Category: Writing
What does it mean when a supervisor says your dissertation methodology has “no academic justification”? Usually, it means you have explained what you did, but not sufficiently explained why you chose to do it. A…
If your supervisor says your literature review needs more synthesis, they usually mean that you are summarising individual studies instead of connecting, comparing and evaluating them. Synthesis means bringing findings from multiple academic sources together…
No, your dissertation findings do not have to match your literature review. Unexpected, contradictory or statistically insignificant results are a normal part of academic research. What matters is how you interpret, explain and discuss those…
What should you do if your supervisor rejects your research gap? First, do not panic or immediately change your entire dissertation topic. A rejected research gap usually means that the gap is not sufficiently demonstrated,…
Is your dissertation too descriptive? If your supervisor has written comments such as “too descriptive,” “needs more critical analysis,” “insufficient evaluation,” or “develop a stronger argument,” the problem is usually not that you need more…
“My supervisor said my dissertation needs to be more critical. What does that actually mean?” This is one of the most common questions postgraduate students ask after receiving dissertation feedback. The phrase “be more critical”…
For many University of Sydney students, Chapter 2 is one of the most difficult parts of a dissertation or thesis. The problem is often not a lack of journal articles. Instead, students struggle to decide…
One of the biggest challenges in dissertation writing is turning research findings into meaningful academic discussion. Many students can present statistics, survey responses or interview themes but struggle with the next question: What do these…
For international students completing a master’s dissertation or thesis in Australia, supervisor feedback can sometimes feel confusing, especially when comments appear brief, indirect or highly critical. Students studying at universities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide…
My Dissertation Has a Research Gap, But My Supervisor Says It Is Not Strong Enough
Why does my supervisor say my research gap is not strong enough when I already have one? Usually, the problem is not that you have failed to identify a gap. The issue is that your…