The majority of students find it difficult to put in two hours of study without being distracted from their academic work. If you are in that category; what you are about to read will give you five killer tips that you need to achieve the scenario that will make you focused on the task of concentrating on the business of executing your coursework without undue interference. 

Note-taking

We shall start on this aspect of note-taking. Though the internet of things has given rise to the soft copy of materials; there is still some usefulness in getting a hard copy of files. When you choose to take down notes during lectures in class; it keeps you more engaged and focused on what is going on in the class.

With your pen and paper close by, it will be easy to give your mental and physical concentration to the lecture being given in the classroom. When you depend on the soft copy; it will give you a loose arrangement that will not bring the best focus out of you.

Bite only what you can chew

In the beginning, do not bite more than you can chew. Make sure you only take on subjects that you know you can handle very well. Take only the courses that you are brilliant at. The formula to use is to take some courses that you are brilliant at and add one or two courses that you are not good at. This will make it possible for you to have the soft landing in all the subjects without giving you much stress.

It will be easy to make effective use of your time and go all the way to achieve credible results that you are going to be proud of at the end of the day.

Electronic devices

Even if you have chosen a mix of the subjects that you can easily handle, you have to overcome the issues relating to electronic devices. When you are doing your assignment and a call comes in; it will distract your attention from the work. When you take off time to answer the call; time will be wasted. 

Further, it will be difficult to get into the mood of the assignment when you have been cut off from the assignment through a phone call. The antidote to this is to switch off all mobile phones. Make sure you locate a place for a study where you will not be disturbed by the television. When you can keep away from distractions occasioned through electronic devices; it will be easy to have full focus on your assignment.

The place for study

You have to decide on the location in your home that gives you the best motivation. This place should be quiet and away from all forms of distractions around you. For some people, the best place might be outdoors under the cool shade of the tree. Others might prefer the library as the place that will give them inspiration for the study.

You have to get a comfortable seating arrangement that will support the length of hours that you are going to spend during your study. With the peace that comes with such environments, it will be pretty easy to block out all the interferences that come up during study time.

Routine

The measures above will not work if you do not set out a routine and resolve to follow the routine daily to the letter. Do not come up with a tight routine if you are to avoid breaking down along the time. Infuse your routine with breaks that will ensure you have some breather along the line.

When you go two hours of study for instance; you are entitled to about twenty minutes of break. That way, it will be easy to achieve the expected results that will give you cause to cheer at the end of the day.

Final thoughts

It is possible to give the total focus on your coursework with the tips above. If you implement what we have above; your work will be finished on schedule and the struggles that come with it will be completely out of the question.

You are expected to deal with research questions that must be focused, researchable, and feasible to answer. The dissertation research questions must be focused and feasible to answer the questions that are posted. We shall take a look at some of the sample questions and what they are intended to achieve in the first place. 

Question: The thoughts of teachers on gifted and talented strategies for primary pupils; an insight into the policy and practice of schools.

Explanation: The question here is precise. But the problem lies in the approach because it is too wide. The rationale for the question is not researchable. However, if the conclusion of the dissertation is in support of the case; then it will find space in the current practice.

Question: Free for everyone? A review of results on policy pronouncements in museums and galleries 

Explanation: When we look at the question above, it fails to come with any form of subjectivity. This is a theoretical question. There is no clear cut distinction because the question can be in support of any policy decision which can be mixed; bad or good.

Question: The research into how twins communicate in general.

Explanation: The question above is difficult to put into practice because of the uncertainty that beclouds it. There are no clear parameters nor does the question come with clear definitions. What is the age of the twins for instance? Are they to communicate with each other or other members of the family? Etc.

Question: A peep into the problems of children of full time working mothers.

Explanation: What we have above does not fit the billing of a research question. It is no more than an assumption, to say the least. A better and more focused question would have been: Full-time employed parents and their children-a survey. 

Question: How well is learning in museums done?

Explanation: This is also the wrong way to frame a question. It is indefinite and uncertain and will do no good than presenting an indefinite and uncertain question. What is the nature of the museum? Who are the categories to learn from the museum? What are they likely to learn through the museum? What about the sample population? The above posers and much more leaves much to be desired in that particular question. 

Question: Support for children with dyslexia in the UK. A review

Explanation: This is an uncertain question and it is too ambiguous to be put into practice. There is no age filter. How many schools are considered among the numerous categories of institutions in the UK? How can the computation and measurement be effective? There are some constraints in this question and it is not specific in its answer.

Question: How are gifted children not having their needs met in schools?

Explanation: The question above reflects the results of the question and goes on further to initiate assumptions. The best approach should have been an objective way of reshaping the question. The question would have been better if it was reframed in this way: ‘Genius children require more attention in prepubertal age in school- a review. 

Question: The management of dyslexia by school children in maintained primary schools. Key stage 2 boy case study

Explanation: The explanation in this question is precise. The approach is rather too wide. There is no researchable rationale here. The contribution must support the case for it to be relevant to the events of our time.

