The Masters Dissertation Fair comprises of a week of online webinars and face-to-face workshops, offering advice on all elements of dissertation planning and writing, from choosing a research methodology to writing a literature review. These friendly sessions are designed for you to get some tips from the experts and put your dissertation on track for success.
When you book you will receive a confirmation email and calendar invite. You will also receive a reminder email the day before. Please cancel your booking if you are no longer able to attend. For any online sessions you book you will receive the webinar link when you book and in the reminder. If you haven’t received your invite link an hour before it is due to start, please email studyadvice@reading.ac.uk.
| Week | Date | Topic | Details | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Monday 3 June 10:00 - 11:00 | Managing your dissertation project | The dissertation is a complicated process. This session will help you start to figure out how to structure and prepare your project, from planning your time and organising your tasks to dealing with setbacks and utilising feedback. | Book |
| 8 | Monday 3 June 11:30 - 12:30 | Being more critical in your reading and writing | This session will explore how to develop a critical approach to your writing in your dissertation. We will also consider how each stage of the dissertation may require different ways of being critical. | Book |
| 8 | Monday 3 June 14:00 - 14:50 | Accessing information beyond UoR Library | In this session we will cover the key sources of information available at the University of Reading Library, and provide some tips and guidance to sourcing information not available through the Library – including interlibrary loan, visiting other libraries, and open access resources. | Book |
| 8 |
Tuesday 4 June 10:00 - 11:00 |
Writing your literature review | This session will provide you with some tips and strategies on how to plan, structure and write up your literature review. | Book |
| 8 |
Tuesday 4 June 11:30 - 12:30 |
Linking your research questions and methodology | In this session, we will consider how to plan and write up your methodology, with emphasis on how it addresses your research question. We will explore advantages and limitations of different methodologies, and how they can be used in complementary ways. | Book |
| 8 |
Tuesday 4 June 14:00 - 15:00 |
Language for dissertations for international students | In this session, we will focus on language for the literature review and discussion sections of the dissertation. We will explore suitable vocabulary and grammatical structures for citing sources, synthesising and evaluating previous research, making claims and comparing your results with previous research. This session will use examples from a range of disciplines. | Book |
| 8 |
Wednesday 5 June 10:00 - 11:00 |
Presenting your results | In this session, we will explore options for approaching the results section of the dissertation, including effective use of visuals in combination with text, the role of appendices, and how to manage word count in descriptive parts. | Book |
| 8 |
Wednesday 5 June 11:30 - 12:30 |
Writing your discussion | In this session, we will examine the role and the key features of a discussion section. We will explore how it relates to the results section, and share tips on structuring and writing up, including in cases where a combined ‘Results and Discussion’ chapter is required. | Book |
| 8 |
Wednesday 5 June 12:00 - 14:00 |
Pop-up dissertation stalls (in person) | Come and meet us at the Library Foyer! Staff from the Library, Study Advice, Careers, ISLI and Special Collections will be there to answer your questions, and help you find out about the support available for your dissertation and beyond. In Person |
Library Foyer In Person |
| 8 |
Wednesday 5 June 14:00 - 14:50 |
Taking a systematic approach to your literature search | Every dissertation will include a literature review, but what if your dissertation is entirely literature-based? You will need to take a systematic approach to your search and analysis of the literature, and might use a number of techniques usually employed for a systematic review. We will run through some of these to help you take a structured approach to your search. | Book |
| 8 |
Thursday 6 June 10:00 - 11:00 |
Overcoming writer's block | This is a joint session with the Lifetools programme. We will address why writer’s block occurs and offer some strategies to deal with it, ensuring you are more productive. | Book |
| 8 |
Thursday 6 June 11:30 - 12:30 |
Literature searching tips | In this session we'll run through preparing to search for literature. We'll think about identifying where to look. Then we'll then move on to techniques for constructing a comprehensive search, selecting keywords, then applying search operators and truncation. Delivered by your Academic Liaison Librarians. | Book |
| 8 |
Thursday 6 June 14:00 - 15:00 |
Artificial Intelligence tools and the dissertation process | In this session we will discuss recent developments in artificial intelligence and how (and whether) these new tools can be used in different steps of the research process. We will examine issues of reliability, ethics, and research integrity. Bring your questions along! | Book |
| 8 |
Thursday 6 June 15:30 - 16:20 |
Talking about your dissertation in applications and interviews | Come along to this session to learn how to communicate what you are doing in your dissertation in applications and interviews. We’ll help you consider what aspects of the dissertation process the employer is interested in, and how to explain it in a way that clearly explains why you are suitable for the role. | Book |
| 8 | Friday 7 June 10:00 - 11:30 | Finding literature workshop (in person) | This in-person session offers you a space and structured activities to explore different strategies for finding relevant literature to inform your dissertation literature review. We will guide you through different techniques and search tools to help you build an annotated bibliography of materials relevant to your topic with help on hand. In Person |
In Person |
| 8 | Friday 7 June 14:00 - 14:50 | Sources of Statistical data | There are many sources of statistical data available, covering a huge range of topics. This session will help you identify relevant sources in your subject area. | Book |
| 9 |
Monday 10 June 9:30 - 12:30 |
Dissertation writing retreat (in person) | This in-person session offers you a space and place to progress your writing. Bring along what you’re working on, and we will run a structured writer’s retreat with help on hand, should you need it. In Person |
In Person |
Slides will be posted here before each session.