Jenny Truong
September 9, 2004
Notes for Honors College Session #2

Components of a Thesis:
1. Title Page
2. Acknowledgments
3. Table of Contacts
4. List of tables/figures
5. Abstract
6. Introduction--(which can include background, literature review, significance of project, hypothesis)
7. Methods
8. Results
9. Discussion--(which can include interpretation, flaws in design, limitations, explanations of data, implications)
10. References/Bibliography
11. Appendix

What makes a good thesis
1. Title Page
· Title may or may not include a catch phrase. If so, place colon after catch phrase and then specify project precisely. Be specific. Incorporate subject of study/research, methods, and results. It should be the “punchline of your thesis”. Use relevant key words.
· Your name, readers’ names, date
2. Acknowledgments
· Can either be placed in beginning or end of thesis
3. Table of Contents
· Includes page numbers and major section headings.
· An in-depth table of contents may also be helpful for the reader.
4. Abstract
· The summary of the entire thesis; often includes significance, methods, results, suggestions for future research
· Aim for 200-250 words
5. Introduction
· Think of the hourglass metaphor: going from broad and general to narrow back to broad. The introduction is the first two parts—broad and general to narrow.
· May include motivations for or significance of this research, a literature review, statement of problem and hypothesis, and comment on why this research is original.
· Must introduce all the questions that the research will examine
· Lit Review:
i. Goal of lit review: to prove your scholarship in different areas and understand the bigger picture of your specific research
ii. A lit review contains a common thread and is guided by a logical framework, unlike an annotated bibliography.
iii. Use subheadings where appropriate
iv. Define key terms
v. For wet lab research papers, may assume more knowledge of basic science concepts.
6. Methods
· Include subjects, instruments for measurement, scale (include alpha coefficients to demonstrate coherency, reliability, and validity), and procedures
· Flag potential limitations of methods here; do not wait until Discussion section to do so, but keep commentary to the Discussion section
7. Results
· Includes charts/graphs
· Integrate graphs into text unless necessary to place separately in the appendix
· Helpful to visualize what the data will look like before collecting data
· Organize results around the research questions posed—possible to use same headings from Methods section
· Draw attention to the results you will discuss in your text
8. Discussion
· Use point by point analysis
· Address how this confirms or denies your hypotheses; may offer an explanation also
9. Bibliography
· Format may depend on preferences of your first and second readers
Other notes:
· Be consistent with style, whichever style you choose
· Use diagrams whenever it might be helpful for the reader
· Length: can range from 15-20 pages for wet lab research or an average of 50-60 pages for social science research. Avoid “verbal diarrhea”.
· Include name and page number on each page of thesis