How Long is a Dissertation

In an episode of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” one of the suspects in a case was a rather extreme example of a doctoral dissertation. According to the storyline, the doctoral candidate had requested five extensions on his dissertation deadline. The dissertation at the time was over 1,000 pages on a matter of English literature involving Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. The plot disclosed, as it developed, that his professors were less than enthusiastic regarding the likelihood of his successfully completing the paper. With careful planning, most doctoral candidates manage to avoid this type scenario.

About Appropriate Length

It is often said that a dissertation should be as long as necessary and no longer, not much help on the face of it, but it does come to the point. The physical length of a dissertation is not the issue. The issue is the question “does the dissertation cover the topic completely, concisely, and is the writer’s position an original idea on the topic?” A dissertation that fails to meet the essence of this question should be rewritten or expanded until it does achieve this basic goal.

Typical Figures

The dissertation in the “Law and Order” episode is an extreme example of a lengthy dissertation. It is doubtful that it should have been as long, considering the subject. To put this in perspective, a typical full-length novel runs 100,000 to 250,000 words (approximately 200 to 500 pages). A typical dissertation will run at least 20 to 30 pages and often into the range of 50 to 100 pages; it is a rare dissertation that will be longer. Our advice is, do not worry about the length. Worry instead about the content.

What We Can Do

Our company employs hundreds of highly skilled, avid writers. From the initial topic selection and thesis to the completed dissertation document and verbal presentation PowerPoint, our writers stand ready to assist you with every step of the process. By utilizing state-of-the-art software, such as mind mapping programs, our writers can document all aspects of the research and can create a comprehensive outline of your topic and dissertation. They can therefore advise you on potential weaknesses and possible improvements to your dissertation. All they need is your order.