ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

1. What a Master's Thesis is

empirically based research study that is an original piece of work by a graduate student
o produced by experiment or observation
o represents the students culminating research and writing abilities
may either be:
o traditional five-chapter thesis
o artistic performance/ production
represents the students perseverance, discipline, and scholarly writing

1.1. The difference between a Master's thesis and a term paper

Term Paper
> summary of research or other sources
about a particular topic
> there may be a [given] subject/ question
that will be answered
> conclusions are based on prior research/es
conducted by other researchers

Masters Thesis
> based on original research on a particular
topic conducted by the student
> does not answer [given] questions
> conclusions are based on data collected by
the researcher him/herself

1.2. The difference between a Master's thesis and a Doctoral dissertation

Universities most commonly use thesis to refer to both masters or doctoral degree
thesis is oftentimes for a masters degree and dissertation for a doctoral degree

length
people involved
focus

Masters thesis
shorter than a dissertation, but
longer than a bachelors thesis
at least 2
narrow, practical

Doctoral dissertation
significantly long
at least 4
broad, theoretical

They have more similarities than of differences.

o follows a systematic process
1.3. Scope and Aim (SOAS University of London 2007)
shows how well a Masters degree candidate can independently do research on a
particular topic, including a theoretical background
should be of publishable quality and therefore fulfil the requirements of a good piece of
research
the student researcher will have to isolate a viable topic for research as soon as possible
he/she should show capability to critically analyse a chosen topic will be assessed

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ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

1.4. Sources and Referencing

Select an appropriate amount of references (vital that the paper is not based upon a few
works only)
In general, published sources such as books and academic articles are the more reliable
source of information and to be preferred over internet sources.
o Use ONLY reliable internet sources, such as governmental or institutional
websites.
o Wikipedia and other similar reference sites as well as blogs or chat rooms ARE
NOT to be used in a dissertation.
information in the bibliography should be formatted to the appropriate academic
standard

2. Components of a Master's Thesis

2.1. Preliminaries
Title Page
Approval Sheet and Letters
Acknowledgment
Dedication
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables, Figures, and Appendices
2.2. Introduction
introduces the topic of the thesis to the reader
justifies why it is necessary to study the topic and what research questions the study will
answer
typically includes all or some of the following:
Background of the study (1 to 2 pages would suffice)
Statement of the problem
Hypotheses
Objectives
Significance
Scope and Limitations
Definition of Terms
2.3. Literature Review
This chapter must provide a substantive review of the findings, methods, and theories
from previous studies as published in academic and scholarly-reviewed documents such
as journals, research anthologies, theses, and dissertations. (Format 2008)

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ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

2.4. Framework
presents the theoretical foundations of the research
explains how previous scholarly arguments inform the present research
serves as a blueprint as to how the variables/concepts in your study relate to one
another
typically includes:
Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
2.5. Research Methods
describes the actual procedures that were used to conduct the study (how the study was
conducted)
typically includes:
Locale where the study took place
Design research approaches, methods, and/or techniques employed
Participants/ Samples/ Units of Analysis individuals who participated in or data analysed
for the study and how [and why] they were selected
Instrumentation tools used to collect data
Procedures how data were collected and/or implemented in the study
Data Analysis statistical or qualitative technique used in the study
2.5. Findings
presents the findings of the study
must be organized according to the specific objectives
Some helpful items to remember in writing the results and discussion (Format 2008:
32):
1. Discussion must precede any visual aid such as tables, charts, pictures or
matrices.
2. All direct quotes must be italicized and attributed to specific informants (use
pseudonyms if needed). Quotes that are longer than three manuscript lines must
be indented by 0.5. Non-English quotes from interviewees and participants
must be followed by an English translation in brackets.
3. When discussing data, use the past tense because they were gathered weeks
before the write-up is composed. However, use the present tense when making
inferences across findings.
4. The findings of the study must be linked to the earlier chapters. To compose a
5. Sound and solid thesis or dissertation, compare and contrast the findings with
what has been earlier found in literature or argued in theory. Thus, cite previous
studies and theories in making your arguments.
2.6. Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
2.7. References

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ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

