Writing a thesis paper

ENGR. IRA C. VALENZUELA

NOVEMBER 24, 2015

Technological University of the Philippines - Manila

Outline
What is a thesis paper

Purpose of writing a thesis paper

Contents of a thesis paper
Language quality

Technological University of the Philippines - Manila

What is a thesis paper

Purpose of writing a thesis paper

Contents of a thesis paper

Language quality

Technological University of the Philippines - Manila

Thesis
A thesis is a substantial piece of scholarly writing that reflects the writer's ability
to:
conduct research
communicate the research

critically analyze the literature

present a detailed methodology and accurate results
verify knowledge claims and sources meticulously

link the topic of the thesis with the broader field

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What is a thesis paper

Purpose of writing a thesis paper

Contents of a thesis paper
Language quality

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In Partial Fulfilment of the

Requirements for the Degree

Technological University of the Philippines - Manila

What is a thesis paper

Purpose of writing a thesis paper

Contents of a thesis paper

Language quality

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Title
Good thesis paper titles (typically 1012 words
long) use descriptive terms and phrases that
accurately highlight the core content of the
paper (e.g., the species studied, the literary
work evaluated, or the technology discussed).

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Writing a Good Title for a Research

Paper

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1. Answer the questions: What is my paper about? What

techniques/ designs were used? Who/what is studied? What
were the results?

My paper studies whether X therapy improves the cognitive function

of patients suffering from dementia.
It was a randomized trial.

I studied 40 cases from six cities in Japan.

There was an improvement in the cognitive function of patients.

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2. Use your answers to list key words.

X therapy
Randomized trial
Dementia

6 Japanese cities
40 cases
Improved cognitive function
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3. Build a sentence with these key words:

This study is a randomized trial that investigates whether X

therapy improved cognitive function in 40 dementia patients
from 6 cities in Japan; it reports improved cognitive function. (28
words)

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4. Delete all unnecessary words (e.g., study of, investigates) and

repetitive words; link the remaining.
This study is a randomized trial that investigates whether X
therapy improved cognitive function in 40 dementia patients
from 6 cities in Japan;
It reports improved cognitive function Randomized trial of X
therapy for improving cognitive function in 40 dementia patients
from 6 cities in Japan (18 words)

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5. Delete non-essential information and reword.

Randomized trial of X therapy for improving cognitive function in 40 dementia
patients from 6 cities in Japan reports improved cognitive function

Randomized trial of X therapy for improving cognitive function in 40 dementia

patients (13 words)
OR (reworded with subtitle and a focus on the results)

X therapy improves cognitive function in 40 dementia patients: A randomized

trial (12 words)
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Paper title style

Capitalize the first letter of the first and last word and all nouns, pronouns,
adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions (If, Because, That,
Which).

Capitalize abbreviations that are otherwise lower case (i.e., use DC, not dc or Dc)
except for unit abbreviations and acronyms.
Articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor), and most
short prepositions are lower case unless they are the first or last word.
Prepositions of more than three letters (Before, Through, With, Versus, Among,
Under, Between, Without.) should be capitalized.

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Acknowledgement
All the people and agencies that helped you to
complete the study

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Table of contents

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List of figures

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List of tables

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Abstract
It provides a quick and accurate summary of the
entire paper, explaining why the research was
conducted, what the aims were, how these were
met, and what the main findings were.

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Chapter 1 the problem and its setting

1.1 Introduction
This part gives general statement(s) about a field of research to provide the
reader with a preview of the problem to be reported.
1.2 Background of the Study

This part continues the contextual setting of frame of reference given in 1.1 by
including more statements about the general aspects of the problem already
investigated by other researchers.
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Chapter 1 the problem and its setting

1.3 Statement of the Problem

This part refers to the statements(s) that indicate the need for the study or the
need for more investigation.
1.4 Objectives
This part gives very specific statement(s) pertaining to the objective(s) of the
study.

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Chapter 1 the problem and its setting

1.5 Significance of the Study
This part refers to statements(s) that give the significance or importance of
carrying out the study. This includes but not limited to social impact,
environmental impact and advancement in body of knowledge.
1.6 Scope and Limitations
This part indicates what the study covers and what it does not or fails to cover.

