Research › Dissertation structure, plagiarism and responsible AI use
Dissertation structure, plagiarism and responsible AI use
A clear structure makes a big piece of writing manageable. Honest practice, including how you use AI tools, protects your degree.
A typical dissertation structure
Layouts vary by subject and university, so check your handbook. Most empirical dissertations follow this order.
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title page and abstract | Title, and a short summary of the question, method, findings and conclusion |
| Contents and lists | Table of contents, and lists of tables and figures if required |
| Introduction | Context, the research question, aims and a roadmap of the chapters |
| Literature review | What is already known, how studies agree or disagree, and the gap your project fills |
| Methodology | How you collected and analysed data, why, and the ethics |
| Results or findings | What you found, presented clearly with tables and figures |
| Discussion | What the results mean, how they relate to the literature, and the limits |
| Conclusion | A direct answer to your question, implications and ideas for future research |
| References | Every source cited, in your required style |
| Appendices | Material such as survey forms and consent sheets |
A literature-based dissertation has no data chapters. Instead, it builds an argument through themed sections.
Planning the word count
For a 10,000-word dissertation, a rough split might be introduction 10%, literature review 25%, method 15%, results 20%, discussion 20% and conclusion 10%. Adjust for your subject and the marking criteria.
Writing tips
- Write the method early. You know it best right after you plan it.
- Write the introduction last or revise it at the end, once you know what you found.
- Use topic sentences. Each paragraph should make one point, clearly.
- Edit in layers. Structure first, then paragraphs, then sentences, then spelling.
- Read aloud. It helps you catch clumsy phrasing.
What plagiarism is
Plagiarism means presenting someone else's work, words or ideas as your own. This includes copying text without quotation marks and a citation, paraphrasing too closely, failing to reference an idea, reusing your own previous submitted work without permission and having someone else write your work. Universities treat it as academic misconduct, with penalties that can be severe. It also includes accidental plagiarism, which comes from poor note-taking, so the habits below matter.
How to avoid it
- Note sources as you go. Write the reference and page number with every note.
- Mark quotes clearly in your notes so you do not later mistake them for your own words.
- Paraphrase properly. Understand the idea, close the source, write it in your own words, then cite.
- Cite every idea, figure and quote. See referencing basics.
- Use the library's guidance on referencing and academic integrity.
Similarity-checking software is widely used. A high match score is not automatically plagiarism, but it will prompt a closer look.
Responsible use of AI tools
Generative AI tools are now common, and universities have different rules about them. Some allow limited use, such as brainstorming or checking grammar, if declared, and others forbid use in assessed work. Your module or department policy always overrides general advice.
- Check the policy first. Read your university's and module's rules before you use any tool.
- Declare use. If permitted, say what you used it for, as your university requires.
- Never submit AI-written text as your own unless the rules clearly allow it. Presenting it as your work can count as misconduct.
- Don't trust it for facts or references. AI tools can produce plausible but invented sources and statistics. Check every claim and every reference against the real source.
- Protect data. Do not paste personal or confidential research data into a tool without checking that it is allowed.
- Keep your thinking your own. The point of a degree is that you can analyse and argue. Tools should help you learn, not replace the learning.
If you are unsure, ask your tutor or supervisor, and keep drafts and notes as evidence of your process.
Before you submit
- Check the word count rules, formatting and deadline.
- Check that every in-text citation appears in the reference list, and the reverse.
- Proofread, and ask a friend to read it.
- Keep a copy and submit early.
Revisit the research overview for the full list of stages, or go back to methods, surveys and ethics.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a dissertation?
Typically an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references and appendices. Check your handbook for the exact order.
Is paraphrasing plagiarism?
Paraphrasing without a citation is plagiarism, and so is changing only a few words. Put the idea in your own words and cite the source.
Can I use AI in my coursework?
It depends on your university and module. Read the policy, declare use where required and never submit AI text as your own unless the rules allow it.