SGHU2922

Technical Writing
 Technical Writing
• Technical writing is the presentation of
information on any scientific, engineering or
technological topic in the form most suited to
its user.
 What is a Thesis?
• Thesis refers to a documented report of the
process followed and the results of original
research conducted by a student in fulfillment
of the requirements for a graduate degree.

• The thesis should be presented in a manner that

will reflect credit on the student, the faculty, and
the University.
 Thesis Structure
1
• ABSTRACT & CONTENTS

2
• INTRODUCTION

3 • LITERATURE REVIEW

4
• METHODOLOGY

5
• RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

6
• CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
 Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Background of the Study

Background information of the specific topic

of the study and general area of the study.
Provides issue or problem, and reason for
conducting the study. Can include brief
literature reviews that support problems.
 Characteristics of Research
1. Research is directed towards the solution of a problem
2. Research is based upon observable experience or
empirical evidence.
3. Research demands accurate observation and
THESE ARE description.
4. Research involves gathering new data from primary
WHAT YOU sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
HAVE TO 5. Research activities are characterized by carefully
designed procedures.
OBSERVE 6. Research requires expertise i.e. skill necessary to carry
THROUGHOUT out investigation, search the related literature and to
understand and analyze the data gathered.
COMPLETING 7. Research is objective and logical–applying every
YOUR PSM possible test to validate the data collected and
RESEARCH conclusions reached.
8. Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved
PROJECT. problems.
9. Research requires courage.
10. Research is characterized by patient and unhurried
activity.
11. Research is carefully recorded and reported.
 The Dynamic Process of Research Project
ABSTRACT WORLD OF THEORY

The “Research
2a. Theory 2b. Frame 5. Discuss
Snake” shows Review Question Results
research as a
dynamic process
connecting the
abstract world
of theory and the
1. Topic/ 3. Method 4. Data
concrete world Problem Analysis
of practice

CONCRETE WORLD OF PRACTICE

 Chapter 1: Introduction
2. Statement of Problem

Statement that defines issue or problem

investigated in the study. Should consists
relevant information about why ”this is the
important problem”.
 Typical PSM Research Process
TOPIC
AIM/GOAL
Answer RESEARCH OBJECTIVES/QUESTIONS/ Determine
HYPOTHESIS
Address Delimit

CONCLUSIONS RESEARCH METHOD

PROBLEM

Permit RESULTS Produces

Supports and Validates by LITERATURE REVIEW

 Topic and Problem Statement
1. In introducing your Research
Project, you should provide
the general research topic and 1. Is the PROBLEM the research addresses
the problem the research clearly stated and relevant?
intend to address.

2. It (general topic) is 2. What is the TOPIC AREA referred to by

the context of the research.
3. It answers questions like
"What is this research about?",
"Who is it by?", "Why was it
done?" and "How did it
originate?“
4. This is like a "business plan"
that presents the case to the
reader that it is worth reading
on. In introducing your
research you should include
the following:
consistent terms through-out the research?
3. Is the chosen TOPIC AREA to some degree
unexplored territory?
4. Is the RESEARCH PURPOSE is clearly
stated in a single sentence?
5. Does the proposed TITLE describe the
TOPIC in an interesting way, and invite
the reader to read on?
 Sources of Research Topic

THE NATURAL WORLD

(Land, Rivers, Coast, Forest, Wetland, Hill…)

SOURCES
OF
YOUR
HUMAN PSM TOPICS
BUILT
WORLD SOCIETY
(City, Road, Dam, Utility..) (Country, Organization…)
 Examples of Developing Research Topic
SUBJECT Reengineering of a Land Information System (LIS) for
the Vietnamese Land Administration
LAND
(Natural World) Residential Land Value Modeling: Case Study of
Hankou China

TOPIC Urban Land Development Model

1. Land Administration
2. Land Development Customary Land Tenure and Urbanization with a Case
3. Land Factors Study on the Peri-Urban Area of Accra, Ghana
4. Land Information System
5. Land Policy Land Tenure Dynamics and Land Policies: The Case of
6. Land Tenure Santa Isabel in Guatemala
7. Land Value
8. Customary Land Tenure
The Effect of Land Factors and Management Practices
9. Urban Land on Rice Yield
 From Subject(Object) to Research Topic
Something
Unguided about
and the naturalexploration,
unlimited world, the built
attempting
world, to collect
or society; e.g. facts.
An object or thing
in itself 1. changes in land use in a study area;
2. commerce patterns in a district;
3. audit of a reconstruction project after a natural disaster;

How the “thing in itself” is best studied, e.g.

