Last updated by Hazel Hall, 20 June 2007

Everyone's dissertation/project is different. All the advice given in these pages does not necessarily apply to everyone. Check with your supervisor (or module leader up until the point that supervisors are allocated) if you are unsure about any aspect of the process.

If you are a student in the School of Computing at Napier University you should be using the following as the main resource for your project/dissertation:

Undergraduates: SoC Honours projects page
Postgraduates: SoC Masters dissertations page

Keeping records

You should record:

1. All dissertation/project "activity"
2. References
3. Meetings with your supervisor
4. Questions and queries to address later
5. Work in progress

1. Dissertation/project activity

Buy a small notebook to use as your dissertation/project diary. Here you record any activity related to your dissertation/project work. This can be particularly useful after a break from dissertation/project work because it can tell you where you got up to last time, making sure that you don't end up repeating work.

2. References

• Keep reference details on cards. Use the reverse of each card for notes, e.g. abstract details.
• (Bibliographic software exists but it is probably overkill to use it for work at Honours level. Masters students may like to investigate its use.)
• Number all photocopies sequentially.
• Store photocopies in number order in a box.
• Write full citations across the top of the photocopies.
• Write photocopy numbers on to the relevant cards.

3. Meetings with your supervisor

• When, where and what was discussed.
• Your supervisor may want you to keep a signed record of the meetings.

4. Questions and queries

• Raise these at supervision meetings.

5. Work in progress

Get a ring binder now and make sections for:

• acknowledgements
• title
• abstract
• contents
• each chapter
• bibliography
• admin details, e.g. what to raise at next supervision meeting; contact names and addresses; timetables related to travel to contacts to interview etc.

What your supervisor expects from you in terms of self-organisation

• Submit work when expected
• Keep appointments to discuss work
• Come prepared to meetings
• Keep in touch even when (especially if) there is a crisis
• Keep back-ups of all work completed
• Keep records of meetings

Your supervisor will advise and help you - but he/she will not carry out the research, nor write the dissertation/project, for you!

Dissertation/project hints resources

• Dummy proposal
• Literature searching
• Proposal writing
• Self-organisation
• Writing up your dissertation/project
• SoC Honours projects page
• SoC Masters dissertations page