The standard parts are as follows (you may be asked for a different structure and a different number of words for each section - for example, sometimes a longer introduction rather than a separate introduction and background is expected. Check with your institution or writing agency what is required of you).
* Title Page - Shows the title of the dissertation and the author
* Abstract - 150-300 word summary of what the reader can expect to find in the dissertation
* Table of contents - An index of everything in the dissertation - it should not include the title and contents page!
* Introduction - A summary of 100 – 200 words, stating what the objectives are/what you are going to write about
* Background - A section written with the assumption that the reader knows nothing, and it should therefore give them a full account of what they need to know to appreciate the issues at stake
* Methodology - States what you are going to do and how you plan on doing it. The methodology should be approximately 200 – 300 words (+read more)
* Literature Review - A review of relevant theory and the most recent published information on the issue
* Evidence - What you have discovered and what you have concluded from it
* Conclusion - States what you have discovered and what you have concluded from it. You should not be presenting new ideas or new sources in the conclusion
* Recommendations - Should emerge from the conclusion, suggest what is to be done, who is to do it and how/when it is to be done, and be justified based on findings, not just the opinion of the writer
* Referencing - You need to reference all of your sources properly
* Appendix - Any graphs or diagrams you have used when writing your dissertation
If your institution or agency has not given you any guidance, or has suggested a 'standard structure' or the like, it is acceptable to use the structure set out here.
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