1. How to assess land-use changes with multiple satellite

The methodology sensors of different resolution;
2. how to visualise spatio-temporal commerce patterns;
3. how to map reconstructed buildings from high-resolution
imagery using image segmentation techniques.
 From Topic to Thesis Title
All PSM/MSc/ thesis titles should
include the purpose of the research.
When thinking about how to explain 1. AREA OF INTEREST
this in a thesis title, it may help to
think about the purpose of the 2. FOCUS OF RESEARCH
MSc/PhD research in two ways:

The area of interest is the broader theme

or topic that the thesis addresses. In some
AREA OF INTEREST cases, the area of interest will be a theory
(or theories) that underpin the research.

Whilst the focus is the particular angle or

FOCUS OF RESEARCH aspect of that theme or topic that thesis
are tackling.
 Some Examples Thesis Title
Area of Interest Thesis Title FOCUS
Analysis of Flood Physical Vulnerability
Flood Physical in Residential Area: Case Study of Analysis
Vulnerability Naga City, the Philippines

Effect of Spatial Resolution on Erosion

Soil Erosion Assessment in Namchun Watershed, Effect of Spatial
Assessment Thailand
Resolution

Establishing Relationship Between

Slope Stability Thermal Radiation and Intensity of 3D Establishing
Analysis Terrestrial Laser Scan Data of Weathered
Relationship
Between
Rock Surface for Slope Stability Analysis

Investigating the Influence of Resource

National Dependencies on Compliance to Investigating the
Geoinformation National Policies of Geoinformation: Influence of
Policies
A Resource Dependence Perspective.
 Further Examples Thesis Title
Area of Interest Thesis Title FOCUS
Modeling of Fine Scale LiDAR DEM for Modeling of
Plant Distribution on a Plant Distribution on a Green Beach, Fine Scale LiDAR DEM
Green Beach Schiermonnikoog Island

Spatial Modeling of Endemic Plant

Endemic Plant Hotspot Hotspot: A Case in Manjella National Spatial Modeling
Park in Italy

Residential Land Value Residential Land Value Modeling: Modeling

Case Study of Hankou China

Urban Land Urban Land Development Model

Development Model
 Chapter 1: Introduction
3. Objectives of the Study

Objectives should be closely related to the

research problem, states what researcher
expect to achieve by the study in general
terms, specify what will you do in your study,
where and for what purpose.
 Chapter 1: Introduction
4. Significance of Study

Justification of the reason for conducting the

study. Contribution of your study must be
highlighted. Should consider:
– What is your study necessary?
– To whom is it important?
– Potential benefits of your study?
 Chapter 1: Introduction
5. Scope of the Study

Scope indicates the direction of the study. It

also explain limitation of the study. Be very
specific, for example the population to which
findings will be limited.
 Chapter 1: Introduction
6. Methodology

Briefly describe the methods that were used

in the study (i.e. research methods, variables,
instrumentation, participants, pilot, analysis
of data). Details methodology will cover in
depth in a later chapter.
 The Research Methodology

RESEARCH PSM THESIS

RESEARCH TOPIC

FORMULATION 3

RESEARCH THESIS
DESIGN & 4 WRITING
RESEARCH PLANNING
PROBLEM
WRITING DATA
PROPOSAL 5 ANALYSIS
2

DATA
PROPOSAL COLLECTION
1
PLANNING PHASE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
END ON CHAPTER 1: INTRODUTION
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CHAPTER 2:
LITERATURE REVIEW
 LITERATURE REVIEW

WHAT IS LITERATURE REVIEW?

