Are you about to start your dissertation journey and wondering where to begin? Or maybe you’ve already taken off but are navigating through some academic turbulence? Wherever you are in the process, the Academic Librarian Team is here to help you soar with a series of supportive and practical online sessions designed to help you confidently take off with your dissertation.

From planning and writing to navigating research tools and avoiding plagiarism pitfalls, this comprehensive online series will help you stay on track and feel supported throughout your dissertation journey.

What’s On?

Each session takes place online, and registration is essential. All events run from 12:00-1:00pm (unless otherwise stated). Whether you’re a beginner or need a refresher, there’s something for everyone.

Monday 12 May – Dissertation Planning 1: Time Management

Kick things off by learning how to map out your dissertation project. Discover strategies to manage your time, avoid procrastination, and keep the dreaded writer’s block at bay.

Tuesday 13 May – Dissertation Planning 2: Structure

Understand the typical structure of a dissertation and learn how to plan and organise your chapters—even before you start writing.

Wednesday 14 May – Creating a Literature Search Strategy

Learn where to find high-quality research papers and how to develop an effective search strategy to track down the best sources.

Thursday 15 May – Introduction to Covidence

Conducting a systematic or scoping review? This session introduces you to Covidence, a helpful tool for screening research papers and generating PRISMA flow diagrams.

Friday 16 May – Accessing Full Text: Where’s the Article?

Hit a paywall? Learn how to access full-text articles, even when the Library doesn’t have a subscription. Includes tips for using browser extensions and finding open access versions.

Monday 19 May – Writing a Literature Review

This session explores the purpose of a literature review, offering guidance on note-taking and transforming ideas into structured academic writing.

Tuesday 20 May (1:00-2:00pm)– Using Critical Appraisal Checklists

Discover how to use critical appraisal tools like CASP, Joanna Briggs Institute, and AMSTAR to assess the quality of studies, create tables, and use visual tools like robvis.

Wednesday 21 May – Critical Writing: Constructing Clear and Persuasive Arguments

Explore what makes writing “critical” and how to build persuasive, well-supported arguments in your academic work.

Thursday 22 May – Avoiding Plagiarism and Using Sources Effectively

Get a solid understanding of plagiarism, paraphrasing, and citing sources properly—including how to reference images, tables, and your own data.

Friday 23 May – EndNote 21 Basics

Learn how EndNote 21 can help you manage references, generate citations, and stay organised. Students at Dundee can download it for free!

Book Your Sessions

All events are free to attend and open to all students. Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Book your place here:
https://libcal.dundee.ac.uk/calendar/LibraryEvents

Whether you’re just taking off or mid-flight, this series will help guide you through the process with expert tips, practical tools, and plenty of support.