The Helms School of Government Graduate Thesis Guide – MS ... · The thesis proposal is the background and planning document for the thesis. It must be It must be professional and

TheHelmsSchoolofGovernmentGraduateThesisGuide–MSCriminalJustice

HSOGThesisGuide‐2

I. Purpose

ThisguidedescribesthegeneralguidelinesforcompletionoftheproposalandthesisfortheM.A.inPublicPolicy,alongwiththerequiredformatforthethesisproposal,thethesisitself,andassociatedproceduresforsubmission.Alsoprovidedarehelpfulbooks,websites,andtipsforwriting,research,andguidance.Allstudentsinthethesistrackareencouragedtostartthinkingabouttheirthesistopicearlyintheirmaster’sprogramstudies.Itisimportanttoconsideryourthesistopicearly!II. Eligibility

Studentsmusthavecompleted21hoursandhavepermissionfromtheProgramDirectorbeforeenrollinginPPOG689ThesisProposalandResearch.Inordertogainpermission,thestudentmustemailtheGraduateDirectorthefollowinginformation:

1. Apurposestatementforyourstudy,basedonapreliminaryliteraturereview2. Researchquestion(s)3. MethodsOutline–howdoyouthinkyou’llgoaboutansweringyourresearchquestion?

4. ReferencesPageUponreviewoftheinformationpresented,theProgramDirectorwillfacilitatetheprocessoflocatinganappropriatefacultymembertosupervisethethesisresearchintherolesofThesisChairandReader.Students w i l l w o r k withtheThesisChairbasedonthefieldofstudythattheirthesisworkrelatestoand theavailabilityoffaculty.III. ThesisTopics

Oncethestudenthasdeterminedthetopicthattheywishtopursuefortheirthesisandthetopichasbeenapprovedbythestudent’sThesisChair,theyneedtocollaboratewiththeirChair,andmoveintotheprocessofwritingandsubmittingtheThesisProposal.TheProgramDirectorandThesisChairreservetherighttorefuseathesistopicandrequestthestudenttoreevaluatetheirtopic.Athesisisintendedtodemonstratethestudent’sabilitytosuccessfullycarryout originalresearch.Thesesareoftendesignedtosolvepracticalproblemsandtoanswerpracticalresearchquestions;theyalsogenerallydealwithunderlyingtheoretical,philosophicaland/or ethicalissuesofinteresttoscholarsandprofessionalsinthediscipline.Thethesisisexpectedto beofsufficientdepthandbreadththat(ineditedform)itcouldbepresentedforpublicationina professionaljournal.Themaster’sthesisshouldofferevidenceofsoundresearchandan adequatetreatmentofawell‐definedsubject.Amereessayorcompilationoffactswillnotbeaccepted.Thethesismustbewrittenonasubjectunderthecognateareainwhichthestudentis seeking.Itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttopresentwell‐organized,personalresearchand not

HSOGThesisGuide‐3

thatoftheThesisChair.StudentsshouldseekassistancefromtheGraduateWritingCenterandLibraryshouldtheyneedinstructioninwritingandresearchoftheirthesis.TheGraduateWritingCenterwillonlyreviewthewrittenthesisonce.Pleasereviewtheguidelines fortheGraduateWritingCenter(postedonline)withregardtothethesisprocessandseek assistanceearlyinyourpreparationandresearchinordertotakefulladvantageoftheir assistance.IV. ThesisCourses

Therearetwocoursesinthethesissequence:PPOG689ThesisProposalandResearch,andPPOG690ThesisDefense.InPPOG689thestudentisexpectedtocompletetheirproposalforThesisChairapproval,andcompletethecompilationoftheirresearchandcompositionoftheirthesis.Commensuratetobeingadmittedtothecourse,thestudentwillbeassignedathesischairbasedonthefieldofstudythattheirthesisworkrelatesto.Thechairwillalsoactasthechairduringthefinaldefense.InPPOG690thestudentisexpectedtodefendtheirthesisinfrontofthethesiscommittee.NeithercoursehasscheduledhoursbuteachThesisChairmayrequirecertainreadingmaterialsforeithercourse.V. Reenrollment

