Major achievement Option 2

Option 2: Dissertation

A dissertation, for CII purposes, is a discussion paper covering an insurance-related subject. If your dissertation is employer-based, you must seek their written approval before submitting it. If you choose this route, your dissertation should:

• be typewritten in English;
• be 3-5,000 words long;
• be on an insurance-related subject;
• have been researched and written by you. You may get someone to type it from your own instructions but it is a disciplinary offence to submit someone else’s work as your own.

Examples of acceptable practices

• Quoting small sections from the works of others, typically a sentence or paragraph, provided that the author’s work is fully acknowledged.
• Writing a dissertation based on previous work which you have written. The dissertation must not be identical to the previous work and must be updated where appropriate. The nature and existence of the previous work must be acknowledged, eg, ‘based on my MBA dissertation completed in May 2003’.
• Information quoted should be the most up to date reasonably available.
• Your work may be typed, proof-read and critiqued by another. Their input and the extent of it must be acknowledged in the dissertation, e.g ‘typewritten by my secretary James Jones and proof-read by Felicity Brown’. You may ask someone else to comment on any shortcomings in your draft dissertation but any changes must be your own work.

Examples of unacceptable practices

• Plagiarism – that is, using the words of another author as your own.
• Submitting a previous work without authorisation or acknowledgement. For example, a dissertation you used as part of another qualification.
• Using information and data knowing them to be out of date.
• Getting a researcher to write any part of your dissertation.
• Getting a secretary, adviser, consultant, lecturer, writer or any other person to write any part of your dissertation.

Choosing the right subject. Keep to subjects you know well and are confident about. The Fellowship assessors look for an in-depth understanding and developed argument. This is more difficult to do if you decide to investigate a completely new field. If you decide to write a dissertation on an area new to you, please ensure you explain in the introduction your reason for the choice of subject. As you would be learning about the subject during the time you are writing, the requirements to review the whole dissertation once completed is even more important to ensure consistency.

Keep the subject focussed. The assessors like to see a detailed discussion on a specific topic, rather than a shallow treatment of a broad subject.

Put a question in the title. This strategy can help to keep both author and reader focussed. If you are considering a number of alternative subjects, discuss your ideas with colleagues. Bear in mind that it can be difficult to write something new and interesting on some of the most popular topics.

You must state in the introduction to your dissertation why you have chosen this particular subject to research. The subject should generally be linked either to your current or future work, or to an area of special interest to you or to your employer, or to a subject of significance to the insurance industry as a whole. CII Knowledge Services holds copies of successful dissertations and some are published in the Journal of Insurance Research and Practice and on the CII website – see below.

Example Dissertations

CII Knowledge Services holds copies of successful dissertations, some are published in the Journal of Research and Practice and we have a number of online examples available. The following links allow access to examples which have been presented to the Fellowship Assessment Board and the candidates are now Fellows of the CII. The authors have kindly agreed to their work being published online for which we are grateful. Applicants can review these and other example dissertations for suitable ideas for research.

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5
• Example 6
• Example 7
• Example 8

Unsuitable topics

• Purely historical, non-analytical narratives, ie, ‘The history of motor of insurance’.
• ‘How to…….’ or textbook guides, ie, ‘How to obtain new business’.
• Lecture notes.
• Extended job descriptions.

Getting the structure right

Compile a contents page. This will help you to see at a glance how your paper will develop. If you struggle to identify the main themes at this stage, now is the time to choose a different subject.

Get the balance right. Remember that the assessors will want to see a balanced consideration of the topic. Be clear on not only how you will incorporate supporting material, but also how you will explain any contradictory evidence.

Keep to the word limit – 3-5,000 words may sound like a lot but it is all too easy to overrun. Check your paper for ‘padding’. Make every word count.

Your dissertation must include all of the following:

• a title;
• a contents list;
• an introduction of not less than 200 words;
• a conclusion of not less than 300 words;
• a cross-referenced bibliography. This must set out the publications you have used for authoritative input to your work. Using text verbatim from other sources (except where clearly shown as such) is not acceptable – the dissertation must be your original work only;
• appendices where these add to the text – these are not counted in the word count;
• a word count.

Your dissertation should set out what the subject matter is or what the key findings are. It should then develop this theme, taking account of others’ views on the subject as well as your own, supported by the evidence given in the paper.

Presentation

Subdivide the text. It is far easier to read text when it is labelled with sub-headings.

