Thesis Writing:
What, When & How
Chen Long
College of Distance Education
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Outline
What (Subject matter & format)
 When (Timetable)
 How (Length & style requirements)
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Thesis Writing

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What (subject matter):
◆ Literature
◆ Linguistics
◆ Culture
◆ Teaching method
◆ Translation
◆ Job-related (with
advisor’s approval)
How (length): about 5000 words or 15
~18 pages (text only)
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When – Timetable (General)
Writing Duration:
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3-1~10: orientation – 2 themes - advisor
3-11~18: meeting with advisor – proposal
3-19~4-22: first written draft – revision
comment
4-23~5-20: final thesis – grading & comment
End of May: if thesis approved, oral defense
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Timetable (Specific)
3-1~3-10:
- orientation and 2 Themes
- assignment of adviser
3-11~18:
- meet with adviser (Print-out with signature)
- discuss Proposal
- upon approval, start first draft
3-19~4-22:
- submit first written draft & “Pledge of Originality”
- (e-)submit 1st written draft to advisor for
comment
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Timetable (continued)
4-23~5-20: final thesis
- write and revise thesis (at least 2 face-to-face
meetings with adviser)
- Adviser’s Comment - If approved，
- finalize thesis & submit 3 copies for oral defense
End of May:
- Ooral defense: 3-teacher panel; minimum 2
approvals to pass
Beginning of May: submit & bound official version of
thesis (check for ALL REQUIREMENTS)
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Guidelines
 “Get
the job done.”
 General vs. Specific
 “A-single-bookism”
 Reference books
 Avoid plagiarism
 Citation guidelines
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General vs. Specific
 On Modern American Literature
- Realism as Reflected in A’s Novel Name
- A Study of the Main Characters in …
 A Comparison between Chinese and Western
Cultures
- A Comparison between Greetings/Apologies as
Applied by Chinese and Westerners
 How to Translate Advertisement English into
Chinese
- A Tentative Analysis of Translating Brand
Names and Their Ad Slogans into Chinese
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“A-single-bookism”
 “A-single-bookism”
 Original
works
- read through at least 2~3 times
- familiarize yourself with author, plot,
background, characters, etc.
5
References
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What to focus?



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Language proficiency & consistency
- Grammar: tense, subject-verb agreement
- Spelling, punctuation & capitalization
- Choice of words & collocation
Structure
Format & style
Individual effort & avoid plagiarism
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Plagiarism
 What is plagiarism?
- taking or using other’s ideas, comments,
findings, theories, etc. in your writing without
acknowledging the source or the author
 What is its consequence?
- one-vote-out – no oral defense or 2nd chance
 What to watch for?
- 1/5 direct quotes; 1/3 cumulative references
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How to Avoid Plagiarism
 “Pledge of Originality”
 Reading, understanding & paraphrasing
 Acknowledging the source of quote
 Writing in Chinese – translating into English –
revising English version
Web resource:
 防止出现剽窃的26条指南
http://check.cnki.net/Article/standard/avoid/Index.html
 Avoiding Cut and Paste Plagiarism with Citations
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/cyberplag/cyberplagexamples.html
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Format and Requirements
of Thesis Paper
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Sample Format (Single-book-based)
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Introduction (why this paper; what the paper is
about) (2~3 pp.)
Text components: (10~13 pp.)
- Synopsis of the novel, characters, etc.
- Introduction to the author
- Background of the novel, story, etc.
- Analysis of main characters & their relationship

