Formal Requirements

JD THESIS
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
 Formalities

We prescribe uniformity --
• To ensure the inclusion of all mandatory portions
• In order to avoid distractions caused by graphics, fancy formats, borders and
visuals
• In order to focus the panelists’ attention to the contents of the thesis, rather
than its graphic presentation
• To avoid competition in matters of form
• For orderliness
 Paper and Binding

• Paper - Short Bond (Letter Size)

Bright White ; Matte not Glossy
70 GSM
• Front Cover - Clear Acrylic Sheet
• Backing - Board of a Color Selected by the Class
(one color for the entire class)
+ Clear Acrylic Sheet
• Binding - Ring Bound, black spine for the defense copy
Hard Bound, blue cover with gold letters for
the final copy (Library Copy)
• Printing may be inkjet or laser, at the discretion of the student
 Settings

• Font - Times New Roman

• Font Size - 12 Points
• Font color - Black; however, it is permissible that footnotes for internet references appear in the
default color set by the computer (usually blue or red)
• Pagination - Lower Right Side, same font and size as body
• Margins - 1 and 1/2 inch on the left side to permit for binding
1 inch on all other sides
• No borders, no headers, no footers
• Color is permitted for diagrams, photographs, tables; use with discretion
• Photographs must be outlined in black
• Footnotes, not end notes
 Parts of the Thesis

I. Preliminary Pages
1.1 Cover Page
1.2 Author’s Declaration
1.3 Abstract
1.4 Table of Contents
1.5 List of Tables and Diagrams
1.6 Definition of Terms (Optional)
 Parts of the Thesis

II. Introduction (NUMBERED)

2.1 Background of the Study
2.2 Thesis Statement
2.3 Significance of the Thesis
2.4 Scope and Limitations
2.5 Methodology
 Parts of the Thesis

III. Discussion
3.1 Study of Relevant Laws and Jurisprudence
3.2 Analysis and Key Findings

IV.Conclusion
4.1 Conclusion
4.2 Recommendation
 Parts of the Thesis

V. REFERENCES AND APPENDICES

5.1Bibliography
5.2Appendices
 Cover Page
Picking a Title : Something that connotes action,
something catchy and imaginative; can include an
explanatory sub-title
about 70 cms from the top page

ENDING INTERNATIONAL CUSTODY TUG OF WARS

The Application of Habitual residence Principle of the Hague Convention Title : Bold Letters
on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the Philippine
Setting
Sub-Title : Encouraged, but not required
about 14 cm from top
Must not be in Bold Letters
Alma Marie E. Servito
2010-80025
March 03, 2014 Name of Student
about 6 spaces Student Number
Date Thesis is submitted
A thesis submitted
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Juris Doctor Purpose of submission of the thesis
about 3 spaces

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Name of University

College of Law

Everything on this page is centered

 Author’s Declaration
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION Page Name; Centered
ENDING INTERNATIONAL CUSTODY TUG OF WARS
The Application of Habitual residence Principle of the Hague Convention on
the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in the Philippine Setting
Title and Sub-Title; Centered

I declare that I have personally prepared this thesis. I have completed the
same in accordance with the provisions of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Declaration; blocked; do not change this text
Maynila College of Law Thesis Manual and all existing rules of the university
and the College.

No part of this thesis is plagiarized. I understand and agree that should the
thesis panel find that all or any portion of my thesis is plagiarized, this
University shall subject me to disciplinary action, which action may include
expulsion or a dishonorable dismissal from the University.

This research project is original and a result of my work. I have not

submitted this to this University or to any other academic or non-academic
institution for any other degree or qualification
Name of Student, centered; Each copy must be
original signed when submitted; dated; no page
(Signature) number
ALMA MARIE E. SERVITO
March 03, 2014
 Abstract

