A. Introduction
A graduate
thesis is a permanent record of a significant contribution made by a student particular
field of knowledge. It demonstrates that the writer has the capacity for
research, the ability to draw logical conclusions, and a faculty in the
organization of materials and the use of language. In the process of developing
the thesis, students will be required to accomplish extensive readings and
to demonstrate a significant knowledge of their discipline’s methodological
approach to research. The final draft
must be approved by the thesis sponsor, the thesis committee, the
B. Statement
of Responsibility
Students have the responsibility of following the requirements set forth in this thesis guide and the additional guidelines established by the Department of Legal Studies. It is the student’s responsibility to locate appropriate materials, perform the necessary research, develop conclusions, and present all of the above in a form, which meets standards acceptable to discipline. Both final and preliminary drafts are to be submitted in recommended manuscript form, free from typographical error.
Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and will result in serious disciplinary action including loss of matriculation. If detected after graduation, the student’s degree may be rescinded.
Subject content and appropriate supervision of all aspects of the thesis process is the responsibility of the thesis sponsor and the thesis committee.
The department will approve the thesis only if style, form, and content standards are maintained.
The
Students intending to write a thesis are to follow the steps below.
Step 1. Upon matriculation into the Master’s program, you should begin to consider possible thesis topics. During this period, you should obtain the university thesis guidelines and inquire of the graduate director if there are any special college, program, and/or departmental thesis guidelines. As your knowledge deepens and matures, you should engage in informal conversations with faculty whose area of expertise coincide with your areas of thesis interest. These discussions also may include your graduate director and the departmental chairperson. The Master of Arts in Legal Studies program recommends that LSLW 511 Research Methods and Analysis be completed prior to beginning the thesis project.
Step 2. As these informal conversations tend to
narrow the thesis topic, you should seek the cooperation of a particular
faculty member to serve as you thesis sponsor.
The selection of this person is very important. The thesis sponsor has the primary
responsibility for the general supervision of your thesis. To facilitate this process,
prepare a
Step 3. In consultation with your thesis sponsor, you should seek the cooperation of two additional faculties to serve on your thesis committee. The sponsor and the two-committee members constitute your three-member thesis committee. Only under exceptional circumstances will substitution for committee members be allowed. Any substitution that is allowed must be initiated by the thesis sponsor and approved by the department chair. Only full time faculty may serve as thesis sponsors.
The committee’s first action will be the formal evaluation of your thesis topic.
Step 4. Once the thesis committee
has approved your thesis topic, have all the parties sign Form A, Approval
for Writing a Master’s Thesis. (See Section V, Forms and Sample Pages). Provide your thesis sponsor and graduate
director with photocopies of Form A.
After Form A is approved by the
Step 5. With the appropriate execution of Form A, you should begin developing a complete thesis outline. It should follow disciplinary standards and include significant detail. In developing the outline, it is imperative that you work closely with your thesis sponsor. Although they are not usually asked to review the outline until it is completed, other committee members may be approached for assistance.
Step 6. When the student and the sponsor agree the outline adequately presents the proposed thesis, it should be submitted to the thesis committee. Upon their suggestion, significant revisions may be necessary. When the outline is approved, Form B, and if necessary, Form C, must be appropriately completed and filed. (See Section V, Forms and Sample Pages).
FORM B. Once the committee approves the outline, a copy of the outline along with Form B An Outline of a Proposed Thesis must be appropriately signed and filed with your thesis sponsor and your graduate director.
NOTE: The execution of Form B does not constitute approval of
content of from of the final thesis document. Indeed, as
your research evolves, it may prove necessary for your
committee to call for the abandonment of the original
thesis topic and the approval of a new topic.
FORM C. File only if your
research will involve the use of human subjects. In accordance with the national legislation
and University policies, assurances must be made in writing that where human
subjects are in any way involved in the thesis research, no physical or
psychological harm will occur to them.
Prior to initiation of nay experiment on and/or the collection of any
data from human subjects, the thesis committee must review and approve the
research procedures to be employed. When
the thesis committee has agreed that the research will not be harmful to its
human subjects, a copy of Form C Assurance of Ethical Standards must be
appropriately signed and filed with your thesis sponsor. The student must honor the methodology agreed
upon and alter nothing without prior approval of the thesis committee. A copy of the statement of Ethical Standards
published by the American Psychological Association is available in the
Step 7. With the completion of Step 1 through 6, the thesis research may begin. In performing you research, adhere to the following:
a. Your thesis committee will specify a particular style manual. Section V,
Forms and Sample pages, contains style instructions with are applicable to
all theses. All drafts - preliminary (working) and final - must be in conformity with the selected style manual, Section IV Preparation of Manuscript and, if applicable, any special college, school, program, and/or
departmental thesis guidelines. The Department of Legal Studies requires the Chicago Manual of Style and the Harvard Blue Book for legal citations.
