Dissertation Appendix Writing Guide

Author: , Modified: 16 August 2023

What Is an Appendix?

An appendix is a section of the paper that is included at the end of a report or a dissertation. If there is more than one item being included in this section, the section plural is appendices.

Items that would usually be included as an appendix are relevant to the context of the study but may not be useful to have in the main body of the work. Each appendix should discuss a separate topic and should be listed separately.

When listing an appendix, it is common practice to list is as Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc. As each appendix will be evidence of a different topic or will be on a different topic, as with figures within the work, you will be required to title each individual appendix separately within the appendices section.

Make sure you refer to them in-text by the appropriate name. If you do not refer to your appendix in the main text, it does not need to be there!

Illustration of dissertation appendices

Do I Need an Appendix?

Not every dissertation will require an appendix or appendices! It depends on the type of research you are doing, the subject you are studying and the requirements of your university.

What Is Included in an Appendix?

Some examples of appendix items could include interview transcripts, full data sets (i.e., numerical data), a full breakdown of a company’s background or financial information, full PESTLE analysis, search strategy tables or an example of a survey or questionnaire, amongst many others.

Any work in the appendix does not usually count towards the overall word count of a piece of work. However, this rule is not the same with all universities and you must ensure that you check with your own university about their rules and regulations on appendices.

Even in the appendix, you must remember to reference! Ensure you include these references in your bibliography too.

Checklist: Dissertation Appendices

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Well done on completing this checklist! You're doing great.

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If you require assistance to write the appendix section of your dissertation, you may want to consider our helpful service which is a great way to get a head start on your work.

Dissertation Writing Service Appendix Example
Question: How many appendices can or should I include in my dissertation?
This will depend on your institution's guidelines and the nature of your dissertation. However, you should only include essential supplementary materials that directly support your main thesis, research findings, or provide necessary background information. Try to avoid excessive appendices as this may overwhelm the reader or distract from the core message of your dissertation.
Question: Are there any size limitations for the appendices section in a dissertation?
In most cases, there are no strict size limitations for the appendices section in a dissertation. However, it is essential to exercise discretion and include only relevant and necessary materials. Always check your institution's guidelines or consult with your dissertation committee to ensure adherence to specific requirements.
Question: If I have only one appendix, should I still label it as "Appendix A" or just "Appendix"?
If you have a single item to append to your dissertation, the section should be titled 'Appendix'. If you have more than one item, the section should be titled 'Appendices'. Typical labelling conventions are to state 'Appendix' followed by a specific title that conveys its content at a glance (e.g., 'Appendix: Survey Questions'). If you have multiple appendices, label them as 'Appendix A: Title' and 'Appendix B: Title' (numbers may also be used instead of letters)and so on. Ensure consistency to make it easy for readers to navigate through the additional material and check if your institution has any specific guidelines to adhere to.

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