CFAD THESIS DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

General Directions:
When preparing and writing your documentation and research paper, please take note
of the following:
1. Your documentation/research is an academic paper; always use proper and
formal language. Avoid use of slang and colloquialisms. Write your paper in
complete English with due attention to spelling, grammar and context if
necessary, seek proofreading assistance or services.
2. Always refer to yourself in the third person, hence: The student must always refer
to him/herself as the proponent when referring to him/herself in the research
paper and all documents related to the Thesis project.
3. All sources must be cited (APA style)
4. Discussions must be clear and concise make your points brief but
substantial.
5. All images, sketches, screen shots and the like must be labeled via captions
describing or naming the image; any non-original images used as pegs, samples
or design must also be cited in the caption.
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
Thesis Format refers to the layout and creative content of the thesis book, including
page composition and other accompanying compilations.
1. LANGUAGE
The thesis must be written in English.
2. PAGE SIZE AND SPECIFICATIONS
Page size must be 8.5 x 11 inches (or 216 279 millimeters), also known
as letter size in U.S. standards. (ISO standard paper sizes, such as A4,
are not allowed.)
The inclusion of oversized pages or sheets of paper larger than 8.5 x 11
inches (known as foldouts) is discouraged.
3. FONT
Text must be in Arial in 12 pts. (normal or bold as needed)
Smaller font size may be appropriate for footnotes or other material
outside of the main text.
Black text is recommended

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

Font requirements apply to all text including captions, footnotes, citations,

etc.

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

4. MARGINS
Standard margins are 1 on all sides except for the left margin at 1.5 to allow
space for binding.
5. SPACING
Document must be double-spaced with the exception of quotations as
paragraphs, captions, lists, graphs, charts, footnotes/endnotes, bibliographic
entries, items within tables, and lists in appendices.
Quotations and footnotes may be single-spaced within each entry.
Lengthy tables must be single-spaced.
5. NUMBERING (page, tables, etc.)
Page numbers must be on the upper right corner
Tables/Charts should be consecutively numbered and should be placed below
the interpretation and analysis
o e.g. Table 1, Table 2, etc. for tables
o e.g. Figure 1, Figure 2, etc. for charts
7. ALIGNMENT
All Titles (e.g. CHAPTER I, THE PROBLEM, REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE, etc.) must be centered, all caps, bold.
Subtitles (e.g. Statement of the problem, Scope and Limitations, etc.) must be
aligned at the left, CLC, bold.
Body text must be justified (flush left and right)
Indent at the beginning of every paragraph
Example:
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction
Technology has always been a part of human activities since the invention of the
wheel. And whether we like it or not, it will continue to play an important role in the
generations to come.

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

A. PRELIMINARY PARTS
TITLE PAGE
Example:
PROJECT TITLE <bold>

A Thesis Presented to
The Faculty of the College of Fine Arts and Design
University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Advertising Arts

Proponents Name
Month/Year of submission

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

ENDORSEMENT SHEET
Contains the signature of the Thesis Adviser and the Department Head stipulating that
the student has partially fulfilled the requirements leading to the course and is
recommended to take the oral presentation of the thesis.
<page break>
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PAGE
Contains the students' personal inscription, and expression of gratitude to his family,
mentor, peers, friends, institutions and other individuals who have given assistance in
completing the thesis.
<page break>
THESIS ABSTRACT
The abstract states the problem, describes the methods and procedures used, and
gives the main results or conclusions of the research.
Minimum of 200 words in length and not more than two pages.
<page break>

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contains the reader's guide to the thesis and has the following parts:
a) all the elements of the preliminary parts
b) all chapters with main headings and subheadings.
Example:
TABLE OF CONTENTs

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction . 1
Research Framework

Statement of the Problem 9

Hypotheses 10
Scope and Limitations of the Study ... 11
Significance of the Study . 12
Definition of Terms 13
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

16

CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODS
Design of the Study/Method to be Used .

41

Population Frame and Sample/Subjects of the Study ..

42

Description of Subjects/Respondents .