Whenworkingonthethesis,maintainingcontinuousenrollmentisvital.AnystudentwhoisenrolledinPPOG689anddoesnotcompletetheirproposalandthesistoapointdeemedacceptablebythestudent’sChairwillberequiredtoenrollagaininthenexttermandpaythefeesassociatedwiththeclassagain.Thisalsoappliestoonlinestudents;however,onlinestudentswillneedtoenrollinthecorrespondingtermofeach8weeks(forexample,ifthestudentbeginsPPOG689inB‐termforFallthentheywillre‐enrollinB‐termforSpring,etc.).ThestudentwillhavetopaythecoursefeeagainforeachadditionaltermnecessarytocompletetheirthesisandbeforeenrollinginthePPOG690course.VI. AdvisoryCommittee

Thestudentwillhaveathesisadvisorycommitteeoftwo,comprisedofthefollowing:

1. Acommitteechair(advisor)withanearneddoctoraldegreewhoisaPublicPolicyorPublicAdministrationgraduatefacultymember(residentialorLUOnline)atLibertyUniversity;

2. Acommitteemember(reader#1)withadoctoraldegreewhoisemployed

byLiberty University;StudentsareencouragedtoselectreadersupontheirenrollmentintoPPOG689butmust

HSOGThesisGuide‐4

beapprovedbythestudent’schair.Moreover,ifreadersarenotselectedinitiallytheymaybeemployedatanytimeduringthecourseofPPOG689,asneeded,byrequestofthechair.Insummary,thecompleteadvisorycommitteecanbeformedduringvariousphasesofenrollmentinSMGTGOVTbutmustbeformedbeforeenrollmentinPPOG690.VII. ConflictsandAppeals

ConflictswithThesisCommitteemembers,appeals(withanexceptionregardingtheproposal),andgrade appealswillbehandledinaccordancewiththeacademicpolicyforLibertyUniversity.VIII. TheResearch

Allresearchwillbeoverseenbythestudent’schair.Thechairwillensurethatthe researchfollowsthepoliciesofLibertyUniversityandasoutlinedbytheInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB).TheIRBguidelinesforstudentresearchareasfollows(IRBwebsitehttp://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=12606):IX. InstitutionalReviewBoardStudentResearch

Studentsatthebeginningofaresearchproject,followtheoutlinebelow.Other questionsmaybeansweredbytheIRBFrequentlyAskedQuestionspage,ormaybeemailed directlytotheIRB.

1. DetermineifanIRBreviewisneeded.MastersThesesanddissertationsthatinvolvehumansubjectsorsecondary/archivaldata requireIRBreview.

2. SecureaFacultySponsor.

Foryourthesis,yourfacultysponsorwillbeyourAdvisor(Chair).

3. ViewtheAvoidingPitfallslinkunderResourcesonourhomepage.Manytimes,simplemodificationstoadesigncanpreventdelay(ortheneedforresubmittal)intheapplicationprocess.YouareencouragedtoreadeachofthetipssheetsintheAvoidingPitfallssection.

4. Onceyouhavecompletedtheabovesteps,youarereadytocompleteourIRB

Application, foundunderResources>FormsontheLeftColumnoftheIRBhomepage.YourformwillneedyouroriginalsignatureasPrimaryInvestigatorandyourFacultySponsor’s originalsignaturetobeconsideredcomplete.Pleaseseetheapplicationforminstructionsfor moreinformationonthisstep.

5. SubmittheIRBApplicationFormaccordingtotheApplicationinstructions.

Weencourageyoutosubmityourapplicationviaemail,asthiswillmakethe

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processgo muchfaster. [email protected].

