Introduction

            Composing a dissertation is a challenging task for many students. Being original research, it takes time and energy to write a dissertation. The introduction is the most crucial among different parts of a dissertation. A dissertation introduction chapter provides an overall view of the key concepts discussed in the dissertation. The historical background and definition of the key concepts also come under this. It is not easy to compose the dissertation introduction accurately. You need to have some effective guidelines and a list of do’s and don’ts. Today’s article is about writing the first chapter of a dissertation. It will discuss all the necessary elements and mistakes to avoid. So, let’s start our discussion with the question down below.

How long should a dissertation introduction be?

            The length of a dissertation has always been under discussion. Well, many researchers say that it depends on the type of research. PhD dissertations consist of hundreds of pages. As it is original research, it takes time to compile a dissertation. Regarding the dissertation introduction length, researchers believe that it should be 10 per cent of the whole word count. 

            Ten per cent of the whole word count is more than enough for the introduction chapter. For example, if your dissertation consists of 80,000 to 100,000 words, the introduction chapter will be 8000 to 10,000 words. It is the general rule of thumb. It can change depending upon the guidelines of your professor or supervisor.

How do you write an introduction to the dissertation chapter?

There are many complexities in writing a dissertation introduction. The 7 do’s provided below can help you compose a good introduction chapter.

Opening section

Every introduction to a dissertation starts with an opening section. You should also start with it. An opening section is a brief introduction to your research. You tell your reader about research in high-level terms. The opening section also serves as a hook that sticks the readers to your dissertation. If you are facing any problem in the opening section of the dissertation, you can buy dissertation online completely

Background

            Next up is providing the background of your study. The historical background is very important as it explains the context of your research. Defining the research context helps the reader imagine the overall study. He can make an early guess what the study is about and what the researcher will discuss.

Research problem

In the dissertation introduction, defining the research problem holds immense importance. The research problem explains the research gap that you are going to research. Presenting information about the research gaps is important for the success of a dissertation. The research problem also tells the readers about the problem at hand in the dissertation.

Research aims

Adding information about the research aims and objectives is an integral part of a dissertation introduction. Research without clear aims is of no use. The aims and objectives of a research are also important to discuss because they establish the scope and depth of your dissertation.

Significance

The mention of the significance of the research is very important. It tells the reader why your research is worth reading and what contributions your dissertation will make to the existing knowledge. It is necessary because a dissertation without practical applications is not worth it. There should be practical applications of your dissertation.

Limitations

No research is perfect enough to have no limitations. Surely, your dissertation applies to a particular audience or a specific area. So, there should be a mention of your research limitations. Do not say that your research is well thought out and well crafted.

Structure outline

            Now, when you have communicated what your research is about, it is time to outline the structure of your dissertation. The purpose of this is to provide a roadmap of your dissertation. A dissertation introduction also includes a summary of each coming chapter, called a structured outline.

What should you not do in a dissertation introduction chapter?

            Along with the 7 do’s, there are also don’ts of a dissertation introduction. You should avoid those things in your dissertation to get good viewership. A brief description of the don’ts is as follows;

Not enough context

            A very short contextual foundation can undermine the credibility of your dissertation introduction. You should not do this and provide a comprehensive overview of the dissertation. In other words, the researcher does not include the real picture of the research. It should be avoided, and the researcher should not do this.

Insufficient justification

            The introduction chapter justifies the research topic. Many students do this mistake in their dissertations. They rely on the simplified justification that “this research has not been done before.” It is an insufficient justification of the research topic, and you should avoid this.

Having a too broad topic

A too broad research topic also challenges students because explaining all its parts is hectic. Many problems will remain pending, and you will not be able to discuss them. Thus, you should not choose a broad topic and always prefer a focused and specific topic.

Poorly defined aims

            Having poorly defined research aims is also a dissertation introduction mistake that you should not do. The goals and aims of the dissertation must be clear.

Misaligned research aims

Having misaligned research aims with the research questions is a major mistake. This misalignment can lead you somewhere else. You will get off track and off-topic.

Poorly defined scope

The scope of the research must be properly defined in the dissertation introduction. Many students do this mistake and only state a very narrow scope. They should not do this in the introduction chapter.

Not clear outline

It is the most common mistake that students do in the introduction. They do not provide a clear outline of the dissertation structure, which is wrong. Students should not do this mistake.

Conclusion

            The dissertation introduction chapter must contain the above-mentioned things. You must also consider the don’ts of the introduction chapter. This guideline will help you structure your introduction chapter effectively.