Dr. Steve Tippins explains why Chapter 5 of a dissertation is different from the first four chapters. Chapters 1-4 follow fixed templates for methods and results, but Chapter 5 demands your own interpretation and synthesis with existing literature. Many doctoral candidates undersell their contributions in early drafts.
In the first 4 chapters, typically there's a template that you can follow pretty closely to complete things. You report on what you're gonna do and what you did, and you're pretty constrained by the method that you said you would move forward with in doing your research. Chapter 5 is different. While there can be a template showing you, make sure you cover these things, this is where your committee is looking for your interpretation, for you. To tell us what it all means, for you to tie it all back together with the previous literature. You know, academic writing doesn't give you a lot of creativity, but Chapter 5 is the one area where you get some creative abilities in your writing. I've seen too many students undersell what they've done in their initial attempts at Chapter 5. Drop the word "help" in the comments, and I'll send you the link to my free dissertation help community.
