The Student Room Group

Dyslexia and Dissertations

This is going to sound really funny to some people, but I'm massively concerned about having to do a dissertation. I have dyslexia so writing + me are not best friends as is and I'm having trouble seeing myself being able to write 10,000 words no matter how much I like the topic. Is anyone else out there stressing over this or know how to cope when it does come time to get it started? Any experience/advice is appreciated and will be loved upon over and over again.

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Reply 1
I am slightly stressing about it, but I don't have to worry about it for another year.

Mind you, I think I'll bring it up at my appointment with the special needs lady tomorrow.
Reply 2
Mermaid are you in the final year of a degree, or is this just a general concern for later on?
General concern. I was looking over the course summary for the uni I firmed and realized the dissertation was compulsary so I started panicing.
Reply 4
The Little Mermaid
General concern. I was looking over the course summary for the uni I firmed and realized the dissertation was compulsary so I started panicing.


A dissertation is compulsary for all university degrees.

But remember that many dyslexic students have done it over time.
Reply 5
The Little Mermaid
General concern. I was looking over the course summary for the uni I firmed and realized the dissertation was compulsary so I started panicing.

Even if you're not dyslexic there's alot about the prospect of a degree that would freak out most people. Don't let it put you off.. there will be plenty of support in place, and you'll be doing alot of work leading up to the end of the degree that will ease you into it. By the time you get there you'll have already been able to work out solutions and coping mechanisms to help you break it down. It won't be such a big deal.
Reply 6
Dude
A dissertation is compulsary for all university degrees.

not true.

just saying. :smile:
Reply 7
Try not to worry about it - if the university is made aware then I'm sure they'll be sympathetic.

When you're actually writing the dissertation, make it your main concern to just spew out all your ideas onto the page. Don't worry about spelling and grammar at all in your first draft.

Then go back over it, paragraph by paragraph, using the spellcheck facility - it'll give you several options as to what you may have meant. If you're not sure which one to pick, check each option they give you using a dictionary. This will be time-consuming but I'm sure it can be done.

The more difficult bit will be identifying phonemes (dear vs deer, there vs their etc) which most spellchecking facilities won't pick up. Again, go through all of them with a dictionary.

Finally, everyone writing a dissertation is allocated a supervisor - believe me, you're not expected to do it with no support at all! Try and get them to go over it (purely from a spelling/grammar point of view) and see if they can point out any mistakes that you haven't seen.

As I've said, this will be time-consuming, but if you just take it step by step then there's no need to worry.
Reply 8
db
not true.

just saying. :smile:

Well..that or the equivalent research project.. or whatever, which I'm sure he meant.
Reply 9
Angelil
Try not to worry about it - if the university is made aware then I'm sure they'll be sympathetic.

When you're actually writing the dissertation, make it your main concern to just spew out all your ideas onto the page. Don't worry about spelling and grammar at all in your first draft.

Then go back over it, paragraph by paragraph, using the spellcheck facility - it'll give you several options as to what you may have meant. If you're not sure which one to pick, check each option they give you using a dictionary. This will be time-consuming but I'm sure it can be done.

The more difficult bit will be identifying phonemes (dear vs deer, there vs their etc) which most spellchecking facilities won't pick up. Again, go through all of them with a dictionary.

Finally, everyone writing a dissertation is allocated a supervisor - believe me, you're not expected to do it with no support at all! Try and get them to go over it (purely from a spelling/grammar point of view) and see if they can point out any mistakes that you haven't seen.

As I've said, this will be time-consuming, but if you just take it step by step then there's no need to worry.


There is a problem with that though as spell check will say words are spelt correctly, but it won't reconise that the word is wrong in the sentance: such as having planets instead of plants. A similar problem if you spell things how they sound (like me), and a word looks right and spell check says there is nothing wrong with it, then you won't do anything about it. Yet when your lechuer marks it, the sentance won't make any sense.
Dude
There is a problem with that though as spell check will say words are spelt correctly, but it won't reconise that the word is wrong in the sentance: such as having planets instead of plants. A similar problem if you spell things how they sound (like me), and a word looks right and spell check says there is nothing wrong with it, then you won't do anything about it. Yet when your lechuer marks it, the sentance won't make any sense.

I know. You need friends who are willing to proofread for you. I do it for my friends and I have friends who are happy to do it for me :smile:
Reply 11
Craghyrax
Well..that or the equivalent research project.. or whatever, which I'm sure he meant.

not neccessarily, I know from someone on TSR that Durham language students can do an exam in place of a dissertation. I think there are a few language courses like that.

