Guide to Thesis Preparation
The objective of this Guide to Thesis Preparation is to provide quick and general reference for research postgraduate students of The Chinese University of Hong Kong in preparing their theses. For more detailed information on style and format, students may consult the
Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1993), copies of
which are available for reference at the University Library. The actual format, style and abbreviations should be decided by the Graduate Division in accordance with normal practice adopted by journals or other publications commonly used in the field.
1. Order of contents
A thesis should contain the following parts in the order shown: (i) Title page
A title page should contain the following information: • the thesis title
• the name of the student, to be identical with that shown on the HKID card or passport
• the name of the supervisor(s) (for doctoral thesis, as requested by ProQuest Information and Learning Company for microfilming purpose)
• the degree for which the thesis is submitted • the name of the programme
• the name of the University • the month and year of submission • a statement on the University’s copyright (Samples are given in Appendix 1)
(ii) Abstract
A short abstract, in both Chinese and English, should be included in each copy of thesis submitted.
For Master’s theses, the length of the abstract should be 200-500 words. For doctoral theses, the abstract shall not exceed 800 characters in Chinese or 500 words in English. The abstracts of doctoral theses will be microfilmed by ProQuest Information and Learning Company and its editors will shorten any abstract which exceeds 350 words.
The heading of the abstract should be as follows: Abstract of thesis entitled:
Submitted by for the degree of
at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in (month and year) (iii) Acknowledgement (if any)
(iv) Table of contents, paginated
Where applicable, a list of tables, figures, symbols or abbreviations may be included. (v) Text
(vi) Appendices, if any
(vii) Bibliography 2. Paper size
The thesis, whether in Chinese or in English, should be typewritten on international A4 size paper (210 mm x 297 mm).
The thesis should be typed or printed on one side of the paper only. 3. Margins
The margin at the binding edge should be at least 4 cm, and the margin at the outer edge 2.5 cm.
4. Spacing
Double or one-and-a-half spacing should be used, except for quotations, footnotes, references and captions, which may be single-spaced.
5. Pagination
All pages, except the title page, should be numbered.
Small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, ...) are used for the preliminaries (e.g., abstract, acknowledgement, table of contents).
Arabic numbers (1,2,3, ...) are used for the text, appendices and bibliography. 6. Loose material
For easy identification all loose material which cannot be bound in the text (such as slides and tapes) should be marked with the student’s name and degree for which the work is submitted.
7. Miscellaneous conventions 8. Common errors and problems 9. Checklist
10. Proofreader’s marks
11. Acknowledgement of sources in written work (Refer to “Acknowledgement of sources in written work”.)
Note:
Sections 7-10 are based on material from Guide to Project Report and Thesis Preparation (for the graduate programmes of Business Administration), by courtesy of the Division of Business Administration.
1 An Investigation into the Action of Sodium Chloride
CHAN Tai-man
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Philosophy
in
Chemistry
©The Chinese University of Hong Kong June 1998
The Chinese University of Hong Kong holds the copyright of this thesis. Any person(s) intending to use a part or whole of the materials in the thesis in a proposed publication must seek copyright release from the Dean of the Graduate School.
1 Title of thesis.
2 Name as in HKID card or passport. 3 Name of programme.
2
3 A Sample of Title Page
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cAppendix 1B
A Sample of Title Page (for thesis written in Chinese)
1
2
MISCELLANEOUS CONVENTIONS
The conventions vary to some extent from discipline to discipline. The guidelines given below are the ones most generally adopted, but when in doubt, students should consult references pertaining to their own discipline, e.g., leading journals.
Initial Numbers Series
General Rules Numbers ten and below are written as words: ten, five, nine. But :5 percent, HK$7.
Round numbers over ninety-nine that can be expressed in two words are written as words: one hundred, five thousand, forty-five thousand.
Exact numbers over ten are written as figures: 11, 107, 250, 575, 128.
When numbers below and above ten appear in a series or group, figures should be used:Please prepare 125 copies of the guide, 25 copies of the memo, and 10 copies of the chart.
Several large round numbers in a series or group are usually written as figures: The library received 1,500 books in February, 3,000 in April, and 10,500 in October.
Numbers that begin a sentence are always written as words. This rule has no exceptions: Nine tests are required.
NUMBERS
Decimals and Percentages
Fractions
Figures are used to express decimals and percentages. The word percent should be spelt out: W i t h interest at 8 percent, the monthly payment amounts to US$200.30. However, for quantitative subjects, where percentages are cited frequently, the abbreviation % can be used.
