{"id":1032,"date":"2012-08-16T02:02:11","date_gmt":"2012-08-16T02:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/gradadmissions\/?page_id=1032"},"modified":"2022-06-14T19:35:08","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T19:35:08","slug":"tips-for-completing-the-masters-thesis-or-project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/tips-for-completing-the-masters-thesis-or-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Completing the Master&#8217;s Thesis or Project"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Students in selected Master\u2019s programs must demonstrate evidence of a high degree of scholarship, competence in scholarly exposition and ability to select, organize and apply knowledge through a thesis. \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Master\u2019s Thesis\u201d as developed and enhanced by the Graduate Faculty of Jackson State University, provides examples of best practices concerning format standards that must be met before it receives final approval by the Division of Graduate Studies. This unit highlights items from Chapter 3: Technical Details.\u00a0It is not meant to replace the \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Masters&#8217;s Thesis\u201d or &#8220;Guidelines for Preparing the Master&#8217;s Project&#8221;.\u00a0Each student should obtain a copy of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/Thesis.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guidelines for Preparing the Master&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0Thesis\u201d for full details.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"contents\"><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Contents<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#initial\">Initial Steps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#arrangement\">Preliminary Items<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#text\">Text<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#end\">End Items<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#approval\">Approval Process<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#closing\">Closing Comments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#responsibilities\">Responsibilities<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sample\">Sample Pages<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a name=\"initial\"><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Initial Steps<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>1. Thesis\/Project Committee Approval Form (<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2022\/02\/Committee-Approval-Form-Revised-1-19-22.pdf\">Click here for a Committee Approval Form<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This form is essential for students who are writing a thesis or project. It is established policy that the student selects his\/her advisor with consent of the department chair. The advisor assists the student in the formation of a committee of the appropriate number of graduate faculty members. This form documents the constitution of a student\u2019s committee and approval of the student\u2019s research proposal by the student\u2019s committee.<\/li>\n<li>The signatures of the committee members indicate their willingness to serve on your committee and their approval of the proposal. After all the signatures have been obtained, file this form with the Division of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n<li>This form must be filed BEFORE you start your research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2. Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your proposed research involves human subjects, it must be approved by the Jackson State University Institutional Review Board, (IRB).<\/li>\n<li>If your proposed research involves animals, it must be approved by the JSU Institutional Animal Care and Usage Commitee (IACUC).<\/li>\n<li>A full explanation of the procedures and Federal Guidelines are available from the JSU Office of Research Compliance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>3. Proposal. The Division of Graduate Studies does not define the content or style for a proposal. Please consult your committee chairperson.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"arrangement\"><\/a><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Arrangement of Preliminary Items in the Thesis\/Project<\/span><\/em>.<\/h3>\n<p>Title Page\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.Required\u2026\u2026..counted as page \u201ci\u201d, but not numbered.<br \/>\nApproval Page\u2026\u2026. Required\u2026. \u2026counted as page \u201cii\u201d, but not numbered.<br \/>\nCopyright Page\u2026\u2026 Optional\u2026\u2026.. no page number.<br \/>\nDedication Page\u2026\u2026Optional\u2026\u2026&#8230;no page number.<br \/>\nTable of Contents\u2026.Required\u2026\u2026\u2026Must be numbered as page \u201ciii\u201d.<br \/>\nList of Tables\u2026\u2026.. If needed\u2026\u2026\u2026Small Roman numeral.<br \/>\nList of Figures\u2026\u2026..If needed\u2026\u2026\u2026Small Roman numeral.<br \/>\nAcknowledgements..Required\u2026\u2026\u2026Small Roman numeral<br \/>\nAbstract\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026Required\u2026\u2026\u2026counted as page, but not numbered.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Title Page<\/strong>: This page is assigned the Roman numeral \u201ci\u201d, although the number does not appear. The date used is the month and year of commencement. The page must be spaced EXACTLY as shown in Appendix A of the \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Master&#8217;s Thesis\u201d or the Project Guidelines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approval Page<\/strong>: Each copy of the thesis\/project must have an approval page using the exact wording and format shown on the sample page in Appendix A of the \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Master&#8217;s Thesis\u201d or the Project Guidelines. This sheet must be on the same brand and weight of paper as the remainder of the thesis\/project. Although the page may be a copy, THE COMMITTEE SIGNATURES MUST BE ORIGINAL. Black ink is required for the original signatures. (Use of ink of other color will result in the thesis\/project being returned.) Approval pages are not numbered.