THESIS WRITING 101

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THESIS WRITING 101

• Dr. Tom Tomasi
• Associate Dean
• Graduate College

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Thesis Completion Schedule

• (-14 weeks) stop collection data/information
• (-14 weeks) statistics, graphs tables
  (software?)
• (-12 weeks) 1st assembled draft to advisor
• (-10 weeks) 1st assembled draft back from advisor
• (-9 weeks) 2nd draft to advisor
• (-7 weeks) 2nd draft back from advisor
• (-6 weeks) 3rd draft to committee
• (-4 weeks) 3rd draft back from committee
• (-3 weeks) defendable draft to committee
• (-1 week) oral presentation and/or oral defense
  (if required)
• Thesis Deadline for this semester (April 27,
  2009)

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Thesis Guide
http//graduate.missouristate.edu

• Formatting details (the bible)
• Set up as an example of format
• Lists style guides
• Preliminary pages are set up already
• Student Checklist
• Fall 2008 version
• Supplemental instruction pages

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Thesis Guide

• Some Things are Prescribed
• Format for initial pages, margins, ..
• Placement of headings, figure captions, table
  headings .
• Some Things are NOT Prescribed
• Sections or chapters of the thesis .
• Method of reference citation

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Not in the Thesis Guide?

• For details not specified in the Thesis Guide,
  the appropriate style guide should be followed
  (MLA, APA, etc.)
• When preparing a thesis that will be sent to a
  journal for publication, that journals format
  can serve as the style guide.
• In this case, a copy of an article from that
  journal published this year must be included with
  the thesis for review by the Graduate College.

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Most Common Mistakes

• Page numbers
• Mismatch with Table of Contents
• Wrong location
• Margins
• Headings
• placement font used
• match the Table of Contents
• Text citations reference list
• Mismatch
• Inconsistent
• Signatures

Politics of the 19th Century Democrats Strength
s Problems Republicans Strengths Problems
Independents Problems Economics of the 19th
Century Federal State Local Personal Conclusi
ons References
See a problem with this outline?
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Common Thesis Format Problems

• Margins not as indicated in the Thesis Guide
• Margins on preliminary pages
• No page numbers (bottom center on the pages)
• Page numbers and bottom margin (0.5 1)
• Blank space at bottom of pages
• New subheadings ?
• Tables/figures ?
• Conjugating a singular verb with data
• Vague statement of IACUC/IRB approval
• (approval number and date)

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Common Thesis Format Problems

• Format/location of the headings subheadings not
  following Thesis Guide
• Wording of the headings not following your style
  guide or model journal
• What to include in Table of Contents
• preliminary pages
• subheadings
• Indenting
• References Appendices are 1o headings
• Only one of a subheading (A) but no (B)
• 1-paragraph subheadings
• Lines skipped between paragraphs instead of
  indenting 0.5

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Common Thesis Format Problems

• Not enough citations (they arent just for the
  ends of paragraphs)
• Reference style not in the format of your style
  guide or model journal
• Citation style not in the format of your style
  guide or model journal (and or et al. or et
  al.)
• Lack of consistency in citation
• Order of citations w/in the same parentheses

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Common Thesis Format Problems

• Tables/figures not placed correctly
• In-text after mentioning
• On separate pages after mentioning
• All at the end of thesis or section of thesis
• Tables/figures not mentioned at all in text
• Vertical horizontal lines not correct in tables
• Table/figure captions in 12 pt font
• Tables in appendix are appendices, not tables
• Captions above tables, but below figures

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QUESTIONS ??
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Suggestions for a Better Thesis

• Dont mentioning your project too soon (i.e., not
  before the end of the Introduction)
• Hypothesis should be in the last Introduction
  paragraph
• Overall project design should be early in the
  Methods section
• Statistical analysis should be described in the
  last paragraph of the Methods

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Thesis Approval Process

• Turnitin.com (plagiarism prevention)
• Satisfy the chairperson and other members of your
  committee they sign!
• Review by the Graduate College
• Review copy should have been prepared to meet all
  guidelines
• Also submit digital copy of thesis
• Also submit checklist
• Submit journal article (if needed)

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Grading of the Thesis

• Some programs use regular grading others use
  Pass/Not Pass
• Thesis grades are not assigned until the final
  product is complete. Since the enrollment often
  is over several semesters, a Z grade is
  assigned prior to completion

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Final Thesis Submission

• Make final corrections as indicated by Graduate
  College make ONLY these changes
• Deadline ??
• Make copies on good paper for binding
• Obtain all signatures on final copies
• Submit to Graduate College
• Copies
• Digital file (upload on website???)
• Change Z-grade form

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Z-grade Removal Form

• Obtain when picking up the review copy from
  Graduate College
• See your transcript and fill in form
• Signature of advisor
• Return to Graduate College with final copies of
  thesis for binding.

Make sure you advisor has completed submitted
the form for completion of your comprehensive
exam (written oral if both are used)
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QUESTIONS ??
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Other Things to Remember

• Comprehensive Exam
• written
• oral
• form
• Intent to Graduate form
• Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum

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• 15th Annual
• Graduate InterdisciplinaryForum
• April 18, 2009

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IDF Workshops this Semester

• How to Write an AbstractWednesday, February 18,
  4-5 p.m.PSU 312BC
• Presentation Pointers  Oral and Poster
  Presentation SuccessMonday, April 6, 4-5
  p.m.PSU 312BC

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Other Helpful Resources

• Graduate College Website
• Supplemental instruction pages
• Academic Advisor / Program Director

http//graduate.missouristate.edu