Writing the Thesis
Make an appointment with the writing center, hemingway app, to identify common writing mistakes, forcing yourself to write, getting started.
- Write to find out what you know. You always know more than you think you do!
- Use your introduction as a way of organizing the rest of your thesis.
- Create a loose outline or map of where you want to go
The Writing Environment
- Try writing with the screen turned off to force yourself to write without editing.
- Turn off the games in your computer.
- Switch from typing to handwriting.
- Go for walks or get exercise to get oxygen to your brain.
- Pick some non-distracting music and play it only when you are writing
Positive Reinforcement
- Give yourself a reward after you write a certain number of pages (go play video games, go do some retail therapy, etc…)
- Set realistic goals – set a realistic daily writing goal and stick to it.
- Write yourself a letter detailing everything you’ve accomplished thus far; you may be surprised at how much you’ve done, and it’s often gratifying to see it written down.
- Practice self-compassion and not self-criticism.
- Be kind to yourself; you are doing great!
Other Techniques
- Start anywhere you want – you don’t have to start at the beginning.
- When doing freewriting or “sloppy topic” writing, try to forget spelling, sentence structure, order, and word choice. The objective is to just get something down.
- Eventually ¾ of what you write will get tossed, so don’t fall in love with sentences or paragraphs.
- Change directions. Don’t hold yourself too tightly to your outline, since it may cut down on the possibility for new insights and “a-ha” moments.
- Start with what excites you the most about the thesis.
- Even when you don’t want to write, write anyway.
- Talk about your thesis with everyone.
- Think about your audience—what would pull them into the paper?
- Use ‘action’ verbs (e.g., look at how often you use “is”) and avoid passive voice.
- To avoid the drama/trauma of last-minute writing, schedule lots of buffer time (i.e., schedule your procrastination).
- DO NOT discard anything until your thesis is turned in. Be sure to set up some sort of organizational system so you can find things (maybe dating the drafts)
- Withhold judgment on what you write for a week or so. Right now it may sound unintelligible, but it may actually be good when you read it later
- “Park on a downhill slope” — sketch out in writing what you intent to tackle the next day, and perhaps stop in the middle of a sentence, so you know exactly where to start the next day (Hemingway did this).
Abstract Writing Instructions
What are Abstracts?
An abstract is a concise summary of a larger document – thesis, essay, book, research report, journal publication, etc. – that highlights major points covered in the work, concisely describes the content and scope of the writing, identifies the methodology used, and identifies the findings, conclusions, or intended results.
Why are they important?
Abstracts make it possible for readers to quickly determine the content of a work and decide if the full text should be consulted. They are vital when searching online, since the keywords you search with will be highlighted in the body of the abstract as well as the text. They help others outside your discipline understand the purpose and value of your work.
Qualities of a good abstract:
A good abstract uses one or more well-developed paragraphs that are coherent, concise, unified, and able to stand alone; presents a work’s purpose, methods, results, and conclusions, ideally in that order; strictly follows the chronology of the work; provides logical connections/transitions between the information included; adds no new information, but simply offers a summary; does not include any evaluation, reviews, or opinions on the research; is understandable to a wide audience
Steps for Writing Effective Abstracts
- Look for the following main parts of the work: purpose (thesis), methods, scope, results, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Use the headings, outline heads, and table of contents to guide your abstract writing.
- After you’ve finished rereading your work, write a rough draft without looking back through your work.
- Generally, an abstract is easier to read when the thesis or purpose statement is first, or at least near the beginning of the abstract.
- Use the past tense when describing what was done. However, where appropriate use active verbs rather than passive verbs.
- Use short sentences, but vary sentence structure to avoid choppiness.
- Use complete sentences. Don’t omit articles or other small words to save space.
- Example: The VDTs in composition were down last week.
- Revision: The video display terminals were down last week.
- For science-based work, use scientific names instead of local names.
- Use the same tone and emphasis used in the original.
- Revise the key sentences from your thesis to provide just enough information for the reader.
- Summarize rather than repeating the way information was presented in your thesis. Try using the outline purpose→methods→results→conclusions.
- Avoid repeating information given in the title.
- Give the information only once.
- Use standard abbreviations.
- Be exact and unambiguous.
- Revise your rough draft
- Improve transitions (e.g., “although,” “while,” “however”).
- Drop unnecessary words.
- Fix errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Read it out loud. (This isn’t fun, but it really helps in revising and proofreading.)