6. Pleasefeelfreetofollow‐upwiththeIRBboardintwoweeksifyouhavenotheardanything. Forfullreviewsubmissions(themostcomplexcategory)follow‐upinonemonthifyouhavenotheardanything.

PleaseseealsotheIRBwebsiteforfurtherguidelines,forms,anddetails;or,contacttheIRB withanyquestions.(http://www.liberty.edu/academics/graduate/irb/index.cfm?PID=12606)

X. TheThesisProposal

ProposalLengthandContent

Thethesisproposalisthebackgroundandplanningdocumentforthethesis.Itmustbeprofessionalandthorough,anditmustbeaproductofthestudent’sownoriginalthoughtand effort.Useofothers’workmustbeproperlyreferencedinaccordancewithAPAguidelines.Thethesisproposalshouldbebetween15‐20pages,notincludingthecoverpageorreferences.However,thelengthwillvaryaccordingtothedemandsofeachthesisandwillultimatelybeatthediscretionoftheThesisChair.Ataminimum,itwillincludethefollowing, inAPAformat:

Coverpage(withworkingtitle) Introductiontotheproposedtopic Purposeandsignificance(whythepaperwilladdtothebodyofknowledgeinthe

discipline) Statementoftheresearchproblem(includingrelevantresearchquestions)

Literaturereview(assessingrelevantscholarshipwhichinformsthethesis) Methodology(overviewofwhetherthestudywillbequantitative,qualitative,or

mixed,and itsjustification,andwhatexactmethodsaretobeused) WorkingReferenceList

ProposalFormatandStyle

TheproposalshouldbewritteninaccordancewiththeAPAstyleguide(studentsshouldcontactthewritingcenter,orvisittheGraduateWritingCenterwebsite,withquestionsregardingtheAPAformattingandguidelines). Electronicreferences(includingTweets,Facebook,Blog,andotheronlinesources)shouldbe formattedasdescribedintheAPAguidelines.Theproposalalsoshouldbeprecededbya formaltitlepage.Margins:1inchatthetopandbottom,1inchontherightside,and1.5inchontheleft side(forbindingpurposes).1inchtopmarginsfortheprefatorypages,forthefirstpageofeachchapter,andforthefirstpageofthereferences.

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FontandJustification:TimesNewRoman,12pointfont.Textwithinthebodyofthemanuscriptshouldbeleftjustified.

ProposalDeadlines

ThestudentshouldfollowsubmissiondeadlinessetbytheirChair.Itisstronglyencouragedthatthestudentsetatimelineinordertoreachcompletionoftheirthesiswithin theirdesiredgraduationtime.PersonalTimeScheduleDate Itemtobesubmitted DateSubmitted ItisstronglysuggestedthatstudentsremainincontactwiththeirChairduringtheproposalprocessasnottomissdeadlines.StudentswhoarenotincontactwiththeirChairandshowingsatisfactoryprogressmaynotbepermittedtoregisterforanadditionalresearch andproposaltermshouldtheymissadeadline.Thissituationmightaffectgraduate assistantships,financialaidstatus,andpotentiallydelaycompletionoftheprogramshouldit occur.AcceptanceofProposal

ThethesisChair(and/orreaders)willreviewtheproposalandrespondtothestudentwitheither:(1)acceptedandapprovedtocontinue,(2)conditionalaccepted(thestudentmust modifytheproposalbeforecontinuingworkonthethesis),or(3)rejected(theproposalis deemedunacceptableandthestudentshouldcontactthethesisChairforadviceonpreparinga differentproposal).ProposalsthatareconditionallyacceptedorrejectedmustsubmitanewproposaltotheChairbytheduedategiven.ElectronicSubmission

PleasecontactyourThesisChairtoinquireaboutelectronicsubmissionsofproposals.XI. TheThesis

LengthandContent

TherearenomaximumpagerequirementsforaMaster’sthesis;although,thelengthof

HSOGThesisGuide‐7

thepapershouldreflectthescopeofthetopic,theamountofliteraturetobereviewed,andthe chosenmethodology.TheChairwillhavethefinalsayastowhatcontentisappropriateintheMaster’sthesis,butingeneralanythesiswillincludethefollowing:

