+ves
Is it an interesting question? - To you and the reader Focused Is it useful? Is it practical? Is it impactful? Is there a gap that you can add something to? Is it something that's still contentious? Is there a dilemma?
-ves
Too broad Don't get stuck on your own views! (Have an opinion, but you need to justify it) Don't get stuck on the fence Discuss with your supervisor/your peers Don't stray into policy rather than healthcare
Other Tips
Look for gaps/holes in the literature You need to justify your choice of moral theory. Consider mixing ethics and law
Generally the narrower the better. However, even when focused in, consider the context. Consider the wider concerns that this would affect.
what's your point?
What perspective are you writing from? Doctor/Patient? What theories are you drawing on? Why? Be specific!
Developing the Question
The dissertation should be an attempt to answer your research question. The disseration is an argument for a specific thesis.
What are the sub questions to break down the main research question
It needs to be normative rather than descriptive. How should things be?
You need to think about who your opponents would be, and how can you counter this? Don't ignore relevent material!
Why should anyone care? And what will you add to the debate?
Is the answer too dependent on things you can't find out about!?
It's ok to have some factual content, but most should be relevant
Research?
You can use other peoples research, you can't do your own.
Planning Considerations
- Reading
- Referencing
- Drafting
- Source Collection
- Time
- Critical Analysis
- Format
THINK ABOUT TIME
Regular visits to the work is essential. Reading regularly is essential.
The referencing, structure, and format is very important.
You need to see the landscape. You need to pay attention to where you are
Set some milestones
Structure
Introduction - it's the abstract for the piece. Its 2000 words (1/10 of total word count). The introduction has to grab you.
Does the conclusion show what you've done in the introduction.
Chapters should be stand alone for their point. But they should also flow together.
Use subheadings as a tool for an argument, not as a scaffold! Don't slice the work up too much. This is a narrative piece of work, it's not a report.
Each chapter should be 4-5000 words. Just a handful of subheadins in each. Each chapter should have a conclusion.
The overall conclusion should revisit each chapters conclusion.
It's a layered discussion. Be aware of the common themes, convergence, and divergence, in the reading that you're doing.
Address specifics carefully and accurately
It's not a pro's chapter and a con's chapter. It needs to be more sophisticated than that. Keep the same style of writing throughout!
Look atthe structuring the paragraphs slide.