2.8. Appendices
3. Thesis Formatting
3.1. paper: White, 8.5 x 11, 80gsm. No special paper may be used in any part of the
document, except for photo paper for pictures, graphics, and other illustrations.
3.2. font: serif typeface (Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, etc.) for content, 12
3.2. margins: 1.5 for the left margin, 1.0 for the top, right, and bottom margins
3.3. spacing: Double spacing for the entire document. No additional spacing between
paragraphs. Add an extra double space between sections.
3.4. page numbering: Place page numbers in the header, on the top right corner, with no special
formatting.
For all preliminary pages, use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii).
For the body, use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). Numbering should begin with
the first page of the first chapter, but the page number should not appear on
the first page. Similarly, the first page of each succeeding chapter should
have no page number.
3.5. Formatting of Charts, Pictures and Illustrations, and Tables and Matrices
Adapted from Format (2008: 3-4)
3.5.1. Charts, pictures and illustrations, and tables and matrices should appear on the
same page or on the following page after they are mentioned in the text. Put an extra
double space before and after these items. Photo paper may be used for charts,
pictures, and illustrations.
3.5.2. Images must fit and be centered within margins. If a table, figure, or picture does
not fit in a portrait page layout, change to a landscape layout. Put this landscaped
page immediately after the page that cites the table, figure, or picture. The landscaped
page must have a 1.5 margin at the top, and 1.0 margin on all others. Landscaped
pages must be oriented away from the binding.
3.5.3. No text should appear to the left or to the right of the charts, pictures and
illustrations, and tables and matrices.
3.5.4. Label charts, pictures and illustrations, and tables and matrices chronologically
using Hindu-Arabic numerals.
3.5.5. Put titles at the top of tables, and at the bottom of charts, pictures and illustrations.
Titles must be flush left, rather than centered, on the page.
3.5.6. Place captions at the bottom of the pictures and illustrations. Captions must be
single spaced. Separate captions from the text with an extra double space.

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ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

4. Good practices to adopt and bad practices to avoid

(Refer to the photocopied materials attached herewith.)

5. CAL GSO Guidelines (Graduate Studies 2004: 28-33, 36)

requesting for a thesis adviser
o composition of a thesis committee (adviser, co-adviser, critic reader)
The thesis proposal
o The oral defense of a thesis proposal may be held only under the following
conditions:
The proposal has been received by each member of the Oral Defense
Panel at least one week before the scheduled defense;
at least three to five graduate faculty members invited are present. If less
than three are present, the defense shall be re-scheduled.
o A certified copy of the approved thesis proposal and a form endorsing it duly
signed by the Thesis Proposal Committee shall be submitted by the Thesis
Proposal Committee to the Dean/Director, through channels.
Oral defense
o Oral Defense Panel (5)
Deans representative (1)
a maximum of (2) Masters Oral Defense Panel from an academic
institution or qualified agency outside the College/Unit or University.
o Administration of the Oral Defense
to be held in the College/Unit at a tie recommended by the Panel and
authorized by the Dean/ Director, through channels
time and place of the defense shall be officially announced by the GSO
two weeks before the scheduled defense
The oral defense may only be held under the following conditions:
1. the thesis manuscript has been received by each member of the
Oral Defense Panel at least two (2) weeks before the scheduled
examination; and
2. all members of the Oral Defense Panel are present

The Masters Oral defense shall be open to the public

evaluation and rating of the students oral defense shall be done by the
panel in a closed-door meeting to be held immediately after the defense

Rating
there shall be three ratings:
Pass
Provisional Pass means minor revisions are required
Fail means substantial revisions are required by at least two of
the five Panel members or one of the three panel members.
Passing or Failing a Masters Defense

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ENG 299: Research

Conventions of an MA Thesis
Prepared by: Nicanor L. Guinto
MA English Studies: Language

Dr. Maria Corazon S. A. Castro

Professor

passing the defense means approval of his/her Masters degree

failing the defense requires him/her to submit himself/herself to a
Masters defense within one (1) academic year
Intellectual Property Rights
copyright of unpublished thesis rests with the authors

Submission of bound copies

o student must submit to the GSO five (5) bound copies of the approved
Masters thesis
o The bound copies must conform to the standard format of the College
and contain the official approval of the thesis by the members of the oral
defense panel.

References:
Biggam, J. (2008). Succeeding with your Master's dissertation: A step-by-step handbook. NY, USA:
Open University Press.
Bui, Y.N. (2009). How to write a Master's thesis. USA: Sage.
Elizabeth City State University. (2008). A manual for Master's thesis preparation [PDF]. Date
retrieved: July 17, 2013
from http://www.ecsu.edu/academics/graduate/docs/ThesisDocument.pdf.
Format guidebook for theses and dissertation. (2008, June). [Author]. College of Mass
Communication, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City.
Graduate Studies. (2004). General rules for graduate programs: College of Arts and Letters, University
of the Philippines-Diliman. Quezon City: CAL, UP.
Seminar, S. (2006). Instructions for writing a thesis [PDF]. Date retrieved: July 17, 2013
from https://www.jyu.fi/sport/laitokset/liikuntabiologia/laitos/dokumentit/englishdocuments/WriteGuide.
SOAS University of London. (2007). MA Dissertation Guideline. Date retrieved: July 17, 2013
from http://www.soas.ac.uk/languagecultures/studentinfo/madissguidlines/.

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