TitlepageSignaturepage Dedication/Acknowledgement(optional) TableofContents ListofTablesListofFigures ListofAbbreviationsManuscriptChaptersReferencesAppendices

Thethesiswillbedividedintochapters.(Notalltheseswillhavethesamechaptertitles orthesamenumberofchapters–thisdependsonthenatureofthestudy.)ThesisFormatandStyle

ThebodyofthepapermustbewrittenusingAPAstyleasoutlinedinthePublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation.

Margins:1inchatthetopandbottom,1inchontherightside,and1.5inchontheleft side(forbindingpurposes).1.5inchtopmarginsfortheprefatorypages,forthefirstpageof eachchapter,andforthefirstpageofthereferences.

FontandJustification:TimesNewRoman,12pointfont.Textwithinthebodyofthe

manuscriptshouldbeleftjustified.

PageNumberingandCount:Pagenumbersarecentered,1inchfromthebottomofthepage.TheprefatorypagesarenumberedusingRomanNumerals;thebodyofthedissertationisnumberedusingArabicnumerals.Thecountingofpagesbeginswiththetitlepage;however,thepagenumberisnotputonthetitlepage.Thecopyrightpage,thesignaturepage,andtheabstractpagearenotcountednornumbered.Thededicationpageisthefirstpageafterthetitlepagethatiscountedandnumbered(i.e.ii).

ForfurtherinformationregardingformattingpleaseseetheAppendix–EditingChecklist.DeadlinesandSubmissionProcedures

ThefinaldraftofthethesisshouldbesubmittedtotheThesisChairandthereadersnolater thanthedategivenbytheChair.Ifrevisionsarerequired,therevisedthesisshouldbe deliveredtotheChairbythesubmissionduedategiven.OnceapprovedbytheChair,thestudentwillbeenrolledintoPPOG690,andschedulingforthefinaldefensemaybegin.

HSOGThesisGuide‐8

ElectronicSubmission

ElectronicsubmissionofthethesisfinaldraftisbydiscretionoftheChair.XII. TheDefense

AfterthethesisisdeemedacceptablebyyourThesisChairforyoutobeenrolledinPPOG690,youwillorallydefendyourresearchfortheThesisCommittee.WorkingwithyourChair,youwillneedtoarrangethedate,timeandlocationtopresentyourfinaldefense.Youcanexpectthethesisdefensetolast1to3hours.Oncethedate,timeandlocationareconfirmedyouwillneedtocompleteandemailtheDefenseAnnouncementFormtotheProgramDirector.(PleaseseeAppendixD–FinalDefenseAnnouncement.)Defenseofonlinestudent'sthesismaybeaccomplishedviaamutuallyagreeablewebconferencingsoftware.DefenseDay

Mostdefenseswillbedoneonlineviawebinarorsomesimilarformat.Basicquestionsthatwillbeposedtothestudentregardingthethesiswillinclude questionsonthedesignoftheirstudy,outcomesoftheirresearch,choiceofmethods,other researchinthefield,andanalysis.Thestudentwillneedtobepreparedtoanswerquestions regardingallaspectsoftheirmethodologies,findings,andconclusionsincludedinthethesis. Thestudentisalsorequiredtobringahardcopyofthethesismanuscripttothedefenseforeach committeemember.Duringthedefense,studentsmustdressinproperbusinessattire.Thestudentwillbegiven20minutestopresentanoverviewoftheirthesis(aMicrosoftPowerPointpresentationisrequiredandshouldbesenttotheChairatleastoneweekpriortothedefense).Again,thePowerPointmaybepresentedvirtually. Thepresentationneedstoincludeanoverviewofthestudy’spurposeandsignificance(bothpracticalandempirical),themethods,theanalysis,theresults,limitations,discussionofthefindings,andsuggestionsforfutureresearch.Followingthepresentation,thestudentwillbepresentedquestionsbythethesiscommittee.TworoundsofquestionswillbeposedbythecommitteeafterwhichvisitorsmaybeallowedtoaskquestionsatthediscretionoftheChair.Anycommitteememberwhocannotattendthefinaldefensemust,inadvance,submitquestionsinwritingtotheChair.TheChairwillreadthequestionsandensurethattheyareansweredbythestudenttothesatisfactionoftheothercommitteemembers.Ifacommitteememberisabsentwithoutsubmittingquestionsinadvance,thethesisdefensemustberescheduled.Followingthestudent'spresentationandtheroundsofquestions,thefinaldefensewillbeadjournedandthestudentandanyvisitorswillbeaskedtoleavetheroom.Thecommitteewill makeadecisionbasedonthefollowingcategories:

