THESIS WORKSHOP
Sponsored by the
CSUF Department of Graduate Studies
Mrs. Debra L. Stewart
University Thesis/Dissertation Reader
MH-112; dstewart@fullerton.edu
Revised for Fall 2013
THESIS WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION
What I want YOU to know:
• What is expected of YOU.
• How/where to get assistance.
• What MY role is and is not.
THESIS WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION
Why this workshop?
Basically, to save YOU time/$.
THESIS WORKSHOP
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OVERVIEW: Why this workshop?
(What is expected of you.)
3. REQUIREMENTS: How do you meet them?
(How/where to get assistance.)
4. THESIS READER and YOU: What do I do?
(What my role is and isn’t.)
And save MY time.
Four weeks. So little time. So many pages.
MY OFFICE HOURS
I do not have any set
OFFICE HOURS
AFTER the deadline.
BEFORE the deadline, yes!
- THESIS DEADLINES FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT
Submission deadline:
four weeks before the last day of classes.
Bookstore deposit: Last day of examinations.
For Students Planning to Graduate in January 2014 (Fall 2013)
Deadline to Submit to Graduate Studies Office
Friday, November 22, 2013
Deadline to Deposit in CSUF Bookstore
Friday, December 20, 2013
For Students Planning to Graduate in August 2014 (Summer 2014):
Deadline to Submit to Graduate Studies Office
Friday, April 11, 2014
Deadline to Deposit in CSUF Bookstore
Friday, May 9, 2013
When is your thesis defense scheduled?
GET IT OVER WITH!
FEES (0-6 units)
$ 2, 310
GRAD CHECK
$
GS700 *
MOVE GRAD DATE
115
$ 335
$
10
WHAT IS A
MASTER’S THESIS?
“The master’s thesis is the culminating experience of
your graduate program, and a demonstration of your
ability to develop and present a clear and scholarly
work within your chosen field of study.
Our goal in this final editorial process is to
ensure that your thesis is a credit to this university,
and ultimately a lifelong source of pride for you.”
THUS,
A THESIS IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT
PAPER
OF
YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE
(UP TO THIS POINT)
IT MUST MEET CSU STANDARDS and be
ACADEMICALLY PERFECT*
And your thesis WILL require:
 perseverance, dedication,
 late nights, strained relationships,
 endless revisions,
 countless library hours,
 computer hardware and software problems,
 and ALL manner of stresses!
YOU.WILL.WANT.TO.GIVE.UP, or PANIC.AND.FREAK.OUT.
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
Your Thesis
includes MORE than
research and writing
A THESIS IS A “FIXED FORM”
It is not a journal article,
It is not a research paper,
It is not a grant,
It exists for one purpose only:
TO FULFILL CSUF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.
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THESIS REQUIREMENTS
HOW do I know what they are?
WHERE do I find them?
WHAT do I do with them?
FORMAT: Why the big deal?
This is a unique “book.”
It has publishing guidelines, set by:
1.
2.
3.
UMI/Proquest (microfilm restrictions)
California State University (policies)
CSUF (binding, margins, page numbering,
figures/tables; campus uniformity)
4.
Departmental choices (i.e.,
documentation sourcing, footnotes, headings)
15
FORMAT: How a thesis looks
Follow the:
THESIS MANUAL for format
fullerton.edu/graduate
FORMAT: The way in which something is
arranged or set out.
16
REQUIREMENTS
17
REQUIREMENTS
CSUF THESIS INFORMATION
&
MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES
http://fullerton.edu/graduate/
THE THESIS MANUAL (TM)
•
19 pages.
• Download. Print. Refer to it.
• Answers (ALMOST) ALL F.A.Qs.
http://fullerton.edu/graduate/
TM: What’s in it?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Font
Margins
Spacing
Page numbering
Headings/Subheadings
Figures and Tables
Approval info
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paper
Order of parts
Front matter
Back matter
Cautions
TEMPLATES
Dates
FORMATTING INSTRUCTIONS
Use the materials
A perfectly formatted thesis
can be turned in without ever
consulting me by using the
Thesis Template and Manual.
