Your professors, lecturers and tutors have probably seen so many students come to them for dissertation advice and help that they have lost count. Luckily, this also means that they are highly experienced and, in most cases, happy to discuss your dissertation with you, especially if it has something to do with their area of expertise. They will know what books you need to read, what websites you need to visit, which films you really should watch and just about anything else you need to know. If you've been assigned a specific tutor for your dissertation, try to meet with him regularly so he can let you know how you're doing and where you need to concentrate your efforts. And it's never too late to contact your tutor for advice -- if you have yet to contact him but your deadline is fast approaching, try dropping him a line. You'll be surprised how useful a short chat with your tutor can be. Likewise, librarians know where to find any book or resource in the building, so consult with them if you're having trouble getting hold of a text.
Most dissertations range in word count from 8,000 up to 25,000 words, which is a lot of information to get across. It's important to have a good system for organizing everything you've read, written, seen, heard and spoken about. Create a folder on your computer to hold all the relevant information for your dissertation -- this could be chapters you've written, book quotes you've made a note of, pictures, audio files, anything. It is also a good idea to create a bibliography right away to keep track of all the sources you've used in researching and writing your paper. You want to ensure you give credit to every source you use; forgetting to include a source could lead to claims of plagiarism. Also keep a notebook with you at all times; you never know when inspiration might strike. Conversations with friends, professors and even family might give you ideas that can become a part of your dissertation.
It is almost impossible to write a dissertation without a solid plan of how it will be ordered. Your introduction needs to give the reader a good understanding of the basics of the topic at hand, and each chapter should add depth to the discussion and support your argument until you reach your conclusion, where you must clearly summarize your topic based on the evidence you have presented. Write a plan that breaks down what information each chapter of your dissertation will contain and which sources and quotes will support each chapter.
It sounds too simple to be true, but writing is the most important way to complete your dissertation. Getting started can be the hardest part, so a good tactic is to just write anything you can about the topic based on your own knowledge alone. Hopefully you'll be surprised at how many avenues this will open for you to investigate and expand upon. If you are having trouble writing one chapter, move on to another; this will keep the writing process fresh and will help you maintain some sense of momentum. Don't worry if one section is much longer than another or if you have gone over your word count before you've finished, because a major part of writing your dissertation is editing.
It can be easy to lose perspective and focus when writing such a large amount of text and it is important for your dissertation to be as concise and to the point as possible. This is where a system of critiquing and editing becomes important. Enlist course-mates, friends, family members, college staff and indeed anyone who is willing to read your work and give you their thoughts. Their critique will help you edit your work and let you know which sections need rewriting or cutting down.
The biggest reward will come when you hand in the finished version of your dissertation but until then it is important to go easy on yourself from time to time. Set yourself goals -- these can be based on writing a certain amount of words or reading a set number of pages for research -- and reward yourself when you achieve them. Rewards of food, games, television and the like will not only give you something to work towards but will also relax you so that you can return to your dissertation refreshed and ready to work again.