THESIS WRITING: WHAT TO WRITE IN

CHAPTER 5
JULY 29, 2014 ALVIOR, MARY G. 18 COMMENTS

This article simply tells what a budding researcher must include in Chapter
5-the Summary. It also includes the tense of the verb and the semantic
markers which are predominantly used in writing the summary, conclusions
and recommendations.
For others, writing the Chapter 5 is the easiest part in thesis writing, but
there are groups of students who would like to know more about it. If you are
one of them, this article is purposely written for you.

A. Writing the Summary

Your summary may include the following: (1) objectives of the study; (2)
statement of the problem; (3) respondents; (4) sampling procedures; (5)
method/s of research employed; (6) statistical treatment/s applied or
hypotheses tested, if there is any; (7); and results.
If you notice, all the parts mentioned above are already included in your
Chapters 1- 4. So, the challenge is on how you are going to briefly write and
present it.
First, you must go direct to the point in highlighting the main points. There is
no need to thoroughly explain the details. You must avoid copying and
pasting what you have written in the previous chapters. Just KISS (keep it
short and simple)!
Then, write sentences in simple past and use always the passive
voiceconstruction rather than the active voice. You must also be familiar
with the different semantic markers.
When I was enrolled in Academic Writing in my masters degree, I learned
that there are semantic markers which can be used in order not to repeat the
same words or phrases such as additionally, also, further, in addition
to, moreover, contrary to, with regard to, as regards, however,
finally, during the past ___ years, from 1996 to 2006, after 10 years,

as shown in, as presented in, consequently, nevertheless, in fact, on

the other hand, subsequently and nonetheless..
Next, you may use the following guide questions to check that you have not
missed anything in writing the summary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

What is the objective of the study?;

Who/what is the focus of the study?;
Where and when was the investigation conducted?;
What method of research was used?;
How were the research data gathered?;
How were the respondents chosen?;
What statistical tools were applied to treat the gathered data? ; and
Based on the data presented and analyzed, what findings can you
summarize?
Finally, organize the summary of the results of your study according to the
way the questions are sequenced in the statement of the problem.

B. Writing the Conclusions

Once you have written the summary, draw out a conclusion from each
finding or result. It can be done per question or you may arrange the
questions per topic or sub-topic, if there is any. But if your research is
quantitative in nature, answer directly the research question and tell if the
hypothesis is rejected or accepted based on the findings.
As to grammar, make sure that you use the present tense of the
verb because it consists of general statement of the theory or the principle
newly derived from the present study. So, dont be confused because in your
summary, you use past tense while in conclusion, you use present tense.

C. Writing the Recommendations

The recommendations must contain practical suggestions that will improve

the situation or solve the problem investigated in the study. First, it must be
logical, specific, attainable and relevant. Second, it should be addressed to
persons, organizations, or agencies directly concerned with the issues or to
those who can immediately implement the recommended solutions. Third,
present another topic which is very relevant to the present study that can be

further investigated by future researchers. But never recommend anything

that is not part of your study or not being mentioned in your findings.
After organizing your thoughts as to what would- be the contents of your
recommendations, you should write it using the imperative mood of the verb.
Imperative mood is to express a request or a command. So, the tense is also
simple present tense.
However, there are universities especially in the Philippines that require a
specific thesis format to be followed by students. Thus, as a student, you
must conform to the prescribed format of your college or university.

THESIS WRITING: 9 TIPS ON HOW TO

WRITE
THE
RESULTS
AND
DISCUSSION
MAY 25, 2015 REGONIEL, PATRICK A. 1 COMMENT

Writing the results and discussion section could be one of the difficulties that
you encounter when writing your first research manuscript. There is no
simple hard and fast rule in doing it but the following guide can help you
start off with confidence.
The results and discussion section is also referred to as the data
presentation, analysis, and interpretation section. You present the results,
show the analysis, and interpret the outcome of the analysis.
As a take off point, it would help if we separate these two terms, i.e., results
and discussion, into simply the results and the discussion as separate parts
of the paper. In some universities and usually in scientific journals, however,
these are taken as one.