ORDER OF PARTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
TITLE/SIGNATURE PAGE
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FRONT MATTER
Chapters (main body)
• APPENDIX OR APPENDICES
• BIBLIOGRAPHY OR REFERENCES
BACK
MATTER
THE
TITLE/SIGNATURE PAGE
IS the most STRICT FORM.
IT HAS TO BE PERFECT
THE FIRST TIME. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Title/Signature Page
• MOST problematic.
• Must be 100% PERFECT.
• The RIGHT paper.
• The RIGHT spacing.
• The RIGHT spelling.
• ALL faculty signatures.
• Horror stories....
Abstract
• Top margin of 2”.
• 250 words (best).
• Include “keywords.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS TEMPLATE
WHICH ONE IS YOURS?
OTHER
CONTENT, STYLE, FORMAT
28
WHY “STYLE”?
Test: Which is correct?
a) It’s a “convention.”
b) It is a “convention”.
c) It is a “convention.”
STYLE INCLUDES LITTLE THINGS
• ORDINALS: Is it first, 1st, or 1st place?
• ELLIPSIS: Those funny dots . . . are like that,
not…this or … that. A period adds a fourth
dot. . . . That is, if it’s in between sentences.
• NUMBERS: fifteen or 15? Two hundred or 300?
• BLOCK QUOTES: Double or single space?
30
YOUR REFERENCE
SECTION
IS A STRICT FORM (and
usually the most difficult).
IT HAS TO BE PERFECT.
Which is the correct
“REFERENCE STYLE” for APA?
Fisher, C. (2003). Decoding the ethics code.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fisher, Celia. Decoding the Ethics Code.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2003.
Fisher, C.J. Decoding the Ethics Code.
Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA, 2003.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
APA Citation Issues
Parenthetical format, first citation in text:
(Cherry, 2007)
(Cherry & Chang, 2004)
(Cherry, Chang, & Jones, 2011)
(Cherry, Chang, Jones, & Shimizu, 2012)
(Cherry, Chang, Jones, Shimizu, & Rutledge, 2013)
(Cherry et al., 2006)
Etc. Etc. Etc.
APA: More than one author
When you list more than one source within a
text citation:
• Alphabetize the list by author.
(Adler, 2003; Guillaume & Yopp, 2001;
Randall, Ames, & Smith, 2010)
• Place a semi-colon between research groups.
APA Reference Issues
Journals
Books
Book chapters
Conference reports
Multivolume works
Edited works
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Remember I’m trying to help you!
Long
Quotes:
in APA
BLOCK
QUOTES
According to Cox (2000), “there are three ways to structure the introduction to a
questionnaire” (p. 3).
At the end of a block quote of 40+ words, the period goes at the end
of the last word in the quote and then the citation is given. Block
quotes are double spaced and indented ½ inch from the left margin.
OR
Set off five or more lines as an indented block, without quotation
marks. Block quotes are single spaced and indented ½ inch from the
left margin. The period goes after the citation page number is given,
unless the source is cited in the introductory sentence introducing the
quote. (p. 298)
STYLE FORMATS CAN DIFFER
APA Style
or
CMOS
(Chicago Manual of Style)
37
ETC., ETC., ETC.:
WHAT IS YOURS?
CMA, APA, MLA, ACS, AAA, AAG, SAA, GSA?
Don’t know? Use:
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses,
and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian
or The Chicago Manual of Style.
Other? Send me a copy.
STYLE FORMATS CAN DIFFER
Lots.
Google them.
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/16/contents.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/19/
40
STYLE IS A BIG DEAL
• Headings. Underline or bold?
• Tables and Figures. Italicize or not?
• Citations and References. ???
• Spacing.
41
READ THE MANUALS!