A fraction standing alone is written as a word: Trade and commodity services accounted for nine-tenths of all international receipts and payments. Note the hyphen.
Quotation marks are used for the titles of unpublished works, such as typed reports, theses, lectures, meetings: “Export Marketing Strategies of the Hong Kong Garment Industry”.
All words in a book or magazine article title are capitalized, except prepositions, articles and coordinate conjunctions that do not appear as the first word: Public Speaking for the Professions, “The Problems and Promises of Asia’s New Oil Wells”.
The general rule is to italicize the titles of whole published works, such as books, periodicals, pamphlets, bulletins: Business Writing, Fortune, The South China Morning Post. Before computer
text processing became common, underline would be used instead of italics, e.g., Business Writing. This remains acceptable.
Quotation marks are used for parts of these works, such as book chapters, articles in magazines, journals, newspapers: “Inflation: The Big Fight Opens” in Time.
REFERENCE TO TITLES OF WORKS General Rules
COMMON ERRORS AND PROBLEMS
Prefer a concrete noun to an abstract noun as the subject of a main verb.
The nature of the solution is such that the parking facilities must be expanded.
The solution is to expand the parking facilities.
Do not use a pronoun for which there is no antecedent. In Hong Kong they import lamb from New Zealand too.
Hong Kong imports lamb from New Zealand too.
Because the carburetor in the car is defective, a new one must be purchased. The defective carburetor must be replaced.
Give the modifier something to modify.
In preparing the questionnaire, these factors should be considered. In preparing the questionnaire, the writer should consider these factors. (The initial phrase modifies “the writer”, not “these factors”.)
MISSING ANTECEDENTS ABSTRACT NOUNS
VAGUE ANTECEDENTS
DANGLING VERBALS
Dangling Gerund
Dangling Participle H a v i n g c o m p l e t e d the project, t h e information concerning it was sent to the supervisor.
(The information did not complete the project; the technician did.)
The technician, having completed the p r o j e c t , s e n t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n concerning it to the supervisor. Never allow a pronoun to have two possible antecedents. The number one rule is that there is no hard and fast rule. There are exceptions to every guideline, and different preferences on matters of style. The following are only general suggestions. The examples preceded by illustrate common errors and problems; ind-icates revised version. Pay attention to the parts underlined.
To determine each phase of the life cycle, the rate of growth of net sales and the rate of growth of net land, plant and equipment must be considered. (The rate of growth does not determine.)
Each phase of the life cycle may be determined if the rate of growth of net sales and the rate of growth of net land, plant and equipment are known.
Dangling Infinitive
GERUND-PREPOSITION COMBINATION
INTRODUCTORY “IT”
CONSTRUCTIONS AND “THERE”
Avoid the gerund-preposition combination where a participle alone will suffice. For example, “gathering data” is preferable to “the gathering of data”; similarly “considering a l t e r n a t i v e s” is preferable to “t h e consideration of alternatives”.
Avoid beginning a sentence with an “it” or “there” construction.
It can be seen in figure 4 that the cost of living has increased by 6 percent.
Figure 4 shows that the cost of living has increased by 6 percent.
There are many factors that affect the construction of a reservoir. Many factors affect the construction of a reservoir.
Use short, specific words to replace long words and phrases.
Due to the fact that the train derailed near Shatin, a great number of people were late to work.
Because the train derailed near Shatin, many people were late to work. LONG WORDS AND
PHRASES
After the project had been completed, the information concerning it was sent to the supervisor.
Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives
according to the law legally along the lines of like, similar to
as regards about, concerning
by way of illustration for example despite the fact that although due to the fact that because, since for situations in which if
for the purpose of for, to
for the reason that because, since
in accordance with by, under
in addition to also, besides
inasmuch as because, since
in case of if
in connection with about, concerning
in reference to about, concerning
in respect of about, concerning
in such a manner so
in the event of if
in the event that should
in the interests of for
in view of the fact that because, since
on the basis of by
outside of except
through the use of by
with regard to about, regarding
with the result that so
ascertain check
anticipate expect
commence begin
exhibit show
fabricate make
furnish give, send
Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives
is capable of can
is equipped with has
is instrumental in helps
make an effort try
necessitate require
perform do
provide information for explain
purchase buy
request ask
substantiate verify
terminate end
utilize use
as the occasion warrants when necessary
at a time when when
at all times always
at present now
at some future date later
at that time then
at the present time now
by the time that when
during the course of during
during the time that when
in few cases (instances) seldom
in many cases often
in the near future soon
prior to before
subsequent time later
additional more
a great deal of most
a great (large) number of many
a major portion of most
Long words/phrases Suggested alternatives
a wide variety of many
as a whole entire
in excess of greater (more) than
in the neighbourhood of about
the bulk of most
MISPLACED MODIFIERS
WEAK MODIFIERS
Put all items in a list or series in the same grammatical form.
