...highlighting tool in your word processing software. In addition, please have them identify and copy and paste your thesis statement and the topic sentences for each paragraph. | |Exemplary |Proficient |Emerging |Not Yet Demonstrated | | |100% |86% |73% |60% | |INTRODUCTION / THESIS |Well-developed introduction |Introduction creates interest |Introduction adequately |Background details are a | | |engages the reader and creates |and contains background |explains the background of the|random collection of | |Background/History |interest. Contains detailed |information. Thesis clearly |problem, but may lack |information, are unclear, and | |Defining the Problem |background information and a |states a problem and the |clarity. Thesis states a |may be loosely related to the | |Thesis Statement |clear explanation of the problem.|writer’s position is evident. |problem, but writer’s position|topic. Thesis/position is | | |Thesis clearly states a | |may not be evident. |vague or not stated. ...
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...Thesis abstracts / 75 Writing a structured abstract for the thesis James Hartley suggests how to improve thesis abstracts (From Psychology Teaching Review, 2010, 16, 1, 98-100) Two books on writing abstracts have recently come to my attention. One, Creating Effective Conference Abstracts and Posters in Biomedicine: 500 tips for Success (Fraser, Fuller and Hutber, 2009) is a compendium of clear advice – a must book to have in your hand as you prepare a conference abstract or a poster. The other, Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts (Swales and Feak, 2009) contains several research-based exercises on writing abstracts for journal articles in the Arts and Social Sciences. Both books extol the virtues of structured abstracts (i.e., those with standard sub-headings found in several journals published by the BPS) but both contain few examples. Thesis abstracts Swales and Feak also have a short chapter on writing the abstract for the PhD – a rather different kind of abstract. Here two such abstracts are presented for analysis. However, because the book is written mainly for a North American audience, British students might like to check their institution’s regulations in this respect. It is likely, of course, that these will not be very helpful. Here, for example, are the regulations from my own University: Abstract The page should be headed Abstract, followed by no more than 300 words describing the key features of the thesis. Many information retrieval...
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...FALE 1033 WRITING FOR SCIENCE Topics Covered Introduction to effective writing skills Writing thesis statement and topic sentences Definition , exemplification and classification Description Cause and effect Interpreting diagrammatic information Comparing and contrast Proofreading and editing Text Used 1. 2. Main Text: Oshima, A & Hogue. ( 1997). Introduction to Academic Writing. New York: AddisonWesley, Longman Zimmerman. (2003).English for Science. Singapore: Prentice Hall Additional Text Brannan, B. (2003). A Writer’s Workshop: Crafting Paragraphs, Building Essays. McGraw Hill Trible,C. (2003). Writing Oxford: Oxford University Press Method of Assessment 2 Assignments + 1 Test Assignment 1 -15% (Outlines) Assignment 2 – 15% (interpreting data) Test – 10% (Grammar/proofreading) Final Examination- 60% Section A- Essay Section B- Grammar Section C- Interpreting Graphic Data LECTURE 1 INTRODUCTION TO EFFECTIVE WRITING SKILLS What is Science Writing? Science writers are responsible for covering fields that are experiencing some of the most rapid advances in history, from the stunning advances in biotechnology to the exotic discoveries in astrophysics. A science writer may include coverage of new discoveries about viruses, the brain, evolution, artificial intelligence, planets around other suns, and the global environment, to name a few topics Aims and objectives for writing for science To provide students with the necessary knowledge of the...
