Thesis writing

THESIS WRITING
BY: CHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB
(Guidelines, format and
sample)

WHAT IS A THESIS?
The word “thesis”
has two meanings, both of which are applicable
to your writing.
 the word refers to either a Master’s Thesis or a PhD
Thesis (dissertation).
 “thesis” signals the fact that your thesis must be a
work of persuasive argumentation. You first make a
statement defining the focus of your research (the
problem/question/issue that needed to be solved)
and signal your results. Then, through evidence and
reasoning, you persuade your committee of the
validity of your research.
CHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

In the process of telling that story, you must
answer, clearly and precisely, the following key
questions:
What problem/question/issue does your thesis focus on?
Why is it important?
How does your work fit into the intellectual context of your field?
What experimental design / methods did you use? Why did you
choose those methods? What difficulties did you encounter along the
way? How did you solve (or not) those difficulties?
What are your research results? How do they differ from what you
had expected or from what had previously been done by others?
What evidence do you have to support those results?
Whatconclusions did you reach?
What, specifically, is your unique contribution?
What are some possible applications, either practical or theoretical,
of your findings? What future work does your thesis suggest?

PARTS
OF A
THESIS

INITIAL PAGES
 Title Page
 Approval Sheet
 Abstract
 Acknowledgment
 Dedication
 Table of Contents
 List of Tables
 List of Figures

TITLE PAGE
The following information needs to be on the title
page:
 The title (and possibly the subtitle) of your thesis
 First name and surname of the author(s)
 Whether it is a ‘Bachelor’s thesis’ or a ‘Master’s
thesis’
 Faculty and department
 Place and date of completion

Title SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Title Measurements
2”
1””
1””
1””
1””
1””
1””

Title Measurement

APPROVAL SHEET
 This is to prove that the authors have passed
the requirements needed for the thesis.
 This is signed by the thesis/FS adviser, panel
and the Dean.
 This also states the grade obtained by the
author/s.

Approval Sheet Sample

Approval Sheet SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

ABSTRACT
 An abstract presents a brief summary of your
thesis.
 The aim of the abstract is to briefly provide the
reader with the most important information
from the entire text.
 An abstract never contains new information.
 This summary is no longer than 2 pages of A4.

ABSTRACT
The abstract must summarize the contents of
the thesis, not merely say what it is about.
Write it last because you must have written the
Introduction and Conclusion before you can
summarize their main ideas in the Abstract.
350 words for Ph.D.
150 words for a Masters

Abstract Sample

Abstract Measurements

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
 This is a page focused on expressing gratitude
to organizations, agencies or individuals who,
in one way or another, have aided the
researchers in finishing the thesis.

Acknowledgment Sample

Acknowledgment
Measurements
2”
1”

DEDICATION
 This is the page for dedicating the thesis to
certain people or groups who have inspired
the researchers while doing the thesis.

Dedication Sample

Measurement of Dedication
1”

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 The table of contents is essentially a topic
outline of the thesis.
 It is compiled by listing the headings in the
thesis down to whichever level you choose.

Table Of Contents SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Table Of Contents
Measurement
1
” 1”
2”

LIST OF TABLES / LIST OF
FIGURES
 Include a list of figures (illustrations) and a list
of tables if you have one or more items in
these categories.
 Use a separate page for each list.
 List the number, caption, and page number of
every figure and table in the body of the thesis.

Figures, tables, illustrations...
what's the difference?
If you are doing a design or fine arts subject, it is likely that
you will include photographs, drawings, paintings or
illustrations in your dissertations. These would normally be
included in your List of illustrations.
In other subjects, it is common to include all tables, charts,
graphs, photographs, drawings, etc. together in a List of
figures.
However, if you have a great deal of information presented in
tables, it may be best to have a both a List of tables and a List
of figures (everything that's not a table). When labelling,
number these separately (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2,
etc.).

List Of Tables / List Of Figures Samples

TITLE OF CHAPTERS
1. Problem and Its Background
2. Review of Related Literature and Studies
3. Methodology of the Study
4. Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of
Data
5. Summary, Conclusions and
Recommendations

Title Of Chapters
Measurement
2”
1”
1”
.5”From bottom to page number 1” from bottom to footnote

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
AND
BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY

INTRODUCTION
 The first chapter of your thesis is your
introduction.
 This is where you provide an introduction to
the topic of your thesis: you give the context in
terms of content of the research project.

This chapter provides an overview of the thesis
as a whole
 it does not simply give background.
The first sentence should identify the problem and signal your
results.
Then move to a more detailed overview of problem,
importance, method, intellectual context, and your findings.
The last paragraph usually briefly lists what will be covered in
subsequent chapters. You can usually do it in one sentence per
chapter; try to vary the sentence style.
The Introduction is often short, perhaps some 10
pages.
Write it after you have written the body chapters and the
Conclusion so that you know just what you are introducing.
INTRODUCTIONCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Introduction Format

Introduction SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Introduction Sample
FormatCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
 The significance of the study will mainly focus
on the question “Who will benefit from the
study?”.
 This section will state the contribution of your
study and the usefulness of your study in the
society.