Accepted:Thethesismayrequiretypographicalorminoreditorialcorrectionsto

HSOGThesisGuide‐9

be madetothesatisfactionoftheChair.

Acceptedwithmodifications:Thethesisrequiresminorchangesinsubstanceormajor editorialchangeswhicharetobemadetothesatisfactionofmembersoftheThesis CommitteedesignatedbytheCommittee.TheThesisCommittee'sreportmustincludea briefoutlineofthenatureofthechangesrequired,thedatebywhichthechangesareto becompleted,andtheconsequencesifthestudentfailstocomply.

Acceptedconditionally:Thethesisrequiresmoresubstantivechanges,butwillbe

acceptablewhenthesechangesaremadetothesatisfactionofthemembersoftheThesis CommitteedesignatedbytheCommittee.TheThesisCommittee'sreportmustincludeabriefoutlineofthenatureofthechangesrequired,thedatebywhichthechangesareto becompleted,andtheconsequencesifthestudentfailstocomply.

Decisiondeferred:Thethesisrequiresmodificationsofasubstantialnaturethe

needfor whichmakestheacceptabilityofthethesisquestionable.TheThesisCommittee'sreport mustcontainabriefoutlineofmodificationsrequired,thedatebywhichthechangesare tobecompleted,andtheconsequencesifthestudentfailstocomply.Therevisedthesis mustbere‐submittedtotheCommitteeforreexamination.Thereexaminationwill followthesameproceduresasfortheinitialsubmission.Thisdecisionisonlyopenonce foreachcandidate.

Rejected:Thethesisisrejected.TheChairoftheexaminationwillreportthe

reasonsfor rejectionandadvisethestudentonthesuitabilityofthecandidatecontinuinginthe program.

Subsequently,thestudentwillbeinvitedtoreentertheroom(orcallbackin,ifitisawebinar)andthefinaldecisionof thecommitteewillbeconveyedtothestudent.Afterthefinaldefenseisfinished,theChair willcompletetheFinalThesisDefenseDecisionForm(PleaseseeAppendixE)andwilldeliver ittothestudentwiththenecessarysignatures.Changesmayberequiredtothethesisafterthefinaldefense.Oncethesechangeshavebeencompleted,thestudentmustsubmitthefinalthesistotheChair.Oncethefinalthesisisapproved,thechairdeterminesafinalgradeforPPOG690.Thegradeshouldnotbeprovideduntilalleditsarecompleteandthefinaldocumentissubmittedtothelibrarythroughthedigitalcommonssystem(seebelow).FinalSubmission

Uponapprovalfromthechair,thestudentfollowstheILRCsubmissionguidelinesforpublication.TheseguidelinesmustbestrictlyfollowedandcanbeaccessedatThesesandDissertationPublishingGuidelines.

