The correct design of the thesis is half the success of the defense. The best option is when the future result is made in the form of a short abstract and presented to the manager and reviewers in advance. If the style of design and content of the abstract matches the future diploma, and the presentation at the defense is convincing in terms of novelty, relevance and quality of the work performed, success is guaranteed.
It is extremely important to fully reveal the topic of the thesis and show the level of acquired knowledge against the background of what was done in the field of research by predecessors, but it is equally important to properly and efficiently arrange the work.
General design requirements
Each university has its own traditions for the design of theses, but it will not be superfluous to look at those with GOSTs. GOST 7.32-2001 is usually recommended, which, with enviable stability, holds its positions in relation to a set of issues related to the design of researchworks.
Classic rules: black text, nothing superfluous, one and a half spacing, font size 14, paragraph indent 1.25 cm, no games of color and shadow. Everything is strict, clear, concise. Margins 3cm left, 1cm right and 2cm top/bottom.
Aligning to the width of each paragraph is considered the norm, but often this rule needs to be clarified. Some researchers and format specialists believe that the lack of alignment is a more correct solution. There are always examples of thesis design in each university and it will not be superfluous to scroll through several options.
Before proceeding with the design, you should familiarize yourself with the methodological materials of the educational institution, visit its library and look at the work of past graduate students in terms of alignment, bibliography, citations, illustrations, headings, content, etc.
The thesis as a sample of last year's design may not always claim to be the correct version, but it will always allow you to present the volume, structure and style of writing, which are inertial and do not change as quickly as clarifying design requirements.
Using the experience of graduate students from other universities makes sense in the content of the work, but the actual design is safe to do in the style of your own alma mater - she often has a pronounced self-esteem, which is better not to argue with.
Theme, introduction and abstract
The volume of the thesis is 50-70 A4 sheets. You can write 80-90 sheets, but it's better to keep within the usualstandard. You can't write less than 50 if the work is done with high quality and with a clear desire to successfully defend yourself.
"Abstract" is not an "introduction", but it is 4-5 pages of a concise, but extremely accurate expression of the main provisions of the diploma. In fact, the "introduction" emphasizes everything that the student has researched and substantiated in the diploma, with which he is going to defend.
The "topic" should be disclosed in the diploma, and in its "introduction" it should be systematized by provisions. "Abstract" additionally includes data on the diploma and the date of defense, may have a list of keywords, selected research methods, solved problems.
The conclusion on the diploma is drawn up upon the fact of the completed research, but the "introduction" and "abstract" should be written (specified) all the time while the work is in progress. The first is the systematization of the provisions that reveal the topic (submitted for defense), the second is the continuous refinement of the style of work design.
The better the "author's abstract" was drawn up in the process of work, the less complaints there will be about the result - the diploma.
Design work
Research performed by a student at the end of the term of study is the result of applying the acquired knowledge, the ability to independently solve the task - to reveal the topic.
Registration according to GOST of the thesis or samples of brilliant defenses of past years is essential andimportant, but the context of the term "design" should be transferred to the area of novelty, relevance and quality of content.
Setting the margins correctly, choosing a font is not that difficult. It is more difficult to write a list of references (sources) correctly. Accurately inserting quotes into the text, designing headings, tables or illustrations is even more difficult. Content that reflects all headings, subheadings and appendices is the ability to use a text editor well or have the perseverance and patience not to miss anything.
In fact, strict adherence to GOST and compliance with the requirements for the design of a thesis of a particular educational institution is a matter of time and careful attention to the rules and regulations. It is important to accurately “formulate the meaning” of the novelty, relevance and content of the work.
terms and other positions.
Hoping that someone will read the diploma intently and scrupulously examine the correctness of its execution in accordance with GOST is doubtful, but a short abstract is a must. Everything that can be read quickly and understand the essence of the work will be studied carefully.
Design work according to GOST
You can use the regulatory document GOST R 7.0.11.2011, which sets out the requirements for the structure and rulespreparation of dissertations and their abstracts, but it is quite enough to focus on the stable provisions of GOST 7.32-2001. Taking into account the methodological instructions of the educational institution and examples of the work of predecessor graduate students, it is quite enough to perform the correct design syntactically and technically.