b. All questionnaires, letters of inquiry, etc., which are addressed to persons
off this campus, must be approved, in writing, by your thesis sponsor to
mailing.
c. Any change in your research outline and/or research methodology must be
approved, in writing, by your thesis committee prior to its implementation.
d. In providing material to your committee, be certain to allow adequate time for the members to develop their response. During the fall and spring semesters, the minimum is one week. During summer sessions, many faculty are not available. Be aware of the university calendar (published in the Schedule of Courses booklet and the Graduate Catalog) and of the schedules of your committee members. Adequate planning is an absolute necessity.
e. Maintain duplicates of your research materials and of the various drafts of
the thesis.
Step 8. It is highly probable that several drafts may be written before the final version is developed. Be certain to budget your time accordingly.
Step 9. When you and your thesis sponsor have agreed that the thesis is complete, copies are to be submitted to the other members of the committee. Distribute these copies at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the oral presentation. These working copies are not the final version of the thesis. Normally, committee members will make recommended changes by writing on these copies.
Step 10. The oral presentation is a critical element of the thesis process. Your thesis sponsor will determine the date of the presentation. Do not expect orals to be scheduled during the summer session or winter break. To allow for he incorporation of changes and possible additional research, the presentation should be held at least eight weeks prior to the date of graduation.
Your oral presentation in the Master of Arts in Legal Studies has the following format. Normally, the thesis sponsor will lead the examination. You should be prepared to provide a verbal presentation of the thesis (approximately 10 to 20 minutes). Committee members and persons outside the committee are allowed to raise issues and ask questions.
Step 11. Immediately at the end of the oral presentation, the thesis sponsor and the committee members will convene privately to pass upon the thesis. The thesis sponsor will notify you immediately of the decision. Some of the possible decisions include:
a. The thesis is approved.
b. The thesis is approved with modifications.
c. The thesis is not approved. The committee will recommend further action.
Step 12. If the thesis is approved, you should proceed immediately to prepare the final version. The thesis sponsor will assume the responsibility of the overseeing the implementation of any recommendations made by the committee members.
Step 13. After the final version incorporating all changes is complete and the abstract had been written and included in the manuscript, complete Form D, The Thesis Cover Page (see Section V, Forms and Sample Pages) and have it signed by the thesis sponsor and the other committee members.
Step 14. Along with a copy of the thesis, submit Form D to your department chair and then to your college dean. Please allow at one week for the form to be signed.
Step 15. At the student’s expense, copies should be prepared and distributed as noted below:
a. The original and one photocopy (“Xerox” copy) must be given
to the
without punched holes).
b. One photocopy must be given to the thesis sponsor.
c. One photocopy must be given to the department
d. One photocopy must be given to each member of the thesis committee
e. One photocopy should be retained by you.
The original of Form D must be included in the original copy of the thesis. Make photocopies of Form D to become the cover page of the photocopies of the thesis.
Step 16. After thesis has been received and approved
by the
a. Thesis Time Limit and Extension of Time Limits.
The initial time limit and the process for extending the thesis time limit depend upon the catalog number of your thesis course.
For those who take LSLW 698 Master’s
Thesis, the student is expected to complete the thesis within one calendar
year of filing Form A and registering for thesis course. Upon written request by the student, and with
the thesis sponsor’s approval the
b. Thesis Submission Deadline for Graduation.
The final thesis must be submitted
to the
Style, footnotes, citation, and bibliographical form of the thesis should conform to the conventions prescribed by a standard style manual appropriate to the student’s major field. In some case, the style employed in the discipline’s major research publications may be appropriate for us. The thesis committee must approve the style manual selected. Also check with your thesis committee. Also check with your thesis committee for possible additional style requirements.
The following list includes some commonly utilized style manuals. In all cases, the lasted editions must be employed.
American Chemical Society. Handbook for Authors of Papers in the
Research Journals of the American Chemical Society.
American Institute of Biological Sciences. Style Manual for Biological Journals.
Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association.
Campbell, William G. Form and Style: Thesis, Reports and Term
Papers.
Gibaldi, Joseph
and W.S. Achter. MLA Handbook for Writers
of Research Papers.
Slade, Carol. Form and Style.
