Your first point of reference should always be your Assignment Guidelines provided by your Tutor.
Features of a dissertation/final year project:
- An extended piece of detailed work - it is an investigation.
- Demonstrates skills in: planning, organising, researching, problem solving, time management as well as oral and written communication skills. Dissertations also demonstrate in-depth subject knowledge.
- Effective use of headings, bullet points, and a range of graphical illustrations.
- Written in the academic style: needs to be clear, concise, professional and referenced.
- Dissertations have sections, which may include:
Title page
Abstract
Aims and objectives - what are you trying to achieve by doing this investigation?
Literature review - what is current thinking about this subject?
Research method - what are you going to do to research this subject? what research method have you selected?
Ethical issues - are there any ethical issues to be considered - eg: how is data going to be kept safe?
Findings and discussion - from your investigations what have you found out? And what does it mean? Here you present findings (what you have found out from your investigation) and compare and contrast with evidence in the literature review
Recommendations (if requested) - after doing this investigation and research what do you recommend?
References and/or bibliography
Appendices