Category: Thesis Writing

Thesis Proposal Components

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A thesis proposal is a document written to identify a research problem and needed resources and gives preliminary view of existing research on the problem. Also, it includes the schedule for the research as well as the writing process.

It is written if there is a need for a research to contribute something to the field.The following are the components of Thesis Proposal.

  • Background

It should provide information such as the importance of your work and identify other work has been done on the problem as well as the issues that concern to the research you are proposing.

  • Problem Statement and Methods to be Used

It states your problem in two or three sentences. Explain other methods were considered and why your method is more effective and appropriate.  Gives the criteria you are using to measure your success.

  • Theoretical Background.

It contains a published literature related to your thesis proposal or books and reports that relevant to the problem being solved.

  • Procedure

It provides the approach or methods to be used in order to solve problem.

  • Materials to be used

It contains the materials, instruments, facilities, and financial support to carry the research.

  • Project Schedule and Breakdown

It provides the task breakdown and the schedule of your work

  • Bibliography

It contains the list of publication used in the research

 

Invitation Research Survey Letter

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March 10, 2008

Ms. Joanna D. Robles
College Instructor
Sulayman University
Manila

Dear Ms. Robles:

I would like to invite you to participate in a research study titled “Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plant in Bataan”. This study is being conducted by Ms. Gloria Alcantara and her research committee from the Department of Engineering at Pilar State University. The purpose of this study is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Power Plant.

In this study, you will be asked to complete an engineering survey. Your participation is highly appreciated. It takes 15 minutes of your time to complete.

This survey has been approved by the Review Board of Pilar State University. There are no risks associated with participating in this study. The respondent’s information is confidential and all response will be recorded anonymously.

Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any question regarding the survey.

Thank you very much.

Very truly yours,

Cielo May Quinto

Significance of the Study Sample

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Significance of the Study

The study of dehydration technology and craft fabrication can be a learning paradigm in the secondary level and vocational schools to enhance the students’ knowledge and entrepreneurial skills as well. This is but a small contribution with the Dakar Framework for Action (2000) that not only basic education be learned by today’s students but acquisition of learning skills and knowledge for gainful employment and full participation in country’s society. The project’s goal is designed to help students improve academic competence, develop employability skills, implement a career plan and participate in a career pathway in preparation for post secondary education or careers in the food manufacturing or services sector after graduating from high school. This goal can be achieved through the mentors that can teach the students the food dehydration technology and craft fabrication for use of the process. The output of this study is a source material that the teachers can assimilate and disseminate by diffusion and induction technique.
Thesis Title: Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools by Engr. Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar, Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Significance of study is one of the important sections in your thesis because it explain the importance of the study as well as it potential benefits to the society or environment.  It describe why the study is worth performing.
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How to Finish your Thesis

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Most students will have a hard time of finishing their thesis. At first, they are very excited writing and began thinking of their favorite topic but after few weeks the excitement has gone. It takes perseverance in order to finish your thesis on time. Here are some reasons of not finishing your thesis:

1. There is no deadlines.

Solution: Break down the task and provides deadlines for each task. You can make a timetable and make sure to follows schedules.

2. Thesis work may be overwhelming

Solution: To avoid overwhelming of task, divide the project into small and manageable units.

3. Overpowered by negative thoughts

Solution: Do not entertain negative thoughts and feelings. Always focus on your work.

The following are some tips to finish your thesis:

1. Follow requirements of your institution.
You should know the requirements before starting to write a thesis including the format of cover page, spacing, pages, etc.

2. Set small goals.
Always take small steps on doing your thesis task and break down to small do-able steps.

3. Treat your thesis task as your job
Have regular schedule for your thesis. Even if you are not productive, at least it will not be a waste of time lying on the bed.

4. Have space for you thesis work
It does not mean that you should have an office or room for you to do your thesis. It simply means go to the place where you are going to work and go there. It might be a coffee shop and make a slice of cake and a zip of coffee while working.

