Guide to Thesis Preparation

Transcription

1 Guide to Thesis Preparation 1 Guide to Thesis Preparation The objective of this Guide to Thesis Preparation is to provide quick and general reference for research postgraduate students of The Chinese University of Hong Kong in preparing their theses. For more detailed information on style and format, students may consult the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1993), copies of which are available for reference at the University Library. The actual format, style and abbreviations should be decided by the Graduate Division in accordance with normal practice adopted by journals or other publications commonly used in the field. 1. Order of contents A thesis should contain the following parts in the order shown: (i) Title page A title page should contain the following information: the thesis title the name of the student, to be identical with that shown on the HKID card or passport the name of the supervisor(s) (for doctoral thesis, as requested by ProQuest Information and Learning Company for microfilming purpose) the degree for which the thesis is submitted the name of the programme the name of the University the month and year of submission a statement on the University s copyright (Samples are given in Appendix 1) (ii) Abstract A short abstract, in both Chinese and English, should be included in each copy of thesis submitted. For Master s theses, the length of the abstract should be words. For doctoral theses, the abstract shall not exceed 800 characters in Chinese or 500 words in English. The abstracts of doctoral theses will be microfilmed by ProQuest Information and Learning Company and its editors will shorten any abstract which exceeds 350 words. The heading of the abstract should be as follows: Abstract of thesis entitled: (iii) (iv) (v) Submitted by for the degree of at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in (month and year) Acknowledgement (if any) Table of contents, paginated Where applicable, a list of tables, figures, symbols or abbreviations may be included. Text

2 2 General Information (vi) (vii) Appendices, if any Bibliography 2. Paper size The thesis, whether in Chinese or in English, should be typewritten on international A4 size paper (210 mm x 297 mm). The thesis should be typed or printed on one side of the paper only. 3. Margins The margin at the binding edge should be at least 4 cm, and the margin at the outer edge 2.5 cm. 4. Spacing Double or one-and-a-half spacing should be used, except for quotations, footnotes, references and captions, which may be single-spaced. 5. Pagination All pages, except the title page, should be numbered. Small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii,...) are used for the preliminaries (e.g., abstract, acknowledgement, table of contents). Arabic numbers (1,2,3,...) are used for the text, appendices and bibliography. 6. Loose material For easy identification all loose material which cannot be bound in the text (such as slides and tapes) should be marked with the student s name and degree for which the work is submitted. 7. Miscellaneous conventions 8. Common errors and problems 9. Checklist 10. Proofreader s marks 11. Acknowledgement of sources in written work (Refer to Acknowledgement of sources in written work.) Note: Sections 7-10 are based on material from Guide to Project Report and Thesis Preparation (for the graduate programmes of Business Administration), by courtesy of the Division of Business Administration.

3 Guide to Thesis Preparation 3 A Sample of Title Page (for thesis written in English) Appendix 1A An Investigation into the Action of Sodium Chloride 1 CHAN Tai-man 2 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Chemistry 3 The Chinese University of Hong Kong June 1998 The Chinese University of Hong Kong holds the copyright of this thesis. Any person(s) intending to use a part or whole of the materials in the thesis in a proposed publication must seek copyright release from the Dean of the Graduate School. 1 Title of thesis. 2 Name as in HKID card or passport. 3 Name of programme.

4 4 General Information Appendix 1B A Sample of Title Page (for thesis written in Chinese)!"#$%&' 1 2!"#!"# 3 c!"# NVVU S ======E!"#$%&' ()*+,-./01234 ===!"#$%"&'()*+,-../012F 1 Title of thesis. 2 Name as in HKID card or passport. 3 Name of programme.

5 Guide to Thesis Preparation 5 MISCELLANEOUS CONVENTIONS Appendix 2 The conventions vary to some extent from discipline to discipline. The guidelines given below are the ones most generally adopted, but when in doubt, students should consult references pertaining to their own discipline, e.g., leading journals. NUMBERS General Rules Numbers ten and below are written as words: ten, five, nine. But :5 percent, HK$7. Round numbers over ninety-nine that can be expressed in two words are written as words: one hundred, five thousand, forty-five thousand. Exact numbers over ten are written as figures: 11, 107, 250, 575, 128. Series When numbers below and above ten appear in a series or group, figures should be used:please prepare 125 copies of the guide, 25 copies of the memo, and 10 copies of the chart. Several large round numbers in a series or group are usually written as figures: The library received 1,500 books in February, 3,000 in April, and 10,500 in October. Initial Numbers Decimals and Percentages Fractions Numbers that begin a sentence are always written as words. This rule has no exceptions: Nine tests are required. Figures are used to express decimals and percentages. The word percent should be spelt out: With interest at 8 percent, the monthly payment amounts to US$ However, for quantitative subjects, where percentages are cited frequently, the abbreviation % can be used. A fraction standing alone is written as a word: Trade and commodity services accounted for nine-tenths of all international receipts and payments. Note the hyphen.

