Related Keywords: Social media essay example, dissertation writing

Abstract

            The paper examines previous coursework on the topic of ‘Social Media Marketing Strategies’ and analyzes the fundamental similarities and differences between the selected text and the standards of dissertation writing. It gives an extensive insight into the styles, standards, and techniques that are to be used in order to write a dissertation in an effective, efficient, and appropriate manner.

 Introduction

A dissertation is regarded as a very significant and fundamental aspect of many academic degrees and programs around the world. Much research has been conducted, and a substantial amount of literature has been published over the years that sheds light on the importance of a dissertation and the many challenges and issues associated with it that a student must overcome to accomplish its completion. The essay looks at one of the previous course reports on the topic of social media marketing and analyses its structure and content in the light of selected literature and articles that provide a guideline for writing a dissertation effectively and efficiently(Allison and Race, 2004).

Analysis of Text and Dissertation Writing

The abstract is considered one of the most significant parts of the paper. The abstract is used to present the topic of the paper and to tackle the research question in an effective and appropriate manner. It is evident from the work of Creme and Lea (2003) that the abstract is the fundamental part that pitches the entire concept of the dissertation to the reader, and it should, therefore, be organized, structured, and informative enough to grab the readers’ attention. The abstract should be precise and specific as the excessive use of words, and unnecessary details might be harmful to the reader’s interest(Hofstee, 2006).

The course report on social media marketing consists of a well-written abstract that covers most of the aspects that should be part of an abstract. It presents the research problem tacked by the paper and signifies the importance of the effective and efficient utilization of social media marketing strategies for companies and organizations operating in the dynamic business world of today. It provides an insight into what the paper is about and presents the research tools and methodologies used by the author to deliver an adequate and effective solution to the research posed a problem for its readers. The abstract, however, does not contain any indication of the findings of the paper.

The next phase of the dissertation is the introduction.Webster et al. (2000)argue that this part of the dissertation holds fundamental importance as the introduction gives the reader the idea of what the entire project and the paper are about. The ideal introduction to a dissertation should effectively introduce the topic of the paper and the research problem or question that it tackles. It should present a background of the addressed problem and explain the rationale behind the selection of the topic. A good introduction tends to provide the reader with an insight into the issue addressed by the paper and indicates the direction that the rest of the text will take(Hofstee, 2006).

The text contains a decent introduction that presents the reader with the research problem addressed by the paper. It also emphasizes the importance of the problem addressed for the businesses and organizations in the modern world. The text also utilizes evidence from a research paper that provides some facts and figures to back up the rationale behind the need to address the selected research problem. However, the introduction of the text is rather short in the context of a dissertation and lacks certain essential aspects that are essential for the success of the paper. The introduction phase of the selected text does not provide the reader with a clear idea about the research aims and objectives of the paper, and it also fails to give an outline of the direction that the subsequent sections of the paper will take.

Literature Review

One of the most significant and essential parts of the dissertation is the review and analysis of the research and academic literature available that revolves around the problem tackled by the text. A useful literature review of critical academic sources and publications is essential for the text as it provides an overview of the works of other authors on the topic of research and adds varied perspectives and opinions regarding the problem that the paper tackles(Randolph, 2009). The analysis and examination of existing academic literature on the topic not only presents a background to the research problem at hand, but it also provides a foundation to develop an efficient, logical and methodical framework which allows the author to study and analyze the research problem adequately and effectively. It also enables the author to establish relations and linkages between the selected academic literature and existing research publications to the hypothetical questions and assumptions that the text examines in subsequent sections(Bowen, 2005).

The text lacks an effective and appropriate literature review section that efficiently examines and analyses the academic texts and writings of contemporary authors and researchers. It attempts to provide context and analysis from different academic sources to a certain extent, but the text differs from the paradigms and structures of dissertation writingin such a way that it does not evaluate and incorporate the findings and outcomes of existing literature on the topic. The selected text uses different sources of academic literature and research to explain and examine the impact and the influence of social media in the modern world and presents some context and techniques of implementing social media marketing strategies and practices from those sources. It does not, however, examine and analyze the various associated topics that fall in the domain of social media marketing and the different strategies for its successful implementation for modern-day businesses.

A similarity between the selected text and dissertation writing is that it examines and analyzes the link of the behaviors and attitudes of consumers with the research problem that the paper attempts to address. Through the analysis of some sources of academic literature, it tries to establish the prevalent behavioral patterns and attitudes amongst the modern-day consumers and emphasizes on the importance of the posed research problem for the businesses and organizations. It also tries to underscore the significance of the research topic through the indication of the various benefits that it can have to the companies and entrepreneurs.

