OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION WRITING A BACHELOR S / MASTER S THESIS Layout instructions Structure of thesis in engineering References & plagiarism Language aspects & inspection Maturity test Thesis Seminar, 19 November 2010 Ulla Paatola, Ulla.Paatola@metropolia.fi 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 1 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 2 LAYOUT INSTRUCTIONS Follow the instructions in A Guide to the Final Year Project by Taru Sotavalta do not take liberties https://tuubi.metropolia.fi/portal/auth/portal/metropolia/mytube/frontpage/workspaces/w orkspaceswindow?action=6&mode=view&id=81199202 Margins Top 3.5 cm, bottom 2.5 cm, left 4 cm, right 2 cm Line spacing 1.5 in text proper Single for title page, abstract, contents & references Font Style Text & title page: Times New Roman Hardback cover: Helvetica Size Text: 12 Chapter headings: 14 bold Subheadings: 12 bold Leave one blank line between paragraphs Do not indent the first line in a paragraph 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 3 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 4 STRUCTURE OF THESIS IN ENGINEERING Title page Abstract Table of contents (List of abbreviations) Introduction Theoretical background (= Literature review) Methods & materials Results Discussion Conclusions References (Appendices) TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT & TABLE OF CONTENTS 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 5 1
ABSTRACT Summary of the key points of your thesis (150-200 words) Written to a reader who has not read your thesis Should make sense on its own 4 parts Why the project was carried out How the project was carried out What was found What can be concluded Native speakers of Finnish: both English & Finnish abstract Others: English abstract 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 7 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 8 Contents Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1 2 Design of the project 2 2.1 Report structure 2 2.2 Layout instructions 3 2.3 Tables and figures 3 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 9 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 10 INTRODUCTION What was the question your project aimed to answer and why? INTRODUCTION, BODY & CONCLUSION Include a general statement of the topic, background to the project & a clear statement of the purpose, scope and objectives of your project Keep this section short; a few paragraphs, no subheadings 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 12 2
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND (=LITERATURE REVIEW) What is already known about your subject area and what is not known? METHODS & MATERIALS How was the project carried out in practice, and how was the data analysed? Discuss ideas in previous studies relevant to your topic Deliver arguments & evidence based on them Justify your research question, explain the gap in knowledge that your study fills Describe the context in which your work was carried out (the overall project & its design, your specific task, work environment, etc.) Describe the methods & materials used (accurate details of data, software, materials, methods, techniques, etc.) 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 13 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 14 RESULTS What was found? Include a clear presentation of the results, discuss even possible errors & the sources of errors Use an appropriate mixture of text, tables & figures Refer to each table & figure in your text both before & after presentation DISCUSSION What do the results mean? Evaluate the results & the project from various viewpoints Reliability Significance & usefulness of the results Validity of conclusions drawn from the results Discuss possibilities of applying the results for other purposes than the initial, problems encountered during the project & decisions you made Evaluate whether the objectives set in the introduction were met Compare results you got with those you expected 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 15 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 16 CONCLUSIONS What can be concluded? Write a brief summary of the key outcomes of the project & a conclusion about the significance and meaning of the results for your client and field in general Mention the strengths and limitations of the project & what could be changed if the project was carried out again Recommend further action Keep this section short; a few paragraphs, no subheadings SUMMARY: QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED What was the question your project aimed to answer and why? (introduction) What was already known? (theoretical background) How was the project carried out? (methods) How was the data analysed? (methods) What was found? (results) What do the results mean? (discussion) What can be concluded? (conclusions) 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 17 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 18 3
REFERENCES REFERENCES & PLAGIARISM Good scientific practise means you Acknowledge when you present other people s ideas & studies Make a clear distinction between ideas taken from sources & your own ideas Follow the documentation rules for direct quotations, paraphrases, summaries & the list of references 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 20 DOCUMENTATION RULES: IN-TEXT REFERENCES Use the Vancouver style Give each of your sources a reference number in the order you introduce them in your text Place the reference number (+ the page number) in square brackets after the borrowed information Each source is given only one reference number which is used throughout your thesis IN-TEXT REFERENCES Provide every time you use 1) Direct quotations 2) Paraphrases or summaries of source material 3) Tables, figures, computations or other data borrowed from a source 4) Any facts that are not common knowledge References numbers in the text must match with the numbers in the reference list 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 21 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 22 WHAT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE? Information presumed to be shared my members of a specific community Helsinki is the capital of Finland. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Use references when discussing specific facts an average, educated reader would not know about unless s/he had studied the topic When in doubt, provide a reference! Make it clear to your reader what is your idea & what is borrowed this is what you get credit for, not claiming great ideas to be yours LIST OF REFERENCES Use the Vancouver system Number your sources in the order you referred to them in the text List them in ascending order according to the number you gave them, not alphabetically Include specific information on the sources in a specific order Use specific punctuation & spacing 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 23 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 24 4
