How To Avoid Possible Mistakes Writing A Dissertation: Practical Guidelines


Most students want to know how they will complete a successful dissertation and keep their sanity over the next few years. It seems like such an overwhelming task, yet it’s such an essential part of your academic career. Just think about it, 200 plus pages written perfectly and submitted to scholars who will form opinions about your intelligence and skill.

Yet the single biggest obstacle you have to overcome in order to write a successful paper is your own psychological blocks you put up. Completing this project mostly turns out to be a matter of self-discipline and perseverance.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

These are all things you need to avoid in order to have a successful paper:

  • The mistake of choosing a topic you’re not passionate about

  • The mistake of thinking the paper will write itself

  • The mistake of putting off the work and procrastinating the writing

  • The mistake of thinking you’ve got plenty of time and therefore don’t need to make yourself busy right now in getting the work started

  • The mistake of not scheduling your time wisely so you become time efficient

  • The mistake of not organizing your notes, your work area, your research materials

  • The mistake of not narrowing down your topic sufficiently

  • The mistake of not meeting regularly with your academic advisor

  • The mistake of not keeping track of the sources you took your quotes or citations from and now you have to re-read through all your research materials to find the correct source

  • The mistake of thinking your first draft is really your final draft

  • The mistake of not hiring a professional to proofread your final copy and correct all the errors

  • The mistake of letting yourself become overpowered by self-defeating thoughts

  • The mistake of not finishing your dissertation paper

Knowing what to avoid is the biggest part of moving on through the process and writing a successful paper. It’s also a good idea to have a step-by-step instruction written down for yourself, kind of like a series of goals, for you to work on a daily and weekly basis, so you can stay focused and keep working toward the goal of finishing. Too many students lose sight of the end goal and become too discouraged to finish. Don’t let this happen to you! You’ve come too far by this time to give it all up and quit.

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