Writing the Results

As the term connotes, you should write only the results of your study. What
comprises the results? I describe it in detail in the following paragraphs.
1. Graphs, tables, or photographs

Observations are derived from the application of your methodology or

method. These can be best presented using tables and graphs as objective
representation of the measurements that you made. Numbers are more
definite approximations of reality compared to just mere words. Words are
more subjective and replete with misunderstanding.
Be consistent with your units of measurement. If you start off with kg, then
use the same unit all throughout your paper.
Never should you manipulate the outcome of your measurements. Be honest
in presenting information even if the result is unexpected. Whether the result
is positive or negative, present it. This is an objective move.
You may also add photographs whenever needed but make sure these are
relevant, not just whimsical addition to your paper or a means to flaunt your
good photography skills; although it would be advantageous to show such
skill coupled with relevance. Pictures can speak a thousand words.
In general, give as much detail as possible in your presentation of the
results. Read and reread your statements for clarity. Engage a competent
friend or a colleagues discerning eye for details.
2. Topic sentences or subheadings
It is easy to follow your presentation if you break this into meaningful
subtopics based on your stated objectives. A one-to-one correspondence
would be great. Say, the first subheading will be about objective one, the
second subheading about objective two, and so on.
Notice that in writing this article, it is an easy read to have a subheading for
every major thought. This makes for easy reading thus understanding. And
the writing becomes logical.
3. Key results
Your key results should be stated clearly at the beginning of each paragraph.
It should serve as the topic sentence (see the TSPU Principle). Support that

statement with more detail such as presenting the results of statistical

analysis.
For example:
There is a significant positive relationship between the number of hours
spent by students in answering Mathematics questions and their
examination score. This result is consistent across all grade levels in the
three schools examined. Table 1 shows the correlation coefficients and their
corresponding significance level.

Writing the Discussion

After examining several theses of previous years, I noticed that many
undergraduate and even graduate students miss this part. The results were
presented as well as the analysis but no discussion is in sight.
So what comprises the discussion? Heres what should be present in the
discussion part:
1. Trends and spatial differences
Trends refer to changes over time. Are your results showing an increasing,
decreasing or just plain, constant direction? This should be evident in the
graph that you presented.
Spatial differences refer to differences in space or location within the same
time frame. Is there a significant difference between the two groups
examined? Is there a difference in the morphological measurements of one
group of animals obtained from one location compared to another group?
These are questions that explore spatial differences.
2. Insightful interpretation of results
Insightful interpretation means well thought explanations. That means you
will have to ponder deeply the results of your study and make a
knowledgeable statement of your interpretation using the body of evidence
at hand. This is where you cite evidences obtained by other authors. You

either confirm or affirm other peoples work or refute using your own
findings.
3. Generalizations
Be on guard in writing your generalizations. Make sure that the data you
analyzed can be extrapolated or will allow you to predict somehow the
behavior of one variable. If you have enough samples then you may make a
generalization.
How enough is enough, you may ask. If your data has little variability as
indicated by low variances, then it is possible that additional measurements
will not change whatever trend you have.
Always match your generalization with whatever results you have.
Conversely, do not generalize when you have very few samples. Dont say
50% when you actually have only two, three, or even four samples described
in your study. Thats plain absurd.
4. Exceptions to the rule
In scientific inquiry, not all things or factors are discovered. There are always
unknown or unaccounted areas. This is the reason why everything is founded
on probability. No ones 100 percent sure. So you should never say prove
as a matter of contention. Prove means 100% sure which never happens.
There are always expected deviants from the norm.
5. Reasons why things happen
Things happen due to something else. Reaction arises from action. These are
called determining factors.
Are there reasons why your results follow a trend? Is it evident in your study?
If there is, then say it and explain why so, again based on your observations
or evidence.

You may guess but make it educated, meaning, you have done your
homework. You have reviewed the literature and use it as a leverage for
advancing your hypothesis or inference.
Does your finding support or refute what has been done so far? Does it
support previously advanced hypotheses?
Remember that there is no such thing as a simple explanation of a complex
phenomenon. Find one that is most aligned to your findings.
It would be interesting to be in the controversial side as long as you have
done your study systematically and bias is reduced to a minimum.
6. The contribution of your work
What are the important things that your study has contributed so far in view
of what has been laid out in the body of literature? Why is your work
important and what things need to be investigated further?
From your set of questions, if many other questions arise, then your work has
helped unravel other areas worthy of investigation. This is just how science
works. The mysteries of the universe are uncovered yet there are still many
unknowns.
No human has absolute understanding of everything. But if your work has
potential to make life better, then its a great accomplishment.