The final course

Writing Development Centre
University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries
@ncl_wdc
Dr Caroline Crow
On behalf of the Writing Development Centre
Robinson Library
The Final Course: managing
the final stages
For enquiries about workshops, please email wdc@ncl.ac.uk

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These slides are available on
slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/WDCNewcastle

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Content of the Session
 When is your dissertation ‘ready to serve’?!
 The final run-in: managing your time effectively
 The finishing touches: editing and proofreading techniques

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When is your dissertation ‘ready to
serve’?!
 At some point, you need to stop researching and writing
and start putting the finishing touches to your work
 Knowing ‘when to draw the line’ is subjective
 Prioritise: think carefully about what you really need to do
to complete your work to the required standard; a
discussion with your supervisor may be useful
 If you can, leave at least a week for the ‘final polish’.

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The final run-in: managing your time
effectively
 The final stages can be an anxious time
 Making a list of outstanding tasks can help put things into
perspective
 After making a list, make yourself a rough timetable: this
timeline can be challenging but has to be realistic!
 Break the final stages into a series of small, specific tasks
(e.g. check references)
 If you deviate from your timeline, don’t panic: just revise it!

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The final run-in: important
considerations
 Find out what your School’s regulations are re. style,
format, referencing and submission
 Check with Printing Services re. projected timescales

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The finishing touches: editing
Caroline’s top tip:
 When carrying out the final edits and checks before submitting,
make sure you have read your dissertation right the way
through at least once
 It is often difficult to ‘see’ your dissertation as a whole as you will
probably have been focusing on individual chapters
 Important to see how it all hangs together:
 Does the structure ‘make sense’: logical progression?
 Is there a sense of flow between chapters?
 Any repetitions? Do you recap chapters a little more than you need to,
for example?

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Editing: the Challenge Read
 An effective editing strategy is to try and view your own
work from the point of view of the reader/marker
 Remember that good academic writing anticipates the
needs of the reader and addresses any questions a reader
might have (in the logical order they might raise them!)

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The Challenge Read: Content
 Have you done everything your research question (s) requires
you to do?
 Have you defined important terms?
 Is there a clear central aim/line of argument?
 Are your claims well supported by evidence?
 Is this evidence then analysed to show how it supports the claim
you’re making?
 Is everything relevant?
 Any possible contradictions?

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The Challenge Read - Structure
 Does your introduction provide the reader with a clear overview of your
topic/central focus?
 Does each chapter link back to and address your research question
(s)?
 Is each chapter clearly introduced?
 Does your argument ‘flow’ logically: does the sequence of your
chapters work?
 Does each paragraph have a topic sentence communicating the main
idea?
 Is this idea then developed in the sentences that follow?
 Is there a smooth transition from one paragraph to the next?

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Proofreading
Proofreading is the practice of checking your completed
writing for any final errors. It can be difficult, particularly
when you are still very close to the work.
• Let the work cool – come back to your work after some
time has passed.
• Seek help – get a colleague or fellow student to check
your writing. Peer review can be very rewarding.
• Read aloud – this can allow you to encounter the work in
a different way.

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Tuesday 12-12.30 For Starters: Refining your research topic
and first steps
Wednesday: 12-12.30 Getting Critical: the Literature Review and
Beyond
Thursday: 12-12.30 Whetting Appetites: Introductions and
Conclusions
Friday: 12-12.30 Keeping Going: Managing your Time,
Tasks and Motivation
1.30-2:00 The Last Course: Managing the Final
Stages
Writers groups:
Wednesday 2-3 Friday 10-11

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The Writing Development Centre
 Understanding assignment types, questions, instructions and marking
criteria
 Critical thinking, critiquing and reviewing literature
 Note-taking from lectures and reading
 Planning and structuring writing (incl. paragraphing)
 Academic writing style (incl. fundamentals of grammar)
 Understanding and using feedback to improve your work
 Referencing, citing and avoiding plagiarism
 Managing time, work and writing (incl. writers block and
procrastination)
 Exams and Revision
 Managing research projects, dissertations and theses
 Presentations and posters
 Learning effectively in lectures, seminars, classes, labs etc

University Library
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The Writing Development Centre
Level 2, Robinson Library
Our team offers:
- One-to-one tutorials on study
skills and all stages and types of
academic writing
- A programme of workshops on aspects
of study and academic writing
- Online resources
You can book appointments and workshops with us
online: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/

The final course

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