What Is Expected from a History Student to Include in Their Dissertation?

Do you have a dissertation to write for your history degree? The first step you need to follow is to find the right topics. Without proper history dissertation topics, you can’t write it well. Now, if you've got a strong topic, the next thing you must understand is to follow the essential steps for this dissertation. Students must know how to conduct research for writing a history dissertation. Also, they must have an idea about analyzing the findings and establishing the results. So, let’s find out what a history student must include in their dissertation.

Things A History Student Must Take Care of While Writing a Dissertation

So, you get a dissertation to write. History is already a vast subject. It has lots of dates, years, events, wars, etc. to remember. So, you must be quite particular with your research work. Yes, you can always look for professional help, as the Assignment Desk is there to guide you. Still, here, you will get to know the factors you must include in your history dissertation. Read on to know more-

Find out a Clear Topic

This is always the first step to writing any dissertation. However, while it is about history, you have to check the uniqueness, as most of the topics are overused. So, select a clear topic that comes with enough information, evidence, and previous work. Also, you must choose a topic that is not too broad or too narrow. Make sure it is focused and specific so that you can research the right track. For example, instead of choosing a topic like ‘World War II,’ you can select a topic like ‘The Role of Nurses during World War II'. It is to the point and must have the following factors:

It must interest you

Also, the topic must be relevant to your study

Make sure you keep space for argument, discussion, and analysis

Present a Clear Structure

Once you choose the right topic, you must plan the structure of your dissertation. Once you make a strategy, you can divide the vast work into different chapters. The most common chapters of a history dissertation can be

A thorough introduction

The literature review

Methodology

Main chapters

Conclusion

Make sure you present the main point in all the chapters. Also, you should create a connection between all the chapters to present them attractively.

Present a Strong Research Question

The next important thing is to set a clear research question. It is the lifeline of your dissertation. Also, it gives your readers an idea of what you want to express through your writing. Therefore, students must remember that the research question should be

Specific and relevant

Give answers clearly

Analytical enough and not only descriptive

Write an Introduction

Now, you must focus on writing a strong introduction. Make sure you present your thesis sentence here in short and crisp sentences. To make the introduction attractive, you must:

Present the topic clearly

Now, explain the importance of your topic

Next, share the main research question

Finally, present the structure of the dissertation in the introduction

If you present the introduction thoroughly, your readers can understand what you are going to talk about in your dissertation. Also, it states the importance of the topic in history.

Present the Literature Review

The literature review is one of the most important parts of a history dissertation. So, students must be very careful while including it in their study. As it is a history dissertation, you may work on a topic that has been chosen by other researchers before. So, you will find lots of work done on it. You can go through those studies and find the gaps in the research work. Thus, you can establish your points and mend those gaps. While writing the literature review, you must:

Present the name of the authors and their work

Also, provide a summarised view of their work

Then, compare their studies with yours

Finally, point out the gaps in the previous research

Thus, your readers get to know the previous works on the topic. Also, they understand the gaps in that work and how your work can establish new points to present a complete study.

Include the Methodology

A history student must include a proper methodology in their dissertation. Make sure you mention your methods of researching and conducting the work. Thus, readers can understand your effort and the process you follow to write your dissertation. A methodology section must include

The types of sources you will use in your writing

Also, mention if the sources are reliable

The process of analysing data

Limitations of researching

Thus, readers will understand how you have conducted research and also the entire work. So, your professors can score you high for your effort.

Mention the Primary and Secondary Sources

Your dissertation will be good and score well if you mention the primary and secondary sources there. The primary sources can be the letters, documents, speeches, coins, etc., of that time. Again, the secondary sources are the books and journals of historians. At this point, the student should:

Understand the primary sources and explain those

Also, compare the sources for a thorough study

Finally, mention the importance of those sources in the context of your study

Analyse Your Information

Thorough research work can bring you information. Now, you should not only present the discussion of the information but also analyze it well. To analyse the information, you should

Dig through the materials to find unique facts

Explore different points of view

Also, discuss the causes and effects of different events

Finally, make the arguments based on evidence

Revise and Edit As Necessary

A thorough revision is important before you submit your history dissertation. Check all the dates, years, names, ruling eras, etc., so that you never make any mistakes there. Moreover, you must check the grammar and spelling errors in your writing. You can use a free online grammar checker to rectify such mistakes. Thus, you can submit a proper dissertation.

Conclusion

Hopefully, now you understand which the important things are a history student must include in their dissertation. Choose a few interesting history dissertation topics and write them. Follow the above tips to make your dissertation score high.