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THE FORMAT OF THE THESIS Thesis structure

➢ Title Page ➢ Certificate ➢ Declaration ➢ Acknowledgement ➢ Abstract / Preface ➢ Table of Contents ➢ List of Figures ➢ List of Tables ➢ List of Abbreviations ➢ List of Symbols ➢ Introduction ➢ Chapters ➢ Result and Discussion ➢ Conclusions ➢ Recommendations ➢ References / Work Cited / Bibliography ➢ Appendices

Title Page Title, researcher name, reference number/register number, research guide name, institution, department, month of submission Certificate Certificate provided by research guide - regarding quality and duration of the research. Declaration Researcher’s own declaration regarding his entire research work. Acknowledgment Research Guide and anyone who helped you, technically, intellectually, financially, departmental support, lab-mates, friends, family and etc.. Abstract

Unit – 4 Research Methodology “The format of the thesis”

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A good abstract explains in one line why the paper is important. It then goes on to give a summary of your major results, preferably couched in numbers with error limits. The final sentences explain the major implications of your work. A good abstract is concise, readable, and quantitative. ➢ Length should be 1-2 paragraphs, approx. 400 words. ➢ Absrtracts generally do not have citations. ➢ Information in title should not be repeated. ➢ Be explicit. ➢ What did you do? ➢ Why did you do it? What question were you trying to answer? ➢ How did you do it? State methods, theories. Table of Contents ➢ list all headings and subheadings with page numbers ➢ indent subheadings List of Figures / List of Tables Figures commonly refer to photographs, images, maps, charts, graphs, and drawings. Tables generally list tabulated numerical data. These items should appear as close as possible to their first mention in the text. Tables and figures should be numbered with numerals, either consecutively or by chapter. Tables and figures may be embedded within the text or placed on a page alone. When placed on its own page, a figure or table may be centered on the page. When included with text, a table or figure should be set apart from the text. ➢ Tables and figures, including captions, may be oriented in landscape. ➢ Table data and figure data must be kept together, if the information fits on one page.

Introduction You can't write a good introduction until you know what the body of the research says. Consider writing the introductory section(s) after you have completed the rest of the research, rather than before. The next paragraphs in the introduction should cite previous research in this area. It should cite those who had the idea or ideas first, and should also cite those who have done the most recent and relevant work. You should then go on to explain why more work was necessary (your work, of course.)

Unit – 4 Research Methodology “The format of the thesis”

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Result and Discussion Start with a few sentences that summarize the most important results. The discussion section should be a brief essay in itself, answering the following questions and caveats: ➢ What are the major patterns in the observations? ➢ Interpret results in terms of background laid out in the introduction - what is the relationship of the present results to the original question? ➢ What is the implication of the present results for other unanswered questions? Conclusion ➢ What is the strongest and most important statement that you can make from your observations? ➢ Refer back to problem posed, and describe the conclusions that you reached from carrying out this investigation, summarize new observations, new interpretations, and new insights that have resulted from the present work. ➢ Include the broader implications of your results, views. ➢ Do not repeat word for word the abstract, introduction or discussion. ➢ Directions for future research on this or related topics. References Adams, Hazard. Critical Theory Since Plato. New York: Harcourt, 1992. Cowasjee, Saros & Vasanta A. Shahane. Modern Indian Fiction. New Delhi: Vikas, 1981. Appendices ➢ Include all your data in the appendix. ➢ List of research Publication, Paper presentation

Unit – 4 Research Methodology “The format of the thesis”