Doing a Dissertation in Economics

Planning

Your dissertation is likely to be the biggest project you do at University, taking up anything from 8000 to 15000 words. It involves research, time, efficiency and dedication. You don’t have timetabled slots in the week to work on the dissertation, but it is not a light option. You must organise your own time effectively in order to make it a success. These pages give some thinking points and advice on planning, researching and writing your dissertation.

On the right-hand side you can quickly navigate to the relevant piece or follow the dissertation story from beginning to end, starting with the question: Should I do one?

Taken from David Sternberg’s book ‘How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation’.

Writing

Although many people perceive Economics as a purely technical subject with lots of equations and diagrams, you do have to write essays and dissertations from time to time. This could come as a shock if you did not expect to write one and have forgotten all your essay writing skills from A-Levels (or even worse GCSEs). The following summary of Deirdre McCloskey’s book called Economical Writing by Stephen Kinsella should help you write elegant but highly analytical essays, for which a high mark is guaranteed.

Economical Writing by Deirdre McCloskey