How to write a thesis
- 1. HOW TO WRITE A THESIS M.Phil. scholar ARSHA P.S. M.Phil. research scholar
- 2. WHAT IS A THESIS ? “A written work resulting from original research, especially one submitted for higher degree in a university”
- 3. How to write a thesis • A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment • A thesis statement should offer a way of understanding the topic. • A thesis statement is a complete sentence that contains one main idea.
- 4. STEPS TO WRITING A STRONG THESIS • Research topic and create a research question • Write a rough draft thesis statement that answers the research question • Re-write thesis statement to make sure that it addresses all of the key points for a strong thesis. • Make sure thesis is a road map for the rest of your essay.
- 5. Selecting an issue • It must be important ! • Prove in the introduction • Summarize given short and long texts • Apply research methods. • Apply referencing tools.
- 8. Thesis structure • Title page Title(including subtitle) author, Institution ,department, date of delivery, research mentor(s)and advisor, their institutions, and email addresses. Abstract • A good abstract explains in one line why the paper is important. • Abstracts generally do not have citations • Answer to the questions should be found in abstract
- 9. • Table of contents List all headings and subheading with page numbers Indent subheadings It will look something like this List of Figures List of Tables Introduction subheads...
- 10. What else belongs in the introductory sections of your paper? • A statement of the goal of the paper: why the study was undertaken, or why the paper was written. • Sufficient background information to allow the reader to understand the context and significance of the question you are trying to address. • Proper acknowledgement of the previous work on which you are building. • The introduction should be focused on the thesis question. • Explain the scope of your work ,that will and will not be included.
- 11. What belongs in the methods section of a scientific paper? • Information to allow the reader to assess the believability of your result. • Information needed by another researcher to replicate your experiment. • Description of your materials ,procedure, equipment, and calibration plots. • Limitations,assumptions,and the range of validity . • Description of your analytical methods, including reference to any specialized statically software.
- 12. RESULTS • The results are actual statement of observations, including statistics, tables and graphs. • Indicate information on range of variation. • Mention negative results as well as positive. Do not interpret results results-save that for the discussion. • Break up your results into logical segments by using subheadings. • Use S.I.units (m,s,kg,W.etc) through-out the thesis. • Key results should be started in clear sentences at the beginning of paragraphs.
- 13. DISCUSSION The discussion section should be a brief essay in itself, answering the following questions • What are the major patterns in the observations? • What are the relationship, trends and generalizations among results? • Include the evidence or line of reasoning supporting each interpretation. • What is the implications of the present results for other unanswered questions in earth sciences,ecology,environmental policy,etc…? • what is the significance of the present results: Why should we care?
- 14. CONCLUSIONS • What is the strongest and most important statement that you can make from your observation? • If you met the reader at a meeting six months from now, what do you want them to remember about your paper? • Refer back to the problem posed, and describe the conclusions that you reached from carrying out this investigations and new interpretations. • Include broader implications of your results. • Do not repeat word for word the abstract ,introduction or discussion
- 15. RECOMMENTATION • Remedial action to solve the problem. • Further research to fill in gaps in your understanding • Directions for future investigation on this or related topics.
- 16. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Advisor(s) and anyone who helped you? 1. Technically (including materials, supplies) 2. Intellectually (assistance ,advice) 3. Financially (for example ,departmental support , travel grand's)
- 17. REFERENCES • Cite all ideas ,concepts,text,data that are not your own • If you make a statement, back it up with your own data or a reference • All reference cited in the text must be listed • Do not use footnotes • List all reference cited in the text in alphabetical order • Cite double author references by the surname of both authors e.g. Simpson and Hays(1994)
- 18. FINAL THESIS • Make 3 final copies 1 to mentor 2 to department ,so that we can have three reader. • Final thesis should be bound. • Printed cleanly on white paper . • Double spaced using 12-point font. • 1- inch margins. • Double –sided saves paper. • Include page numbers