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...Thesis and Capstone Project Comparison In some ways the thesis and capstone project are similar. Both should follow the same basic outline and should represent a scholarly effort of high quality. As noted in the Graduate School requirements, "Graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science, or Doctor of Philosophy degrees emphasize the development of the student's ability for independent scholarly work and the creation of new knowledge through research. Practice-oriented programs, which ordinarily lead to the degree of master or doctor in a particular professional field, emphasize preparation of the student for professional practice at the frontiers of existing knowledge." Both capstone projects and theses should have a clear statement of the problem or issue to be addressed; a literature review which covers the important work related to the problem, with content clearly relating to the statement of problem; analysis of results; and statement of conclusions. When there is a question as to whether the proposal is a thesis or a capstone project, the proposal shall be submitted to the EDP Program Director for a decision. This must be done prior to registering for thesis or capstone project credits. The thesis should answer a question which contributes to new knowledge and is generalizable beyond a single setting. The thesis should be analytic, should systematically analyze data, and should develop and make appropriate...
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...Primer on Writing an Analytical Essay: If you are at all uncertain how to structure an essay read the following material carefully. Introductory Paragraph: Your first paragraph is the most important part of your essay and should consist of 3 parts: a hook, background, and your thesis: The hook: Grab my attention. Make your first sentence interesting and meaningful Example: If Bill Gates spent $50,000 a minute for the rest of his life, he would still die a wealthy man if he lived for 40 more years. Background: Explain the general issue that you are writing about and the controversy surrounding are assessing, including the title and author’s full name. Example: Many economists lament the growing division of wealth that has marked America in the last two decades. While some this is the basis for America’s economic strength, others feel reversing this trend should be a top priority. In fact, Sue Ackerman in her article “The Rich and the Rest”, suggests that there should be a ten-times rule, whereby the top wage earners could earn no more than tens times the minimum wage. Thesis Statement: This tells me what your position on the topic is as well as how you are going to support it. Example: Her suggestion is ridiculous and should be opposed for three reasons. First of all, it is arbitrary – why should it be 10 times the wealth of the poor and not 8 or 15. Secondly, it is un-American by going against basic...
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...edu 14237249 Associate of Science degree in Network Systems Administration EN 1320 Composition I ITT Technical Institute – Clovis, CA October 11th, 2013 Chapter 9 (Writing Today, pp. 171-196) 1. What is the purpose of a commentary? Commentaries are used to express opinions on current issues and events, offering new and interesting perspectives that help readers understand the world in which they live. It is to convince readers to agree with you and, perhaps, to change their minds. 2. What is the basic organizational pattern of the commentary? * A topic based on current events or current issues. * An introduction that immediately engages the reader by clearly announcing the issue under examination, the writer’s thesis, and the angle he or she will take on this topic. * An explanation of the current event or issue that reviews what happened and the ongoing conversation about it. * An argument for a specific position that includes reasoning, evidence, examples, and observations. * A clarification that qualifies the argument, avoiding the tendency to overgeneralize or oversimplify the topic. * A conclusion that offers an overall assessment of the issue, highlights its importance to readers, and looks to the future. 3. What are strategies for inventing the content of your commentary? You should begin by listening, understanding; listen for what is not being said, or was is not being pursued. Have knowledge of what you’re going to talk...
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...School of Hospitality and Tourism Kenyatta University P. O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 8710901, +254 20 8711622, Ext 57022 Email: dean-hospitality@ku.ac.ke GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROPOSALS AND THESES HANDBOOK APRIL 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 1.1 2.0 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) 3.0 4.0 (a) (b) (c) 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 17.0 18.0 SUPERVISION ................................................................................................................ 4 Responsibilities of Supervisors .................................................................................. 4 FORMAT OF PRELIMINARY PAGES OF A PROPOSAL................................................... 5 Cover Page ................................................................................................................. 5 Student Declaration Page .......................................................................................... 5 Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... 6 Abbreviations and Acronyms .................................................................................... 6 Operational Definitions of Terms .............................................................................. 6 Abstract...................................................................................................................... 6 FORMAT OF MAIN BODY OF PROPOSAL...