6 6 General Information REFERENCE TO TITLES OF WORKS General Rules The general rule is to italicize the titles of whole published works, such as books, periodicals, pamphlets, bulletins: Business Writing, Fortune, The South China Morning Post. Before computer text processing became common, underline would be used instead of italics, e.g., Business Writing. This remains acceptable. Quotation marks are used for parts of these works, such as book chapters, articles in magazines, journals, newspapers: Inflation: The Big Fight Opens in Time. Quotation marks are used for the titles of unpublished works, such as typed reports, theses, lectures, meetings: Export Marketing Strategies of the Hong Kong Garment Industry. Capitalization All words in a book or magazine article title are capitalized, except prepositions, articles and coordinate conjunctions that do not appear as the first word: Public Speaking for the Professions, The Problems and Promises of Asia s New Oil Wells.

7 Guide to Thesis Preparation 7 COMMON ERRORS AND PROBLEMS Appendix 3 The number one rule is that there is no hard and fast rule. There are exceptions to every guideline, and different preferences on matters of style. The following are only general suggestions. The examples preceded by illustrate common errors and problems; indicates revised version. Pay attention to the parts underlined. ABSTRACT NOUNS MISSING ANTECEDENTS VAGUE ANTECEDENTS DANGLING VERBALS Dangling Gerund Prefer a concrete noun to an abstract noun as the subject of a main verb. The nature of the solution is such that the parking facilities must be expanded. The solution is to expand the parking facilities. Do not use a pronoun for which there is no antecedent. In Hong Kong they import lamb from New Zealand too. Hong Kong imports lamb from New Zealand too. Never allow a pronoun to have two possible antecedents. Because the carburetor in the car is defective, a new one must be purchased. The defective carburetor must be replaced. Give the modifier something to modify. In preparing the questionnaire, these factors should be considered. In preparing the questionnaire, the writer should consider these factors. (The initial phrase modifies the writer, not these factors.) Dangling Participle Having completed the project, the information concerning it was sent to the supervisor. (The information did not complete the project; the technician did.) The technician, having completed the project, sent the information concerning it to the supervisor.

8 8 General Information After the project had been completed, the information concerning it was sent to the supervisor. Dangling Infinitive GERUND-PREPOSITION COMBINATION INTRODUCTORY IT AND THERE CONSTRUCTIONS To determine each phase of the life cycle, the rate of growth of net sales and the rate of growth of net land, plant and equipment must be considered. (The rate of growth does not determine.) Each phase of the life cycle may be determined if the rate of growth of net sales and the rate of growth of net land, plant and equipment are known. Avoid the gerund-preposition combination where a participle alone will suffice. For example, gathering data is preferable to the gathering of data ; similarly considering alternatives is preferable to the consideration of alternatives. Avoid beginning a sentence with an it or there construction. It can be seen in figure 4 that the cost of living has increased by 6 percent. Figure 4 shows that the cost of living has increased by 6 percent. There are many factors that affect the construction of a reservoir. Many factors affect the construction of a reservoir. LONG WORDS AND PHRASES Use short, specific words to replace long words and phrases. Due to the fact that the train derailed near Shatin, a great number of people were late to work. Because the train derailed near Shatin, many people were late to work.

9 Guide to Thesis Preparation 9 Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives according to the law along the lines of as regards by way of illustration despite the fact that due to the fact that for situations in which for the purpose of for the reason that in accordance with in addition to inasmuch as in case of in connection with in reference to in respect of in such a manner in the event of in the event that in the interests of in view of the fact that on the basis of outside of through the use of with regard to with the result that legally like, similar to about, concerning for example although because, since if for, to because, since by, under also, besides because, since if about, concerning about, concerning about, concerning so if should for because, since by except by about, regarding so ascertain anticipate commence exhibit fabricate furnish indicate check expect begin show make give, send say, show, tell

10 10 General Information Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives is capable of is equipped with is instrumental in make an effort necessitate perform provide information for purchase request substantiate terminate utilize can has helps try require do explain buy ask verify end use as the occasion warrants at a time when at all times at present at some future date at that time at the present time by the time that during the course of during the time that in few cases (instances) in many cases in the near future prior to subsequent time when necessary when always now later then now when during when seldom often soon before later additional a great deal of a great (large) number of a major portion of a portion of more most many most some

