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 GUIDESome 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

PrimarySecondary

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 Website

http://graduate.missouristate.edu/

Supplemental instruction pages

Academic Advisor / Program Director