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...aiming for the gold medal, you must have a positive attitude and the belief that you have the ability to achieve it. That is the real start to writing an A+ research paper. CONTENTS: STEP 1. CHOOSE A TOPIC STEP 2. FIND INFORMATION STEP 3. STATE YOUR THESIS STEP 4. MAKE A TENTATIVE OUTLINE STEP 5. ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES STEP 6. WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT STEP 7. REVISE YOUR OUTLINE AND DRAFT Checklist One Checklist Two STEP 8. TYPE FINAL PAPER STEP 1. CHOOSE A TOPIC Choose a topic which interests and challenges you. Your attitude towards the topic may well determine the amount of effort and enthusiasm you put into your research. Focus on a limited aspect, e.g. narrow it down from "Religion" to "World Religion" to "Buddhism". Obtain teacher approval for your topic before embarking on a full-scale research. If you are uncertain as to what is expected of you in completing the assignment or project, re-read your assignment sheet carefully or ASK your teacher. Select a subject you can manage. Avoid subjects that are too technical, learned, or specialized. Avoid topics that have only a very narrow range of source materials. STEP 2. FIND INFORMATION Surf the Net. For general or background information, check out useful URLs, general information online, almanacs or encyclopedias online such as Britannica. Use search engines and other search tools as a starting point. Pay attention to domain name extensions, e.g., .edu (educational institution)...
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...------------------------------------------------- Thesis Writing: A Guide for Students By Jennifer Swenson The Sparrow’s introduction to thesis writing is a clear-cut and comprehensive tool for those who are about to embark on one of the more difficult projects in all of academia. Thesis writing is not an art; rather, it is the product of many months of research and painstaking hard work. Whether you are writing a master’s thesis, a PhD thesis, or any other form of this venerable genre, I hope this guide will serve you well. Thesis Writing Background What is a thesis? A thesis is essentially a research report. It addresses a very specific issue and describes what is known about that issue, what work the student has done to investigate or resolve it, and how that issue may play out in the future. It is the thesis writer’s responsibility to familiarize her with the history of the issue and the different points of view that exist. The thesis writer works with a mentor who is an expert in the field that the thesis concerns, but not necessarily an expert on that exact topic. Usually thesis topics are so specific that very few people in the world except the thesis writer herself could be considered an expert on them. Your thesis writing will make a contribution to the field about which you are writing, and in a larger sense, to all of human knowledge. A thesis is distinctively different from an undergraduate research report because it is so original. How Specific Should My Thesis Get? When writing a thesis, you should...
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...THESIS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE PREPARATION OF THESES AND DISSERTATIONS Research and Graduate Studies Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 78363 (361) 593-2808 SPRING 2011 COPYRIGHT PRIVILEGES BELONG TO RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES Reproduction of this THESIS MANUAL requires the written permission of the Graduate Dean. FOREWORD The nature of a research study should be one in which the investigation leads to new knowledge or enhancement of existing knowledge in the student's field of study, either through acquisition of new data or re-examination and interpretation of existing data. At the graduate level, all students should learn how new knowledge is created, how experimentation and discovery are carried out, and how to think, act and perform independently in their discipline. Depending upon the degree to which the discipline has an applied orientation, the student can demonstrate mastery of the discipline through means such as research papers, literature reviews, artistic performances, oral/written presentations or case studies. The doctoral dissertation is viewed in academia as the ultimate model of documentation of the student's research. The characteristics of dissertation research include the theoretical background, description of the problem, the method which was used to solve the problem, interpretation of results and explanation of their significance. The student is expected to produce a product of excellent quality which reflects...
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...Writing a research report The following is a general guide to writing a research report focused on GIS, spatial analysis, or modeling. See the general resources page for other guides for writing and research. This presents some standard conventions for writing journal articles but highlights where you may want to make changes for a class report or thesis. Journal article. The 'standard' format used by most journals is a bit restrictive because it reflects traditional publishing practices. Figures and tables, for example, are usually attached as separate pages at the end of your text instead of being embedded in the text itself because it is easier to photograph them for publishing and the text itself is easier to typeset. Class report. Class reports are less restrictive in form and content than journal articles but they still share many characteristics. Conventions such as line double spacing and use of 12 point serif fonts like Times New Roman are designed to make it easier for your reader to review the paper and provide annotations where necessary. Take special notice of the "Top 10 Checklist" as these are items that are particularly important for class reports. Quick Links: Report structure General Considerations Top 10 Checklist References Report Structure The paper should be divided into sections that make the logical sequence of the argument clear. Common sections are described below. Treat these as what they are, suggestions. Some things, like the...