CMA/TURABIAN HEADINGS
CHAPTER THREE
x
THIS IS THE CHAPTER TITLE
x
x
This is a Primary Heading
This is how the first page of your thesis will look, using a chapter
name and number (in Arabic numbers or spelled out) and Turabian-style
headings that go with each section. After each chapter title or section title
(i.e., Abstract) text begins on the third single space from the title.
APA HEADINGS
CHAPTER THREE
THIS IS THE CHAPTER TITLE
This is a Primary Heading
This is how the first page of your thesis will look, using a chapter
name and number (in Arabic numbers or spelled out) and Turabian-style
headings that go with each section. Text and tables are double-spaced
throughout the entire thesis.
CMA/TURABIAN SUBHEADINGS
This is a Secondary Heading or a Sub-Heading
This represents a sub-section of the primary heading. All headings should be worded in
the Table of Contents exactly as they are in the text. The text starts in the line one double
space below the secondary heading and is indented .5 inches. Notice that it is underlined.
This is a Tertiary Heading. This level of sub-heading is a sub-section of a secondary
heading, but the Tertiary heading does not need to be included in the TOC. Both secondary
and tertiary sub-headings are subparts of the primary heading, just like in an outline. It does
not go in the Table of Contents.
APA SUBHEADINGS
This is a Secondary Heading or a Sub-Heading
This represents a sub-section of the primary heading. All headings should
be worded in the Table of Contents exactly as they are in the text. The text
starts in the line one double space below the secondary heading and is
indented. It is not underlined; it is bolded.
This is a Tertiary Heading. This level of sub-heading is a sub-section of a
secondary heading, but the tertiary heading does not need to be included in
the TOC. Both secondary and tertiary sub-headings are subparts of the primary
heading, just like in an outline. A tertiary heading does not go in the Table of
Contents. It is not underlined; it is bolded.
Content and Style
• TABLES:
– What do they look like?
– How are they spaced?
– What about “runover” lines?
– Can I add notes?
– What is a stub column? Spanner?
• FIGURES: Where are they placed on a page?
47
TURABIAN TABLES
Table 1. Smoking Among American adults, By Age
Age
Smoke
N
Don’t Smoke
(%)
(%)
18-32
33-47
48-62
63+
Total
1,722
2,012
1,928
646
7,308
30.6
37.1
35.2
30.5
69.4
62.9
64.8
69.5
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Source: Adapted from Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for
Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 2005.
48
APA TABLES
The APA manual has mistakes!
General rules:
• BE CONSISTENT!
• Stub column is flush left.
• Data cells are centered to decimal
point.
• Totals are indented by three spaces.
• For subordination within a stub, indent
for clarity.
• For runover lines, indent OR double
space between entries.
49
FIGURES
APA
TURABIAN
Figure X. Illustration of Thesis Writing.
Figure X. Illustration of Thesis Writing.
• Italics? No italics?
• Title ALWAYS below graphic.
• No matter what style, PLACE IT FLUSH LEFT!!!
50
MARGINS, SPACING:
LEFT JUSTIFICATION AND DOUBLE-SPACING
This is a Secondary Heading or a Sub-Heading
This represents a sub-section of the primary heading. All headings should be worded in the Table of
Contents exactly as they are in the text. The text starts in the line one double space below the secondary heading
and is indented. APA headings are formatted much differently than Turabian headings.
This is a Tertiary Heading. This level of sub-heading is a sub-section of a secondary heading, but the
tertiary heading does not need to be included in the TOC. Both secondary and tertiary sub-headings are subparts
of the primary heading, just like in an outline. A tertiary heading does not go in the Table of Contents.
NO extra space between paragraphs.
NO full justification.
MARGINS, SPACING:
LEFT JUSTIFICATION AND DOUBLE-SPACING
This is a Secondary Heading or a Sub-Heading
This represents a sub-section of the primary heading. All headings should be worded in the Table of Contents
exactly as they are in the text. The text starts in the line one double space below the secondary heading and is indented. APA
headings are formatted much differently than Turabian headings.