HSOGThesisGuide‐10

ThecandidateisrequiredtofurnishboundcopiesofhisorherthesistothechairandtheLibertyUniversityHelmsSchoolofGovernment(Step8ontheILRCwebsite:thebindery.Thestudentmustselectcovercolor490,goldletteringforthecover,titleprintedonthespineandthecover,andsingle‐sidedprintingoption.Disclaimer

ThisguideanditscontentreflectthepracticesandpoliciesofLibertyUniversity,theSchoolofEducation,andtheHelmsSchoolofGovernment.Thisguidedoescontainoriginalmaterial,commonknowledgematerial,andnon‐originaldocuments;itisinnowayrepresentedasoriginalworksolelybythecomposer(s).ItdoesnotconstituteacontractandissubjecttochangeatthediscretionofLibertyUniversityHelmsSchoolofGovernment.Thisversionofthethesisguidesupersedesallpreviousversions.Bibliography

Eggenschwiler,Jean(1997).CliffsQuickReview;Writing:Grammar,Usage,andStyle.

Lincoln,Nebraska:CliffsNotes.USBN:0‐49086‐05367‐8 LibertyUniversityFacultyHandbook(July,2011)

LibertyUniversitySchoolofEducationDissertationGuide.

http://www.liberty.edu/media/1152/Dissertation_Handbook.pdf LibertyUniversityWritingProgramThesis/DissertationGuidelines

http://www.liberty.edu/library/submitting-dissertations-and-theses/ LibertyBaptistTheologicalSeminaryDoctorofMinistryThesisProjectHandbook

http://www.liberty.edu/media/9932/DOCTOR_OF_MINISTRY_‐_2016_Edition‐1.pdf

LibertyUniversityLibrary

http://www.liberty.edu/library/XIII. Appendices

AppendixA‐EditingChecklistAppendixB‐WritingTipsAppendixC‐PlagiarismAppendixD‐FinalDefenseAnnouncementAppendixE‐FinalThesisDefenseDecisionForm


AppendixA:EditingChecklist

Formatting Y N CommentsPageorder:Theorderofthepagesisasfollows:Titlepage,Signaturepage,Abstract,Dedication/Acknowledgement(optional),TableofContents,ListofTables,ListofFigures,ListofAbbreviations,ManuscriptChapters,References,Appendices

Margins:ThemarginsforallchaptersoftheThesisareasfollows:1inchatthetopandbottom,1inchontherightside,and1.5inchontheleftside(forbindingpurposes).1inchtopmarginsfortheprefatorypages,for thefirstpageofeachchapter,andforthefirstpageofthe references.

TextandJustification:AlltextisTimesNewRoman,12pointfont.Textwithinthebodyofthemanuscriptshouldbeleftjustified.

PageCountsandNumbers:Pagenumbersarecentered, 1inchfromthebottomofthepage.TheprefatorypagesarenumberedusingRomanNumerals;thebodyofthe dissertationisnumberedusingArabicnumerals.The countingofpagesbeginswiththetitlepage;however,the pagenumberisnotputonthetitlepage.Thecopyrightpage,thesignaturepage,andtheabstractpagearenot countednornumbered.Thededicationpageisthefirst pageafterthetitlepagethat is counted and numbered (i.e. ii).

TitlePage:Thetitlepageincludesthetitleofthemanuscript,theauthor,theuniversitysupervisingtheresearch,andthedatecompleted.Thetitleshouldreflect theresearchcompletedandshouldbe10wordsorless.1 inchtopmarginsareused;arunningheadisNOT included.

Abstract:Theabstractclearlyandsuccinctlysummarizesthecontentsofthemanuscriptandis120wordsorless.Itiscontainedonaseparatepagefollowingthetitleandsignaturepage.The word

“ABSTRACT”shouldbeinallcapsandaLevel1heading,centered,1.5inchesfromthetopofthe page.


TableofContents:TheTableofContentsliststhevariouschaptersandsubsectionsofthemanuscriptalong withtheirpagenumbers.Thetableofcontentsincludes theacknowledgement,listoftables,listoffigures, CHAPTERTITLES(allcaps),REFERENCES(allcaps), andAPPENDICES(allcaps).Itisjustifiedleft.The subsectionsincludedaretobelevel1andlevel2headingswithinthemanuscript.Level1headingsareindentedone‐halfinch.Entriesshouldbedoublespaced. Pagenumbersare insertedinthefooter,centered, lowercase roman numerals.

