I think before you embark on a Literature Review methodology you need to find out if this meets the approval of your Supervisor. The purpose of your research will indicate which method is most suitable. In my experience literature reviews are mostly used in the fields of education and perhaps more commonly in health where you carry out Systematic Reviews (of the literature) to inform health care interventions or improve practice. I am not saying that this method is not suitable for your research but it depends on the nature and purpose - what outcomes are you expecting from carrying out the research?

Hi LittleMsSunshine,

Let me tell you what I think your problem is. I think you are looking at the dissertation as too much of a big challenge, and as a result you have become a little bit scared and have started to worry. However, my advice is don't look at the mountain you have to climb. Just take the first step and then the next step and don't worry about the obstacles and challenges ahead. As you reach them you will overcome them and before you know it you will be on top of the mountain.

11 months is more than enough time to write 10,000 words. I am assuming here that you have already articulated your research aim and objectives and hence your research question. I guess the first thing you can then do is to start gathering your literature if you haven't done so already. Then start to analyse the literature into what you will include and what you will discard. You do not need to start with your introduction chapter as this can actually be written at the end but you need to have a clear focus in mind of your aim and the main methodology you wish to follow. Once you have constructed your lit review you can then do your methodology. The literature might actually provide with some good pointers to inform your own methodology. For example, you stated you will use qualitative and quantitative data. Will this therefore be a triangulation approach or just simply a multi-method approach based on an experimental design? Once you have a clear view of your methodology you can then gather your data and analyse it. How much time you should spend on each section is like asking how long is a piece of string. You should should simply chip away at it by spending 15min per day on the paper. Looking at the task as a whole is demotivating but setting small goals will enable you to be more motivated to achieve your goal.

How do you get an A? Well it all depends on how coherent your work is. You need to present a cohesive, well-researched and well presented piece of work. Your objectives need to be realistic and achievalbe. Your literature review needs to be critical rather than a descriptive list, identifying the key debates and which should demonstrate your own input to the discussion and also should identify appropriate gaps. Your methodology needs to be appropriate (fit for purpose) but recognising the limitations and criticisms. Your analysis needs to demonstrate a good level or depth of synthesis between your findings and the literature. Your conclusion should be reflective, assessing whether or not your aim and objectives had been reached, lessons learnt, identified areas for future research etc. It should be a flowing piece of writing integrating the chapters and it should be logical. All these things will enable you to get A. Seriously.

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Best of luck.

Hi In_Between,
I cannot say I have been in exactly your situation but I think for all of us writing a dissertation is quite a challenging task. Perhaps if you look at it from the point of view of what you have to lose if you don't complete it then that could be a motivating factor. For me, I was a self-funded student juggling work and study along with my personal life. There were times I felt so frustrated that I could chuck it all in but then I thought I worked to hard for the money I had to spend out of my own pocket so lets get on with it. I didn't really work to any set schedule. I just constantly chipped away at it by spending at least 15min per day on it. Well of course one may thing that not much can be achieved in 15min but if you set small goals and look at it from that point of view rather than this mammoth task that helps the motiviation a lot. And once you sit down and start writing that 15min turns to 30min and then 2hrs as the ideas start to flow. If you neglect it though and think "I can't be bother tonight, I will do something tomorrow" then you find you are always putting it off. What I would do also is to write in an haphazard fashion rather than a set structure. I would set out the template of the chapters and if I am stuck on the lit review, I simple move to the methodology so in this way I am not wasting time agonising over one part. Later I move back to the problem area and find new inspiration and I weave back and forth through the different sections like that until I complete it.

Self reflection is good but don't waste to much time reading books on how to plan dissertation - utilise the time to research your lit review etc. And don't spend too much time beating up on yourself. Stay encourage.

Hi Sunshine901,

There is another option that has not been mentioned yet. If you can prove that the level of supervision you received was not adequate you might have a case against your supervisor by way of a formal complaint. This may lead to you being appointed a different supervisor and you being given the chance to improve your mark without it being capped. This is perhaps the most likely steps you should/could take since your supervisor lead you to believe that you passed and then the second marker decided it is a failure. Even if you pass via the third marker you may still have a case against the supervisor for inadequate supervision and therefore still have a chance to improve your mark if you wish to. The supervisor (assuming you have been working with him/her through to completion) should ensure the work you submit is of the required standard to pass - it is their responsibility.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Hi Bibliophilous,
You have invested time and money into the programme so far, why give up now? You cannot say it is the end of your academic career until you at least give the dissertation a shot. I would therefore encourage you to take a stab at it and at least submit something. There is quite a lot of resources out there that you can utilise. For example, there are people out there who provide private one to one services to help students through their dissertations, if you are willing to pay for such services of course. Of course what I wouldn't recommended are those dissertation writing services where you purchase tailor made works. But there are PhD candidates and past masters students who offer such services to earn a bit of money on the side. Having gone through the process themselves they can give you a deeper insight into the process of writing a dissertation (especially when your supervisor is unhelpful). Best of luck whatever you do.