“A literature review is a description of

the literature relevant to a particular
field or topic.”
 LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review gives an overview of:
• What has been said on the topics?
• Who are the key writers (authors)?
• What are the prevailing theories and hypotheses?
• What questions are being asked?
• What methods and methodologies are appropriate?
LITERATURE REVIEW
What has been
said on the topics

What methods
and Who the key
methodologies writers (authors)
are appropriate

LR gives an
overview of:
What questions Who the key
are being asked writers (authors)

What are the

prevailing
theories and
hypotheses
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• The purpose of writing literature review is to
convey reader on:
–Knowledge and ideas that have been
established on topics.
– What their strengths and weakness are.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• The literature review is not just a descriptive
list of the material available, or a set of
summaries.

• But must be defined by a guiding concept

(e.g., research objective, the problem or issue
discussing, or argumentative thesis)
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• Literature review can covers:
– Theory behind the research problem.
– The development of the theories.
– The occurrence of the problem/phenomenon.
– The importance of the phenomenon.
– The factors affecting the phenomenon.
– The methods used for studying the problem/
phenomenon.
– The guides, instructions, recommendations,
limiting values.
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

5 important steps
1 Review a literature
2 Problem Formulation
3 Literature Search
4 Evaluations of Findings
5 Analysis and Interpretation of Literature
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
1 Books (monographs, text books, reference books)
Research Materials
2 Article from journal (print or electronic)

3 Newspaper article

4 Historical records

5 Commercial reports and statistical information

6 Government reports and statistical information

7 Theses and dissertations

8 Other types of information

 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Review a Literature

• Read the materials related to the study to get

an idea of themes to include in the topics.

• Take note of how other writers classify their

data, the literature in their fields, and see how
they are structured.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Formulation

• Problem formulation begins with the

determination of the research questions that
will guide the literature review.

• These questions should be influenced

significantly by the goal and focus of the review.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Formulation

Examples of goal/focus:
• Goal type 1: to integrate research outcomes.
• Goal type 2: to critically analyse the research
methods.
• Goal type 3: focus on theories and the goal is
to identify central issues.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Formulation

• Goal type 1: to integrate research outcomes.

Research question: From the previous

literature, what is the effect of intervention X
on outcomes Y and Z?
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Formulation

• Goal type 2: to critically analyse the research

methods.
Research question: What research methods
have been used in the past to investigate
phenomenon X and what are the
methodological flaws of those methods?
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Problem Formulation

• Goal type 3: focus on theories and the goal is

to identify central issues.

Research question: What are the central

theories that have been used to explain
phenomenon X?
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Problem Formulation
• It is wise to search for literature reviews that
may have already answered these or related
questions.
• Research questions help to narrow the
topics and help to limit the number of
sources needed to read in order to get a
good survey of the material.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Search
The literature search will help to identify
scope and key issues. Efficient searching
will help to:
– Identify which authors are interested in
specialism
– Trace authors who are prominent in subject area
and who can help to justify the importance of
research idea.
– Include the authors would or could contradict
related ideas.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Search
• Make sure to write down the full bibliographic
details of each book or article.

• Many abstracting journals and electronic

databases are available through the University
Library.

• The minimum number of references needed

depends upon what the review is for and what
stage of the studies.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Search
HOW MANY REFERENCES TO LOOK FOR?
DEPENDS ON WHAT
THE LITERATURE REVIEW IS FOR.
• Undergraduate review: 5-20 articles
depending on level.
• Honours dissertation: 20 articles
• Master thesis: 40 articles
• Doctoral thesis: 50 articles
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Evaluations of Findings
• Reading research articles is different from
other types of reading.

• It required to develop good understanding of

the research literature to be able to write a
competent literature review.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Evaluations of Findings
• Understanding the literature requires to read,
to re-read and assimilate complex ideas.