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Conclusion (restatement of theme) (1~2 pp.)
References (1 p. at least 5)
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Sample Outlines
Who Killed Gatsby?
-- A Tentative Analysis of the Death of Gatsby
I. Introduction (3~4 pages)
1.1 Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby
1.2 The decline of the American dream in the 1920s
1.2 The plot
II. Analysis of Gatsby (2~4 pages)
2.1 His ambition
2.2 His unrealistic love for Daisy
2.3 His lavish life and parties
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The Great Gatsby (cont’d)
III. The causes of Gatsby’s death (3~4 pages)
3.1 Daisy Buchanan
3.2 Tom Buchanan
3.3 George Wilson
3.4 The role of Nick Carraway
IV. The moral lesson of The Great Gatsby (2~3 pages)
V. Conclusion (1~2 pages)
Gatsby is killed by the social norm and his unrealistic
dream of reunion of Daisy’s love.
References
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A Comparison between American and
Chinese Family Education
I. Introduction (2~3 pages)
1.1 Define “family education”
1.2 Trends in family education in America and China
II. A comparison of FE in America & China (7~8 pages)
2.1 Aims of family education
2.1.1 Independence vs. dependence
2.1.2 Interests & processes vs. academic performance
& results
2.2 Learning strategies
2.2.1 Learning by exploring vs. rote learning with
correct answer
2.2.2 Encourage creation, innovation vs. imitation
2.2.3 Teaming vs. self-based
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A Comparison between American and
Chinese Family Education (cont’d)
2.3 Feedback
2.3.1 Parents’ role and expectation in family education
2.3.2 Positive vs. negative
2.3.3 Encouraging vs. comparing and perfecting
2.4 Physical and psychological development
2.4.1 Healthy, enjoying sports vs. fragile, lacking exercises
2.4.2 More open-minded, optimistic vs. more reserved, under
pressure
2.4.3 Easygoing vs. less sociable
III. Suggestions for improvement (2~3 pages)
IV. Conclusion (1~2 pages) While American families stress an allround personality development, Chinese families strive for
academic excellence in their children's family education.
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How: Style & Requirement
上海外国语大学网络教育学院
学士学位论文撰写规定
- 打印格式
- 装订格式
- 参考书目格式
- 相关表格
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参考书目格式：English (APA)
Books
 Journals
 Online Resources

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APA Citation Guideline:
http://wenku.baidu.com/view/fd8f653610661ed9ad51f
3a7.html
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English Books

Single author:
Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by principles: An
interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd
ed.). White Plains, NY: Addison Wesley Longman,
Inc.
…inside the text (Brown, 2001).
“…for writing purpose” (Brown, 2001, p.18).

Co- or Three-authors:
Smith, D., Boyd, R., & Spoher, J. C. (1995). Virtues
VRKL toolkit. Indianapolis: Hayden Books.
…inside the text (Smith, Boyd & Spoher, 1995).
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English Books

Multiple-authors:
Ligon, M., Carpenter, K., Brown, W., & Milsop, A. (1983).
Computers in the world of business communications.
Hartford, CT: Capital Press.
…inside the text: 1st time (Ligon, Carpenter, Brown &
Milsop, 1983).
…inside the text: 2nd time (Ligon, et al., 1983).

Editor:
Higgins, J. (Ed.). (1988). Psychology. New York: Norton.
Benyon, J., & Mackay, H. (Eds.). (1993). Computer into
classroom. London: The Falmer Press.
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Articles

From Books or Journals:
Barlett, L. (1990). Teacher development through reflective teaching. In J.
Richards & D. Nunan (Eds.), Second language teacher education.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Murzynski, J., & Degelman, D. (1996). Body language of women and
judgments of vulnerability to sexual assault. Journal of Applied Social
Psychology, 26(3), 1617-1626.
“…inside the text” (Barlett, 1996, pp.201-202).

Online:
Degelman, D., & Harris, M. L. (2000). APA style essentials. Retrieved from:
http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.cfm?doc_id=796
Nielsen, M. E. (n.d.). Notable people in psychology of religion. Retrieved from:
http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/psyrelpr.htm
…inside the text (Nielsen, n.d.).
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参考书目格式：中文
 书籍
罗常培：《语言与文化》，北京：商务印书馆，1957。
…inside the text (Luo, 1957).
南国农：《电化教育学》（第二版），北京：高等教育
出版社，2000。
束定芳、庄智象：《现代外语教学-理论、实践与方
法》, 上海：上海外语教育出版社，1996。
… inside the text (Shu & Zhuang, 1996).
王士元主编：《语言与人类交际》，广西：广西教育出
版社，1987。
[美] A. N. 乔姆斯基著，徐烈炯等译：《乔姆斯基语言
哲学文选》，北京：商务印书馆，1992。
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参考书目格式：杂志文章

杂志
张占一、毕计万：“如何理解和揭示对外汉
语教学中的文化因素”，《语言教学与研
究》，1991第四期：27-35。
…inside the text (Zhang & Bi, 1991, p.28).
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During Oral Defense
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Briefly tell what you paper is about (2~3 min.)
Three judges, three questions
Be concise but to the point
Define the terms clearly and accurately
No reference is allowed to your thesis
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Word of Caution
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Choose a familiar and tangible subject
Read original Novel at least 2~3 times
Work out a schedule & stick to it
Following: Proposal > Outline > Draft > Adviser’s
Consent > Revision > Adviser’s Approval
Comment > Revision & Fine-tuning > Final Thesis
> Oral Defense > Binding
Use rewording & acknowledgement, not cut-andpaste
Plagiarism – a Big NO-NO
In References, list only what you’ve quoted in your
thesis (at least 5 books or resources)
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Thank
You!
Good Luck!
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