The design of the thesis from a technical point of view is not fundamental and mandatory. GOST 7.32-2001 states "… establishes general requirements for the structure and rules …", but it is better to adhere to the established custom and recommendations of the alma mater.
Main positions that should be in the diploma:
- title page;
- performer, leader;
- introduction, body and conclusion;
- literature, sources, own publications, terms, abbreviations;
- author's abstract (separate document).
The title page is a special part of the diploma, which should be correctly drawn up according to the guidelines and works of graduate students of previous years. In this part, the requirements of the educational institution are more important than GOST.
The rest of the text is formatted in the usual way. The document is printed in the usual way on one side of an A4 sheet, in rare cases - A3. Margins of at least 30 mm on the left, at least 10 mm on the right, and at least 20 mm above and below are used. Since the diploma is best cut and stitched with high quality, a few millimeters can be provided in the margins for trimming the edge.
The font is black, size 1.8 mm (point type not less than 12), bold font is not allowed,but it is recommended to use computer capabilities to highlight important positions, theorems, provisions.
Etiquette rules, not specified, but generally accepted
Erasures, whitewashing and corrections are allowed as long as they do not detract from the appearance of the text, but in the computer age they should not be. Before printing a diploma, you should carefully proofread the text and eliminate all errors, inaccuracies and possible text movements between pages - in case you need to urgently reprint a couple of pages.
In modern editors, text can "creep" between pages, so it's best to pay close attention to the illustrations, tables, and content of each heading. Headings and subheadings are not always required to start from a new page, but if you fit the texts in length to the number of pages, you can achieve a good visual effect.
Main headings must begin at the beginning of a new sheet, and the end of the paragraph must occupy at least a third of the sheet. The unspoken rule of etiquette does not understand the situation when half a sentence or even a couple of paragraphs crawls onto the next page. For a similar reason, it's better for a paragraph to span full lines rather than have one word on the last line, and even worse half a word (after a break).
GOST disappeared, but the methodological instructions of the educational institution for the design of the thesis can fix the red line. If this is not the case, you can focus on 1.25-1.5 cm. The font is usually used Times, less often Arial. when completing work,for example, in programming, you can’t do without Courier.
As a general rule, the specifics of the university and its preferences play a role here. GOST was compiled when typewriters ruled, alignment was out of the question, and hyphenations surprised with their diversity.
Regarding the general rule: spacing of 1.5 lines, it should be noted that sometimes you can sin by increasing / decreasing the spacing by a couple of millimeters in order to achieve the desired distribution of text on the page. You should not abuse this, some teachers go to defense with a ruler. Can check both spacing and font size and margins.
Text placement and structure
General triad of text placement in the thesis:
- introduction;
- main body;
- conclusion.
General logic of writing: first, the work is done, the introduction is written, the abstract is written and the main part is formed. At the end of the work, a conclusion is drawn up, and in the process, the content of the introduction and abstract develops dynamically.
Sources and a list of references are the initial stage in the thesis, but for its correct execution, you should carefully look at the guidelines of the university, especially diplomas of past years.
The rules for issuing a thesis in terms of the list of references may require their own publications, determine the priority of authors, and the order of sources should be cited, that is, the main text, and not placed alphabetically.
Sometimes it makes sense to divide sources into groupscorresponding to the chapters, headings and subheadings of the main text.
Headings of sections, paragraphs and subparagraphs begin with a paragraph indent, as a general rule - from a new sheet. Any list, table or illustration must be preceded by a paragraph. Body text subsections must also end with a paragraph.
Placement of tabular information
The design of the content of the thesis is not a table. The list of references also cannot be presented in the form of a table. Both the first and second are linked lists attached to the main part of the diploma.
Table, as a rule, is a digital information containing research or observational data. The table can contain textual information, internal tables or illustrations. Modern text editors do not limit the nesting of tables and the possibilities of formatting their cells, but simplicity and visual perception of information are essential.
The volume of a diploma is not equal to the volume of a doctoral dissertation or a monograph by an eminent scientist on a new theory of the structure of the atom or the discovery of the idea of artificial intelligence, functionally similar to natural. A diploma is the application of a student's knowledge in a systematic disclosure of a given topic.