ListofTables:TheListofTablescitethetablesandthecorrespondingpagesofeachtable.Thetitleofthispage isaLevel1heading,centered,1.5inchesfromthetopof thepage.Entriesaredoublespaced.Pagenumberis insertedinthefooter,centered,lowercaseroman numerals.

ListofFigures:TheListofFigurescitesthefiguresand thecorrespondingpagesofeachfigure. Thetitleofthis pageisaLevel1heading,centered,1.5inchesfromthe topofthepage.Entriesaredoublespaced.Pagenumber isinsertedinthefooter,centered,lowercaseroman numerals.

ListofAbbreviations:TheListofAbbreviationsidentifiesthephraseandcorrespondingabbreviationor acronymused.Thelistshouldbeinalphabeticalorder. Eachphraseshouldbelistedandtheabbreviationoracronyminparentheses[e.g.HigherEducation(HE)]. ThetitleofthispageisaLevel1heading,centered,1.5 inchesfromthetopofthepage.Entriesaredoublespaced.Pagenumberisinsertedinthefooter,centered, lowercaseromannumerals.

Chapters:Thechapternumbersarewrittenratherthanin numericalform.Theentirechaptertitlesarecapitalized, centered,1.5inchesfromthetopofthepage.Titles longerthanonelineare singlespaced.

APA,Grammar,Spelling Y N CommentsStyle:Theentiremanuscript,includingreferences,followsthePublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation(APA),thesixthedition.

Grammar:Propergrammarisusedandfollowstherules outlinedinthePublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation(APA),thesixthedition(e.g. verbtenseconsistentthroughout,


be”verbs,pronoun‐antecedentagreementandsubject‐verbagreement,parallelconstruction,variedinstructure, rhythm,andlength,fullsentences).

Punctuation:Punctuationisusedcorrectlyandfollows therulesoutlinedinthePublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation(APA),thesixthedition.

Spelling:ThemanuscriptisfreefrommisspelledWordChoice:Wordchoiceclear,concise,andprecise,Isjargon,figuresofspeech,anthropomorphism,editorial “we”andcolloquialismavoided.Nonbiasedlanguage is used.

Voice:Activevoiceisprimarilyusedthroughoutthemanuscript.

Quotes:Quotesarecitedcorrectly(over50wordsareformattedasablockquote.)

Numbers:APArulesfornumbersused.TablesandFigures:Iftablesandfiguresareused,theyareformattedAPAstyle.

FlowofThought;ParagraphandSentencesStructure Y N CommentsThewritingislogical,organized,andcoherentfashion.Theparagraphsflowsmoothlyfromonetoanotherand transitionalsentencesusedbetweenparagraphs.

Paragraphshaveathesissentences.Allsentenceswithin theparagraphsupportthe thesissentence

Sentencesareclearandconcise(e.g.lookatoneortwoofthesentencesandconsideriftheycouldbewrittenusinglesswordswithoutlosingmeaning).Redundancy isavoided.

AppendixB:WritingTips

(AnoutlinewithreferencesfromWriting:Grammar,Usage,andStylebyJeanEggenschwiler.)Collegiatewritinginvolvesmainlythefollowingelements:reportinginformation,providinginstruction,explainingaprocess,arguingaposition,provingapoint,oranalyzinga text,theory,attitude,orevent.Mostofthecollegian’swritingwillfocusonargumentand analysis.UnderstandWhenapproachingyourwriting,itisbesttokeepyourpointorpurposeinmindasyoudevelopyourpaper.Youwillwantto‘startwiththeendinmind’andunderstandthedirection/ pointyourresearchmaterialneedstosupportanddevelopyourtopicstomeetthatendgoal.