- Give your abstract to someone else to read, preferably someone who knows nothing about your topic. Does it make sense to them? If yes, celebrate. If not, keep working.
Further Resources
George Mason University Advice on Abstract Writing
Oregon State University Advice on Abstract Writing
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Dept. of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Guide for writing a thesis.
Undergraduate research is a unique opportunity for students to explore important scientific questions. The thesis should reflect the thinking, experimentation and results of the exploration.
It is recognized that each thesis is necessarily unique in content. Therefore, the final format should be agreed upon by the student and the thesis advisor. The following guidelines are recommended. A good thesis will generally consist of the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, and References.
The Abstract is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description of the thesis work that can be understood when separated from the rest of the thesis. In two pages or less, the student should describe the scientific problem (hypothesis or question) and its significance, the experiments that were done, the results, and the conclusions.
The Introduction should review pertinent literature and provide background leading up to the problem that is addressed by the thesis work. The student should strive to emphasize the significance of the problem. Finally, a summary of the experimental strategy used to address the problem should be provided. The introduction for a good thesis is typically a minimum of five pages.
The Materials & Methods should provide sufficient information so that the experiments described in the thesis can be repeated by others who are familiar with the methods. Techniques that are thoroughly described elsewhere in the literature should be briefly summarized and appropriately referenced. Techniques that are not well described elsewhere will require more detailed description.
The Results should be a narrative describing both the experiments and the results that were done to address the scientific problem. The text should succinctly describe each experiment and note key results. The student should take care to state the logic for doing the first experiment and the logic that links one experiment to the next. The results of the experiments are included within this chapter and each figure or table should be accompanied by a legend. A good thesis will typically have a minimum of 5 data figures that lead to conclusive results. Note, that conclusive negative results can be just as significant as positive results and unexpected findings can be highly significant. However, the experiments must include controls that allow one to distinguish between a negative result and an inconclusive result. If a result is inconclusive, then there should be a discussion of why it was inconclusive and the type of work that could be done to further explore the question.
The Discussion should begin with a brief summary of the experimental course that was taken to address the problem. Conclusions should be developed by integrating the results obtained by the student with results reported by other investigators. The strengths and weaknesses of the data should be discussed. Explanations for unexpected results or inconclusive experiments should be provided. The discussion for a good thesis will typically be a minimum of several pages.
The References are compiled at the end. Appropriate citations are expected to occur throughout the thesis. Students should follow model citations and the final list of references after what is found in published papers.
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Undergraduate thesis tutorial, course description.
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- BA Thesis Process
The BA Thesis Seminar is for students who are interested in pursuing independent study and deepening their research skills. This seminar is well suited for students who plan to pursue graduate degrees.
The BA Thesis Seminar guides students engaged in research design, data collection and analysis, and thesis writing. For students pursuing the thesis capstone option, registration for the BA Thesis Seminar PBPL 29800 is required in Autumn Quarter of the final year of study in the major, though the thesis process continues through Spring Quarter.
Successful completion of the BA Thesis capstone option involves passing PBPL 29800, while also meeting related thesis requirements, including participation in the BA Thesis Symposium in February, and the timely submission of an acceptable polished draft in March and final BA paper in April.
Only students who successfully complete a BA thesis are eligible for honors.
On this page:
Expectations for the ba thesis.
- BA Thesis FAQ
BA Thesis Process, 2023-2024
Enroll in the BA Seminar: Public Policy (PBPL 29800) for credit in autumn. Although you only register in the autumn quarter of your final year, the seminar meets once per week throughout Autumn, and then in small group meetings with a preceptor, and/or one-on-one in winter and spring quarters. Grades for the course will be calculated on the basis of performance and progress through Autumn, Winter, and Spring, and will be assigned in the Spring, following the submission of the BA Thesis.
- Double majors, joint students, and students on extended status can opt out of their Autumn BA seminar registration with a waiver approved by the PBPL department (non-enrolled students will be paired with a Public Policy preceptor). To substitute for the PBPL Thesis Track, students must submit the waiver, a policy-relevant thesis and earn a full credit and a quality grade in a thesis seminar, There are no substitutes for the PBPL Project Track.
- Double majors writing one BA for two majors should also submit the Single Bachelor's Paper for Two Majors petition and obtain the signature of both majors' directors
- Consider recruiting a Second Reader from UChicago faculty for the Public Policy BA Thesis as additional support; other experts can be approved as Second Reader on a case-by-case basis
Important Deadlines
Autumn 2023
Early fall: Submit IRB protocols for human subjects research (please see IRB handout for details about the process and about human subjects research). In order to collect data with human subjects, it is highly recommended you submit this protocol as early as you can.
