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MSU Research
MSU Research
Proposal, Thesis
Proposal, Thesis
& Manuscript
& Manuscript
Writing
Writing
Guidelines
Guidelines
This guide is to help the students of MSU in preparation of their research proposal &
thesis & manuscript writing. It deals only with the format of the proposal, thesis,
manuscript and some conventions.

TYPE FACE & FONT SIZE

The entire text of the proposal & thesis, including heading & page numbers, must
be produced with the same font or typeface. The font size should be:

12 points for Times New Roman, or

11 points for Arial

It should not be scripted or italicized except for scientific names and terms in a
different language.

Bold print may be used for headings. Footnotes and text in tables should not be
less than 8 points.

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MARGINS

1. For the first page of any new chapter :

Top : 50 mm (5.0 cm)

Bottom : 25 mm (2.5 cm)

Left : 38 mm (3.8 cm)

Right : 25 mm (2.5 cm)

2. For the rest of the pages:

Top : 30 mm (3.0 cm)

Bottom : 25 mm (2.5 cm)

Left : 38 mm (3.8 cm)

Right : 25 mm (2.5 cm)

All information text headings, footnotes, and illustrations including page number
must be within the text area.

SPACING

The thesis should be typed 1.5 spaced. However, the following should be single
spaced:

Heading or subheading

References or bibliography

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Explanatory footnotes

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PAGINATION

Pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the proposal & thesis

including pages for tables, figures & appendices. Each appendix should be
identified separately using a big letter (A, B, C).

The pages of appendices should also be numbered accordingly. Pages number

should appear by themselves & should not be bracketed, hyphenated or
accompanied by other decorative devices.

The number of pages for title page, dedication (optional), acknowledgements,

abstracts, table of content, list of tables, list of figures, list of abbreviations or
glossary must use in small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, .).

Page 1 begins with the first page of the introduction or, (Chapter 1). All the pages
should be numbered at the top right corner for each page.

HEADER & FOOTER

The use of header & footer is NOT allowed.

SYMBOLS

The symbol % may be used in place of the word percent, e.g. 75.2% and typed
without a space.

If the candidate prefers to write 75.2 percent in full, then consistency should be
maintained throughout.

NUMBERS

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 All integers less than ten should be spelt out unless they are attached to units of
measure (e.g. 10 kg, 5 mL).

Use figures for number 10 or more than 10, eg: About 225 students...

Number which is less than 10 must be spelt out, eg: The samples in the study
consists of seven elderly...

If a sentence begins with a number, write the number in words, e.g. Twenty two
students were sampled from the study area.

PAPERS

White paper (80 g) or, paper of equivalent quality should be used.

Paper should be of A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm).
All printing should use laser jet printer.

BINDING

The research proposal should be bound with BLACK COLOUR (Previously it

was MAROON COLOURED COVER) binding.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

To write research proposal need to follow the following things:

1. Research project title

2. Introduction/ Background
3. Literature review
4. Objectives and/ or hypothesis
5. Problem statement/ Rationale
6. Method: Research Design
7. Materials, Methods & Equipments
8. Feasibility of research

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 9. Evaluation of research finding data
10. Data & Statistical analysis
11. Expected outcome
12. Grammar, format & organization
13. References
14. Appendices (if any)
15. Gantt Chart

RESEARCH MANUSCRIPT

The following tips for writing a research manuscript:

A. Title of research article

- Name of authors
- Institutional address of authors

B. Contents
1. Abstract
- Keywords: 3 -to- 5
2. Introduction
3. Literature review
4. Materials & methods/ Methodology
- Materials
- Methods
5. Results & Discussions
- Results
- Discussions
6. Conclusions
- Summary
- Recommendation
- Future research
7. Acknowledgements
8. Conflict of Interests
9. References
- APA style

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