Guide pour rédiger une dissertation (document en anglais)

9 Introduction

For editorial consistency, it is important to use Word styles properly. Word 2003 onwards has so-called quick styles. If the styles referred to below are not visible on the Home ribbon in the Styles category, choose Apply Styles from the down arrow at the bottom right of the Styles category. Styles can then be applied from the drop-down box. To make a style visible as a quick style, choose Apply Styles, then click Styles (the AA icon), then click on the drop-down list for a style, and then Add to Quick Style Gallery.

Chapters are entered using the Heading 1 paragraph style. The Heading 1 style automatically moves to the start of a new page, and supplies the next chapter number. The new paragraph when you press Return after a heading automatically uses the Body First paragraph style (like this one, with no indent on the first line).

However most text uses the Body Text paragraph style (like this one, with 11 point Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, single-sided pages). Enter most text using the Body Text paragraph style. The new paragraph when you press Return after a Body First paragraph automatically uses the Body Text paragraph style.

In general, use the default spacing that headings and paragraphs give you. Avoid using new-lines or spaces to format text. If you need to use quotes, preferably use single curly quotes ‘…’. If you wish to emphasise something, usually use italic font.

Remember to Save frequently while you are working!

9.1 Background and Context

Give the background to your project and context of what you have done. Sections are entered using the Heading 2 paragraph style – the Heading 2 style automatically supplies the next section number.

9.2 Scope and Objectives

Define the scope and objectives of your project.

9.3 Achievements

Summarise what you have achieved.

9.4 Overview of Dissertation

Briefly overview the contents of what follows in the dissertation.

10 State-of-The-Art

Summarise current knowledge and what others have done in the various topics of your dissertation – in the application area and in the various technologies that you might have used or did use. Write for someone familiar with computing, but not necessarily expert in the particular topics of your project. Give references to other work by using cross-references to entries in the References section, like this [2].

11 Technical Chapters (change this to something appropriate)

Note: This part of the dissertation will normally be expanded to be a series of chapters.

The technical body of the dissertation consists of a number of chapters (just one here, but there will usually be more). Follow a logical structure in how you present your work. This will usually be the phases of the software development cycle, the modules of your system, etc. However, please do not write your dissertation to read like a diary.

Include a chapter demonstrating what you have achieved and how your system is used in practice – for example showing a typical session as a series of pasted in screen shots, with an accompanying commentary.

You should also include a chapter explaining how you obtained feedback from your “customer” or potential users of your system, what feedback you actually obtained, and your analysis and comments.

11.1 First Section

Subdivide your text into sections.

11.1.1 First Subsection

If necessary, also use subsections. Subsections are entered using the Heading 3 paragraph style (all these heading styles are self-numbering).

11.1.1.1 First Subsubsection

If you really need subsubsections, enter these using the Heading 4 paragraph style.

11.1.2 Second Subsection

And, as required, more subsections.

11.2 Second Section

As an example of a figure, consider Figure 1.

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