Mid-December: BA Thesis Long Write-Up, formerly Autumn Draft, due (about 15 pages).
The College Center for Research and Fellowships provides opportunities for research funding and other supports. Please, visit their webpage for additional information.
Winter 2024
Students do not register for the BA Seminar in the Winter quarter , but continue to meet with their preceptors on a regular basis. Students on extended status must inform the Public Policy Administrator about their change of status and must continue to meet regularly with their preceptors and submit assignments.
Important Deadlines
Early February: Annual Senior BA Symposium
- This is a required academic conference at which students will present their research to faculty and peers in 10 min presentations followed by Q&A
Early March: Polished Draft and Second Reader Forms due to preceptor
- Polished Drafts (and final theses) tend to range between 35-60 pages
Around 1-2 weeks after submission: Preceptors will provide feedback on Polished Drafts
Spring 2024
Mid-April: Final Draft of BA Thesis due
- BA theses need title page, including name of preceptor (& second reader if you have one), date of submission, and abstract, and are submitted electronically
- Following thesis submission, determinations are made for honors & the Taub Thesis Prizes
- In order to receive honors, student must have an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher, and receive honors recommendation on the BA Thesis
- The preceptor and second reader can both make nominations for honors and the Taub prize; the Public Policy faculty committee then makes the final determinations
- The thesis evaluation is based on extent and originality of research, argumentation, writing quality, etc.
Mid-May: Celebration! Senior Public Policy Dinner, Speaker Presentations, & Capstone Prizes
Note: If you are planning to graduate prior to Spring quarter please contact the Public Policy Administrator for your BA draft due dates.
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BA theses should be more comprehensive in both information gathering and analysis than a term paper. As distinct from a term paper, the BA thesis requires primary data collection and analysis . We emphasize developing a good policy question, settling on an appropriate methodology and utilizing analytical tools to answer the question.
Honors Papers & Honors Eligibility
To be eligible for honors, students must satisfy two requirements:
- Have an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher to be considered eligible for honors initially
- Receive honors recommendation from the Public Policy faculty committee
The Albert C. Svoboda Fellowship
The Albert C. Svoboda Fellowship provides summer research fellowships for rising fourth-year College students majoring in Public Policy to engage in faculty-guided research in the Chicago area on Chicago-based topics.
Awards are for various amounts, typically between $1,000 and $4,000, based on the research proposal and proposed budget. Svoboda Fellows are responsible for submitting a post-research report at the end of the summer.
BA Thesis FAQ
Your thesis can build upon work you have done elsewhere. However, the BA thesis should be an original paper.
You cannot double count a paper you have written for another course (this also means that you cannot just extend a paper written for another course). Whatever is being used from previous work should be disclosed and cited as such in the thesis. Please note that failure to do so will be considered a violation of academic integrity (i.e., plagiarism). It should be clear that the BA thesis develops new insights that are distinct from those developed in previous work.
Keep in mind that the BA thesis should be structured around the analysis of primary research . Given that most of the papers you have written are based on secondary data, it is likely that papers you have written for other courses would be primarily useful for background, and for helping to develop your research question. If you are considering building on work done for another class, please consult your preceptor.
Public Policy majors writing a BA thesis are strongly encouraged to link their specialization with their BA thesis, though such a link is not formally required.
No. A second reader/faculty adviser is beneficial for providing additional support for your BA thesis work, but they are not required to receive honors for your BA paper.
Note: All Public Policy BA papers are eligible for honors whether or not students work with a second reader. Students have successfully graduated with honors in Public Policy without having a 2nd reader/faculty adviser.
Students having second readers are required to complete the Second Reader Information and Confirmation form .
- All University of Chicago Faculty
- Harper-Schmidt Collegiate Assistant Professors
- University of Chicago Lecturers
- University of Chicago Graduate Students (approved on a case by case basis)
- Faculty from other colleges or universities (approved on a case by case basis)
Your BA thesis is read by your preceptor and your second reader/faculty adviser who evaluates your paper as 1) acceptable; 2) not acceptable: or 3) acceptable with an honors recommendation.