5. Always set your goals.
Setting goals is one way to motivate yourself.

6. Have enough sleep and eat properly.
Without enough sleep you cannot be productive and eating properly gives you a fuel needed to aid your studying. Healthy body – healthy mind.

7. Treat yourself.
It does not mean to have shopping everytime you finish a section for your thesis. Treating yourself means a glass of wine, a slice of cake, listening to favorite music, delicious meal, etc.

Steps in Writing a Thesis

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thesis-writingA thesis is the final requirement in order to graduate either in masteral or doctoral degree.  It is a final project before gaining masteral degree or doctoral degree. A thesis is not simply a research paper, it a document that you need something to prove using the facts from your research. A thesis can be an statement or arguable.

Here are the following steps to make a winning thesis:

  1. Choose the right topic for your thesis.  What problem are you going to tackle? Is this problem has a solution and have enough resources. Brainstorm and choose a topic that will be valuable, unique and reasonable. It should not be too complex topic, make sure to narrow down your topic.
  2. Make time for research time. Find the right resources for your thesis topic and as possible make timeline and stay committed to it.
  3. Organize your resources. It is necessary to take note so that you won’t confused in the end.
  4. Make an outline. This will be the preliminary outline for your actual thesis.
  5. Proofread and edit your thesis. Make sure to proofread your thesis for possible errors such as spelling or grammar.
  6. Get feedback. You can ask and get feedback from your trusted friends or colleagues. You may get their opinions, suggestions as well as the possible weak points.

Sample Thesis Format

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thesis-formatTITLE PAGE

  • This page is assigned a Roman numeral “i” although does not appear on the page
  • The date used is the month and year of commencement
  • The proponents name must appear as registered at the institution

APPROVAL PAGE

  • The names used on the approval sheet and title page must be that under which the proponents are registered at the institution
  • Black ink is required for the signatures of approving signatories
  • The number of signature lines must equal to the number of panelists
  • The approval page required counted as page “ii” but not numbered

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  • Numbered with Roman numeral “iii”

ABSTRACT

  • Number page; Roman numeral and placed at center of heading
  • Should be a concise review of the work containing a brief summary of the problem and results of the research.
    •    A short statement concerning the area of research study
    •    A brief discussion of methods and procedures used in gathering data
    •    A condensed summary of the findings and conclusions reached in the study

CONTENT OF ABSTRACT

  •  Proponents
  • Title
  •  Key concepts
  • Degree
  • Adviser/s
  • Statement of the Purpose or Problem
  • Methodology [ Research Design and Procedure]
  • Summary of Findings
  • Recommendations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Acknowledgement
  • Abstract
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Tables, Charts, Figures, Plates
  • Chapters  [with Chapter I starts as page 1
  • Bibliography
  • Appendices – include Gantt Chart of Timetable
  • Curriculum Vitae

TYPE FONTS and PRINT QUALITY

  1. Recommended font – Times Roman, size 12
  2. Line Spacing – standard double space
  3. Margins – the left hand margin must be 1½ inches wide to allow for binding; all other margins must be 1 inch wide. Adherence to this margin will leave a 6×9 inch area on each sheet of the text or illustrative material including page numbers. The right margins should not be justified. The only exceptions to the margin requirements are:
    a)    The first page of each chapter or major section of the manuscript, where typing begins 2” down from the top rather than 1” and tables and figures maybe smaller and centered but not larger than the 6×9 area.
    b)    Tables and figures must be reduced to meet margin requirements
    c)    It is not permissible to leave a single line of a paragraph or other subdivision at either the bottom or top of a page.
    d)    The last word on a page cannot be hyphenated.
  4. Pagination
    a)    Every page of the thesis must have a page number except the title page, approval page, abstract pages and CV.
    b)    Small roman numerals (ii, iii,etc) are used for the preliminary pages: acknowledgement, table of contents and list of tables
    c)    Arabic numbers are used for the remainder of the document including the text and reference material. No other numbering scheme is acceptable.
    d)    All page numbers must be placed 1” from the top, even with the right margin
    e)    On pages with a major heading such as APPENDIX or BIBLIOGRAPHY and those beginning a CHAPTER, the page is placed in the center bottom position – 1” up from bottom
    f)    Numbers of preliminary pages are placed at the center bottom in small roman numerals.