Turabain, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of
Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
IV. PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPT (applicable regardless of the style manual chosen)
A. Typists
Typing may be done by a competent
typist; however, an experienced thesis typist is preferred to someone who is
alleged to be a “good typist”. The
The typist should be thoroughly acquainted with the requirement of this guide, the selected style manual, and any special guides developed by the program. You should supply the typist with a legible rough draft and precise instructions. In writing footnotes and bibliography, follow the form preferred by the Department of Legal Studies, and check carefully every comma, colon, capital letter, and underlined word. Do not except your typist to catch and/or correct errors. Be certain to make a copy of all pertinent material submitted to the typist.
Preparation of the
manuscript can be very expensive. It is
suggested that you have a clear understanding, in advance, as to all fees and
services that are to be rendered. Neither
the Department of Legal Studies nor the
B. Typing
As the manuscript will undergo
numerous alterations, it is highly recommended that the typing be accomplished
a word processor or on a computer with word processing software. The print must be in black ink. Type only on one side of
the paper. When pen work is
required, it must be performed in permanent, carbon-based, black ink employing
either a lettering guide or a letter device.
Although pica type is preferred, elite or bookface
type may be employed. Non-standard typeface—such as script—are not acceptable. Dot matrix computer printing is normally not
acceptable. Your thesis committee must
approve all non-standard typefaces, in advance, in writing, by the chair of the
Department of Legal Studies and by the
C. Paper
As the original copy is maintained permanently in the Sprague Library, it must be typed on 100% rag content, 20 lb. bond paper. While it is not necessary to use the above paper for photocopies, such copies must be made on substantial paper.
D. Margins
Each page must have the following margins:
1 and ½ inches on the left margin
1 inch for the right, top, and bottom margins
E. Spacing, Pagination, Footnotes, Citations,
Bibliographical Entries etc.
Follow the Chicago Manual of Style and/or the Harvard Blue Book as selected by your thesis committee.
F. Corrections
The manuscripts must be free of strikeovers, interlineations, and other detectable corrections. Erasures are allowed if they are indiscernible. Liquid correction fluid and dry correction tape (e.g., KO-REC-TYPE) are never acceptable. Clean copy is essential. Both sides of all sheets must be free of carbon smears, smudges, gray cast, or any other extraneous marks.
G. Illustration and Similar Data
Subject to the following guidelines, drawing, figures, tables, graph, photograph, maps, and all other types of illustrative materials may be included. All such processes must be permanent and of high quality.
All illustrative data in the text must be prepared on paper of the same size, weight, and color as that of the rest of the manuscript. Such material must conform to the page margin requirements. A typewriter, lettering guide, or similar device must be used for captions, numerals, symbols, and characters. A black typewriter ribbon or permanent, carbon-based, black ink must be used for preparing the material.
To eliminate the problem of attaching photographs to thesis paper, photograph should be printed from negatives on 8 ½ x 11 inch photographic paper. Charts, maps, drawing, etc., also may be photographed and printed on
8 ½ x 11 inch paper.
If illustrations must be mounted, great care must be exercised in choosing a procedure. Generally, dry mounting is considered to be a permanent method. A permanent paper cement (with the affixed material dried under pressure) maybe acceptable. Do not mount with rubber cement, mucilage, photo-mounting corners, tape, staples, or other non-permanent methods.
This material should be photographically reduced and printed on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. If this is impossible, a folded page may be employed. To avoid cutting during the binding process, the right hand folded must be at least ¼ inch from the right edge of the regular pages. Be certain to number this page in alignment with the pagination in the text.
Computer printouts may be used intact in the appendix if the left margin is at least one (1) inch and if the printout is 8 ½ x 11 inches. If the printout does not conform to these specifications, it must be reduced in size through a photocopying process.
J. Pockets
The use of pockets is discouraged and will normally be cause for disapproval. If absolutely unavoidable (e.g., large master maps for drawings), they may be folded and inserted in a pocket in the appendix.
K. Format
Each thesis must present preliminary material in the following order:
FORM D. This is the thesis cover page.
Title page. The second page is the title page. (See the sample title page located in Section V, Forms and Sample Pages). Observe the usual margin requirements. Center all lines within the margins. The title of the thesis is in upper case (capital) letters. With a long title, double space between lines and use an inverted pyramid form. The author’s mane is type in full. The month and year should be that in which your degree will be conferred.
Copyright page. Insert this page only if needed. (See sample copyright page located in Section V, Forms and Sample Pages).
Acknowledgments.
Abstract.
Table of Contents.
Lists of Figures. Insert this page only if needed.
List of Illustrations. Insert this page only if needed.