A student who satisfactorily completes the BA Thesis Seminar (autumn and winter) but does not complete a BA thesis receives 100 course credit, but is not eligible to graduate unless the student completes the BA Project Seminar (PBPL 29500).
Learn more about the BA Project Seminar.
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Department of Anthropology
Senior Thesis Style and Formatting Guide
- Undergraduate /
- Senior Thesis Option
Writing Support Resources
Style Guide
Page Numbering
Title Page Format
In-Text Citations
Endnotes vs. Footnotes
References Cited
Figures and Tables
Formatting the Printed Version
Useful Sources on Formal Writing
If you would like feedback and support while writing, the Marks Family Resource Center, located at 3808 Walnut Street, is an excellent resource. Consult their web page , where you will find links to guides on writing. They also meet with students to improve their writing one-on-one. Writing Center drop-in tutoring hours can be found here .
You should use consistent style for your in-text citations, references cited, and writing in general. All Undergraduate Theses submitted to the Department of Anthropology must use the formal “style guide.” We recommend the American Anthropologist for cultural anthropology and linguistics topics, American Antiquity and Historical Archaeology for archaeology topics, and American Journal of Physical Anthropology for physical anthropology and biological anthropology topics. You must use the style guide consistently for the Abstract, Main Text, References Cited, Figures, and Tables. All citations must have the complete reference in the section “References Cited.” All figures must be numbered and must be referred to in the text at least once. Online style guides are available for the following journals:
American Anthropologist :
http://www.aaanet.org/publications/guidelines.cfm
American Antiquity :
https://documents.saa.org/container/docs/default-source/doc-publications/style-guide/saa-style-guide_updated-july-2018c5062f7e55154959ab57564384bda7de.pdf?sfvrsn=8247640e_6
Historical Archaeology
http://www.sha.org/publications/for_authors.cfm
American Journal of Physical Anthropology :
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291096-8644/homepage/ForAuthors.html
All pages in your thesis should be numbered at the bottom center using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3 . . .) (including Main Text, References Cited section, Figures section, and Tables section). The Title page is not numbered. Any preliminary pages (Abstract, Table of Contents, or lists of Figures) use small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii . . .).
Your title page is unnumbered. All text of the title page should be centered and have the same font as the main text Your title page should have the following elements (note the use of upper and lower case):
[TITLE OF THE UNDERGRADUATE THESIS IN UPPER CASE]
[Author’s Name]
Anthropology
Submitted to the
Thesis Advisor: [name of the Thesis Advisor]
The Undergraduate Thesis must include a formal abstract (summary) of 100-200 words at the beginning, immediately following your Title page. Your thesis abstract presents a concise summary of the thesis (research problem or issue, the methods or approach used, and results). Do not cite references in the abstract.
Anthropology generally uses in-text citations to refer to published work as you’ll see in the Style Guide above. It is better to over-cite your sources than to under-cite them! Below are links to the Penn Library’s documentation guide and the University guide to academic integrity. Please read these documents carefully:
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/documentation/
http://www.upenn.edu/academicintegrity/index.html
We discourage the use of footnotes and endnotes for “additional information.” If necessary, use endnotes rather than footnotes. Endnotes appear in sequence at the end of the main text as a separate section titled “Endnotes” and are numbered in sequence in the text (using a superscript font). Endnotes are single-spaced with double spaces between them.
Your Undergraduate Thesis should include a complete “References Cited” section (this is not a “Bibliography”). Refer to the appropriate style guide ( American Anthropologist , American Antiquity , Historical Archaeology, or American Journal of Physical Anthropology ) above for details on citations. Your References Cited section must include all and only the references that you’ve formally cited in your main text, endnotes, figures, and tables. Work with your advisor to agree on appropriate citations for archival sources, interviews, museum records, and other research data.
The Undergraduate Thesis in Anthropology is a formal document, so your figures and tables should be sharp, clear, readable and directly relevant to the topic. Your figures should be clear and legible. Scan images from publications and reduce or enlarge these to best fit the margins of your page using Photoshop or Illustrator (available on computers in the Department and in Weigle Information Commons).
Figures includes diagrams, photographs, drawings, graphics, illustrations, and maps. They will be numbered in sequence “Figure X..”. Label all of your tables “Table Y..” in a separate numbered sequence. You should mention each figure and table at least once in your text [for example: “As Table 5 demonstrates, the alcoholic content of maize beer is low.”] Each figure or table must have an individual caption on the page where it appears. If information or images in your figures come from published or unpublished work of others, you must include formal citations in your captions and References Cited section (“Figure 3: Location map showing the excavations completed during the 1994 field season (after Smith et al. 1995).”