Sample Thesis Definition of Terms

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definition-of-termsBasic education curriculum. The education intended to meet basic learning needs          which lays the foundation on which subsequent learning can be based. It encompasses early childhood, elementary and high school education as well as alternative learning systems four out-of-school youth and adult learners and includes education for those with special needs.

Bricolage. Combines the French word bricoleur (do it yourself) with collage, indicating the creative juxtaposition and inventiveness of this method of research.

Caramelization. Normally associated with fruits with significant sugar content. Caramelizing is simply the burning of sugars.

Casehardening.  Is caused by too much temperature, too much air velocity and too little humidity. Symptoms include a virtual halt in dehydration and a tough leather-like outer skin. Increasing the humidity is the key to salvaging the product and normally through re-hydration.   .

Counter-flow. Refers to the direction of the air- flow within the dryer. The fresh produce laden tray enters the dryer through the low- pressure inlet. Counter-flow dehydration is normally associated with a lower process air temperature and higher quality dried products. Drying is accomplished from the inside out and casehardening is rare.

Curriculum. The set of courses and their contents offered by an educational entity or institution related to a specific learning program.

Dehydration. In food technology is referred to as the removal of moisture in food; at present defined industrially as drying by artificially produced heat under carefully controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air-flow (Von Loesecke, 1955).

Dehydrator. In household food technology, food dryer; is an electrical appliance for drying food especially fruits and vegetables by extracting most of the moisture from it.

Design. Referred to in technology as the soul of the production, manufacturing and creative industries; creates change in the man-made world.

Diffusion theory. It is the process by which an innovation is adopted by members of a community.

Disciplinary structure. It is the cultural formation with historically specific conditions of origin, expansion, change, transformation, decline and demise; methodology specifically related to the focus of inquiry and broadly related to research strategies in the humanities, social sciences, sciences and creative or performing arts..

Efficiency. In the realm of technology, a measure of a machine’s energy effectiveness; the ratio of the amount of energy used by a machine to the amount of work done by it.

Evaporation. A process in which matter is changed from a liquid to a vapor without its temperature reaching the boiling point.

Fan. It is an accessory used to blow a current of air steadily and lightly across or around a matter.

Food science. The application of science and engineering principles in the processing, preservation, storage, handling and distribution of food.

Grounded theory. The theory derived from the process of constant comparisons, discovered, developed and provisionally verified through systematic data collection and analysis of data.

Heating element. It is an insulated or covered wire whose high resistance to an electrical current causes its temperature to rise providing heat to the surrounding materials.

Hermeneutic. The development and study of theories of interpretation and understanding of texts

Heuristics. It is the rigorous way of approaching material by trial and error and as such is used in computer research to describe the process of refinement of applications.

Inductive learning and teaching. The umbrella term encompasses a range of instructional methods including inquiry learning, problem based learning, project based learning, case-based teaching, discovery learning and just-in-time teaching.

Innovation. The term defined by Peter Drucker as a change that creates a new dimension of performance or as Rogers (2003) suggests, it is about getting ideas adopted.

Makabayan.  Colloquially termed as love for country; a subject in the revised basic education curriculum that integrates the five different learning areas namely Araling Panlipunan at Heograpiya, Teknolohiya, Edukasyon, Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan, Physical education Health Music and Art and Values education in one subject.

Methodological Eclecticism.  A constant switching between different research methods.
Moisture. Droplets of condensed or absorbed liquid or in vapor. It is the amount of water present on a certain substance measured on percentage basis.

Pedagogy.  paideia, the science, craft and art of teaching children basic education with age range from seven to seventeen.

Preserve. A method to treat or store food in such a way to protect it from decay done by pickling, drying, salting, freezing and canning.