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong>: The first page of the Table of Contents must be \u201ciii\u201d. Other pages are numbered consecutively. The page number is centered at the bottom of the page. Chapter or Section Titles, References, Appendix(es) and Vita must be included. Although it is not necessary to include all levels of headings, inclusion must be consistent. If a particular level is included at any point, all headings of that level must be included. This page should have a 2 inch top margin.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Abstract<\/strong>: The abstract is a brief summary of the problem and the results of the research. The abstract of a thesis\/project should be concise review of the work and must not exceed 600 words. This page is numbered for the Table of Contents, but the page number must not appear on the page. This page should have a 2 inch top margin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"text\"><\/a><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Text<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<p>Refer to the style manual required by your department for items not discussed in the \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Master&#8217;s Thesis\u201d or the Project Guidelines.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Font<\/strong>&#8211; The recommend font is Times Roman, size 12.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Line Spacing<\/strong> \u2013 Standard double spacing is used for the document text. Most style manuals require single spacing for long quotations and bibliographic entries (double spacing should be used between entries).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Margins<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Left: 1.5 inches (this allows for binding)<\/li>\n<li>Right and Bottom: 1 inch<\/li>\n<li>Top: Start of major section = 2 inches, all other pages = 1 inch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Page Numbers<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The first page of the text section must be \u20181\u2019.<\/li>\n<li>Pages are numbered consecutively beginning with 1 continuing to the end of the document.<\/li>\n<li>Page numbers for the start of each Chapter or major section are placed in the center bottom position (1 inch or 7 lines up from the bottom).<\/li>\n<li>Page numbers for all other pages must be placed one inch (line 7) from the top and even with the right margin.<\/li>\n<li>No other numbering scheme is acceptable, the standard scheme may not be disrupted with insertions numbered, 10a, 10b, 10c, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Paper<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Initial submission of the thesis\/project, for review by the Graduate Reader, should be on \u201cregular\u201d paper.<\/li>\n<li>THESIS: After the corrections of the Graduate Reader are made, the student will submit three (3) unbound copies of the thesis, on white, (at least) 20 pound, 25% rag, acid-free paper, paper to the Division of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n<li>PROJECT: After the corrections of the Graduate Reader are made, the student will submit one (1) spiral bound copy of the project, on white, (at least) 20 pound, 25% rag, acid-free paper, paper to the Division of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"end\"><\/a><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">End Items<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bibliography\/List of References<\/strong>: The format for the citations should be that used by the appropriate style manual for the student\u2019s department.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appendix or Appendices<\/strong>: An appendix (or appendixes or appendices), if included, is preceded by a numbered page with the designation centered vertically and horizontally between the margins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>If IRB approval was required, a copy of YOUR approval letter must be included as an appendix.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Vita<\/strong>: A vita is written in narrative form or outline form and contains appropriate personal, academic and professional information. It is the last item in the manuscript and appears with no preceding separation page and no page number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"approval\"><\/a><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Approval Process<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Timeline<\/strong>: The Division of Graduate Studies issues a calendar each year which indicates the LAST DAY for satisfying all graduation requirements. The Division of Graduate Studies encourages students to submit their manuscripts well be for the deadline. Click <a title=\"Dates, Deadlines and Notices\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/gradadmissions\/dates-deadlines-and-notices\/\">here<\/a> for Dates and Deadlines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scheduling your Defense<\/strong>: The chairperson of the committee for the candidate for the degree, in concurrence with the other members of the committee, shall adhere to the following process. The chairperson will notify the members of the committee, the Department Chair, the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies and other appropriate persons of the place, date and time of the defense.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/gadmappl\/forms\/DefenseResults.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Committee Report of Defense Results<\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u00a0 is completed upon the successful defense of the thesis\/project before the student\u2019s committee. This form must be submitted prior to the submission of the <a title=\"\u201con-Line Graduation Clearance\u201d for Master-level Students\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/on-line-graduation-clearance-graduate-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Final Clearance for Graduation<\/a>\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>First Submission<\/strong>: One unbound copy of the thesis\/project must be presented to the committee.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Committee<\/strong>:The FIRST SUBMISSION will be reviewed to determine format and compliance with the appropriate guidelines from the department\u2019s adopted style manual. The student will be notified if any revisions are necessary, in a timely manner. If revisions of the manuscript are necessary, the student must incorporate the changes and resubmit to the committee.