Photographs are numbered in the figure sequence. Photographs should be sharp, fit within the required margins, and have direct relevance to your thesis. Like all figures, each photograph must have a caption, must be cited in the text, and must be listed in the table of figures if you include one. You must cite the sources of any published image you reproduce, and that citation must appear in your “References Cited.”
The text, tables and figures of your thesis should have a 1-inch margin on all sides. Your text should be double spaced except for the Title Page, Abstract, Table of Contents, long quoted passages (“block” quotes), References Cited, Endnotes and Captions. Format these sections according to the style guide for your thesis subject area.
Choose a clear standard typeface (Times New Roman, etc.) and format pages with 12-point font throughout your document.
Gibaldi, Joseph. 2009. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America. A comprehensive guide to writing research papers.
Strunk, W. and E.B. White. 2005. The Elements of Style. New York: Penguin Press. Appropriate for more humanities-oriented papers (and therefore possibly for cultural- and linguistic anthropology theses). Focuses on rules of standard English and calls attention to common errors.
Turabian, Kate L. 2007. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 7th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Updated in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style.
University of Chicago. 2010. The Chicago Manual of Style. 16th edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Another classic, comprehensive style guide; extensively revised for the 16th edition.
Development Studies Program
Guidelines for undergraduate thesis-writing.
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Guidelines for Undergraduate Thesis-Writing Development Studies Program Ateneo de Manila University
v. February 4, 2021 The undergraduate thesis is the culmination of the AB-Development Studies curriculum. Whether empirical or project-based, the thesis is an opportunity for students to specialize in a development-related topic or issue by conducting original research or designing an intervention. Writing the thesis will span two semesters. The first semester is dedicated to the proposal (DEV 198.1). The second semester is for completing the fieldwork and thesis (DEV 198.2). Both the proposal and the final thesis must be defended before a panel of examiners. The following are the Program’s general guidelines for thesis-writing: 1. Choosing your adviser . Students are encouraged to communicate with a potential adviser in the Development Studies Program before the final year commences. a. The ideal adviser is one with whom students can work comfortably. It is also ideal to approach a potential adviser whose field of work could inform their preferred topics. b. In the course of the final year, students are also encouraged to reach out to subject-matter experts for additional input to their projects. These might be practitioners outside the Ateneo or professors in other departments who are doing research in the area. c. Based on needs, the department will make the final decision on the assignment of thesis advisers.
2. Individual or in pairs . In principle, the Development Studies Program prefers that students pursue their respective projects individually. This is because finishing a thesis is a process in which independent research competencies are honed.
a. Starting AY 2021-2022, however, students will have the option to co-write their thesis with a partner. b. Students need to propose these partnerships to their respective advisers and Program Director, who will make the final decision. The proposal needs to contain the justification for the partnership and planned division of responsibilities. c. Projects done in pairs may be permitted under certain conditions, including but not limited to the following:
1. That the scale of the project demands the work of two researchers, and cannot be scaled down without sacrificing its significance; 2. That the students understand and agree that their project and assessments are dependent on each other's performance; and 3. That the project is defended to and approved by an ad hoc committee formed by the Development Studies Program.
3. Empirical or project-based . As in the past, students have the leeway to pursue topics that are either empirical or project-based.
a. Conventionally, an empirical thesis addresses a research question developed by the student based on existing gaps in the literature. A project-based thesis, by contrast, addresses a development issue or concern by designing and implementing an intervention. b. Fieldwork is expected in either type. c. Note: Given that physical fieldwork is not allowed because of COVID-19, other modes of data-gathering must be explored. Any changes in the physical fieldwork guidelines will follow the national government’s and the University’s protocols.
4. Communication . Students and their advisers are to maintain regular communication with each other concerning the progress of the thesis.
a. Official correspondence is to be done by email or via Canvas. b. Advisers are expected to provide timely, relevant, and concrete feedback. c. In the event that feedback is not provided, students are encouraged to follow-up their advisers first. If feedback remains warranted, they may alert the Program Secretary and the Program Director for necessary intervention.
5. Examination . Students are to defend their proposals and theses to a panel of experts.
a. The minimum number of examiner is 1. b. Students might be asked to seek their project partners as potential examiners. c. The selection of examiners will be decided collaboratively between adviser and student.