Selection of Sources and Research Methodology

One of the key differences between the selected text and dissertation writing can also be found in this section of the paper, which is concerned with the selection of academic sources of literature. The text has incorporated some facts and figures directly from blogs and websites on the internet. Such mediums of information are not regarded as ‘academic sources of literature’ and, hence, cannot be used for data collection for dissertation writing(Paltridge, 2002). The use and incorporation of such websites and blogs on more than one occasion in the selected text and its subsequent citations are one of the primary and most substantial sources of difference between the text and dissertation writing.

Another fundamental difference between the text and dissertation writing is concerned with the critical section of methodology and research planning. The selected text fails to indicate as to how the research for the paper was planned and how the academic sources of literature were selected and finalized for the text. It differs from dissertation writing in a such a way that the text fails to present a complete research strategy that is used to examine the various modes of data and information available and provides an explanation to the reader as to how the entire process was designed and carried out in order to effectively tackle the research problem at hand. It also does not present the research question or hypotheses that it attempts to address clearly and compellingly for the audience(Hacker, 2008).

The text does not offer an insight as to how the sources of academic literature were decided upon and how the data for the text was gathered and analyzed. The text differs for dissertation writing as it does not present the tools and techniques used for the research regarding the problem in question, while it is imperative in the case of dissertation writing that the author not only presents the techniques of research and analysis used to study and examine the posed questions and hypotheses but to also justify the selected modes of analysis used to arrive at a feasible and appropriate outcome.

Ethical and Moral Implications

One aspect that goes hand in hand with research planning and methodology revolves around the ethical and moral implications and standards of the study.Chesla (2000)claims that in the case of dissertation writing, it is of substantial importance that the author indicates and acknowledges the limitations of the research and presents the moral and ethical considerations of the study. The ethical and moral standards in research and analysis are fundamental as they ensure the aims and objectives of the dissertation are maintained and that the practices of fabrication, falsification, and misrepresentation of data and information are eliminated(Schram, 2014). The incorporation of moral and ethical principles in dissertation writing also ensures that the values of trust, accountability, and fairness are upheld, especially in the case of a collaboration between two or more authors. The absence of such moral and ethical implications, research limitations and acknowledgments aresome of the significant points of difference that can be found between dissertation writing and the selected text(Hyland, 2004).

            Bowen (2005) claims that the effective and efficient presentation of the findings and outcomes of the conducted research is a significant aspect of dissertation writing. It provides the readers with a solution and an answer to the problems and questions that the study aimed to address. The text, however, does not present the findings of the research problem and differs from dissertation writing in such. It does, however, provide a conclusion that attempts to summarize the importance and significance of the research problem and how the appropriate utilization of the text can provide a number of benefits and advantages for the readers. But, in dissertation writing, a conclusion is not a summary of the paper and is used to emphasize the lessons and findings derived from the research and analysis of the problem(Paltridge, 2002). The text also fails to provide recommendations for the readers and the restrictions and implications of such recommendations. It is yet another aspect in which the text differs from dissertation writing.

Conclusion

There are some points of similarity between the text and dissertation writing that primarily include the effective use of sections such as the abstract and introduction. The text also uses the appropriate styles of writing and referencing, as utilized in dissertation writing. However, it also uses sources of information apart, which are not considered as ‘academic literature’ on more than one occasion. Furthermore, the text fails to provide a clear and proper research methodology for the research questions that it attempted to answer. It also differs from dissertation writing in such a way that the text does not present or justify the tools and techniques of analysis used for the research and it also fails to provide moral and ethical implications, recommendations, and acknowledgments for the research. Such differences and issues are to be considered when attempting to write a dissertation effectively and efficiently. 

References

Allison, B., Race, P., 2004. The student’s guide to preparing dissertations and theses. Routledge.

Bowen, G.A., 2005. Preparing a Qualitative Research-Based Dissertation: Lessons Learned 17.

Chesla, E., 2000. Improve Your Writing for Work.

Creme, P., Lea, M.R., 2003. Writing at universities. Open University Press, Berkshire.

Hacker, D., 2008. A writer’s reference with extra help for ESL writers.

Hofstee, E., 2006. Constructing a good dissertation. Johannesbg. EPE.

Hyland, K., 2004. Graduates’ gratitude: the generic structure of dissertation acknowledgements. Engl. Specif. Purp. 23, 303–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(03)00051-6

Paltridge, B., 2002. Thesis and dissertation writing: an examination of published advice and actual practice. Engl. Specif. Purp. 21, 125–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(00)00025-9

Randolph, J., 2009. A Guide to Writing the Dissertation Literature Review 14, 14.

Schram, J., 2014. What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? 10.

Webster, F., Pepper, D., Jenkins, A., 2000. Assessing the Undergraduate Dissertation. Assess. Eval. High. Educ. 25, 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930050025042