Demystifying the Dissertation Structure for Level 7 Students at Sheffield Hallam University - Part 2 - Introduction Section

This article is intended to assist Level 7 Master's students at Sheffield Hallam University in successfully writing and completing their dissertations. I understand how daunting it can be when you have to refer to numerous books and documents to comprehend each section of the dissertation and then consolidate your knowledge and understanding into one cohesive piece.

To simplify your work and gather all the necessary information in one place, I have compiled these articles, which present the main sections of the dissertation structure in six different parts, focusing on each section as illustrated in the image above. Additionally, there is a bonus section at the end that discusses reflection, the final part of the dissertation.

Furthermore, the entire dissertation is expected to be around 15,000 to 20,000 words for Level 7 master's students at SHU. You can ideally allocate this word count throughout the entire dissertation structure, depending on your research project or topic of study.

I have compiled this information based on my research, insights, and understanding. If you feel I have overlooked anything, please feel free to leave a comment in the section below. I would be more than happy to learn more at any point in time (no offense).

So, come on in and read this article with a cup of tea or coffee.

Part 1 - Abstract

Click here to access Part 1

Part 2 - Introduction

The Introduction should give the reader a clear idea about the central issue of concern in your research and why you thought that this was worth studying.

It should also include a full statement of your research question(s), research aim and research objectives.

It is also important to include a ‘route map’ to guide the reader through the rest of the report.

This will give brief details of the content of each chapter and present an overview of how your storyline unfolds.

7 Essential Ingredients

1. Opening Section - Introduce your research in high-level terms (if possible start with a hook statement)
2. Study Background - Explain the context of your project
3. Research Problem - Explain the gap in the current research
4. Research Aims, Objectives & Questions - Clearly state what your research will aim to achieve
5. Research Significance or Justification - Explain why your research is worth doing the value it will provide to the world
6. Research Study Limitations - Acknowledge the potential limitations of your research project and approach
7. Structural Outline - Briefly outline the structure/chapters of your dissertation

Cheers!