The Final Push: Squeezing every last mark out of your dissertation
Published on 14 August 13
At this stage in the dissertation process only you will know exactly what still needs to be done and how you want to approach your final few weeks. In your push to the finish line it can be easy to get bogged down in the specifics of your project and forget that there are a few simple things you can do to squeeze the last few marks from your dissertation and ensure it hits the marker’s table in peak condition.
Proofread it thoroughly – Proofreading is a final and essential part of the writing process, and no matter how late you finish writing you should give yourself enough time to read through your project thoroughly. Typos, grammatical errors and confusing, overly complex sentences will interrupt the flow of your dissertation, distract markers from your ideas and can cost you vital marks. When proofreading:
- Print out hard copies of your dissertation to proofread, as reading on-screen for long periods of time can tire out your eyes and make it more difficult to spot mistakes. Using a hard copy to proofread rather than an on-screen version will also make major, time-consuming rewrites less tempting.
- Read your project or dissertation aloud slowly. This is a great way of rooting out punctuation errors and confusing sentences. When you’re reading aloud, make sure you punctuate properly, pausing for commas and longer for full stops. This should allow you to hear the balance of sentences and judge whether they are too long, too short or just right.
- Ask a friend, family member or longsuffering loved one to proofread it. There is nothing like a fresh pair of eyes to find the tiny mistakes that repeated rewrites have blinded you to.
Ensure you reference correctly – As you’ll have been told from the very beginning of your University career, referencing is a fundamental of academic writing, and getting it right it as an easy way of picking up marks.
- Ensure that you follow the referencing conventions of your school accurately and consistently, and make sure you confirm whether references are included in your word limit. Your supervisor will be able to advise you on which style to use, and guidance on them can be found in the Library’s handy referencing guide.
- Do not leave all of your referencing to the end. Referencing can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, so whatever you do don’t leave it all until the final few days – you’ll need that time for editing and proofreading. If you find referencing disrupts the flow of your writing, try doing a batch of referencing at the end of each day to keep on top of it.
Follow formatting guidelines to the letter – each masters programme will have very specific formatting guidelines related to font, font size, paragraphing, margins (this is particularly important with regard to binding), title pages and pagination. Make sure you check these guidelines in your course handbook and follow them carefully. Failure to do so will cost you easy marks.
Seek help where you can – Although you may only be allowed a limited number of meetings with your supervisor, if you have any pressing questions or are having difficulties with anything do not hesitate to drop them an email. Even as the deadline approaches supervisors have a duty to help you make your project as good as it can possibly be, but they can’t assist you unless you speak to them.
If you are having significant difficulties with your project and do not feel you will be able to hand it in on time, it is exceptionally important that you contact your supervisor or programme director as soon as possible and inform them of the situation. It is possible to be granted an extension or interruption at masters level, but only if you inform programme staff as early as possible and explain your circumstances honestly and comprehensively. The University’s Teaching and Learning Office offers guidance on this process.
Don’t panic – You are nearly there. Two and a half weeks is a significant amount of time and you still have the chance to make real, valuable changes and additions to your project, regardless of the state it is in. Keep a clear head, allocate your time effectively, make sure you eat and make sure you sleep, and you will be amazed at what you can achieve.