• A brief overview of your thesis

• Usually between 200 – 300 words, 3-4 paragraphs
• First paragraph : “This thesis proposes to . . .”
• Second paragraph : Brief background
• Third paragraph :Thesis statement
• Final paragraph : Proposed solution
• Must not exceed one page
• Page (i)
 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
C. Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
I. Introduction D. Key Findings and Analysis
A. Background of the Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. The Right of Suffrage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
B. Brief Statement of Thesis Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Right to Be Voted or Hold Public Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
C. Scope and Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3. Qualifications and Disqualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
D. Significance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4. COMELEC’s resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
E. Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Conclusions and Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
II. Discussion
A. Factual and Historical Background IV. References and Appendices
1. Spanish and Colonial Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. The Philippine Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A. Bibliography
3. The American Colonial Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 B. Appendices
4. The Philippine Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5. Martial Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Appendix A Draft of Proposed Law
6. Post-EDSA Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Appendix B Record, Constitutional Commission, 07 August
1986. p. 31-32
B. Study of Relevant Laws and Jurisprudence Appendix C Record, Constitutional Commission, 11 August
1. Laws 1986, p. 156-157
a. 1987 Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
b. BP 881 The Omnibus Election Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
c. RA 7160 The Local Government Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 • Alternating Number-Letter designation
d. RA 10742 the SK Reform Act of 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 • Headings in Roman Numerals, in bold letters
2. Treaties and Conventions
a. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . . . . . 30 • Be detailed with sub-sub-headings only if there are
3. Jurisprudence significant gaps in page numbers between them
a. Pamatong vs. COMELEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
b. MVRS Publications, Inc. vs. Da’Wah Council of the Phils 33
List of cases

• Numbered

• Listed in the Order in which they appear

in the thesis

• With Citations
- While it is permissible to mix SCRA citations
with full citations, it is recommended that only one
format be used
 Writing a Thesis Statement

• Ask a question – a single question.

“Why do fishworkers in the aquaculture industry continue to be an impoverished sector?”

• Write your initial answer

“Because fishponds were wrongly excluded from the coverage of the CARP Law”

• Develop your answer

• By broadening the factual context
• By layering in the legal argument
 Writing a Thesis Statement

The result:

“ Economically it is more beneficial to have family-sized farms owned and operated by fishworkers. This would have
been possible if government honored the original intention of the framers of the 1987 Constitution to redistribute
fishponds to fishworkers as part of the agrarian reform program enshrined in RA 6657, the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law (CARL). Legislative history shows that it was the original intention to include fishponds in the coverage
of CARL. However, in 1995 RA 7881 excluded fishponds from the coverage of CARL. The rationale for the exemption
of fishponds was that aquaculture is not a land-based venture and any land use in fish culture is only incidental.
There is no substantial distinction between farmers using land to plant crops and fishermen using land to create
fishponds to breed fish to harvest. Thus, the exclusion of fishponds from the coverage of CARL violates the equal-
protection clause. This thesis thus proposes to repeal RA 7781 and enact a Land Redistribution Law for fishponds to
be redistributed to their fishworkers. Institutionalizing the inclusion of fishponds in the agrarian reform program will
not only empower marginalized fisherfolks but also include protective measures such as but not limited to adequate
support services, remedies and penalties for violation of the law.
 Significance of the Thesis

• What makes it important to the legal community and the community at large

“The enactment of a law concerning political dynasties is long overdue. Congress

remains disinterested in the enactment of a political dynasty law due to personal
interests. Public office is always perceived as power. This often results in the monopoly
of influence and power over a locality by certain families. The enactment of a law
defining political dynasties, and the proposal of a People’s Initiative to finally push it
through, will pave the way for a genuine democratic society to flourish in the
Philippines. A correlative benefit that this paper provides is the resolution of the legal
argument often put forth by legislators that the political dynasty law violates a person’s
right of suffrage.”
 Scope and Limitations

• Stress what you did not cover in order to avoid unexpected

questions

“This thesis covers only issues concerning the definition of political

dynasties and the mechanics of putting up a People’s Initiative. It does
not cover other possible methods of enacting an amendment to the
constitution, such as a constitutional assembly, a referendum, or other
means.”
 Methodology

• Qualitative research is a process that is about inquiry. It helps create in-depth understanding of
problems or issues in their natural settings using existing data.
• Analysis of Texts and Visuals
• Observations
• Interviews with Experts
• Focus Group Discussions

• Quantitative research is a structured way of collecting data and analyzing it to draw

conclusions. Unlike qualitative methods, this method uses a computational and statistical
process to collect and analyze data.
• Surveys & Questionnaires
• Experiments
Conclusion and Recommendations

• Take a stand
This is not merely a “study” or “examination” or “analysis of
existing laws and jurisprudence”

• Propose a Legal Solution

- Amendment of an existing law
- Passage of a new law
- Repeal of an existing law or provision of law
Conclusion and Recommendation

• What are not solutions

- Abolition of an Agency
- Replacement of a Person
- Filing of a Case
- Amendment of the Constitution
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!