6. Technical guidelines
a . The overall design and flow of the thesis will be determined throughout the supervision process. These include the research question, framework, and appropriate methods. b. Length: Parsimony is to be practiced. Ideally, the entire thesis should not exceed 20,000 words. The proposal should be less than that. c. Preferred citation style: Harvard, APA, or Chicago d. Students should be responsible for copy-editing the thesis. e. After the final defense and comments have been incorporated, a soft copy (in pdf) of the revised thesis are to be submitted or emailed to the Program Secretary, [email protected].
6. Ethics . Following the submission of thesis proposals, the program director shall assign ethics reviewers.
a. Students have to fill out the ethics clearance form set by the University Research Ethics Office. b. The Program Secretary shall handle all communication between reviewers and students and their advisers. c. The reviewers shall remain anonymous. d. Revisions are to be made to the proposal based on the ethics review.
Modal title
Thesis Syllabus I - EDUC 684
This course is intended for Master’s level students to create a Master’s Thesis project and to see it through to the first draft. In this semester, students will work with their thesis committee to make any necessary revisions to the thesis proposal and produce the first draft of the thesis. Students will work one-on-one with their thesis advisor and the thesis coordinator to identify times that they will meet and create a plan for communication throughout the process of completing the Master’s Thesis.
Course Focus
The Master’s Thesis is the culminating assessment in earning the degree of Master of Arts in Urban Education at Rhodes College. As such, it should be treated as a serious and academically rigorous component of the program. Each project is unique to the student completing it, and thus there is flexibility in scheduling, approach, and style that is up to the discretion of the thesis advisor. The thesis component of the M.A. in Urban Education at Rhodes College is meant to demonstrate advanced study and inquiry into a particular facet of urban education in relation to the experiences of candidates in the program. The thesis is a work of original scholarship, designed with guidance from a thesis advisor and thesis committee. A copy of the final project is uploaded to the ProQuest Dissertation and Theses database and added to the College Archives.
Thesis Committee
Program faculty will assign a thesis advisor and an additional committee member to each student. Working with their advisor, candidates can elect to add a third advisor from the college faculty or from a member of the community who has demonstrated expertise in the subject matter or who has considerable relevant practitioner experience. All committee appointments are subject to review and approval by the Master's Thesis coordinator and program faculty.
Thesis Proposal
The proposal should explain the purpose of the study or inquiry, including the following sections:
- Introduction
- Review of Relevant Research
Thesis proposals should be roughly 2,000 words, excluding references. Guidelines for specific requirements of each section of the proposal will be assigned by the thesis advisor. The thesis committee will review the proposal and submit requests for revisions to the candidate as necessary.
Thesis Proposal Formatting
Length : Double-spaced typed pages, size 12 Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Thesis proposals should be approximately 2,000 words, before references.
Citations : All proposals must use APA formatting. If you have any questions, consult the APA manual.
Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation : Be sure to proofread your proposal and strive to avoid any grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Thesis Draft
The thesis should be organized into something like the following structure (though consult with your advisor for more specific guidance):
- Findings (Results/Analysis)
- Discussion (e.g., Interpretation, Connection to Existing Research, Implications, Limitations of the Study)
- Appendix(es) [only if required by the project; e.g., curriculum project]
Complete theses should be between 6,000-8,000 words, including references and the curriculum appendices of curriculum projects.
Thesis Draft Formatting
See all thesis draft formatting requirements here .
Evaluation of Student Performance
Student performance will be evaluated based on the components listed below. Each element is required in order to receive any credit for the course. (One cannot, for example, skip the thesis proposal and still pass with a 70% in the course. This caveat includes any and all required revisions to the thesis following the thesis proposal.) The final judgment about each of these areas is made by the advisor in consultation with the thesis coordinator and/or other committee members.
| Participation | 30 |
| Completion, Timely Submission, and Quality of Thesis Proposal | 30 |
| Completion, Timely Submission, and Quality of Thesis First Draft | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Grading Scale :
- achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
- achievement that is above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
- achievement that meets the minimum course requirements in every respect.
- achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
Course Policies
Participation : Students are required to schedule and attend meetings with their advisor (number of meetings TBD by advisor), respond to inquiries and requests by advisors, committee members, and thesis coordinator (including timely response to all correspondence over email), and attend all core events related to the thesis (e.g., workshops).