Thesis statement
The thesis sentence is a clear, concise statement of the
position you will defend in your paper. The thesis sentence
should argue a position, not summarize information.
WHEN COMPOSING YOUR THESIS SENTENCE,
 make sure your thesis reflects the full scope of your
argument
 avoid using a thesis that is too broad to be defended in the
your paper or too narrow to be a full response to the
assignment.
 argue as conceptually rich a position as you can support.
Ask yourself How? and Why? questions to deepen your thesis.
 make sure your reader can easily identify your thesis
sentence.
 do not just reword the professor’s question; claim your own

Thesis statement
Sample

STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
 The problem must be reflected to your title or
the readers must know your problem by just
simply reading your topic.
 The problem must not be answerable by yes
or no and must be arranged in the flow of your
documentation or study.

Statement Of The Problem
SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

HYPOTHESIS

Difference between thesis: statement
& hypothesis
A thesis statement and thesis hypothesis are different. Thus,
the latter is applied to support the ideas stated in thesis
statement.
So, a good research paper must have both thesis statement and
thesis hypothesis.
There are two major peculiarities concerning thesis
hypothesis. Firstly, a thesis hypothesis is an assumption that
you are going to prove in the paper. As any assumption it is
based on some statistic calculations. Secondly, it can be an
assumption of the writer’s ideas. It is based on the results that
were received during the research.
Thesis hypothesis is mainly applied, when the writer is required
to find out something new about the problem under
consideration. It is also used, if it is necessary to answer some
specific question. In all other cases it is possible to submit a

CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
 A conceptual framework elaborates the research problem in relation to
relevant literature. This section may summarize the major (dependent and
independent) variables in your research. The framework may be
summarized in a schematic diagram that presents the major variables and
their hypothesized relationships. It should also cover the following:
 •Existing research and its relevance for your topic
 •Key ideas or constructs in your approach
 •Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.
 •Conceptualized relationships between variables
 Independent variables (presumed cause)
 Dependent variables (presumed effect)
 Intervening variables (other variables that influence the effect of the
independent variable)

Conceptual Framework
SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Instructional
Materials and
Equipment
commonly used in
teaching Science
1Traditional
Materials
2Technologic
al Equipment
Effects of the use of
instructional
Materials and
equipment
Profile of the respondents
1Age
2Gender
3Civil Status
4Educational Attainment
5Years of Service

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
 The scope is mainly the coverage of your
study and the Delimitation is the limitation of
your study or topic.

Scope And Delimitation
Sample

DEFINITION OF TERMS
 The definition of terms must be arranged in
alphabetically. It must be also stated if you
used your definition of terms in technically or
operationally.

CHAPTER
II
Review of
Related
Literature
and Studies

RELATED LITERATURE
 In this part you must get your data and information from any
books, magazines, and news papers. You must label your
published material with local or foreign.
 1. Must be also organized to cover specific problems.
 2. Must take all the evidences about the problem with the
author’s experiences.
 3. As much as possible, get the latest published materials.
Avoid old published materials.
 4. It must be related to your topic. If not, do not get it.
 5. On the last part of this part you must have a statement how
this old published material helps the researcher in their current
study and relate it to your study.

RELATED STUDIES
 In this part you must get your data and information from
unpublished material such as previous or old study, research or
thesis. In some format, you must label your unpublished material
with local or foreign.
1. This should be organized to cover the specific problems.
2. You must take note all of the evidences that the previous
researcher came up.
3. The unpublished material should not be older than 5 years if
possible.
4. It must be related to your topic. If not, do not get it.
5. On the last part of this part you must have a statement how this
old unpublished material helps the researcher in their current
study and relate it to your study. CHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

Related Literature SampleCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

CHAPTER
III
Methodology of the Study

The purpose of the methodology chapter is to give an
experienced investigator enough information to replicate the
study. Some advisors do not understand this and require
students to write what is, in effect, a textbook. A research
design is used to structure the research and to show how all
of the major parts of the research project, including the
sample, measures, and methods of assignment, work
together to address the central research questions in the
study.
The chapter should begin with a paragraph reiterating the
purpose of the study. The following subjects may or may not
be in the order required by a particular institution of higher
education, but all of the subjects constitute a defensible
methodology chapter.
METHODOLOGY

Appropriateness of the
Research Design
This section is optional in some institutions, but
required by others. Specify that the research for the
dissertation is experimental, quasi-experimental,
correlation, causal-comparative, quantitative,
qualitative, mixed methods, or another design. Be
specific. The designated approach should be defended
by contrasting and comparing it with alternate methods
and rejecting those that do not meet the needs of the
study.
This section should not be a textbook description of
various research designs, but a focused effort to match
a rational research design with the purpose of the studyCHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

RESEARCH DESIGN
 The appropriate research design should be
specified and described.