References 1 Case DC. Digital implications of tomorrow s digital reality. Journal of architectural and planning research;2008,25:145-161. 2 Bustos B, Keim D, Saupe D, Schreck T. Contentbased 3-D object retrieval. IEEE computer graphics and applications;27:22-27. BOOKS Author s last name one space Initial(s) of first name(s) full stop one space Title of work full stop one space Place of publication colon one space Publisher semi-colon one space Year of publication full stop Gerson SJ, Gerson SM. Technical writing: process and product. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1997. JOURNAL ARTICLES Author s last name one space Initial(s) of first name(s) full stop one space Title of article full stop one space Title of journal semi-colon Year of publication comma Number of issue colon page range full stop Case DC. Digital implications of tomorrow s digital reality. Journal of architectural and planning research;2008,25:145-161. INTERNET SOURCES Author s last name one space Initial(s) of first name(s) full stop one space Title of document one space [online] full stop one space Place of publication colon one space Publisher semi-colon one space Last update of the document full stop URL: full path to the document full stop one space Accessed (the exact date you accessed the document) full stop Holland M. Citing references [online]. Academic Services. Poole, England: Bournemouth University; September 2004. URL:http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ academicservices/documents/library/ Citing_References.pdf. Accessed 6 October 2004. FILM, DVD, BROADCAST, ETC. Title [Material designation] full stop one space Subsidiary originator (e.g. director and year) full stop one space Production place colon one space Organization semi-colon one space year of release full stop North by northwest [DVD]. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock 1959. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video; 2000. PLAGIARISM Taking an idea from someone s work & not indicating it in your text and/or list of references Taking phrases or sentences from someone s work word for word, indicating the source, but not using quotation marks Paraphrasing or summarising from someone s work by changing only a few words or the order of sentences, whether or not you document the source Deliberate theft Accidental still theft In both cases you are held responsible 5
Original text: Email notifications are implemented using a Java library called JavaMail. The e-mail messages are sent through an Exchange server using SMTP protocol. Unacceptable paraphrase: E-mail notifications are implemented using a library called JavaMail and email messages are sent through a server using which uses SMTP protocol [6,42]. Original text: The chemical behaviour of carbon makes it exceptionally versatile as a building block in molecular architecture. It can form four covalent bonds, link together into intricate molecular skeletons and join with several other elements. The versatility of carbon makes possible the great diversity of organized molecules. Acceptable paraphrase: Biological diversity has its molecular basis in carbon s ability to form an incredible array of molecules with characteristic shapes and chemical properties [7,15]. 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 31 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 32 PHARAPHRASING STRATEGIES Focus on the content and main ideas of the original & use your own words Use synonyms Change the structure of the sentence Change the voice Reduce clauses to phrases Draw mindmaps & re-write Cite your source LANGUAGE ASPECTS & MATURITY TEST Do not paraphrase specialized vocabulary or technical terms 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 33 Divide your text into paragraphs Write complete sentences: subject & verb in each sentence Check subject-verb agreement Begin sentences with capital letters, end them with full stop Write both main & subordinate clauses Use linking words between sentences Check punctuation Use formal language (e.g. do not use contractions, e.g. don t do not) LANGUAGE INSPECTION When your supervisor has approved the final draft of your thesis, you must turn it in for language inspection Ulla Paatola (this autumn; room 2.119) Anne Perälampi (next spring; room 2.119) Leave time for the inspection! It takes about 1-2 weeks, depending on the teacher s current workload & how much revision is needed 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 35 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 36 6
Procedure Email your work to me (Anne may require a paper version of your thesis) The teacher makes corrections, then contacts you You & the teacher meet, the teacher explains what you need to change You do the changes, then meet the teacher again (the meeting takes 1-2 hours; you need to bring the draft with corrections to the meeting) Approval from your supervisor & language advisor register for maturity test & take the thesis to a bindery for hardcover copies MATURITY TEST Assessed by your supervisor & language advisor Marked as pass or fail You need to demonstrate knowledge on the subject area & good command of English and formal style Test can be failed if student does not fulfil the criteria 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 37 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 38 SUMMARY Layout instructions Structure of thesis in engineering References & plagiarism Language aspects & inspection Maturity test Follow the instructions to get good results! Remember: writing is a process you probably need to write, re-write & revise www.metropolia.fi/en ulla.paatola@metropolia.fi 25/11/10 Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences 39 7