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Thesis

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Title: Thesis


1
Thesis Project Preparation WorkshopDeveloping
the Essentials for a Scholarly Masters
Thesis/Project for Smooth Passage through the
Graduate SchoolSaturday, September 27, 2008
  • Dr. Fidelis M. Ikem, Ph.D.
  • Dean and Chief Research Officer
  • Linda N. Hudson, Ph.D.
  • Associate Dean
  • School of Graduate Studies and Research

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2
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3
Workshop Outline
  • Part 1 Organizing to Write the Thesis/Project
  • What is a Thesis/Project?
  • What your advisor would look for in a
    Thesis/Project
  • Strategies for Completing your Thesis/Project
  • How Do I Get Started? Part 2 Writing your
    Thesis/ Project
  • The ProspectusOrganization of ContentOrganizatio
    n of ThesisManual of Basic Requirements for
    Thesis and Project required formsThe
    AbstractTitle PageSignature PageDedication
    PageTable of ContentsList of FiguresBibliograph
    yDevelopment of Thesis/Project
  • Part 3 Defending your ThesisWhat is a
    Defense? Tips for Preparing Presentation/Seminar
    What to expect during the Defense Things to
    Remember about the Thesis Defense Thesis
    Defense Tips Graduate School Requirements for
    Thesis DefensePart 4 Defending your
    ProjectRole of the Graduate SchoolUniformityCo
    nsistencyLegibilityFormatting GuidelinesNext
    Steps Submission

4
Part 1 Organizing to Write the
Thesis/ProjectWhat is a Thesis/Project?What
your advisor would look for in a
Thesis/ProjectStrategies for Completing your
Thesis/ProjectHow Do I Get Started?
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5
What is a Thesis/Project?
  • Thesis
  • A formal document whose sole purpose is to prove
    that you have made an original contribution to
    knowledge.
  • Thesis must show two important elements
  • That you have identified a worthwhile problem or
    question which has not been previously answered
  • That you have solved the problem or answered the
    question.
  • An argument that must
  • form a distinctive contribution to the knowledge
    of the subject
  • afford evidence of originality
  • Proven by the discovery of new facts
  • Exercise independent critical thinking power
  • A exposition of original research
  • Significant to students and scholars in the field
  • Product of an apprenticeship
  • Research that can be published in a scholarly
    journal
  • In Part
  • A degree requirement for Masters degree
  • Project
  • A scholarly research study that
  • Evidences originality and independent thinking
  • Demonstrates mastery of an identifiable body of
    literature
  • Types of Projects
  • Creative project
  • Contribution to the verbal, visual or performing
    arts
  • Curriculum project
  • Contribution to the field of teaching by
    enhancing communication of a subject matter
  • Investigative or Research project
  • Contributes to the disciplines or the professions
    by
  • adding to technical/professional knowledge
  • Providing original application of
    technical/professional knowledge in the
    professional field
  • Ex designing an experiment, field study, case
    study, a documentary report

6
What Your Advisor Would Look For In A
Thesis/Project
  • What is this students research question?
  • Is it a good question?
  • Has it been answered before?
  • Is it a useful question to work on?
  • Did the student convince me that the question was
    adequately answered?
  • Has the student made an adequate contribution to
    knowledge?

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7
Strategies for Completing Your Thesis/ Project
  • Time Management Tips
  • Plan
  • Concentrate
  • Take Breaks
  • Avoid Clutter
  • Dont Be a Perfectionist
  • Dont Be Afraid to Say No
  • Dont Procrastinate

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8
Strategies for Completing Your Thesis/ Project
(Continued)
  • Building a Personal Support System
  • The only good thesis is a done thesis
  • The ups and downs of research you are
    fulfilling an academic requirement
  • There are some good days and some bad days this
    is a learning experience for you
  • Get accustomed to more independence -
  • Feeling that you need to make it perfect the
    first time through
  • Feeling that you never have enough data collected
  • Getting into a flow write down your ideas
  • Disruptions from other real life events
  • Need to devise and follow a schedule set
    milestones
  • Maintain confidence in yourself and know that you
    can do this
  • Write something every day
  • Absence of deadlines
  • Select your topic early in your graduate program
    - really of interest to you
  • Culture of silence in academia
  • Overcoming the doldrums a period of inactivity
    reestablish priorities

9
How To Get Started
  • Select a topic (pg. 11 of Manual)
  • (soon after admission into program- 2nd
    semester)
  • Interview research professors in graduate program
  • Area of Expertise/ Research Interest
  • Choose research topic of interest to you
  • Choose a topic that is manageable
  • Select a thesis/project research committee
  • Start a file/binder
  • Keep all thesis materials in this location
  • Background Information/ Literature Review
  • Plan your argument
  • Complete the Prospectus
  • Requirement for thesis
  • Check Graduate Program and School/College for
    Project