EDIT: Though I'm just being overly pedantic today. :p: While I'm at it, Angelil, the term for words that have different spellings but the same pronounciation are homophones. Phonemes are only parts of words/phonics that are pronounced the same but spelt differently. I think. :\
Reply 12
Dude
There is a problem with that though as spell check will say words are spelt correctly, but it won't reconise that the word is wrong in the sentance: such as having planets instead of plants. A similar problem if you spell things how they sound (like me), and a word looks right and spell check says there is nothing wrong with it, then you won't do anything about it. Yet when your lechuer marks it, the sentance won't make any sense.

Yes, which is why I said *after* that to get others to look over it too, rather than relying solely on the spellcheck facility (even I know what a stupid idea it is to rely on spellcheck alone!).
db
not neccessarily, I know from someone on TSR that Durham language students can do an exam in place of a dissertation. I think there are a few language courses like that.

Heh ok :smile: ..however if The Little Mermaid is dyslexic, then the languages might not be her area of choice.
Reply 14
Craghyrax
Heh ok :smile: ..however if The Little Mermaid is dyslexic, then the languages might not be her area of choice.

I've seen here post in the languages forum before actually :p:, maybe dyslexia doesn't affect the learning of a second langauge? Who knows.
db
I've seen here post in the languages forum before actually :p:, maybe dyslexia doesn't affect the learning of a second langauge? Who knows.

Lol.. and :dontknow:
Reply 16
Dude
A dissertation is compulsary for all university degrees.

No it's not. You can adopt two further modules in my Business department if that's what you wish, just so long as you complete the core modules.

I was 'diagnosed' with dyslexia - and have had no problems. Although my spelling is extremely accurate, my speech is somewhat flawed, stuttering in any nervous event and heating up looking like a beetroot. My diagnosis is attributed to 'speech', having been diagnosed after many years in education whilst been tested on more than several occassions.

My last school gave me 50% grant if I made it to university after my GCSE's due to their failure to recognise my condition. I didn't do too well in GCSE's at all (especially by the zillion A* that people seem to receive on this forum). I did make it to university with more than satisfactory A-levels amongst other quality grades. However, I never took up the offer as I didn't want to be different to everyone else.

The dissertation is not a problem in the slightest. If you're humanities based, then do expect good levels of English. Your dyslexia will not get in the way. However, where it can get in the way is is the simple comprehension of an exam question. This is what I continually find hard. I hate reverse questions where they ask 'Check each box where the company does not do this or that'. That's a killer - and something you'll have to get used to.

In short: Dissertation not a problem, whereas exam questions could pose a problem.
db
I've seen here post in the languages forum before actually :p:, maybe dyslexia doesn't affect the learning of a second langauge? Who knows.


Yeah, I'm learning Spanish :smile: Speaking in a second language is easy for me - it's just trying to write and read it that's hard. Just like with English. I think any language in another alphabet would kill me, though. No Hindi or Arabic for me, I'm afraid :frown:

walshie
The dissertation is not a problem in the slightest. If you're humanities based, then do expect good levels of English. Your dyslexia will not get in the way. However, where it can get in the way is is the simple comprehension of an exam question. This is what I continually find hard. I hate reverse questions where they ask 'Check each box where the company does not do this or that'. That's a killer - and something you'll have to get used to.


I'm interested in Politics, IR, and Spanish, but primarily Politics and IR. That exam situation sounds like a nightmare.. best start prepping for it now! :eek: Have you gotten alot of support from your university as far as strategies for coping with those sorts of questions is concerned or was it something you had to do on your own?
Reply 18
walshie
The dissertation is not a problem in the slightest. If you're humanities based, then do expect good levels of English. Your dyslexia will not get in the way. However, where it can get in the way is is the simple comprehension of an exam question. This is what I continually find hard. I hate reverse questions where they ask 'Check each box where the company does not do this or that'. That's a killer - and something you'll have to get used to.

In short: Dissertation not a problem, whereas exam questions could pose a problem.


I dissagree with that. I say that exam questions are easier since you are only expected to write so much. Say for an exam question, you are expected to write three pages for each one. That seems a lot easier then a dissertation where you have to write 10,000 words.
Reply 19
Dude
A dissertation is compulsary for all university degrees.

But remember that many dyslexic students have done it over time.


No, it isn't.