This month I have been thinking about the elements of my dissertation as I start to pull my ideas and research together. Physically, my dissertation will contain cover page with title, an introduction, a table of contents and list of illustrations (should I decide to use any illustrations) and then three chapters exploring the different themes in my project. The dissertation will end with a conclusion. Having written this quick summary, I think I will quickly use up the word allocation.

My current plan and thought process is that my chapters  will explore the liminal space of being close to death, this will lead onto the metal and physical impacts of grief and I will close by considering our motives for recording the moments of death or near death. This plan is fluid as I tend not to be someone who will plan my written work to the nth degree before I begin and instead my ideas will form as I start to write. Next month, for feedback point 4, the course notes suggest submitting a first draft of my introduction and first chapter to my tutor. The introduction to be 500-750 words and the first chapter to be 1,250 words with a total for the two elements of 2,000 words. Along with my draft work, I am to produce a commentary on my progress against my plan, how my research and creative works inform my practice and how my ideas for my essay are developing.

I have already been writing small sections of this essay but I think sitting down to write in more detail than I have so far, will quickly show me if I need to expand my knowledge in any of the areas I will write about. I feel that this is a sensible way to work. Writing, reviewing what I have written, testing my research and having a feedback loop where I go back to start, incorporate new learning outcomes and ideas then review again.

One thing I have been mulling over is the title of my essay. Am not overly worried about this at present as I feel the title will become obvious after the essay is written. I know that I gave a title in my dissertation proposal but maybe the title only makes sense after the ideas have been explored. Might a title which comes first constrain the subject?

I have built my planning for dissertation over the following months in more detail into my overall plan for this unit.