10
Part 2Writing your Thesis/ Project The
ProspectusOrganization of ContentOrganization
of ThesisManual of Basic Requirements for Thesis
and Project required formsThe AbstractTitle
PageSignature PageDedication PageTable of
ContentsList of FiguresBibliographyDevelopment
of Thesis/Project
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11
The Prospectus
  • The prospectus should include the following
  • Purpose, Method and, Scope of the topic
  • Outline and Proposed organization and manner of
    treatment of your topic
  • Bibliography of materials on the topic
  • Copies distributed
  • Each member of the research committee
  • Prospectus Approval
  • Research committee
  • Prospectus Approval Form
  • Records topic with the
  • Dean of the school
  • Department chair
  • Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and
    Research
  • Human Subjects
  • Consult the Internal Review Board (IRB) Manual
    for Research Involving Human Subjects
  • Complete the appropriate forms for the Dean of
    the Graduate Studies Review

12
Organization of Content
  • Thesis
  • Abstract
  • Preliminary Pages
  • Title Page
  • Approval Page
  • Acknowledgement Page
  • Table of Contents
  • List of tables and figures
  • Text
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Summary/Conclusion
  • References
  • Appendix
  • Project
  • Text
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Summary/Conclusion- Abstract
  • References
  • Appendix

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13
Organization of Thesis
  • Sample Table of Contents
  • Abstract
  • Title Page
  • Signature Page
  • Dedication
  • Acknowledgements
  • Table of Contents
  • List of tables and figures
  • List of Symbols or Abbreviations
  • Chapter 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Scope and Focus of Question
  • 1.2 Rationale
  • Chapter 2. Literature Review
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 Background Information
  • Chapter 3. Methodology
  • 3.1 Design of investigation
  • 3.2 Population/ Sample/Subjects
  • 3.3 Apparatus/Materials/Treatment

Abstract
Preliminaries
Text
Reference Materials
14
Manual of Basic Requirements for Thesis and
Research Projects required Forms
  • Abstract - although appearing first, the abstract
    should be the last part of the thesis to be
    written. It shows the reader, in a few
    sentences, the context and content of the work.

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15
Title Page
Format the title page as shown here using the
same margins required for the entire document.
Use the same font size as used for the text,
except for the title, which may be up to four
points larger. Each line should be centered to
ensure balance and even spacing between the parts.
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16
Signature Page
Format the signature page as shown here. Use the
same font as used for the text. Center and use
the spacing and wording as shown here. Use the
full length of the page. All signature lines
must be signed.
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17
Dedication Page
The dedication page is used to recognize
individuals in token of affection or esteem.
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18
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents lists everything that
follows it but nothing that precedes it
(Abstract, Blank cover Sheet, Title Page,
Signature Page, Dedication and/or Acknowledgement
Page). Information listed in the Table of
Contents must match exactly the capitalization
and wording of titles for the parts, chapters,
and subheadings used in the thesis.
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19
List of Figures
Lists of figures or tables immediately follow the
table of contents and must be listed in the Table
of Contents. Number figures and tables in
seperate but continuous series throughout the
text (e.g. 1,2,3. etc) or by chapter (e.g. 1.1,
1.2, 2.1, 2.2, etc.)
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20
Bibliography
The form of the bibliography references will be
dictated by the manual of style chosen by the
discipline for which the thesis is written. The
Graduate School prefers APA style.
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21
Development of Thesis/Project
  • The Abstract
  • a brief comprehensive summary of the contents and
    context of the research (thesis or project)
  • Purpose of work (questions asked)
  • Approach used
  • Main findings and conclusions
  • Information on style, organization and structure
    of the work
  • Complete this section after all other sections
    are complete.

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22
Development of Abstract Contd.
  • Tips for Abstract Writing
  • Accurate- do not include information that does
    not appear in the text of the thesis/ project.
  • Self-Contained- define any abbreviations and
    acronyms. Define unique terms. Paraphrase
    rather than quote.
  • Concise and Specific- Make each sentence
    informative, especially the lead sentence. Be
    brief. Abstracts should not exceed one page.
    Include only four or five most important concepts
    findings, or implication.
  • Non-evaluative- Report rather than evaluate. Do
    not add to or comment on what is in the text of
    the thesis/project.
  • Coherent and Readable- Write in clear and
    vigorous prose. Use
  • verbs rather than their noun equivalents,
  • active rather than the passive voice.
  • present tense to describe results or conclusions
    drawn.
  • past tense to describe specific variables
    manipulated or tests applied.
  • third person rather than first person.

