The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide to writing a dissertation for graduates of the University of Leeds, including the abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions, and appendices. We hope that this guide will help you to successfully complete your dissertation.
1. Abstract
Abstract (English) or abstract (Chinese) is usually located at the beginning of the paper. Its main function is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the topic, methodology, results and conclusions of the paper. The abstract should be brief and concise, usually not exceeding 200 words.
2. Introduction
Introduction (English) or introduction (Chinese) is the second chapter of the dissertation, accounting for about 10-15% of the total words. This section needs to describe the background of the study, the purpose of the study, the significance of the study, and the structure of the thesis. It also needs to clearly define the key terms in the study and critically reflect on previous relevant studies.
3. Literature Review
Literature Review (English) or Literature Review (Chinese) is the third chapter of the dissertation, which takes up about 30%-35% of the total word count. In this section, you need to explain in detail the important concepts involved in the study, review and analyse existing relevant studies, identify any research gaps, and formulate hypotheses.
4. Methodology
Methodology (English) or Methodology (Chinese) is the fourth chapter of the dissertation, accounting for about 15-20% of the total word count. In this section, you need to describe in detail the research methodology adopted and its rationality, including the research philosophy, research approach, research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and ethical considerations.
5. Findings and Discussion
Findings and Discussion (English) or Results and Discussion (Chinese) is the fifth chapter of the dissertation, which accounts for about 20-25% of the total word count. In this section, you need to extract qualitative and quantitative data features directly based on the research questions to answer the research questions. It also requires an in-depth discussion of the research findings, including a dialectical discussion of the findings from the same and different viewpoints.
6. Conclusion
Conclusion (English) or conclusion (Chinese) is the sixth chapter of the dissertation, which takes up about 5% of the total word count. In this section, you need to provide a comprehensive overview of the study, describe the contributions of the study, point out the limitations of the study, and make suggestions for future research directions.
7. Appendix, References, Supplementary Materials
Appendix, References, Supplementary Materials (English) or Appendix, References and Supplementary Materials (Chinese) is the final part of the thesis and does not count towards the total word count. In this section, you can add any necessary supplementary materials, such as diagrams, formulas, codes, etc.
Please note that the above are only general suggestions for writing structure and word count allocation, and the actual situation may vary depending on subject areas, research questions and personal preferences. When writing your dissertation, please make sure that you follow the rules and requirements of the university to ensure that your dissertation complies with academic norms and formatting requirements.