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Chapter 2 review of related literature

The review of literature is basically an evaluated, organized, and synthesized collection
of citations to other studies (NOT a MERE listing of previous studies), which are related
or somewhat related to your own specific research problem. It serves three important
functions.
It continues the process started in the introduction of giving the readers background
information needed to understand your study.
It assures the readers that you are knowledgeable about the significant research that
has been done in your area of investigation.
It establishes your study as one link in a chain of research that is developing and
enlarging knowledge in your field of research interest.
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Chapter 2 review of related literature

The role of literature review is as follows:
It will increase your confidence in your topic as a result of the time, effort, and
resources you invested in studying your research problem.
It can give you new ideas and approaches that may not have occurred to you.
It can inform you about other researchers doing work in your area of study
individuals whom you may choose to contact for advice or feedback.
It can show you how others have tackled methodological and design issues in studies
similar to your own.
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Chapter 2 review of related literature

The role of literature review is as follows:
It can lead you to sources of data that you may not have know existed.
It can orient you to measurement tools that other researches have developed and
used effectively.
It can reveal methods dealing with problem situations that may be similar to
difficulties you are having.
It can help you get meaning out of your data or make sense of your findings and,
eventually, help you tie your results to the work of previous researchers.
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Chapter 2 review of related literature

Ways to cite references in review of related literature:
All references must be stated in the review of literature; no report will be
accepted without the proper acknowledgment to the authors referred to in the
literature review.
The format of reference for nonverbatim statement is as follows:

a) Author stated in year that biosorption of cationic

b) Author stated that biosorption of cationic (year).
c) It has been said that biosportion if cationic (Author, year).
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Chapter 2 review of related literature

2.1 Conceptual Literature
2.2 Related Studies

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Chapter 3 methodology
Research Design
This section describes the procedural steps used in conducting this major
aspect of your study and the materials or any equipment used at each step. It
includes:
-Conceptual framework
-Block diagram

-schematic diagram
-Block diagram
-Procedures

-Evaluation
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Chapter 3 methodology
Project Development
This section describes on how you manage to complete the project. It
includes gathering of materials, program flowchart (if there is a program),
component list, development procedure, testing and evaluation and other
activities related to the development of the project.

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Chapter 3 Methodology
Gantt Chart
This table shows the time table of the whole thesis development.

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Chapter 4 Results and Discussion

This section presents the data collected from the
study on this major aspect of your research
problem, followed by extensive comments on or
interpretation of the findings of the study.

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Chapter 4 results and discussion

4.1 Project Technical Description

This section describes the specification of the project done including the
technical aspects.
4.2 Project Structural Organization
This section shows the actual structure of the prototype with its parts
labelled properly and the functions are described.

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Chapter 4 results and discussion

4.3 Project Limitations and Capabilities

This is the same with Scope and Limitation but very much detailed.
4.4 Project Evaluation

This is where the results are presented either in tabulated or graphical

form. Also, the data analysis is included.

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Chapter 5 Summary of Findings,

Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary of Findings
This section indicates the superiority of the project over other known solutions
based on the findings obtained in the experimentations.

5.2 Conclusion
This section addresses the objectives(s) pertaining to the major aspect of your
research problem.

5.3 Recommendations
This section indicates statements that suggest the need for further studies what
else can be done relevant to your research problem and what other related
problems should be addressed?
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References
<For journals>
Author, A.A., B.B. Author and C. C. Author (year). Full title of article. Name of the journal, Volume number
(number), pages.
Author, A.A., et al, (year). Full title of article. Name of the journal, Volume number (number), pages.
Author, A. A. (year). Full title of article. Name of the journal, Volume number (number), pages.
Examples:
Caparanga, A. R. (2000). Recycling and recovery of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) from post consumer waste
stream, e-merge: the MIT Review, Volume 1 (1), 27-32.
Cardiel, G. G., et al, (2000). Preliminary engineering geological-geotechnical and instability rish assessment of
slopes at Peace Village, Barangay San Luis, Antipolo, Rizal. Mapua Research Journal, Volume 1 (2), 79-84
Doma, B. Jr. T., J. L. Salvacion and S.T. Yang (2000). Mass transfer and power consumption characteristic in
rotating fibrous bed bioreactor for xanthan gum fermentation. Mapua Research Journal, Volume 1 (1), 27-41
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References
<Books>
Author, A. A., B. B. Author and C. C. Author (year). Full title of article <optional> Editor,
A. A. <optional>. Book Title, edition, Publisher, Place of Publication.
Example:
Scilling, R. J. and S. K. Harris (2000). Applied Numerical Methods for Engineers, 1st
Edition, Brooks/Cole, New York.

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Illustrations

Figure 2.1 Functional blocks of the

developed wearable sweat pH sensor.
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Illustrations
Table 4.1 Computed Sensitivity

(Eq. 3.1)

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What is a thesis paper

Purpose of writing a thesis paper

Contents of a thesis paper

Language quality

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A scientific article should report your findings and conclusions as

clearly and concisely as possible. To achieve this:
Try to avoid unnecessary words or phrases keep it simple

Use active writing when possible. For example, Carbon dioxide

was consumed by the plant is passive. Active writing shortens
this phrase to, The plant consumed carbon dioxide which is
much snappier

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A scientific article should report your findings and conclusions as

clearly and concisely as possible. To achieve this:
Tense is important.

For known facts and hypotheses, use the present tense: The
average life expectancy of a honey bee is six weeks.
But use the past tense when referring to experiments youve
conducted: All the honey bees were maintained in an
environment with a consistent temperature of 23C.
And also use the past tense to describe results: The average life
span of bees in our contained environment was eight weeks.
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