything. This is your chance to improve it. I dont want the first time Im reading the majority of your work to be at final hand-in, please, because it will be too late to help you by then! This is just about compiling the work youve already done- have you got all the bits? Is the layout right? Making final, small, edits; proofreading etc. The music industry is a ruthless business. No excuses, no mercy. Hit that deadline or lose.

Finally, dont worry- remember we will do lots of learning exercises together which will help you develop the skills you need to do all these tasks. And if you decide this will be fun and interesting, it will be.

You might also like