However, you don’t have to spend multiple nights worrying about how to approach your dissertation. This guide will analyse various elements of a history dissertation and highlight the tips to guide you through topic selection. We will also cover some history dissertation titles to inspire your thesis.

How to write a history dissertation

1. Choose a topic

Topic selection is a crucial step that dictates the writing process and the overall quality of your paper. If poorly selected, the topic may prove challenging to complete within the provided time and push you from your main argument. 

Additionally, selecting a hard topic may inspire fear, causing you to procrastinate on your paper and thus struggle with meeting the deadline. 

How to choose a history dissertation topic

When selecting your topic, it is essential to ensure that it can be managed within the allocated time and with the resources at your disposal. Some considerations for selecting a history dissertation topic are:

• Select a narrow topic that can be exhausted without surpassing the word count. 
• Ensure that your topic is within your area of interest as this will motivate you to do thorough research. 
• Don’t go for a very easy topic as this may be exhausted by other researchers, making it hard to determine a unique perspective. This could result in plagiarism and failure to please the members of the panel.
• Develop an outline to properly assess the elements of your arguments and organize your claims in a manner that is easy for the reader to follow. 
• Ensure that your topic is unique and relevant within the scope of your general question. 

2. Develop a thesis statement

Before writing your dissertation, highlight a specific idea on a historical event and analyse the evidence available to support your claims. Next, analyse the counterarguments to your thesis and plan on how you will refute them within your paper. 

Note that a thesis should be clear and debatable without reflecting any biases. You may also consider revising your thesis to reflect the changes you have made within your paper. 

3. Organize your information

Logically presenting your information is vital for winning over your examining panel. As such, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the institution’s guidelines and master the content to include in various chapters. 

History dissertation structure

The common structure for a dissertation comprises the:

• Abstract – this part should highlight your main argument and the aims of your paper. The abstract should give your reader a gist of your key argument and show the method used to analyse your topic. Be keen to restate the thesis and show the key results that support your hypothesis. 
• Introduction – this chapter outlines the topic, purpose, and relevance of your study to your field. Also, state your research questions and objectives and outline the methodology you intend to use in analysing your thesis.
• Literature review – the literature review evaluates the sources you’ve gathered during your research and gauges how well various aspects of your topic have been covered in these resources. Also, draw the connections between your sources and gauge the gaps in the existing research thus setting the ground for your claims. 
• Methods – this chapter should highlight the criteria used to analyse your topic and gauge their relevance to addressing your research question. This section should also justify your selection criteria and highlight various challenges you faced during the study and the solutions applied to overcome these challenges. 
• Results – here, show the tables, graphs, and comments that break down the results into absorbable bits. 
• Discussion – this section should analyse your results in relation to your hypothesis. Here, analyse various counterarguments and how they hold in light of your findings. 
• Conclusion – the conclusion should discuss your key objectives and show the reason why the research matters. The length of your conclusion should take a maximum of 5% of your word count. 

Sample history dissertation ideas

1. Gender Relations and Women’s Roles in the Ancient World 
2. Why did the Berlin Wall take so long to fall?
3. Julius Caesar’s Personality and the Impact He Had on Rome 
4. Background and Implications of the Battle of Waterloo 
5. Aspects of WW1 that may have been prevented 
6. The events in Fife that led to the Allies’ triumph over Germany 
7. Napoleon’s leadership style had historical ramifications 
8. Napoleon’s chances of victory over the Russians 
9. The Church’s Function in Medieval Life 
10. Mussolini as the most influential Italian leader 
11. A Cuban Revolutionary History 

But now it isn’t time to stress. It’s time to show them your strengths, confidence and prove to them that you are good enough just as other people are. Here are some tips and tricks that will help in your dissertation proposal defense, so you don’t have to face any problems.

1. Predict their questions

While preparing for proposal defense, you will also come across a lot of questions that need to be answered. Prepare those questions and also anticipate what questions will come from the committee’s side. Think from their perspective and prepared it in advance. This will help you to look confident while answering the questions

2. Cover your weak areas

Many people have weaknesses in defense such as in covering literature study, no confidence, and much more. Practice your presentation in front of your supervisor, friends, and mentors. Ask them your weak point and how to cover them up. Analyze your words, slides, and material critically. Once you are aware of your weak areas, you will figure out how to handle them in dissertation defense as well.

3. Stick to your practice

Practice as hard as you can at your home, in front of peers and you can ask any person who has been a member of the committee. They will provide you valuable feedback and boost your morale. Also, guide you to different types of questions that the committee can ask you.

4. Avoid repetition in your slides

The easier slides you make, the easier for the audience to understand. Don’t repeat anything in the slides and keep it as simple as you can. If you repeat or even add any complicated terminologies, then the attention will divert from you and the committee will miss questions that you have already answered.

5. Use words easy to understand

Several people make mistakes while pronouncing words properly. It happens because they don’t get the chance to pronounce it correctly before the defense. So, use comprehensible words and avoid complicated words that not only hard to understand but also low down your confidence.

6. Watch your senior’s defense

Various departments have recordings of doctoral student’s defense. Watch those recordings and try to learn from them. It is better to attend the defense of your seniors or you can attend defense at other departments. The key point is here to prepare yourself for this stage see how the person handles to control the situation.

7. Have a positive attitude

Having a positive attitude towards your committee is a way to pass this defense. The committee has already decided to pass all you need is to show yourself that you are worthy of it. Give relevant answers to the committee.

8. Keep track of time

During the presentation, time is important. Consult the committee member and ask them about time. If they say about 20 minutes then it is important to wind up your presentation within this time. If you take longer than that, then they will think of it as a wastage of time.

9. Communicate your committee effectively

It is always better to hand out a presentation copy to your committee member before the defense. This will become handy and make things easier for the committee. Also, keep things smooth between you and the committee members. If they disagree with someone, then engage them in a discussion and tell them why you choose this path. They will be impressed by your critical thinking.

10. Stay relaxed

People are stressed out by seeing the committee members and doubts come into their minds if they can do it or not. Take a deep breath and give time to yourself. Give the committee some time to understand what you are saying. More importantly, have proper sleep before the defense. Let yourself control the flow of presentations and questions. Good luck!!