23
Development of Introduction
  • Statement of the goal of the paper/the
    problem/the hypothesis
  • Why the study was undertaken
  • Why the paper was written
  • DO NOT REPEAT THE ABSTRACT!
  • State purpose and rationale
  • Explain your approach to solving the problem
  • Closing paragraphs of introduction
  • Define variables
  • Formal statement of hypotheses
  • Clearly develop the rationale for each
    hypotheses.

24
Development of Literature Review
  • The rationale for the Literature Review consists
    of an argument with two lines of analysis
  • This research is needed and
  • The methodology I have chosen is most appropriate
    for the question that is being asked
  • Background Information to learn from others who
    have preceded you
  • Discuss the literature for each variable,
    population or example used in the research. Each
    literature discussion for each population should
    be in a different sub section.
  • Assume the reader is knowledgeable about the
    field in which you are writing
  • Citation of and specific credit to relevant
    earlier works are part of the authors scientific
    and scholarly responsibility.
  • Demonstrate the logical continuity between
    previous and present work.

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25
Development of Methodology
  • Choose your Methodology Wisely
  • Describes in detail how the study was conducted
  • Materials, procedure and theory
  • Calculations, technique, procedure, equipment,
    and calibration plots
  • Limitations, assumptions, and range of validity
  • Enables reader to evaluate
  • the appropriateness of methods
  • Reliability and validity of results
  • Enables others to replicate the study if the
    desire
  • Divide into Subsections
  • Design of investigation
  • Population/ Sample/subjects
  • Apparatus/materials/Treatment
  • Data analysis procedures
  • Citations in this section should be limited to
    data sources and references of where to find more
    complete descriptions of procedures.
  • DO NOT INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF RESULTS!

26
Development of Results and Discussion
  • Results
  • actual statements of observations
  • Statistics
  • Tables
  • Graphs
  • Mention positive and negative results
  • Categorize the results into logical segments by
    using subheadings.
  • Discussion
  • Start with few sentences that summarize the most
    important results.
  • This section should be rich in references to
    similar work and background used to interpret
    results.
  • Develop the discussion into logical segments by
    using subheadings

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Development of Conclusion
  • Refer back to the problem posed
  • Describe the conclusions that you reached from
    carrying out this investigation
  • Summarize new observations, new interpretations,
    and new insights that resulted from the present
    work
  • Include broader implications for you results
  • DO NOT REPEAT WORD FOR WORD THE ABSRACT,
    INTRODUCTION OR DISCUSSION
  • Present recommendations-further research to fill
    in the gaps in understanding
  • Give directions for future investigations on this
    or related topics

28
Part 3
  • Part 3 Defending your Thesis-
  • What is a Defense?
  • Tips for Preparing Presentation/Seminar
  • What to expect during the Defense
  • Things to Remember about the Thesis Defense
  • Thesis Defense Tips
  • Graduate School Requirements for Thesis Defense

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29
What is a Defense?
  • Includes 2 components
  • Seminar for Projects
  • Formal Presentation of research topic and results
  • Usually lasting no more than thirty minutes
  • Seminar open to public
  • Defense for Thesis
  • Purpose- to test the candidates
    knowledge/ability of
  • Subject area
  • Thinking in related areas
  • Usually lasting no more than two hours
  • Conducted by Thesis Committee
  • Departmental Faculty may attend the defense
  • The committee and audience may question the
    candidate

30
Tips for Preparing Presentation/Seminar
  • Prepare a clear oral presentation with
    illustrative graphics
  • This presentation is the committees basis for
    understanding your work
  • Organize your oral presentation effectively and
    practice it before your defense.
  • To organize your presentation
  • Begin with your background
  • State the problem
  • Give the specific approach (methodology)
  • Give results and conclusion

31
What to Expect During the Defense
  • Defense Questions typically are about
  • The content of the thesis
  • The claims made in the thesis
  • Thesis Committee may need clarification on a
    point or may ask the candidate to explain his or
    her reasoning or research further
  • Questions are often friendly, but may also
    challenge the candidate's views, methods, or
    conclusions
  • Part of the evaluation is based on how well the
    candidate can defend his/her work.
  • Following the examination, the candidate and
    other persons who are not members of the Thesis
    Committee are asked to leave the room
  • Thesis Committee discuss the outcome in the
    candidates absence and votes to pass or fail the
    candidate
  • The record of the vote is recorded on the School
    of Graduate Studies and Research Thesis Outcome
    Form (Appendix), and submitted to the Graduate
    School.

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Things to Remember about the Thesis Defense
  • Purpose is to show everyone how well the
    candidate has conducted research.
  • Seminar atmosphere where the exchange of ideas
    is valued
  • You are the most knowledgeable person when it
    comes to your subject You should know more
    about your thesis than anyone else.
  • Meet together with your committee in advance to
    discuss strategies
  • Identify any possible problems discuss ways that
    they should be dealt with.
  • Committee members will assist you and help you
    understand the very research that you have
    invested so much of your time and energies.
  • This is the last presentation you will have to
    make if you are successful.
  • The audience will be your co-workers, peers,
    faculty members, deans, and classes of students
    interested in your work. It is open to the
    public.