Tables are an opportunity to briefly and accurately show data for clarity or comparison, which were the basis for conclusions or research results. All tables must be made in the same style.
GOST specifies that the table is placed after the text where it is first mentioned, or on the next page. The table may havename, but a number must be assigned to it for references in the main text. Usually, the methodological instructions of the educational institution describe tabular information in detail.
Illustrating research findings
Design work looks more impressive with illustrations. Unlike text, drawings, photographs, graphics, etc. can be in color. When pasting from other programs, it is desirable to convert the image from vector format (or the format of another program) into a bitmap image of the desired size, resolution and quality.
Different-sized illustrations indicate a careless attitude to the technical execution of the diploma. It's great when the finished design of the thesis separates the photographs of the studies, from the graphs of the comparison of numerical data for these studies. A single color scheme of diagrams looks practically, the same type of lines of graphs for similar sequences.
Graph axes and the choice between 2D and 3D data displays also matter. A 3D projection always looks more graceful, but a simple bar chart will be clearer. You can apply a halftone image, but the classic shading will not spoil a good idea of the design of the work.
Figures are numbered, and their name is placed under the picture in the center. As with tables, the HEI's guidelines deal with the insertion of illustrations in detail.
Abstract and illustration
Many educational institutions associate a diploma with an abstract, anddissertation with abstract. The name does not play a special role. In both cases, we mean the author's work, in the style of a thesis, as an example of design and the finished work. The moment is very important. The abstract is a summary of the diploma: only theses, and if there is, then also the central, simplest and most revealing picture.
The style of the abstract should fully comply with the requirements for the diploma, and be drawn up in the course of the thesis research.
It is a good practice to write an introduction and abstract periodically during the course of work on a thesis. This is, first of all, constant self-control and summing up the current results. The conclusion will be drawn up at the end of all works, but the introduction and abstract are the current summary and the opportunity to discuss the work with the supervisor.
The central illustration does not always follow from the topic of the diploma, but if it is possible to reflect the topic of the diploma graphically or tabularly, this is a positive moment in the abstract, memorability of the work and a plus for the defense.
Defense is not reading a diploma, but seven to thirteen minutes for a report on the main points. A good illustration in the abstract and on a visual aid (poster, presentation) at the time of the speech will allow the committee members to focus on the right points.
Terms, symbols and abbreviations
It is considered correct to provide the text of the diploma with explanations of the terminology used, list all the designations and abbreviations. In technical disciplines, this is not only mandatory, but the use is specifically stipulated.
Glossary of terms is also good practice, but minimizing both is the best solution. Navigation through the list of references is a must, but unnecessary references to dictionaries of abbreviations, terms or definitions will bother a qualified reader, which is an experienced teacher.
If you fulfill the requirements of the guidelines unobtrusively, at the beginning or end of the work, without a massive reference to them from the main part of the work, this will be a practical solution.
Applications
Rare research does without explanations that have nothing to do with the main text or their use increases the volume and distracts attention. But, as soon as such explanations are necessary, they are placed in the appendices.
Appendices may contain drawings and graphics, listings of programs that do not make sense to be placed in the main text: they are distracting or too cumbersome, or go beyond the chosen style of presentation.
It is customary to refer to appendices from the main text, use footnotes at the bottom of the page for brief comments and do not pay special attention to them in the text.
General rule for applications. If something is required, let it be, but in a minimally brief version with sufficient explanation in the main text of the work.
Conclusion and Introduction
A completed thesis is a conclusion with final conclusions and a declaration of the achieved result and the final version of the introduction, in which the following are formulated in a systematic formdefense clauses.
The topic was revealed, conclusions were made, the introduction was completed and served as the basis for clarifying the abstract and writing a report.
The final of the thesis research - a report made in writing, but reported orally. Repeated summing up in the process of work as an indicator: their constant clarification in the introduction and abstract without any problems will allow you to speak to the commission without even looking at the report.
Protection and success
It is important to complete and issue a thesis with high quality. This is painstaking work that requires care and accuracy.
Usually it is not a shame that no one among the members of the commission will carefully read the work of several months of hard work, it is enough satisfaction from the fact that the oral report made had an effect, and a cursory glance at the diploma did not set a precedent for complaints about the design, but became a role model for future generations of graduate students.