This is a Tertiary Heading. This level of sub-heading is a sub-section of a secondary heading, but the tertiary
heading does not need to be included in the TOC. Both secondary and tertiary sub-headings are subparts of the
primary heading, just like in an outline. A tertiary heading does not go in the Table of Contents.
This is correct.
• Landscape orientation: Where does the page
number go? (in portrait orientation, like others)
• “Commas and periods,” go inside the quotation
marks.
• Single quotes “stay ‘inside’ quotations.”
• Serial commas: X, Y, and Z.
• Dashes come-in—different sizes. Why?
53
HOW DO I LEARN ALL THIS?
(
Pssst: OPEN THE THESIS MANUAL!
BEFORE YOUR DEFENSE
SEND ME A SAMPLE of your work:
• A DRAFT OF YOUR TITLE/SIGNATURE PAGE
• (I can check your margins, paper, font, spacing)
• YOUR FRONT MATTER (PRELIMINARY PAGES)
• A SAMPLE CHAPTER
• YOUR REFERENCES
BEFORE thesis submission!
PROOF-READ
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CORRECT PAPER STOCK
FOR THE FINAL COPY (and Title/Signature pages)
AVERAGE THESIS
LONG THESIS
Use a basic 20-pound, 25% cotton
paper, or your thesis will be large
and unwieldy and result in
additional fees for binding.
Must be printed by laser printer
on white, 8 ½ by 11, 20- to 24pound weight, and 25% to 100%
cotton rag paper.
AFTER DEFENSE SIGNATURES
YOU
• Go to MH-112, Grad Studies Office
–Bring one signed TITLE/SIGNATURE
PAGE on “thesis” paper
–Bring THESIS (on cheapo paper)
–Fill out “Thesis Approval Form.”
• Wait for me to contact you.
The grad office
receptionist will
check for paper,
signatures, style.
If incorrect, she
will give it right
back to you,
even if it is the
deadline date.
BEFORE thesis submission
 CONTENT: NO spelling or grammatical
errors. Set F7. PROOFREAD!
 STYLE: FULL citation source and reference
agreement. PROOFREAD!
 FORMAT: REGULATION Headings,
margins,
PROOF-READ
spacing, order. PROOFREAD!
 PROOFREAD. PROOFREAD. PROOFREAD.
60
Download the HANDY
THESIS SUBMISSION
CHECKLIST
from the website.
61
AFTER YOUR BEST EFFORTS
PROOF-READ
62
4. THE THESIS READER
Who am I?
I READ your thesis, highlight format errors, and
VERIFY, and APPROVE IT.
I CHECK YOUR WORK
I AM Not YORE PRUF REEDER.
I will send back your thesis.
64
I READ IT ALL.
“You read every single word”?
“Yes.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m serious. I do. ”
“Really?”
“Yes. I really do.“
“I don’t believe you.”
65
WHAT I DO
Content: Look for glaring grammatical errors.
Style: Do you follow your style exactly?
Format: Margins, headings, spacing perfect?
***
IF I FIND MISTAKES, I SEND IT BACK.
66
THE THESIS READER
When do first you contact
me?
Weeks before the deadline.
WHAT I DO NOT DO
I DO NOT answer every question.
I DO NOT reply to questions found in
the Thesis Manual.
I DO NOT proofread (very much).
***
GENERAL ERRORS? I SEND IT BACK.
YOU MAY NOT GRADUATE WHEN YOU WANT.
68
THEN WHAT
I read in chronological order. 75+
First in; first back. Last in; last back.
I email my comments to you.
You revise . . . until requirements met.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL NEVER END.
(fill in the blank):
academically scintillating, boring,
challenging, bewildering, relaxing,
stressful, social, or lonely
AND YOU PRINT iT AND IT’S OVER!
72
AND, IT STILL PAYS OFF!
The End
Thank you for attending.
Please fill out the evaluation form.
An outline is available on the grad studies website.
PPT slide PDF is available on the grad studies website.
The Thesis Manual is available on the grad studies website.