33
Thesis Defense Tips
  • Try to attend one or more defenses prior to yours
  • Keep your focus on the interactions that occur.
  • Discuss your research with your friends and
    colleagues
  • Present your information in a clear and coherent
    manner
  • Is there anything that is confusing and need
    further explanation?
  • Are there things you should have said but did not
    say?
  • What things should you avoid?
  • You are not alone in this major professor
  • Try and make the defense more of a team effort
  • Dont be defensive at your defense
  • Organize the defense as an educational
    presentation usually 20-25 minutes
  • Tape record your defense in the event changes are
    suggested at the defense

34
Graduate School Requirements for Thesis
Defense(These guidelines must be adhered to)
  • At least 2 weeks (10 business days) prior to
    thesis defense, the Thesis Director/Advisor must
    submit a Thesis Defense Form (Appendix) to
  • the School of Graduate Studies and Research,
  • the school/college of the graduate program
  • the department of the graduate program in which
    the student is enrolled.
  • A Defense Announcement Flyer (Appendix) should be
    placed in strategic locations on the university
    campus
  • University audience

35
Part 4
  • Part 4 Masters Thesis
  • Role of the Graduate SchoolUniformityConsistency
    Legibility
  • Formatting Guidelines
  • Next Steps ..Submission
  • Q A

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36
Role of the Graduate School
  • Help students graduate
  • Advise students of the technical demands of a
    clear, clean design and consistency in form
  • Advise and assist in matters of style and format
  • Review manuscripts for
  • Uniformity, paper arrangement and spacing
  • Consistency
  • Legibility

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Uniformity
  • Font and point size
  • Page numbering
  • Margins, spacing, and pagination
  • Headings, Tables and Figures

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Consistency
  • Information in preliminary pages agrees with text
  • Style of each level of subheading is consistent
    and appropriate
  • Reference list reflects journal format

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39
Legibility
  • Letter quality typeface
  • Good reproduction quality
  • Minimum size requirement
  • No inked in, fuzzy, or faint lettering

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40
Graduate School Formatting Guidelines
  • Required for all thesis
  • Type- size should be 10 or 12 characters per
    inch. Original copy must be letter quality.
  • Spacing- text should be double spaced. Block
    quotations, footnotes and the bibliography should
    be single spaced.
  • Margins-
  • Top 1 ½ inch
  • Right 1 inch
  • Bottom 1 inch (must be maintained even when
    footnote appear on the page.)
  • Left 1 ½ inch
  • Tables, maps, charts and illustrations should
    come within such margins or folded if necessary.

41
Graduate School Formatting Guidelines cont.
  • Pagination- Page numbers should be placed in the
    upper right-hand corner, not less than ½ inch
    from the upper edge and directly on the
    established right margin. Both Arabic and
    lowercase Roman numerals are used according to
    the system described below.
  • All pages from the title page to the first page
    of the body of the text are prefatory
  • Lowercase Roman numeral (i, ii, iii)
  • Title Page and Signature Page together count as
    the first page of the prefatory material.
  • No page number appears.
  • Acknowledgement Page (if used) table of contents
    page (s) are the next prefatory pages to be
    counted
  • No page number appears
  • Text, Supplementary sections, appendices and
    bibliography.
  • Arabic numeral (1, 2, 3) are used.
  • First page is counted as first page no number
  • All pages thereafter counted.
  • Do not number
  • First page of each chapter
  • First page of each supplementary section
    (Appendix)
  • First page of bibliography

42
Next Steps in Graduate School Process
  • Once thesis is approved and Thesis Outcome Form
    is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies
    and Research
  • Contact Graduate School to schedule an
    appointment with the Associate Dean for review of
    your thesis for corrections
  • Corrections MUST be made and resubmitted on
    regular paper.
  • Only one corrected copy is needed.
  • Submit corrections with the copy given which
    shows corrections to be made.
  • When the Graduate School is satisfied with
    corrections- sign signature page and the
    acknowledgement form (Appendix).
  • Acknowledgement Form indicates that thesis has
    been received and approved by the Graduate
    School.
  • This form will not be issued until all
    corrections have been approved.
  • After approval you will be asked to sign, date
    and enter your Banner ID number on this form.

43
Submission to Graduate School
  • Five copies of the approved thesis must be
    prepared on
  • White, good durable quality 100 rag content
  • twenty pound bound Acid free paper
  • 8 ½ by 11 inches.
  • The Library will bind the five required copies at
    no charge to the student.
  • One copy for Library
  • One copy to department
  • One copy for the Major Advisor
  • Once copy for the Graduate School
  • One copy for the student

44
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