Post on 12-Jan-2016
THESIS WRITING 101
Dr. Thomas TomasiAssociate Dean, Graduate
College
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 23, 2012)
THESIS GUIDEhttp://graduate.missouristate.edu/
thesis_information.htm
Formatting details (“the bible”)
Set up as an example of format
Lists style guides Preliminary pages (and start of body) are
set up already
Student Checklist
Fall 2010 version
Supplemental instruction pages
THESIS GUIDE
Some Things are Prescribed
Format for preliminary pages, margins …..
Placement/font of headings, figure captions, table headings …….
Some Things are NOT Prescribed
Sections /“chapters” and wording used in headings ….
Method of reference citation……
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 journal’s 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
See a problem with this outline?
Politics of the 19th CenturyDemocrats Strengths ProblemsRepublicans Strengths ProblemsIndependents Problems
Economics of the 19th CenturyFederalStateLocalPersonal
Conclusions
References
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Outline = headings= Table of Contents
COMMON THESIS FORMAT PROBLEMS Table of Contents
Preliminary pages? [NO]Subheadings IndentingCorrect pages indicated
Conjugating a singular verb with “data”
Vague statement of IACUC/IRB approval Approval number and date
COMMON THESIS FORMAT PROBLEMS - SPACING Margins, margins & margins Spacing within the document (more
or less than double spaced) Lines skipped between paragraphs
instead of indenting 0.5” Blank space at bottom of pages
New subheadingsTables/figures
Page number location ½” from bottom landscape pages
COMMON THESIS FORMAT PROBLEMS - HEADINGS
Format/location & spacing of the headings & subheadings not following Thesis Guide
Wording of the headings not following your style guide or model journal
“References” & “Appendices” are primary headings
Only one of a subheading (“A”) but no (“B”) Subheadings break up larger headings into
smaller units
1-paragraph subheadings
A subheading is a group of related paragraphs
COMMON THESIS FORMAT PROBLEMS – REFERENCES/CITATIONS
Not enough citations (they aren’t just for the ends of paragraphs)
Mismatch b/w citations & reference list 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 same
parentheses
COMMON THESIS FORMAT PROBLEMS – TABLES/FIGURES Tables/figures not placed correctly
In-text after mentioning itOn separate pages after mentioningAll at the end of thesis or section of thesis
Tables/figures not mentioned at all in text
Vertical and horizontal lines not correct in tables
Table/figure captions not in 12 pt font Tables in an appendix are
“appendices,” not tables Captions above tables, but below
figures
QUESTIONS?
SUGGESTIONS FOR A BETTER THESIS Start with “template”, delete rest of
Thesis Guide, and paste INTO this Don’t 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
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)
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
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
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 your advisor has completed & submitted the form for completion of your
“comprehensive exam” (written + oral if both are
used)
QUESTIONS?
OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER Comprehensive Exam
WrittenOralForm
“Application for Graduation” form
Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum
19th AnnualGraduate
InterdisciplinaryForum
April 14, 2012
How to Write an AbstractTuesday, February 21, 2012 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.PSU 315 C
Presentation Pointers: Oral and Poster Presentation SuccessThursday, March 29, 2011 from 3:30-4:45 p.m.PSU 315 C
More Spring Workshops
OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES
Graduate College Websitehttp://graduate.missouristate.edu/
Supplemental instruction pages
Academic Advisor / Program Director