Choosing a media dissertation topic: possible pitfalls and how to succeed
When approaching the end of your media studies degree, you’ll no doubt be wondering what on earth to write about for your dissertation. Indeed, with so many options on offer, it can often be a little overwhelming having to decide which particular subject you want to focus on.
To help you work out how to succeed in your dissertation, and how to avoid the pitfalls which many professional dissertation writers suggest are the biggest reasons for students missing out on top grades, we’ve put together a handy little guide which promises to point you in the right direction.
In just five easy steps, we’ll describe how to ensure that you write the best media studies dissertation you possibly can.
1: Meet with your advisor
Sound like obvious advice? Well, lecturers and senior advisors have spent considerable time bemoaning the fact that their students don’t take advantage of their office hours. This should be a no-brainer, but it’s honestly the biggest pitfall that students appear to fall into. Indeed, by simply speaking to your advisor for half an hour, you’ll be given tailored advice which will help you to improve your chances of a high grade.
2: Identify which kind of media you want to work on
When it comes to coursework writing and dissertation writing in media studies, you’ll need to figure out exactly what medium you want to work on. Whilst it may be tempting to discuss all of the various types of media you’ve encountered over the course of your degree, you’ll get far higher marks for focusing on one kind in particular, and acknowledging all of the criticism which surrounds it.
3: Think about how you might adapt existing media studies arguments
As your dissertation is all about proving what you’ve learned at university, you’ll score top marks for discussing the current theories which are associated with media studies. For example, you might be aware of models used for video studies, and your dissertation could look at how they apply to things like websites and newspapers. By doing this, you’ll prove that your fluent in media studies scholarship.
4: Carry out some multimedia research
This might seem like a fairly straightforward point, but it certainly bears repeating. Indeed, just because your media studies dissertation is going to be made up of text, it will be crucial to take a look at videos and websites which discuss your chosen subject. As you will also be able to cite these in the body of your work, you’ll find that you have a greater breadth of knowledge than those who remain in the books.
5: Proofread and proofread again
It’s amazing how many students narrowly miss out on high grades simply because their work is littered with grammatical errors and syntax issues. To avoid this happening, you’ll want to proofread your dissertation, then proofread it again, and then once more.