GENERAL GUIDELINES AND MECHANICS FOR THESIS

Faculty of Arts and Letters

Academic Year 2015-2016

I. THESIS ABSTRACT
1. Style Guide
a. Word Count: 150-250 words
b. Font: Arial
c. Size: 12 points
d. Margins: 1.5 inches left; 1 inch on other sides
e. Single-Spaced
f. Alignment: Justified
2. Contents:
a. Title
b. Name of the Proponents (Students)
c. Adviser
d. Thesis Abstract (of 150-250 words)
e. Three to seven (3-7) keywords
3. File Format and Mode of Submission:
a. MS Word Document, one file per thesis
b. Further specifications may be provided by the Department Thesis Coordinator
c. Must be compiled per class in a properly-labeled CD, to be submitted to the AB Deans
Office (c/o Mr. Jay Certeza).
d. CD Envelope should be addressed as follows:
TO: <<NAME OF DEPT. THESIS COORDINATOR>>
<<DEPARTMENT>> THESIS COORDINATOR
RE: THESIS ABSTRACTS
<<SECTION>> 2015
e. To be submitted ON 19 MARCH 2015, UP TO 17:00 (5:00 pm).
** Colloquium Chair collects the CDs of Abstracts and the schedule of defenses and
panelists/examiners from the Office on 20 MARCH 2015.

II. THE FINAL DRAFT <<EXTRA INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE

THESIS COORDINATOR>>
1. Style Guide
a. Font: Arial/Times New Roman
b. Size: 12 points
c. Margins: 1.5 inches left; 1 inch on other sides
d. Double-spaced
e. Alignment: Justified
f. Direct quotations: indented and blocked, 10 points
g. Footnotes/Endnotes (if applicable): uniform font, 10 points single-spaced
h. Manual of Style: as guided by the thesis topic (students must consult their Adviser)
2. Contents
a. Title Page
b. Abstract
c. Certificate of Approval for Defense
d. Certificate of Originality
e. Table of Contents
f. The Main Corpus
g. Bibliography
h. Appendix (optional)
3. Thesis Card signed and graded by the Adviser for approval.
4. The Final draft must be RINGBOUND.
5. The number of copies to be submitted shall be determined by the Department Thesis
Coordinator.
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6. The Final drafts will be officially accepted ONLY BY THE DEANS OFFICE (c/o Mr. Jay
Certeza) ON THE DEADLINE SET BY THE DEPARTMENT THESIS COORDINATOR.
Submission in bulk, through the Class President is most preferred.
7. The Thesis Coordinator will be in charge of the distribution of drafts to the
panelists/examiners.
8. Failure to submit the final draft on the deadline forfeits the proponent of a slot in the schedule
of defense; and automatically renders a student a failing grade, hence non-graduation.

III. DELIBERATION OF MANUSCRIPTS WITH FUNDAMENTAL DEFECTS (such as,

but not limited to plagiarism, insufficient data, weak conclusion, etc.):
1. Examiners (panelists) must inform the Department Thesis Coordinator about any fundamental
defect that renders a manuscript unqualified for presentation/defense. This must be done AT
LEAST FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED DEFENSE for the purpose of deliberation among
the Examiner, the Department Thesis Coordinator and the Department Chair.
2. Authors must be properly informed of the deliberation to give AT LEAST THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE SCHEDULED DEFENSE for revision.
3. Authors must submit the revised draft to the Department Thesis Coordinator AT LEAST ONE
DAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULED DEFENSE.
4. Authors may decide to waive the defense and have an incomplete grade (INC) to seek further
assistance in revision.
5. A resubmitted draft that remains plagiarized renders the author/s an automatic failing grade
and a major sanction as per UST Code of Conducts provisions on Academic Dishonesty.

IV. RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM (DEFENSE) PROCEEDINGS (14, 15, 16, 18, 19

APRIL 2016)
Important Items: FINAL DRAFT (Personal copy), PRESENTATION, THESIS CARD signed and
graded by the Adviser.