Make sure that there are no mistakes in the text or in any figures. Ask a friend or colleague to check it over. If English is not your first language, invite a native English speaker to read the final draft.

Spend time checking spelling and grammatical errors.

Create a contents page and use page numbers – this will help the reader navigate the paper.

Research

Read widely on the subject before starting. CII Knowledge Services can help access materials (visit it online at www.cii.co.uk/knowledge). The Internet provides access to informantion. Use the most up-to-date information available, but an allowance will be made if your location makes that difficult. Consider how much research material is available. If there isn’t much material for you to base your paper on, you will need to be prepared to carry out the initial research yourself. Keep good records on the information you may use later; this will help you with your cross-referenced bibliography. You must include citations.

Do not plagiarise. Fellowship assessors are widely read and have access to subject experts if they suspect plagiarism. Someone else can type the paper for you so long as they do not otherwise contribute and their role is acknowledged. On the other hand, you can include short sections of others’ work provided that the author is fully identified.

We strongly recommend that you read other successful dissertations - which are available above and on www.cii.co.uk/knowledge. Y ou should also ask a colleague or academic contact to give you an unbiased critique of your paper before submitting it. Suggestions for reading material which may help with the preparation of your dissertation are given below.

Appendices should be included where you feel that these would be helpful to the reader but they are not a requirement.

Those who assess your dissertation wish to see evidence of your own views being expressed, it is not sufficient just to repeat what others may have already said or written.

The categories for assessment

Introduction and rationale for choice of subject
This section should be at least 200 words long; it should introduce the subject and set out how the paper will develop its theme. It should also explain why you have chosen that subject – it may be a major industry issue on which you hold strong views, a subject about which you or your employer want to know more or a subject that will benefit your career development.

Main text
Over a third of the marks go to this section. Consideration is given as to how you have developed the theme: how you have introduced and analysed or incorporated contradictory and supporting evidence into your case and how the paper has been broken up into clearly developed sections. You should include your interpretation and explained argument prior to reaching a conclusion or making recommendations. Information included within the dissertation should be up-to-date and relevant.

Quality of research
The assessors look to see that you have taken appropriate steps to ascertain what information is available on the subject and its relevance. You should make clear within the text the relevance of research included and use such research to demonstrate specific points. Quality of research is more important than the length of the bibliography and allowance is made if you have only very limited access to research material. You should mention in the introduction to your major achievement if there have been any difficulties or restrictions on your research. The CII however expects you to make every effort to research your subject adequately. The bibliography must be fully cross referenced to the text.

Clarity of argument
The basic premise of your dissertation and your overall objective must be clear and well developed throughout the paper. Arguments should be logical and based on hard evidence where this is available. The arguments contained within the dissertation should be fully developed and then further strengthened by your personal interpretation.

Presentation
Remember the importance of accurate spelling and grammar. You should take care to ensure that your paper is well presented, and free of spelling mistakes, poor grammatical construction and poor syntax. Pages should be numbered and simply stapled together – papers will have to be photocopied so do not use professional bindings or colour (especially if using graphs). A contents page and clearly defined sections within the dissertation are worthy inclusions.

Conclusion
A fifth of the marks go to this section. The conclusion should be not less than 300 words and must draw together the main themes of the paper and put forward firm recommendations or solutions. However, it should not include fresh research or views which have not been included or discussed within the text. The paper must relate back to its title and resolve any issues identified in its introduction. If it is not possible to resolve an issue, then a possible solution or route around an issue should be proposed. Your paper must contain your own thoughts and show where you stand in the debate. Your recommendations need not necessarily be ones that your employer would suggest. You can hold whatever views you like. All you need to do is back them up with evidence. A good conclusion should almost stand alone as a summary of the paper.

Each section of your dissertation will be assessed separately.

You must supply four copies of your dissertation, which will be sent to assessors, so make sure each copy contains all the pages.

Further reading

Below is a list of some books that provide advice to dissertation and project writers. These books are for information only and all submissions must follow the guidance given here. Prices are correct at the time of publication.

Writing an assignment P. Smith. How to Books. ISBN 1 8570 36549. July 2000. £9.99

How to write essays, dissertations and thesis in literary studies N. Fabb and N. Durrant, Longmans. ISBN 0 582 08977 8. November 1993. £14.99

The student’s guide to preparing dissertations and theses B. Allison. Kogan Page. ISBN 0 7494 2193 2. 1997. £8.99

How to write essays R. Lewis. Collins Educational for National Extension College. ISBN 1853 568155. January 1999. £24.99

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