My current character is focusing on one-handed weapons. And while I'm enjoying the build I came across a bit of a challenge when fighting dragons. There's not really a good way to avoid getting hit by them. I do a lot of role-playing so I refuse to carry both a bow and arrow AND a two-handed weapon. With a sword and shield you can at least take the perk to block 50% of fire, frost and shock. But what about heavily armored, battle mage-type characters. I suppose I could use magic until he is forced to land. But I'm looking for a way to avoid being hit (so often) when fighting a dragon. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. It seems as though it is inevitable that I'm going to have to run through the fire or frost to get close enough to hit them.

Dragonrend and kill it. That's how i always do it and i have over 40 dragon souls >_>

My current character is a Destruction Mage with Atronach perk. He does not dodge when the Ancient Dragon blasts him with fire. He welcomes it. It does no damage, and recharges his magicka. Fighting dragons is a relaxing diversion.

Personally with a pure warrior class I circled the dragon whilst attacking it after using dragon rend to make it land. If you keep at a 90 degree angle to the dragons head it can neither bite, shout or tail whip you so you should be relatively safe just remember to use dragonrend again as soon as it recharges to ensure the dragon will stay on the ground.
GL and happy dragon hunting

Some advice from my Sword 'n' Board Nord: Acquire Spellbreaker. Spellbreaker will stop 100% of the dragon's breath attack, until the 50 point Ward spell breaks. That only happens on the higher level dragons, but and as long as you've got your shield up, you may as well bash the dragon to stagger it and interupt the attack. For her, it is not about offense, it's about defense. Also, the Lord's Stone is great, 50 armor and +25% magic resist. The 'Book of Love' quest nets another 15%. Finally 3 perks in Alteration's Magic Resist perk means her total is naturally 70% Magic resist. Nord blood boosts frost resist by another 50%. A Breton could forgo the Lord's Stone, or a perk in Magic Resist to either be at the same level, or be at the cap.

For a Battlemage, same principle but with one of the Ward spells instead. No bashing means you're going to want to always use the strongest possible, the Ward Absorb perk would even mean the dragons is giving you the energy needed to stop it's attack. Atronach perk and Atronach Stone is a little double-edged, with you possibly absorbing a spell you cast on yourself, like Atronach summons.