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How to write an anthropology dissertation

To write a successful anthropology dissertation it is important to get the research topic right. An original, well researched and academically accurate piece of work will gain you the highest marks. In addition to being well structured, your anthropology dissertation should convey your passion and interest in a particular area of the subject.

To succeed in writing the dissertation you need to learn something new about the topic – as you learn you will also be informing the reader and this will make your dissertation both interesting and academically worthy. Although writing a dissertation can be hard, this guide will give you show you how to write an anthropology dissertation that will impress examiners.

Choosing a research topic for your anthropology dissertation

Anthropology as a subject is quite intensive and complex, and therefore you need to make sure that the topic area you pick does not add further complication to your anthropology dissertation. The topic you pick should try to focus on a relatively unexplored subject area, but unless you have secondary research to support your initial hypotheses then your dissertation will quickly falter. The subject should be one you can find adequate research for and is within the mainstream of anthropology. Whilst completely new avenues can be explored, unless they are relevant or have the necessary literature to development cogent theories, your anthropology dissertation project could become too complicated and confusing.

For topic ideas, look at the main anthropology anthologies and anthropology journals, as this will give you a good idea of the sort of research available to create an anthropology dissertation. You can then expand your idea from this initial research to find a part of anthropology that needs exploring further. When picking a subject area, make sure that it is an area of anthropology that you are comfortable with in terms of theoretical differences, and also try to make sure the topic is one you are in some way passionate about. If you have a genuine interest in the subject then you will be able to put in more time and effort towards the final piece.

Planning and implementing the correct structure for your anthropology dissertation

The planning of your anthropology dissertation depends on the word limit set out to you within the course. Most anthropology dissertations within undergraduate studies range from 10,000 to 20,000 words, although Masters level anthropology dissertations can be significantly longer. A well thought out structure is needed in order to make sure the dissertation meets all of the marking and assessment criteria and also so that it remains on the topic you initially set out to investigate. Talking with your tutor is an important step to creating the structure as they can advise you on the best methods to use within your topic area.
However, an anthropology dissertation can be hard to structure well because as the study of humankind its topics and outcomes need to appeal to a wide variety of people. With such a vast array of anthropology dissertation topics it is important to have a strong structure and stick to it, as this will make sure you stay true to the original subject matter and appeal to the correct audience for the dissertation. A good structure will include an Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Analysis and Conclusion sections as a basic template for your anthropology dissertation.

Anthropology dissertation research and references

Using a Harvard or APA style of referencing for your references is the typical requirement for an anthropology dissertation. However, it is important to check with your particular course what specific referencing style is required as getting the referencing right is crucial for good marks. It is important to accurately reference all sources and provide evidence for all your anthropological theories throughout the dissertation as this adds academic weight to your paper. Also, you need to choose quality sources that have the appropriate academic complexity and depth to make your dissertation worthy of a high mark.
For your anthropology dissertation you should gather as many references as possible to add detail and depth to your dissertation. The initial research should concentrate on existing secondary resources as this will build up the theory of the dissertation.
AS this theory develops, then you can look towards creating your own primary research to get the results you need to prove your hypotheses. The quality of your methodology and primary research into the behaviours and lifestyles of people will be crucial in determining your final anthropology dissertation mark.

Checking and re-writing your anthropology dissertation

Despite all the planning and research you have done it is unlikely that you will be able to right the perfect dissertation first time. In order to make sure your dissertation is up to standard you need to check and re-write parts of it a number of times. If you can, consult with your tutor about initial drafts to see how they can be improved. It is also important that your anthropology dissertation has been checked for spelling and grammar mistakes as well as writing style. Whilst one writing style is not necessarily favoured over another you should keep to one consistent style throughout the anthropology dissertation to keep it flowing. The more you check the dissertation then the more you will be able to improve and polish the final piece.

Keys to success when writing your anthropology dissertation

The first key to success for your anthropology dissertation are to pick an original subject that is interesting and you and passionate about but that is not so complicated that it will seem obscure or confusing. Next you need to create a strong structure to build your research upon, as this will help you to stay true to your anthropology dissertation objectives. Your research and references need to be extensive and accurate, and you also need to be able to objectively review your anthropology dissertation to make changes. If you can do all of these things then you should be able to create an anthropology dissertation worthy of high marks.