This chapter explains the importance of stock dividends and establishing criteria for evaluating the stock-option practice.
This chapter explains the importance of stock dividends and establishes criteria for evaluating the stock-option practice.
Avoid awkward changes of subject in mid-sentence. The first problem is political, but there are questions of economics that are almost entirely involved in the second problem.
The first problem is political; the second, principally economic. Place a modifier as close as possible to the element modified.
M s . C h u w r o t e a r e p o r t t o h e r supervisor explaining the systems of forest fire detection.
(This sentence says that the supervisor was doing the explaining.)
Ms. Chu’s report explaining the systems of forest firedetection was sent to her supervisor.
Omit adverbs such as most, really, surely and very when they weaken rather than strengthen the words they modify.
The machine operates very efficiently. The machine operates efficiently.
Avoid using extra words which repeat the same idea. Mr. Lee’s report describes work during the period from December 1978 to February 1979.
Mr. Lee’s report describes work from December 1978 to February 1979.
Carefully proofread the entire paper for spelling and typing errors (and for omissions, lapses in style, and other matters). Use the spell check functions in word processors. If someone else did the typing, the longhand manuscript should first be proofread, then the final typed copy proofread just as carefully. Errors or inconsistencies in the presentation draw attention to themselves and can detract from the research by leaving an impression of carelessness.
The concept to be emphasized should preferably be in the subject.
A thermometer was used to measure the temperature.
The temperature was measured by a thermometer.
The temperature was measured. (The temperature is the important concept; the thermometer is only a tool. Therefore the thermometer should not be in the subject; it could even be omitted.) OVERUSED PASSIVE VOICE Prefer the active voice to the passive voice. The passive voice should be used when appropriate, but it is less forceful and usually requires more words compared with the active voice.
The “Return on Investments” column is applied in only one case.
The “Return on Investments” column applies in only one case.
Note however that reports of scientific experiments are normally in the passive voice.
We heated the sample. The sample was heated.
REDUNDANCIES
SPELLING AND TYPING ERRORS
CHECKLIST
The final manuscript should be a complete, cohesive, logically-sequenced and persuasive document. The following list provides a quick check of presentation techniques to help the writer prevent any oversight.
The manuscript is free of mechanical flaws, such as spelling and typing errors, which will detract from the research content.
The introductory chapter states the origin, purpose and scope of the study, and the plan of development of the paper, as appropriate.
Supplementary materials, related to the subject but too detailed or bulky for the text, appear in the appendix section. Specific reference in the text is made to the appropriate appendix materials.
All parts and pages are in the correct order.
Significant ideas are highlighted and supporting details are put in secondary positions.
Paragraphs are well organized and of reasonable length.
Single subdivision is not used (e.g., Section 1, Section 1.1 without Section 1.2), the reason being that a whole cannot be logically subdivided into only one part. Headings and subheadings are clear, properly worded and grammatically parallel. All necessary materials are included to eliminate any gaps in content, and all unnecessary materials are excluded to avoid digressions from the central theme. Content chapters develop the subject in an appropriate logical order.
The concluding chapter is consistent with the claims of the introductory chapter. The overall conclusion is justified with identification and interpretation of the findings.
A title and number are assigned to each visual aid. The caption should aim to be self-contained, so that the visual aid can be understood without reference to the text.
Visual aids appear in the text as close as possible following their first mention. The text refers to each visual aid by number and discusses the significant features.
The manuscript satisfies format requirements for order of contents, paper size, margins, and so on.
Appendix 5
PROOFREADER’S MARKS
Instruction Mark in Margin to Type Corrected Type
Delete. the good word the word
Insert indicated material. the word the good word
Put underlined The word
material in capitals.
Put in lower case letters. the Word the word
Spell out. 2 words two words
Close up. No space. the word
Insert space. theword the word
Correct uneven spacing.
Transpose letters or the word good the good word words.
Run in. word word word word word
word the word
Line up properly.
Move to left/right.
Raise/lower.
Start paragraph.
No paragraph.
In this correct?
Something omitted. See copy for material and insert here.
Keep as is. Disregard the correction shown.
Insert period
colon
semicolon
comma
question mark
exclamation point
hyphen
dash
parentheses
brackets
apostrophe
