M sc thesis

Contents Welcome Thesis research The CS Dept. & you You and your supervisor Timetable Writing a thesis The examination

Thesis research Objectives are to show that: You can work independently on a significant project “Master” a topic in detail Work in a methodical and scientific manner Present your results or findings in a professional manner (…training for PhD research…)

Thesis research 1 st time you’ve not had Regular lectures Assignments Hand-in deadlines Exams Regular feedback Colleagues

Thesis research Thesis research can be Lonely Disorientating Confusing Frustrating … Very rewarding

Thesis research To counter the negative aspects you need Structure Planning Discipline Motivation Support

The CS Dept. & You The CS Dept. provides: A desk Access to computing facilities Access to the Internet, printing and photocopying Technical support A supervisor

You & Your Supervisor This relationship is crucial You should meet regularly Once a week or so Quality time is important

You & Your Supervisor You should Go to meetings with a list if items to cover Take notes Give your supervisor something in writing to review, a few days before the meeting Make a date and time for the next meeting

You & Your Supervisor Your supervisor will: Provide you with general guidance Give you some suggestions Give you feedback on your writing Encourage you Criticize you

You & Your Supervisor Your supervisor will NOT: Do work for you Give you a step-by-step plan Debug your code Correct your English

Timetable Sixth week: Submit a thesis proposal. Requires the signature of your supervisor End of first semester: Submit a progress report. End of second semester: Submit your thesis!

Writing a Thesis The hardest thing you’ve ever done? The Thesis is the goal If your computer program is 100% perfect But you don’t explain it in an academically- credible way YOU FAIL !!! There is no 2 nd chance

Writing a Thesis Do not leave the writing until the end Perfect code + poor thesis = fail Poor code + good thesis = pass Write regular reports at each stage Give them to your supervisor (even if he/she doesn’t ask for them) These will become the basis of your thesis

Writing a Thesis Keep a research diary or journal Record what you read (and surf) Take notes when you read Record what activities you do each day Jot down ideas Periodically read back through

Writing a Thesis Give each chapter to your supervisor, one at a time Write chapters in this order: Background Design Implementation Evaluation Conclusions Introduction Finally, write the abstract and title!

Writing a Thesis Before submitting, ask a friend to proof read your thesis. You might offer to proof read theirs! Do a spell-check and a grammar check. Don’t assume that the examiners will “figure out” or be willing to guess at what you mean.

Special Extensions Granted by the Dean of Faculty, with departmental recommendation. Require a good reason (extraordinary, outside of your control), i.e. Sickness Absence of supervisor Can be granted for 2 or 4 months. Alternatively, you may request that your registration be suspended for a semester. You cannot work on your thesis while you are suspended.

The Examination Two Examiners read your thesis. Your supervisor may be an examiner. Each Examiner writes a short report, and recommends a grade. An Assessor reads the Examiner’s reports, and reads your thesis. The Assessor confers with the Examiners, then recommends a consensus grade. The Assessor’s recommendation is final. At least one member of your examining committee is external to our University. This takes about three months, if all goes well. Your examination should not take more than five months, but we cannot guarantee this!

The Examination VERY IMPORTANT The External Examiner or Assessor Does not know you Has never seen your computer program Doesn’t know you’re an A+ student Judgement is made ONLY on your thesis Perfect program + poor thesis = FAIL

How to be a bad student Do an MSc because it allows you to postpone your entry to the real world Or because your best friend is doing one Assume that your supervisor (being more than 30 years old) doesn't understand current techniques, and is not (and never was) as smart as you are

How to be a bad student Never come to a meeting with your supervisor prepared with an agenda Don’t take notes Assume if it’s important you’ll remember it Assume that what you're doing is so new that there's no point in going to the library because there will not be anything of relevance to you there.

How to be a bad student Expect your supervisor to give you a good thesis topic tell you exactly how to carry out the work, step by step Corollary: If your thesis is not going well, it's your supervisor's fault, not yours

How to be a bad student Regard any ideas that your supervisor gives you for your thesis as your own and present them to the world as if you alone thought of them Frequently cancel meetings with your supervisor with little notice Assume that you can write up the final thesis in a month or two

How to be a bad student Give the draft of your thesis to your supervisor on a Friday, expecting feedback on Monday Your supervisor is a bit of geek and can't possibly have a personal life or other commitments. Assume that because your computer code works really well and the interface is so cool, that you don't really need to write much of a thesis anyway.

How to be a bad student Assume that your examiners will be able to figure out what you mean. 􀂄 They’re smart people, aren't they? Assume that paying your fees to the University means you must get some sort of degree. 􀂄 Isn't that the deal?

Thank You By Prof. Clark Thomborson Prepared by Ehab Essa

M sc thesis

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M sc thesis