L. Proofreading
The manuscript in final
form must be carefully proofread and corrected before it is submitted to the
Every page must be checked for correct numbering and correct margins, and all copies must be checked to insure that pages are not missing. The manuscript must be thoroughly proofread for consistency. All titles in the Table of Contents must agree exactly with their wording in the text. Headings and subheadings must appear in the table of contents in descending order of value. Consistency in positioning all headings of the same value must be maintained.
M. Reproduction
The manuscript must be photocopied (“Xeroxed”) in a permanent manner on a paper of substantial quality. In all cases, the printing must be of acceptable quality and completely free from smudges, gray cast, or nay other extraneous marks.
The following pages contain the forms and sample pages lists below.
Form A: Approval for Writing a Master’s Thesis
Complete and submit along with other registration materials while registering for thesis course. Also provide the graduate director with a photocopy of Form A.
Form B: An Outline of Proposed Thesis
Once the committee approves the outline, a copy of the outline along with Form B must be appropriately signed and filed with your thesis sponsor. Provide a photocopy to your graduate director.
NOTE: The execution of Form B does not constitute approval of the content or form of the final thesis document.
Form C: Assurance of Ethical Standards
File only if your
research involves the use of human subjects.
When the thesis committee is agreed the research will not be harmful to
its human subjects, a copy of Form C must be appropriately signed and filed
with your thesis sponsor. This form must
be completed and filed prior to the initiation of any experiment on and/or
collection of any data from human subjects.
The student must use the methodology agreed upon and not alter it
without prior approval of the thesis committee.
A copy of the Statement on Ethical Standards published by the
American Psychological Association is available in the
Form D. The Thesis Cover Page
After the final version incorporating all changes is complete and the Abstract has been written and included in the manuscript, complete Form D and have it signed by the thesis sponsor, the other committee members, the department chair, and the college dean.
Sample Title Page
Observe the usual margin requirements. Center all line within the margins. The title of the thesis is in upper case (capital) letters. With a long title, double space between lines and use an inverted pyramid form. The author’s name is typed in full. The month and year should be that in which your degree will be conferred.
Sample Copyright Page
Include only if you wish to have your thesis copyright. The university does not require that the thesis be copyright; however, if your thesis is placed into the library without copyrighted page, it becomes public domain and cannot be copyrighted at a later date.
For complete copyright
information, write to the Copyright Office, Library of Congress,
(703) 557-8700.
APPROVAL FOR WRITNG A MASTER’S THESIS
__________________________ is accepted for _________________________ in the
(print name of student and
Social Security Number) (Number
& title of thesis
course)
___________ semester
in the year _________
Thesis Sponsor __________________ __________________ ________
(type or print) (Sign) (date)
Graduate Director ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Student ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
FORM A
AN OUTLINE OF A PROPOSED MASTER’S THESIS
(thesis title)
by
(name of student)
Thesis Outline Approved
Thesis Sponsor ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
[attach thesis outline to this form]
ASSURANCE OF ETHICAL STANDARDS
[File only if your research will involve the use of human subjects]
1. Will your research employ any experiment on and/or the Yes__ No__
collection of any data from human subject?
2. If you answered “YES” to Item 1, have your read the statement Yes__ No__
on Ethical Standards (1982) published by the American
Psychological Association?
3. If you answered “YES to Item 1, is the safety of the human Yes__ No__
subjects assured?
Thesis Title:
Student and committee Assurance of Ethical Standards:
Student ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Thesis Sponsor ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
Committee Member ________________ _________________________________ ______________
(type or print) (sign) (date)
The student must honor the methodology agreed upon and not alter it without prior approval of the thesis committee.
(title of thesis)
by
(name of student)
A Master’s Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the degree of
(insert name of degree)
(Insert date degree is to be conferred)
College
of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
of Legal Studies
Certified by: Thesis Committee
_______________________________ _____________________________
(Dr.
Richard A. Gigliotti) (Thesis
sponsor signs on line; type name under signature)
Dean,
_____________________________
(Committee member signs on
line; type name under signature)
Committee
Member
_________________________________________________
(Committee
member signs on line; type name under signature)
Committee
Member
_________________________________________________
(Department
chair sign on line; type name under signature)
Department
Chair
_______________________________
(date)
FORM D – (Not to appear on title page)
(Sample Copyright
Page)
Copyright c 1995 by John William Doe. All right reserved.
[Sample Title Page]
JUDGEMENT AND FEELING IN THE ANESTHETIC
THEORY OF BERNARD BOSANQUEST
by
VELVA JEANNE OSBORNE
A THESIS
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of
(insert name of degree) in
the Department of (insert name of Department) in
the Graduate program of
(insert date degree is to be conferred)*
*insert month and year (with no comma between). The only month degrees are conferred are January, May, and August. No other months should be specified.