RESEARCH DESIGN

POPULATION AND
SAMPLES
 Describe the population of interest and the
sampling of subjects used in the study.

RESEARCH
INSTRUMENT
 Describe the instrument and what it will
measure.
 State qualifications of informants if used in the
study.

VALIDATION PROCEDURE
 Discuss how the validity and the reliability will
be established. Specify the level of reliability
(probability).

PROCEDURE
Fully describe how the data were when and how the data
are collected.
In a QUALITATIVE study, this is the section where most
of the appendices are itemized, starting with letters of
permission to conduct the study and letters of invitation to
participate with attached consent forms.
A paragraph must be inserted that states the study is
deemed to be one of minimal risk to participants and that
the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort
anticipated in the research will not be greater than any
ordinarily encountered in daily life, or during the
performance of routine physical or psychological
examinations or tests. CHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO, MPA;LLB

DATA GATHERING
PROCEDURE
 Describe how instrument will be administered.

DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE
AND STATISTICAL TREATMENT
OF DATA
 Describe the processing and treatment of data

Ethical Considerations
In a QUALITATIVE STUDY, the procedures for the protection of
human participants should be stated.
This section is nearly identical in all qualitative studies, which
makes it subject to identification as plagiarism when submitted to a
mechanical plagiarism tool.
Ethical concerns are important, particularly in reference to
planning, conducting, and evaluating research.
The study should present minimal risk to participants pertaining
to experimental treatment or exposure to physical or psychological
harm.
Care should be taken to ensure that the participants fully
understood the nature of the study and the fact that participation is
voluntary.
A statement should be made that confidentiality of recovered
data will be maintained at all times, and identification of
participants will not be available during or after the study.

DATA PROCESSING &
ANALYSIS
In both QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
STUDIES, the precise method of how the data were
processed and then analyzed is described.
Increasingly, in qualitative studies, data collection
and analysis is accomplished by using any one of
several data collection and analysis tools available
on the Internet such as SurveyMonkey.
Internet services are fast and accurate, and
produce data that can be quickly incorporated in
Chapter 4.

CHAPTER
IV
Presentation,
Analysis and
Interpretation of
Data

PRESENTATION OF
DATA
 Present the findings of the study in the order of
the specific problem as stated in the statement
of the Problem.
 Present the data in these forms:
 Tabular
 Textual
 Graphical (optional)

ANALYSIS OF
DATA
 Data may be analyzed quantitatively or
qualitatively depending on the level of
measurement and the number of dimensions and
variables of the study.
 Analyze in depth to give meaning to the data
presented in the data presented in the table. Avoid
table reading.
 State statistical descriptions in declarative
sentences, e.g. in the studies involving:

INTERPRETATION OF DATA
 Establish interconnection between and among
data
 Check for indicators whether hypothesis/es
is/are supported or not by findings.
 Link the present findings with the previous
literature.
 Use parallel observations with contemporary
events to give credence presented in the
introduction.

CHAPTER
V
Summary of Findings,
Conclusions and
Recommendations

SUMMARY OF
FINDINGS
 This describes the problem, research design,
and the findings (answer to the questions
raised). The recommended format is the
paragraph form instead of the enumeration
form.
 For each of the problems, present:
 The salient findings,
 The results of the hypothesis tested

CONCLUSIONS
 These are brief, generalized statements in answer to the
general and each of the specific sub-problems.
 These contain generalized in relation to the population.
These are general inferences applicable to a wider and
similar population.
 Flexibility is considered in making of conclusions. It is
not a must to state conclusions on a one-to-one
correspondence with the problems and the findings as
all variables can be subsume in one paragraph.
 Conclusions may be used as generalizations from a
micro to a macro-level or vice versa (ZOOM LENS
approach).

RECOMMENDATIONS
 They should be based on the findings and
conclusion of the study.
 Recommendations may be specific or general
or both. They may include suggestions for
further studies.
 They should be in non-technical language.
 They should be feasible, workable, flexible,
doable, adaptable.

REFERENCES:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis
http://www.jpsimbulan.net/thesis-writing-
guide/how-to-write-a-thesis/
https://www.google.com.ph/

IMPORTANCE OF
FOOTNOTES
are notes placed at the bottom of a page. They cite
references or comment on a designated part of the text
above it.
DIFFERENCE: (FOOTNOTE & ENDNOTE)-appear at
the bottom of the relevant page, while endnotes all appear
at the end of your document. If you want your reader to
read your notes right away, footnotes are more likely to get
your reader's attention

THANK YOU FOR READING!
CHELDHAYE

Thesis writing

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