The acknowledgement section is the first section of any dissertation. It is a section where you thank all the people, companies, institutions, and contributors. It is a formal piece of writing where you acknowledge all the abovementioned contributors that helped you complete your project. You just need to mention the persons who are important to your research. Do not mention the contribution of every single person. It should be brief and should not include personal details. Generally, a dissertation acknowledgement emphasizes the academic support that you have had along the way. In this article, we will briefly detail the acknowledgement and what to include in the acknowledgement section of a dissertation.
Important tips for writing a good acknowledgement section
The acknowledgement section in the dissertation usually comes after the abstract and before the table of content. Some universities have their standards for writing an acknowledgement section. Ensure to follow the given standard. This section should be brief and polite to mention the people who contributed. Make a list of everyone who is connected in some way to your project before you write anything. It is challenging for many students to include personal writing after the dissertation. Use the appropriate tone or form. This section should be concise, professional, and specific to all who helped you complete the dissertation. Some useful strategies that must be included in the acknowledgement paragraph of a dissertation are as follows;
1. Start with your supervisor and important teachers
Start your acknowledgement section by thanking your supervisor and important teachers. Acknowledge the help and express your gratitude to the supervisor and committee members. There are two approaches that you can take when mentioning names. The first is to proceed in alphabetical order. It keeps everything organized so that it is easy to read. The second approach, while writing an acknowledgement section, is giving gratitude in order of importance.
2. List the other contributors
Acknowledge the contribution of all other contributors in the acknowledgement section. List or recognize the other contributors, such as classmates, lab assistants, and graduate students. In most cases, it is preferable to begin with, the most formal relationships and then move on to the personal ones. Do acknowledge the contribution and patience of the librarian. Don’t forget about the people who helped you get experience in the real world.
3. Acknowledge any financial aid you receive
The third step is acknowledging any financial aid you receive to complete your dissertation. Thank the specific research organizations or foundations that gave you a grant, fellowship or scholarship by name if you received any financial aid from them. You may contact the phd dissertation help if you don’t know how to acknowledge the financial aid you received.
4. Express your gratitude to your personal supporters.
The last step in the acknowledgement section is to express gratitude to your personal supporters. Thank those who lent you emotional or moral support, such as parents, friends, spouses, and colleagues. For example, ‘’Last but not least, I must convey my deepest gratitude to my parents and friend Ali for their firm support. I am thankful to you for your constant support throughout my years of study and the writing of this dissertation. Without them, this accomplishment would not have been possible. I’m grateful’’.
Dos and Don’ts while Writing Acknowledgement for Dissertation
Dos:
- The language you use must be professional
- First, thank your professional contacts.
- Write acknowledgement in first person
- Keep the acknowledgement section of appropriate length
- Be sure to include people who assisted you directly in the process.
- Do maintain a casual and personal tone.
- Use the full name, as well as the appropriate titles and credentials.
Don’ts
- Unless a family member was encouraging or supportive, don’t thank everyone.
- Don’t overlook anyone, especially those you know and who have assisted you professionally, even in a small way.
- Don’t use slang or informal language.
- Make sure to revise the acknowledgement and get rid of any redundant information.
Conclusion
Many researchers often view the acknowledgement section of a dissertation as insignificant and unimportant. Nevertheless, it is essential to ensure that any and all associated support for the paper can be adequately and transparently mentioned. As an academic researcher, you demonstrate your integrity by recognizing others’ efforts and contributions. Thanks to others for their help can also help them to become more visible in the academic world and possibly advance their career. Students can get the benefit of writing a good acknowledgement section using the tips mentioned above.