• Data evaluation involves determining which

literature makes a significant contribution to
the understanding of the topic.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Evaluations of Findings
• Read the easier articles first

• Difficult or badly written articles will probably

be easier to understand when discover the
familiarity in the articles with related subject.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Evaluations of Findings
Scan the article
When reading the articles, should highlight:-
– Has the author formulated a problem/issue?
– Identify the research question and the specific
hypotheses, the findings and how the findings
were interpreted.
– What is the author’s theoretical framework?
– What is the relationship between the theoretical
and research perspectives?
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Analysis and Interpretation of the

Literature
• This stage involves discussing the findings and
conclusions of literature.
• After have an idea of the main ideas in each
article, identify the precise methods used and
the theories tested.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Analysis and Interpretation of the

Literature

• Understand on how to do different authors

cite the same work? One author may explain
the method of an earlier study, describe its
results in great detail and cite it repeatedly
while another may give it only a passing
reference.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Analysis and Interpretation of the

Literature

• Find the strengths and/or weakness, and is

the subject covered adequately?
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
How to Structuring Literature
Review
Introduction
• The introduction should:
– Identify the topic of the study
– Some discussion of the significance of that
topic.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

How to Structuring Literature

Review
The introduction should (cont.):
– Point out overall trends in what has been
published about the topic; or conflicts in theory,
methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps
in research and scholarship, or a single problem or
new perspective of immediate interest.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

How to Structuring Literature

Review
• Body
– The purpose of the body is to group research
studies and other types of literature (reviews,
theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to
common denominators.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

How to Structuring Literature

Review
• Body
– Such as qualitative versus quantitative
approaches, conclusions of authors, specific
purpose or objective, chronology, etc.
– Most of paragraphs should discuss more than one
source.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Examples on topics can be included in literature
reviews:
– Historical background
– Current mainstream versus alternative theoretical
or ideological view points, and other conflicts.
– Definitions in use
– Current research studies
– Current discoveries about the topics.
– General conclusions that are being drawn
– Methodologies and method in use.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Conclusion
– The conclusion should provide a summary of the
findings from the literature review.
– Explain which analysis of the material that leads to
conclude about the overall state of the literature,
discuss what it can provides and where it is
lacking.
– Provide suggestions for future research or
explain how your future research will fill the gaps in
the existing body of work on that topic.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Common Mistakes in Writing

Literature Review
• Fails to explain the relationship of already
made findings to his/her own study.
• Not focuses mostly on secondary sources
rather than on primary ones in his/her
dissertation literature review.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Common Mistakes in Writing

Literature Review
• Fails to accept the works and findings of other
scholars critically.
• Does not mention methods used for collecting
data.
• Does not take into consideration alternative
and contrary findings.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Format in Writing Literature
Review
• The references cited in the text should be
indicated using the of the author and the
date of publication.
• Several types of references:
– Name of an author is written as part of a
sentence.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Format in Writing Literature
Review
• Several types of references (cont.):
– Name of an author is written as part of a sentence
or is not written as part of a sentence.
– Two authors for as cited reference.
– More than three authors for a cited references .
– More than one references materials by the same
author in a same year are cited.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Format in Writing Literature

Review
• Name of an author is written as part of a
sentence.
– Works by Yao (1993) have shown that in order to
maintain the behavioral link between the offspring
and their parents, the use of crossover operator
should be avoided.
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Format in Writing Literature

Review
• Name of an author is not written as part of
a sentence.
– ANN offers useful properties and capabilities such
as non-linearity input mapping, and adaptability
and fault tolerance among others (Haykin, 1999).
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Format in Writing Literature

Review
• More than three authors for a cited reference

– The algorithm can be calculated by applying

Gram-Schmidt procedure as described by
Korenberg et al. (1988).
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Format in Writing Literature

Review
• More than one reference materials by the
same authors in a same year are cited
– some of the basic principles widely used by many
researchers are Langrange-Euler (LE) equations
(Uicker, 1965): Bejcky and Paul ,1981), Newton-
Euler(NE) equations (Luh et al., 1980a) and
d’Alembert (GD) equations(Lee et al., 1983)
END OF CHAPTER 2