42

Instruments of the Study

43

Data Gathering Methods and Procedures .

45

Statistical Treatment of Data

45

REFERENCES .

48

<page break>

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
RESEARCH METHODS
DEFINITION OF TERMS

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Contains at least three (3) statements articulating the problem or the need, which
prompted the student to work on the proposal/study.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Answers the questions: what do you want to do with your project?

Use S.M.A.R.T. objectives to make them easier to develop. SMART stands for
(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Based).
A project should have no more than 3-5 primary objectives; additional items are
secondary objectives
The section should begin with: The project seeks to: or the project aims to:
And is followed by numbered objectives that begin with a verb (action)

Sample:
This project seeks to:
1. Encourage the youth to pursue their ambition
2. Provide support to the youth
3. Serve as an advocacy to the community
SCOPE AND LIMITATION

Scope is the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to
which it is relevant
Defines the range of activities that your project will cover. This will also define the
limits of research, content and output that will form part of your project
Allows the proponent to set the levels of expectations that the reader will be
constrained to when the proponent produces the project

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

Tips:
- Describe the entire coverage of the project include topics, subtopics,
research activities, and production phases
- Be clear as to the possible limits of research, data gathering, experimentation
or implementation depending on topic, time constraints and/or location
- Do not use sweeping or motherhood statements or target universal change
with your project (i.e. all students, will solve the problems of, or promote
world peace)
RESEARCH METHOD

A description of the research, data gathering and production processes and steps
that you will undertake in developing your project
Discuss briefly the tools that you will use to develop specific aspects of your
project; discuss different tool options you may have as well as alternative uses of
these production tools for other aspects of your project
If your project requires specific research or experimentation prior to the
commencement of production, describe your experimentation procedures here
including, sampling methods, data gathering protocols, etc.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Contains terms and their corresponding operational definitions arranged in alphabetical
order. The purpose of providing the meaning of particular words is to aid the reader in
understanding the project.
<page break>

CFAD Thesis Development Guide

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND WORK
1. Related Literature:

A discussion of published materials that are related to your topic

Includes a discussion and review of works similar to your project and/or
discussing the same topic
(for literature) Discuss briefly the important points or concepts of the author and
how this relates or forms a foundation for your project. (Books, publications,
related studies and researches)
(for works) Discuss the nature of the work what it does and how it
accomplishes its goals/ objectives. Compare and contrast this to your proposed
project how will my project be similar, differ or add to, the existing project.

Reviews shall be minimum of two (2) books, two (2) articles (newspapers,
magazines, academic journals, etc.), three (3) websites, and 1 related work.
Review must not exceed 2 paragraphs and review of related work must not exceed 3
paragraphs
All sources should be acknowledged and fully documented APA citation style and
listed in the chapter called References.
Classify materials as:
a. local sources
b. foreign sources
c. internet sources
2. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework (for Book Illustration, Fashion Design, Production
Design)
<page break>

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CHAPTER III
CREATIVES, OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND ANALYSIS
1. SURVEY RESULTS (tables, charts, analysis and interpretation)
2. Objectives and Strategies
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Marketing Objectives and Strategies

Advertising Objectives and Strategies
Creative Objectives, Strategies
Media Objectives and Strategies
Media frequency chart
<page break>
CHAPTER IV

CREATIVE EXECUTIONS
Documentation of exploration process
Ads and promotional materials
<page break>
CHAPTER V
Conclusion and Recommendations
<page break>

REFERENCES
Contains the list of all references, materials and other sources of information.
<page break>

APPENDICES

CORPORATE/PRODUCT BACKGROUND
-

Business Information/History

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Corporate Philosophy/ Mission-Vision

Communications History
Other Insights and Information

TARGET MARKET PROFILE

Primary and Secondary Markets

Market Characteristics
- Demographics
- Psychographics
- Geographics

SWOT
PEST
MARKETING MIX
OTHER MATERIALS
Contains other materials such as questionnaires, letters, interview
transcriptions,etc.

STUDENT PROFILE/ BIO-DATA with 2"x2" picture

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