Process. The method of preparation by a series of steps using chemicals or industrial machinery.

Quasi-statistics. The data that may not allow precise quantification or meet statistical requirements but give some indication how likely a conclusion is applicable.

Relative Humidity. It is the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the air to the saturation pressure corresponding to the temperature of air.

Secondary Analysis. A descriptive research study that consists of re-analyzing the data gathered by previous researcher/s and may involve a different hypothesis, different experimental design or different methods of statistical analysis. The subjects are the same, the data are the same.

Simulacra theory. A theory that covers the discussion of images, signs and how they relate to society to a world saturated by imagery, infused with media, sound and advertising.

Spoilage. It is the process of decaying or becoming damaged or rotten.
Sulfuring. An antioxidant method of treatment to preserve color, prevent loss of vitamin A and C and discourage insects and microbes in fruits.

Technology.  Defined as a purposeful application of knowledge, skills and experiences in using resources to create products or systems to meet human needs.

Theory. Is a set of inter-related constructs, definitions and propositions that present a rational view of phenomena by explaining or predicting relationships among those elements either mathematical/analog relationship or conceptual holistic relationship.

Verstehen. Term for interpretative sociology; German for understanding.

Writing Thesis Significance of the Study

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significance-of-the-studySignificance of the study is written as part of the introduction section of a thesis.  It provides details to the reader on how the study will contribute such as what the study will contribute and who will benefit from it. It also includes an explanation of the work’s importance as well as its potential benefits.  It is sometimes called rationale.

Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study

 

  1. Statement of the problem will guide you to write a significance of the study.  Based on your statement of the problem you will see the potential benefits of your study. Just answer this question, “What are the benefits or advantages of the study based on statement of the problem?”
  2. Determine the specific contribution of your thesis study to the society as well as to the individual

Below is an example of significance of the study of thesis entitled, “Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools” by Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar.

Significance of the Study  

     The study of dehydration technology and fabrication can be a learning paradigm in the secondary level and vocational schools to enhance the students’ knowledge and entrepreneurial skills as well. The project’s goal is designed to help students improve academic competence, develop employability skills, implement a career plan and participate in a career pathway in preparation for post secondary education or careers in the food manufacturing or services sector after graduating from high school.

Thesis Respondents Letter

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January 22, 2001

Ms. Laarni Enriquez
Accounting Head
Accounting Department
Textile Company
Laguna

Dear Ms. Enriquez:

Good day!

We are graduating students of Technological University of the Philippine (TUP) with a course of Computer Science major in Information Technology.

As a requirement for our course, we are conducting a survey about Advantages of Computerized Accounting System over manual accounting system. The responded of this study are Accounting staff.

Our group chosen you to be one of our respondents of this thesis study. We hope that you will be able to give your precious time to answer our questionnaire.  Data gathered will be confidential and just use only for academic purposes. We hereby attached here our questionnaire so that you will be able to answer it the soonest possible time.

We hope for your kind consideration, support and cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

Michelle Largan
Group Leader

Sample Scope and Delimitation

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scope and delimitation

What is Scope of Study Section?

The Scope of study in the thesis or research paper is contains the explanation of what information or subject is being analyzed. It is followed by an explanation of the limitation of the research. Research usually limited in scope by sample size, time and geographic area.  While the delimitation of study is the description of the scope of study. It will explain why definite aspects of a subject were chosen and why others were excluded. It also mention the research method used as well as the certain theories that applied to the data.

Sample Scope and Delimitations
The main focus of this project was the design of an efficient Energy Recovery System of Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant.  The system will be using pressure technology by application of pressure exchanger as an energy recovery device.  Pressure exchanger transfer pressure from a high pressure stream to slow pressure stream in a ceramic motor. The proposed system is limited only in reducing high power consumption of the high pressure pump. The project can be used in all existing Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant in the Philippines.  Some calculations, assumptions, and selections were made as a consideration of a proper and realistic design.