International Development

POSSIBLE STRUCTURE

This section is to give you a sense of how your dissertation might be structured. You do not have to follow this, but it might be useful as a guide:

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the study, outlining: (a) background to the topic, in terms of key policy and/or research questions, issues and debates; (b) the shape and scope of the dissertation, outlining for the reader the broad purpose of the study; (c) an outline of the structure of the dissertation.

CHAPTER 2 Background, Literature and Possible Framework(s). This provides an overview of a range of literature relevant to the topic chosen, including relevant policy documents, technical reports and other academic work. The purpose is to identify gaps in the overall body of research and to outline the (modest) ways in which your research can fill those gaps and expand the larger body of knowledge. It is not simply a summary of everything written on a particular topic. It is, rather, an attempt to locate your research within the broader array of knowledge on a particular subject in order to provide a detailed justification for, and explanation of, the research questions or hypotheses around which your work will be structured. Dissertations often continue to develop specific aspects of the arguments of your thesis in three further chapters which are also based on existing literature.

CHAPTER 3 Methodology and Methods. If you undertake fieldwork then your dissertation will require a methodology. This will be designed to answer the research questions or test the hypothesis, outlining both the broad research design and justifying the particular methods and techniques selected. Even if you do not conduct primary research this chapter is required to discuss the design of your research, to reflect on why certain topics were selected (and others discounted) and to explain how you seek to analyse the detailed literature overview above.

CHAPTER 4 Analysis/Findings. This will explore the significance of the results, relating them to the ‘bigger picture’, as outlined in the previous chapter and linking them back to the main bodies of literature discussed previously, alongside the methods outlined above. Whereas the discussion at the beginning of the dissertation sets the broader academic context of the work these chapters are much more focussed discussions. It might be necessary to give the specific geographical and historical context of the study (if located in a particular place), the workings of an NGO or CSO, or to explore case studies in further detail.

NB (If you conduct primary research you will need a results chapter, outlining the findings of research undertaken and, after the results you will need an analysis and evaluation chapter)

CHAPTER 5 Conclusion. Both models will require a concluding chapter, relating findings presented in the previous chapters to the research questions/hypotheses, and highlighting the implications of your work for policies, practices, theories or techniques, and setting out the ways in which your research has advanced or reinforced knowledge of your chosen subject area. Both require a full bibliography, covering all works cited in the main text and not including anything which is not cited. Any other relevant reference materials, may be presented in the appendices.

SUBMISSION FORMAT

PRESENTATION
Marks will be awarded for the degree of professionalism in the style and layout of the dissertation. The overall structure must be clearly presented (e.g. with an organised hierarchy of fonts and typefaces for chapter and section headings), with logical layout of chapters and paragraphs, and with text and graphics integrated in an overall ‘house’ style.

STYLE AND LANGUAGE
The aim should be to use simple prose. Sentences are best kept short (maximum of around three lines), but their length should be varied to avoid monotony. Paragraphs should be of reasonable length (normally 3-6 sentences in length) and help to build up argument sensibly. It is important to use language which is neutral when matters of race and gender are involved. The most frequently used abbreviations are – i.e. (that is), e.g. (for example), etc. (et cetera, other things of the same class), cf. (compare with), no. (number), et al (and others) – be sparing in the use of these in the main text. On the first use of title abbreviations in the text, spell out the full term followed in brackets by the abbreviation, and thereafter use the abbreviation e.g. International Monetary Fund (IMF).

GRAPHICAL MATERIAL
Maps, statistical tables, figures, diagrams, graphs and photographs often provide a useful means of summarising complex information. However, you should take care to use these sparingly in a manner appropriate to the topic. Any graphical figures must be referred to in the main body of the text and properly labelled. Statistical tables or graphs should normally be no greater than a single A4 size page and graphs should only have as many grid lines as are needed for comprehension of trends and relationships.

PROOF READING
The final draft of your dissertation should be read, where possible, by another person (ideally a native English speaker) in order to eliminate errors of syntax and grammar, and any typographical errors which are not picked up by standard word processor spell-checkers. Proof reading is time consuming, but extremely important. You should avoid long, rambling sentences, bad grammar, and pretentious and jargon-ridden prose. Avoid jargon like ‘sustainability’, ‘partnership’ or ‘stakeholder’ unless you are sure of using it correctly. It is your responsibility to proof read your dissertation and not down to your supervisor.

PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism (copying work from others without reference to the source) is regarded as a serious malpractice, and may lead to severe penalties for the work submitted and may affect your overall progression. The most common form of plagiarism is the verbatim reproduction of another author’s work without acknowledgement. Full and proper referencing of sources is a vital safeguard against plagiarism. You must submit the final dissertation through Turnitin.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCING
References must be consistent and a complete bibliography of all policy documents and literature consulted should be given and properly referenced using the Harvard System, as set out in the University-approved guide Cite Them Right. All work cited in the main text should appear, fully referenced, in the bibliography and vice versa. This, of course, applies to your final dissertation and, indeed, to all work completed in UEL. It is vital that you adopt the proper referencing system, otherwise you will lose marks. It is often helpful to keep a file of all work to which you refer over the course of your study; this can prove invaluable when you come to compile your final bibliography.

APPENDICES
Appendices, if necessary and if relevant, can also be included in your dissertation. For example, they might contain material such as the list of interviewees canvassed, an interview guide, questionnaires, data tables, and so on. However, the use of appendices has to be justified and legitimate: they should not just be a repository of disparate information which does not fit anywhere else; nor should they be used to avoid exceeding the word limit.

WORD COUNT

The word limit is 10,000 words and you can go above or below this by 10%. If you are grossly outside of this then you will be penalised as outlined below:

• 1500 words above/below word limit = 5% penalty
• 2000 words above/below word limit = 20% penalty
• 3000 words above/below word limit = 30% penalty
• 4000 words above/below word limit = 40% penalty
• 4000 words above/below word limit = 50% penalty