Final thoughts

The above represents some of the sample questions in dissertation research and the reasons why they are not suitable for the realities of our time. The question that will provide the best results should be narrow and focused. That way, it will be easy to arrive at a safe harbor.

Writing an annotated bibliography is one of the challenges students will encounter during their academic career, especially when writing their thesis and dissertation. Writing an annotated bibliography is one thing students can’t escape because it is beneficial too, and performs the following functions:

• Provides a summary of relevant sources used on a particular topic;
• Informs readers of essential data;
• Helps you avoid copyright infringement and plagiarism
• Points out the objectives of a title;
• Determines the suitability of a specific source (such as an article or a book) to your project
• Focuses on significant points that the author addresses.

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

The difference between the standard bibliography and an annotated bibliography is that it is an expanded version of the former. An annotated bibliography is a brief list of every citation used in your dissertation, followed by an explanatory paragraph that explains the importance of the sources cited to your research.

Functions of an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography performs the following functions:

• A brief but concise summary of your sources;
• A critical evaluation and summary of the usefulness of a work;
• Their combination;

An annotated bibliography remains a crucial part of your academic endeavor. You can search for a sample that will provide you with more information and serve as a guide when writing your annotated bibliography, especially when choosing a writing style.

Why is an Annotated Bibliography Important?

The importance of an annotated bibliography cannot be overstated, especially if you are dealing with it in your academic paper for the first time. An annotated bibliography links to the following:

• It allows readers to evaluate your essay
• Helping you organize all your sources in the order of their relevance to your research
• An annotated bibliography allows you to get familiar with the relevant literature.

• A brief description (the primary purpose is to provide readers with essential information, unlike a traditional style);
• A summary (highlight the necessary scope of sources, hypothesis, and their conclusion);
• An evaluation that helps compare different sources in the same category to evaluate the effectiveness of overall objectives or results;
• An analysis that is in support of your central argument and give your work a critical standpoint).

An annotated bibliography’s goals are numerous, and some of them include getting high grades and impressing university teachers. It also helps make your academic paper more attractive and informative.

Useful Annotated Bibliography Tips

The following are helpful tips that you can include when writing commentaries for your sources:

• Its basic purpose;
• The author’s central argument;
• The targeted audience;
• Additional elements (appendices, charts, diagrams, or glossaries);
• Significant conclusions, findings, and points;
• How its title relates to other sources;
• How useful it is in solving a particular problem or answering a specific research question.

Below are some straightforward preparation tips ahead of your dissertation defense

Preparation: Know Your Format and Material

Considering the number of students who fail defense because of poor formatting, you will agree that formatting your paper correctly while following your University and department’s requirement is the first step towards a successful dissertation defense. If you ever run into any difficulty or if you have any questions, your dissertation advisor is always there to put you through.

We advise that you thoroughly review your paper because, as odd as this may sound, most tutors enjoy spotting even the tiniest sign of format violations. Therefore, paying extra attention to details will go a long way in helping you pass through the defense stage.

Prepare a Presentation

When you are unsure what next to do ahead of your defense, the solution might be to prepare a presentation. To prepare a presentation may take at least three weeks, but at the end of it all, ensure a correlation between your defense talk, your presentation, and your paper topic. You can prepare your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Focus on Results

Your entire dissertation has between 200 to 300 pages; avoid repeating every detail because the dissertation committee has your paper already, and they know what it contains. Instead, figure out and point out the main points and the critical aspects of your research, particularly the results. If the committee wants you to go into details, they will ask you.

Visual Aids Can Be Helpful

Visual aid is an essential strategy during the oral defense. Break down your work, present your defense, and result in different categories, follow the pattern when presenting your research. It keeps your work short, simple, and easy to follow

Know More about Your Dissertation Committee

Attempting to know more about your dissertation committee members is an old strategy, but not precisely outdated. Knowing the members of the dissertation committee will help you understand each member individually and what to expect. Make your findings, ask students, especially those who have graduated, do your results online.

Practice, then Practice More

The secret to attaining perfection is consistent practice. In dissertation defense, consistent practice gives you confidence and helps you predict possible questions and answers.

You can practice alone in front of your mirror or record yourself using a tape or video recorder; you can also invite a friend or relative over and defend your dissertation before them. You can use them if you have your slides ready.

Be Prepared for Unexpected Things

Dissertation defense rules differ from University to University; therefore, you must always be ready to get random questions. And even though you cannot predict everything, maximum concentration and practice prepare you for unforeseen problems.

Your Health Matters

While preparing for your dissertation defense, one thing is necessary; your mental and physical health. Without your physical and mental health, you may find it hard to produce a good or flawless performance at your defense. In most cases, sleep deprivation and mental stress may prevent you from having an excellent thesis too. Your diet is also an essential factor here.