THESIS WRITING

PROF. RYAN C ROQUE, CPA, MBA

Director, Property and Supply Management Office

ryancanonroque@yahoo.com
rcroque@pup.edu.ph
Preliminary Pages
1.Copyright Page
2.Title Page
3. Certification and Approval Sheet
4. Certification of Originality
5. Acknowledgments
6. Abstract
7. Table of Contents
8. List of Tables
9. List of Figures

Note:
Pagination of preliminaries shall be in
lowercase Roman numerals placed at the
bottom center of the page.
Chapter 1
The Problem and Its
Setting
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Statement of the Problem
Hypothesis (if any)
Scope and Limitation
Significance of the Study
Definition of Terms
Introduction
Overview of the research
Define major concepts
Discuss the factors that lead to the
conceptualization of the problem

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Theoretical Framework
Connects the researcher to existing
knowledge
Having a theory helps to identify the
limits to generalizations
It specifies which key variables
influence a phenomenon of interest
Conceptual Framework
Written and visual presentation of the main
things to be studied – key factors, concepts
or variables
Presents the basic design of the study
Statement of the
Problem
Clearly states the nature and scope of the
problem
Major problem – declarative form
Specific problems – interrogative form
Should be consistent with the presentation
of the variables in the conceptual
framework
Hypothesis
Indicates the expectations of the researcher
Stated in null form
Temporary answer to the specific problems
stated
Hypothesis:
There is no significant different in the respondents’ assessment on the
level of effectiveness of social media to small and medium enterprises
when they are grouped according to profile.
Scope and Limitation
Bounds and limits
Discuss inclusively the coverage of the
study in terms of
Population
Time frame
Variables
Specific items which should be excluded in
the study
Limitations in the methodology, sampling,
instrumentation
Significance of the
Study
This section defines the research study’s
original contribution to the academic field,
to the society, to the profession, to the
community, and the like
This may also establish a global reason that
makes the study worthwhile
List of the beneficiaries of the study
Definition of Terms
Words and terms in the thesis which need
clarifications
Define key variables in the title,
aspects/concepts in the statement of the
problem
Operational or conceptual definition
Chapter 2
Review of Literature
and Studies
Thematic organization of
literature shall be followed
Synthesis of the Reviewed
Literature and Studies
Chapter 2
Your task is to build
an argument, not a
library.
1. Begin with an introductory
paragraph stating what the chapter
is about
2. Organize your thoughts and make the
Statement of the Problem as your guide

Use the subproblems as your theme for

grouping the pieces of literature and studies
Group the articles and studies
Use ‘the post-it method’ – color code, or
number the topics that you discover
3. Do not turn the focus of the
review toward the opinions of
another researcher.
Keep the focus on the phenomenon
Use the finding/s of the cited research
as empirical support
4. Do not use the
quotations in excess
Restrict the use of quotations to those
with:
Particular impact
Stated in a unique way that is difficult to
recapture
5. Do not be tempted to include in
the review all the articles and
studies you have read, photocopied,
or printed

Be selective
Have the pleasure to read them all
Consistently ask yourself, “Why
am I including this study or
reference?”
6. Do not exclude the studies and
articles that contradict your point
of view.

Be objective
Present both sides of an argument
7. If you say read an author’s
view from someone else’s work
and you doubt it, try to look for
the original.
Because of paraphrasing, author’s
tend to misinterpret one another
 8. Synthesis of the Reviewed
Literature and Studies – make a
matrix

AUTHOR&DATE PURPOSE METHOD SAMPLE FINDINGS THEMES SIMILARITIES UNIQUENESS

SOURCE 1              

AUTHOR&DATE VARIABLES SAMPLE INSTRUMENT LIMITATIONS

SOURCE 1        

THEME SOURCE1 SOURCE2 SOURCE3 SOURCE4 SOURCE5 SOURCE6

THEME1            

THEME2            
Chapter 3
Methodology
Method of Research
Population, Sample Size, and
Sampling Technique
Description of Respondents
Instrument
Data Gathering Procedure
Statistical Treatment of Data
 Chapter 4
Results and Discussion

 Only the main topics per problem shall

appear as headings.
 The number of subheadings shall be
consistent with the number of sub-
problems posed in Chapter 1
 Chapter 5

Summary of Findings, Conclusions and

Recommendations

 Summary of Findings
 Conclusions
 Recommendations
 15. References
(APA latest edition)

 Books
 Journals
 Periodicals
 Unpublished thesis
 Electronic Sources
 16. Appendices
 Instrument
 Correspondence
 Transcription (if applicable)
 Certification of Originality Check
 Certification of Statistical Treatment
 Certification of Editing
 Biographical Statement (a paragraph
consisting of 100-150 words)
 Manuscript Preparation
 Paper and Printing Specifications: Print the
final copy with a laser printer using only one side of
a standard-sized PUP template (8.5 x 11 inches)

 Font Specifications: Use 11-point Arial font

throughout the thesis or dissertation except when
compressing a large table

 Spacing: Double space the text; single-space

long quotations, table and figure captions, and
similar special materials (e.g., table legend). Type
triple-spaced from the top margin, centered,
boldfaced, and in ALL CAPS all headings of the
preliminary section (except the Copyright Page and
Title Page) and all chapter titles.
 Manuscript Preparation
 Margins: Leave 1.5 inches for the left margin to
allow for binding and trimming and 1 inch for the top,
bottom, and right margins.

 Page Numbering: Use 11-point Arial font

throughout the thesis or dissertation except when
compressing a large table

 Preliminaries: The preliminaries include the

copyright page, title page, certification-and-approval
sheet, certification of originality, acknowledgments,
abstract, table of contents, list of tables, and list of
figures.
Manuscript Preparation
Thank you!