In recognition of the fact that illness and emergencies occur, students are allowed one absence from scheduled meetings/events without it impacting their grade. After the second absence, the participation score will drop to half. After the third absence, a student will receive a zero for the participation score. Four absences will result in an automatic failure of the course . In the event of exceptional circumstances, a student who has had four absences in a single course can request a hearing with the program faculty to consider granting a waiver of this policy. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor as soon as you know and make a plan for a new meeting time.
Automatic Failing Grade : If a student misses 4 or more meetings, they will automatically receive an F for the semester. See above for examples of excusable absences and requirements for completing missed course work.
Students who do not submit a thesis proposal or first draft will automatically receive an F for the semester.
Tardiness : Please arrive to meetings on time. Tardiness will result in a loss of participation credit.
Late assignments : You are expected to hand in all assignments on time. Failure to do so will affect your grade at your advisor's discretion.
All submitted components of the thesis must be your own work and completed in accordance with Rhodes’ Honor Code. Students are expected to be familiar with the requirements of the Code and to conduct themselves accordingly in all classroom matters. Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s information or ideas without proper citation. If you have questions about the correct use or citation of materials, please consult with your advisor or the Writing Center. Papers with evidence of plagiarism will be referred to the Honor Council.
Rhodes faculty are concerned about the well-being and development of our students and are required by policy to share knowledge of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, sexual exploitation, stalking, sexual harassment, and sex/gender discrimination with the Title IX Coordinator, Tiffany Cox. For more information about Rhodes’s sexual misconduct policy or to make a report, please go here .
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Bachelor's thesis in Business Administration, 15 Credits
Swedish name: Bachelor's thesis in Business Administration
This syllabus is valid: 2017-01-09 and until further notice
Syllabus for courses starting after 2017-01-09
Syllabus for courses starting between 2016-08-29 and 2017-01-08
Syllabus for courses starting between 2015-08-24 and 2016-08-28
Syllabus for courses starting between 2015-08-17 and 2015-08-23
Syllabus for courses starting between 2014-08-18 and 2015-08-16
Syllabus for courses starting between 2013-08-26 and 2014-08-17
Syllabus for courses starting between 2013-01-28 and 2013-08-25
Syllabus for courses starting between 2013-01-21 and 2013-01-27
Syllabus for courses starting between 2012-09-03 and 2013-01-20
Syllabus for courses starting between 2011-09-05 and 2012-09-02
Syllabus for courses starting before 2011-09-04
Course code: 2FE161
Credit points: 15
Education level: First cycle
Main Field of Study and progress level: Business Administration: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bache...
Grading scale: Three-grade scale
Responsible department: Business Administration
Revised by: Rector of Umeå School of Business and Economics, 2016-11-24
The objective of this course is to develop the student’s critical ability and the student’s ability to independently undertake and solve a business problem using scientific methods. Thus, the main task of the course is comprised of a comprehensive independent work (thesis). A chosen research question of relevance for practical business problem solving is to be thoroughly analyzed and described. The thesis work must be based on empirical material.
Module 1. Work-in-progress seminar, 0 credits The thesis work is to be supported by an oral and written critical examination of a prior Bachelor’s thesis. The written examination should follow the directives for side-oppositions. The aim is both to establish the requirements and extent for the thesis work and to give practice before the side- and main opposition work.
Module 2. Side-oppositions, 0 credits The aim of this module is to develop the student’s ability to examine written reports and investigations within the field of business administration, from a critical and scientific point of view.
Module 3. Bachelor's thesis, 15 credits The thesis work should prove the student’s independent ability to investigate and develop a focused topic within the field of business administration. The emphasis lies in a critical choice of method, creating a relevant theoretical frame of reference, and an analysis of the theoretical and empirical material, where the author should make a contribution to the chosen subject or problem area.
Module 4. Main opposition, 0 credits The student’s critical ability is to be documented by conducting a main opposition/major critical analysis of someone else’s Bachelor’s thesis work.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this course, the student should be able to:
- demonstrate an insight into the chosen topic, the area of research, and related methodical issues
- choose, define and argue for a business related research question
- identify relevant empirical material and choose relevant methods to gather empirical material in light of the research question
- collect empirical material in a systematic manner
- analyze and discuss empirical material utilizing a relevant theoretical framework based on scientific literature
- draw conclusions and make recommendations for a specific research question
- discuss societal and/or ethical issues of relevance for the thesis
- communicate the main arguments, contents and results of the study
- defend the thesis at a scientific seminar
- critically examine other scientific reports both orally and in writing.