1. Proceedings: <<to be provided by the Department Thesis Coordinator>>

2. Grading System: <<to be provided by the Department Thesis Coordinator>>

3. Mechanics for the Presentation Paper: <<to be provided by the Department Thesis
Coordinator>>

4. Powerpoint Requirements: << to be provided by the Department Thesis Coordinator>>

5. Note to Proponents (Thesis Examinees):

a. Proponents are advised to arrive at the venue ten minutes ahead of the scheduled
defense.
b. A ten minute delay from the schedule will move the proponent to the last available slot
of the day.
c. For group defense, the presence of a quorum (majority) is needed for the defense.
d. Proponents must wear the appropriate business attire.
e. Proponents are advised to bring their own laptop or tablets to ensure the projection of
their presentation. (This may be settled collectively, as block sections may designate
an official laptop to hold and project all the presentations.)
f. Proponents are not allowed to personally provide food to the Examiners during the
proceedings. The AB Deans Office will be in charge of such provisions for the students
and the faculty members.

6. Note to Examiners:
a. Examiners are advised to arrive at the venue five minutes ahead of the scheduled
defense. (Please take note of IV.5.b for the consequence of delays)
b. Defense outside the schedule of the Research Colloquium is not allowed.
c. Redefense within the semester is not allowed.
d. The allotted time for revision must not exceed the Faculty-wide deadline of the
submission of the Final Manuscript.
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e. ON GRADING:
The grade should be given within the day of Research Colloquium, during the
allotted time for deliberation.
No grade should be kept in pending albeit the condition of revision/s.
Hence, giving of an incomplete grade (INC), to those who participated in the
defense, is not allowed.
Motion for redefense renders the proponent a failing grade.

7. Advisers may be invited to attend the proceedings. If present, they are given five minutes to
respond to the recommendations/questions of the examiner/panelist.
The adviser cannot grade the advisee during the proceedings.
The adviser cannot change the grade of the advisee during or after the
proceedings.

IV. FINAL MANUSCRIPT

1. To be documented on a template of the AB THESIS PAPER (letter-sized page layout).
Hardbound, with dark blue cover with SILVER STAMP.
2. Style Guide
a. Font: Arial/Times New Roman
b. Size: 12 points
c. Margins: 1.6 inches Top; 1.2 inches Bottom; 1.9 inches Left; 1.1 inch Right
d. Double-spaced
e. Alignment: Justified
f. Direct quotations: indented and blocked, 10 points
g. Footnotes/Endnotes (if applicable): uniform font, 10 points single-spaced
h. Manual of Style: as guided by the thesis topic (students must consult their Adviser)
3. Contents:
a. Title
b. Thesis Abstract (of less 150-250 words, with three to seven key words)
c. Approval Sheet (to be issued by the Department, signed by the Adviser, Examiner,
Department Chair and Dean)
d. Personal Notes (Acknowledgment, Dedication optional)
e. Table of Contents
f. Main Content
g. Bibliography
h. Appendix/ices (optional)
i. About the Author
j. Note on Style
4. One (1) copy must be submitted as Faculty (AB) Copy.
5. For the Department copy, the graduating class must collate soft-copies of their theses in an
encased and properly labeled CD. The following shall serve as guidelines:
a. Each student/thesis group must have a folder. (Please follow CA Soft Copy
Guidelines)
b. The following files must be in a folder named after the students LAST NAME. In case
of group thesis, the MAIN KEYWORD/TOPIC may be used.
i. THESIS SURNAME.pdf (The Thesis Manuscript)
ii. ABSTRACT SURNAME.pdf (contains the abstract)
c. The CD and its Case must labeled as follows:
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
FACULTY OF ARTS AND LETTERS
<<NAME OF DEPARTMENT>>
BATCH 2015
COMPILATION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE THESES
<<SECTION>> (if applicable)

d. The class must forward two copies of the CD to the Department, through the Thesis
Coordinator, for filing and exhibit purposes.
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6. DATE OF SUBMISSION: 11 May 2016 (TUESDAY) from 11:00AM up to 4:00PM

(through the Department Office TO BE SUBMITTED BY CLASS)
7. Failure to comply with the abovementioned mechanics forfeits the student of his/her grade,
and thus the completion of the subject and degree.