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...follows this worksheet. 2. Create an introductory paragraph. Include the following parts: A. Method of getting reader's attention B. Background information C. Thesis statement with plan of development ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Complete the rest of your outline. Brief notes for each section will suffice. I. Topic Sentence for first supporting paragraph (first point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] II. Topic Sentence for second supporting paragraph (second point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] III. Topic Sentence for third supporting paragraph (third point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting...
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...poor mine design, for instance, might open with the scenario of how a poorly designed pillar at a salt mine in Louisiana once collapsed, fracturing the surface above and draining an entire lake into the mine. A paper on the supply and demand of nickel might begin by straightforwardly announcing that the paper will explain the uses of nickel, detail its market structure, and use data to forecast the future supply and demand of the metal. In brief, a paper’s introduction should define and limit the paper’s scope and purpose, indicate some sense of organization, and, whenever possible, suggest an overall argument. Another important principle in technical writing is that the introduction should be problem-focused, giving the reader enough background so that the paper’s importance and relationship to key ideas are clear. A rule of thumb about the introduction’s length: about 5-10% of the entire paper. As examples of how creative an introduction can be, here are the opening lines from a geography paper and a paper on optics, both of which use narrative technique to arouse our interest. Note how the first excerpt uses an “I” narrator comfortably while the second excerpt does not use “I” even though the writer is clearly reflective about the subject matter. The first excerpt is from a paper on the generic nature of America’s highway exit ramp services; the second is from a paper on shape constancy. The observation struck me slowly, a growing sense of déjà vu. I was driving the endless...
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...MNUALLL/301/0/2013 Tutorial Letter 101/0/2013 General tutorial letter for proposal, dissertation and thesis writing MNUALLL Year module Department of Health Studies IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This tutorial letter contains important information about your module. Note: Copyright pertaining to Mouton (2006) has been ceded to Unisa CONTENTS Page 1 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3.1 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 5 5.1 5.2 5.2.1 5.2.2 2 WELCOME ................................................................................................................................... 6 SECTION 1: BEING REGISTERED FOR THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL MODULE (RPM) .... 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Application .................................................................................................................................... 7 Registration for Research Proposal Module (RPM) ...................................................................... 7 Registration................................................................................................................................... 8 Appointment of supervisor ............................................................................................................ 8 Guidelines for writing a proposal ...............................................................................................
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...------------------------------------------------- Thesis Writing: A Guide for Students By Jennifer Swenson The Sparrow’s introduction to thesis writing is a clear-cut and comprehensive tool for those who are about to embark on one of the more difficult projects in all of academia. Thesis writing is not an art; rather, it is the product of many months of research and painstaking hard work. Whether you are writing a master’s thesis, a PhD thesis, or any other form of this venerable genre, I hope this guide will serve you well. Thesis Writing Background What is a thesis? A thesis is essentially a research report. It addresses a very specific issue and describes what is known about that issue, what work the student has done to investigate or resolve it, and how that issue may play out in the future. It is the thesis writer’s responsibility to familiarize her with the history of the issue and the different points of view that exist. The thesis writer works with a mentor who is an expert in the field that the thesis concerns, but not necessarily an expert on that exact topic. Usually thesis topics are so specific that very few people in the world except the thesis writer herself could be considered an expert on them. Your thesis writing will make a contribution to the field about which you are writing, and in a larger sense, to all of human knowledge. A thesis is distinctively different from an undergraduate research report because it is so original. How Specific Should My Thesis Get? When writing a thesis, you should...
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