Required Knowledge
Courses in Business Administration (75 credits) At Basic level (A-level) and Intermediate level (B-level) 60 credits at the Bachelor level (C-level) in Business Administration 15 credits with the exception of Internship C. Previously completed courses must include studies of scientific methodology within business/social sciences corresponding to at least 7.5 credits, including both qualitative and quantitative methodology. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B, English/6. Language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
Form of instruction
Thesis work is a programmed process with continuous supervision. It is implied that the ongoing thesis work is presented for the supervisor at least on three occasions, after agreement with the supervisor, during the thesis process. The work-in-progress seminar with critical examination of a prior thesis is scheduled in the beginning of the course. Apart from obligatory seminars the student is normally expected to take active part in in-progress seminars organized by the supervisor.
Examination modes
Module 1. Work-in-progress seminar, 0 credits This part of the course is examined through seminar participation and delivery of written material. The activity is graded as pass or fail.
Module 2. Side-oppositions, 0 credits The module is examined through written ‘side-oppositions’, i.e. critical analyses, of two other Bachelor’s theses. Written side-oppositions are always individual assignments. The side-oppositions should be numbered consecutively (C1-C2). Instructions are given in the thesis manual. In addition participation in each of the thesis seminars is required. Side-oppositions are graded as pass or fail.
Module 3. Bachelor’s thesis, 15 credits The module is examined through authoring and defending an independent work. The defense cannot take place until the work-in-progress seminar (module 1) has been approved. The grades used are: pass with distinction, pass or fail. The thesis is evaluated and graded by a grading teacher and an examiner, whereas the individual effort in the defense is graded at the seminar.
In case the Bachelor’s Thesis is not accepted as is, it may be revised with instructions given by the supervisor (or the grader), or subject of a new effort. In cases of revision, the new version should be completed and delivered to the grading teacher within four weeks after the final seminar/or the date the revision was presented.
Module 4. Main opposition, 0 credits The module is examined through an individual written, as well as an oral, main opposition (critical examination where the student is responsible for leading the seminar) on another Bachelor’s thesis. The oral main opposition can be conducted in collaboration with your co-author on your thesis. The main opposition is graded as pass or fail. Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments. For grading of the thesis course as a whole, the grades used are: pass with distinction, pass or fail.
Other regulations
Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.
Additional regulations When a thesis has been written in English, the seminar should as a general rule also be held in English, unless all seminar participants (including side opponents and seminar leader) are Swedish speaking. The written main- and side-oppositions may be in Swedish provided that the seminar leader is Swedish speaking.
Supervision is only guaranteed for the semester under which the student is first registered for the course, regardless of how much supervision that has been utilized.
The thesis should normally be jointly written by two authors. It is not possible for two students who jointly write a thesis, to be registered for different types of theses (e.g. one student writing a bachelor’s and the other a master’s thesis).The thesis course is a campus course, which implies personal presence for supervision, participation in seminars, and collaboration with a thesis partner.
As a rule of thumb, the scope of the thesis should be approximately 40-60 pages.
The empirical material that is utilized in the thesis should on request be available for the supervisor, the main opponents and the graders in its original form (raw-data).
The thesis seminar (defense) should, if possible, not be held until the compulsory side-oppositions have been completed. The work-in-progress seminar must be completed before thesis defense. The thesis seminar and the main opposition are normally carried out at the end of the course (usually the end of the semester). For students not completing their thesis on time, a seminar could be arranged during assigned thesis periods provided there are opponents available.
When the grade has been set, archive copies of the completed thesis shall as soon as possible, and within 4 weeks, be submitted in both paper and digital form. For details, see http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/printing-and-archiving/
Valid from: 2017 week 1
Readings will be assigned by the supervisor or seminar leader.
Instructions are found in the Manual for Thesis Writing. Available at: http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/thesis-manual
Bachelor's thesis, 15 ECTS Literature is to be found individually. A list of recommended method literature could be found in the appendix to the Manual for Thesis Writing. http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/thesis-manual
Instructions are found in the Manual for Thesis Writing
Reference literature is literature that broadens , deepens and clarifies the topic. The student is expected to utilize these knowledge sources and other sources , especially when working with written reports and case information .
Umeå School of Business and Economics (latest edition) Thesis writing in Business Administration. Thesis manual. Företagsekonomi :
Additional individual literature focusing on specific topics may be needed to be able to complete module assignments.
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