11 Guide to Thesis Preparation 11 Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives a wide variety of as a whole in excess of in the neighbourhood of the bulk of many entire greater (more) than about most MISPLACED MODIFIERS WEAK MODIFIERS FAULTY PARALLELISM Place a modifier as close as possible to the element modified. Ms. Chu wrote a report to her supervisor explaining the systems of forest fire detection. (This sentence says that the supervisor was doing the explaining.) Ms. Chu s report explaining the systems of forest fire detection was sent to her supervisor. Omit adverbs such as most, really, surely and very when they weaken rather than strengthen the words they modify. The machine operates very efficiently. The machine operates efficiently. Put all items in a list or series in the same grammatical form. This chapter explains the importance of stock dividends and establishing criteria for evaluating the stockoption practice. This chapter explains the importance of stock dividends and establishes criteria for evaluating the stockoption practice. Avoid awkward changes of subject in mid-sentence. The first problem is political, but there are questions of economics that are almost entirely involved in the second problem. The first problem is political; the second, principally economic.

12 12 General Information OVERUSED PASSIVE VOICE Prefer the active voice to the passive voice. The passive voice should be used when appropriate, but it is less forceful and usually requires more words compared with the active voice. The Return on Investments column is applied in only one case. The Return on Investments column applies in only one case. Note however that reports of scientific experiments are normally in the passive voice. We heated the sample. The sample was heated. REDUNDANCIES SPELLING AND TYPING ERRORS EMPHASIS AND SUBJECT Avoid using extra words which repeat the same idea. Mr. Lee s report describes work during the period from December 1978 to February Mr. Lee s report describes work from December 1978 to February Carefully proofread the entire paper for spelling and typing errors (and for omissions, lapses in style, and other matters). Use the spell check functions in word processors. If someone else did the typing, the longhand manuscript should first be proofread, then the final typed copy proofread just as carefully. Errors or inconsistencies in the presentation draw attention to themselves and can detract from the research by leaving an impression of carelessness. The concept to be emphasized should preferably be in the subject. A thermometer was used to measure the temperature. The temperature was measured by a thermometer. The temperature was measured. (The temperature is the important concept; the thermometer is only a tool. Therefore the thermometer should not be in the subject; it could even be omitted.)

13 Guide to Thesis Preparation 13 Appendix 4 CHECKLIST The final manuscript should be a complete, cohesive, logically-sequenced and persuasive document. The following list provides a quick check of presentation techniques to help the writer prevent any oversight. The introductory chapter states the origin, purpose and scope of the study, and the plan of development of the paper, as appropriate. The concluding chapter is consistent with the claims of the introductory chapter. The overall conclusion is justified with identification and interpretation of the findings. Content chapters develop the subject in an appropriate logical order. All necessary materials are included to eliminate any gaps in content, and all unnecessary materials are excluded to avoid digressions from the central theme. All parts and pages are in the correct order. Headings and subheadings are clear, properly worded and grammatically parallel. Single subdivision is not used (e.g., Section 1, Section 1.1 without Section 1.2), the reason being that a whole cannot be logically subdivided into only one part. Paragraphs are well organized and of reasonable length. Significant ideas are highlighted and supporting details are put in secondary positions. Supplementary materials, related to the subject but too detailed or bulky for the text, appear in the appendix section. Specific reference in the text is made to the appropriate appendix materials. Visual aids are simple and clear, that is, free of clutter. A title and number are assigned to each visual aid. The caption should aim to be self-contained, so that the visual aid can be understood without reference to the text. Visual aids appear in the text as close as possible following their first mention. The text refers to each visual aid by number and discusses the significant features. The manuscript satisfies format requirements for order of contents, paper size, margins, and so on. The manuscript is free of mechanical flaws, such as spelling and typing errors, which will detract from the research content.

14 14 General Information Appendix 5 PROOFREADER S MARKS Instruction Mark in Margin to Type Corrected Type Delete. the good word the word Insert indicated material. the word the good word Put underlined material in capitals. the word The word Put in lower case letters. the Word the word Spell out. 2 words two words Close up. No space. the wo rd the word Insert space. theword the word Correct uneven spacing. Transpose letters or the word good the good word words. Run in. word word word word word word

15 Guide to Thesis Preparation 15 Line up properly. Move to left/right. Raise/lower. Start paragraph. No paragraph. In this correct? Something omitted. See copy for material and insert here. Keep as is. Disregard the correction shown. Insert period colon semicolon comma question mark exclamation point hyphen dash parentheses brackets apostrophe quotation marks