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second Submission<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>THESIS: After the corrections of the committee are made, the student will submit three (3) unbound copies of the thesis, on white, (at least) 20 pound, 25% rag, acid-free paper. One copy will be place in the JSU Library, one copy will be sent to the department and one copy is for the student.<\/li>\n<li>PROJECT: After the corrections are made, the student will submit one (1) spiral bound copy of the project, on white, (at least) 20 pound, 25% rag, acid-free paper, paper. This copy will be place in the JSU Library.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"closing\"><\/a><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Closing Comments<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<p>Submission of a thesis\/project should not be interpreted as approval. Approval comes only after the document is read and the format reviewed for consistency with guidelines. The final copy of the thesis\/project must be acceptable to all members of the committee as witnessed by the signatures on the approval page.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a name=\"responsibilities\"><\/a><em>Student\u2019s Responsibility<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Choosing a chairperson following the policies &amp; guidelines of the major department.<\/li>\n<li>Choosing the members of the thesis\/project committee in conjunction with the chairperson following the policies &amp; guidelines of the major department.<\/li>\n<li>Meeting with the chairperson and setting a schedule for completion of the thesis\/project in a timely manner.<\/li>\n<li>Keeping on schedule.<\/li>\n<li>Turning in all thesis\/project material to chairperson typed in correct format.<\/li>\n<li>Knowing and meeting all deadlines.<\/li>\n<li>Filing all forms in a timely manner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Committee\u2019s Responsibility<\/strong><\/em>: It is the committee members\u2019 responsibility to \u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Attend the prospectus hearing and final defense.<\/li>\n<li>Read the student\u2019s work throughout the writing process.<\/li>\n<li>Provide written feedback for correcting and\/or improving the thesis\/project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Advisor and Committee\u2019s Responsibility<\/strong><\/em>: It is the chairperson\u2019s and committee members\u2019 responsibility to know policies, rules, and regulations of both the Division of Graduate Studies and the major department relative to the thesis\/project process.<\/p>\n<p>In addition the chair is also responsible for&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensuring that the student is aware of the rules, regulations and policies of the Division of Graduate Studies and the department.<\/li>\n<li>Assisting the student in the formation of a committee.<\/li>\n<li>Meeting with the student on a regular basis.<\/li>\n<li>Keeping the scheduled appointments.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring that the student\u2019s work is properly documented and not plagiarized.<\/li>\n<li>Scheduling the prospectus hearing, if required, and the final defense of the thesis\/project.<\/li>\n<li>Notifying the committee members and the Department chair of the place, time &amp; date of the prospectus hearing.<\/li>\n<li>Notifying the Graduate Dean, College Dean, Department chair and committee members of the place, time &amp; date of the final defense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Department Chair\/Program Director\u2019s Responsibility<\/strong><\/em>: It is the department chair\/program director\u2019s responsibility for knowing and enforcing policies, rules, and regulations of both the Division of Graduate Studies and department\/program.<\/p>\n<p>The chair\/director is also responsible for&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensuring that the graduate faculty of the department\/program know and adhere to the policies, rules and regulations of the Division of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n<li>Keeping the faculty abreast of rule, policy and procedure changes from the Division of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n<li>Serving as a liaison between the student and the advisor, if necessary.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring the thesis\/project advisor and all committee members are qualified to serve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"sample\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h2>Sample Pages<\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/title.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Title Page<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/approval.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Approval Page<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/contents.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Table of Contents<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Abstract<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/sample-table.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sample Table<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/vita.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vita<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/files\/2012\/08\/sample-figure.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sample Figure<\/a><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\">(Return to Contents)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students in selected Master\u2019s programs must demonstrate evidence of a high degree of scholarship, competence in scholarly exposition and ability to select, organize and apply knowledge through a thesis. \u201cGuidelines for Preparing the Master\u2019s Thesis\u201d as developed and enhanced by the Graduate Faculty of Jackson State University, provides examples of best practices concerning format standards [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1032"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4245,"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032\/revisions\/4245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/graduateschool\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}