BalanceRememberthatyouwillwanttobalanceyourtopic.Forinstance,ifyouarearguingtheneedforareform,thenyouwillwanttounderstandandstatethecurrentpolicies,givesupportingargumentforchangeinthosepolicies,andpoint towardyourendgoalofreformation.Youwillwanttobalancetheamountofexplanationofcurrentpoliciesandtheresearchdetailingtheneedforachangeinthosepolicies.Pictureapie,everyonelikestheirequalshare ofapieanddoesnotwanttoreceivelessthananyoneelse.Itisthesamewithwriting,equal portionsassistinsupportingandmovingyourwritingalongwhilekeepingyouraudience’s attention.AudienceItishighlyimportanttowritewithyouraudienceinmind.Manywritersforgetwho theyarewritingfor.Inthecollegiateatmosphere,youarewritingtoindividualswhohavespentyearsstudyingandwritingonthesametopicsthatyouaredevelopingyourpapertoaddress.Ifyou werewritingforsomeonewhoknewnothingofyourtopic,youmightgivedefinitionsforarea specificterms,withtherealizationthatsomeoneoutsideofthatfieldofstudymightnot understandwhatthattermis;but,withcollegiatewriting,youcansafelyworkwiththe assumptionthatyouwillbeaddressinglike‐mindedindividualswithvastexperienceand knowledgeinthatfield.Helpfulquestionstoaskyourself,beforewriting,toidentifyyouraudienceare:

AmIwritingforapersoninparticularfieldofstudy(Psychology,Englishliterature,Genetics,Sport,etc.)?[Tip:Thiscanbehelpfulinexaminingwhetherornotyouwillneedtorelateyourtopicacrossmorethanonefieldofstudyforunderstanding.]

WilltheyhavepriorknowledgeoftheterminologyandconceptsIwillbediscussing?(Yes,keepyourdefinitionstoaminimum.No,Define,define,define, asiftheyhaveneverheardofyourworkbefore.)

WillIneedtoprovideextensivebackgroundinformationonmytopicorwilladetailedsummarybeenough?(Expertinthefield,detailsummary.Novice,Giveextensivebackground.)

Whatisthereadinglevelofmyaudience,willtheyneedamoresimplifiedvocabularyorwilltheyunderstandmoretechnicalandpreciselanguage?(Ifyouraudienceisinmiddleschool,thentheymightnotunderstandwordslike‘Eschatology’,butwouldunderstand‘TheStudyoftheEndTimes’.Ifyour audienceisabibleprofessorinseminary,thenusethewordEschatology,theywill knowthemeaningwithoutexplanation.)

Willmyaudienceagreeordisagreetomypointofview?(Ifyouarewritingyour


paperasanargumentyouwillwanttokeepyourlanguagetoswayothersinsupport ofyourview,andnotargueagainstyourself.)

Keepinmindthatyouwillnotwanttoaddressanexpertinafieldofstudyasthough theyareaFifthgraderwhohasneverheardofyourtopic!OrganizingYourWritingGettingstartedcanbedifficult,butyoucandosimplethingstohelporganizeyourmaterials,whichwillinreturnhelpyourwritingtobemoreorganized.Belowishelpfulinformationinstarting,movingthrough,andcompletingthewritingprocess.DevelopanOutlineDevelopingatrueoutlineofyourpaperwillhelpyoutonotonlyorganizeyour thoughts,butyourresearchandtopics/talkingpoints,aswell.Example:ANeedforReformationinthe20thCenturyEvangelicalChurchI. The first reformation of the church came in XXXX…

A. Whatbroughtaboutthefirstchurchreformation?B. HowhasthataffectedtheEvangelicalChurch?C. Whatistheimpactonevangelismandthechurchatthistimeduetothe

reformation?D. Whendoesthisreformationturnandspuranotherneedforreformationinthe

church?II. ThenextnotedreformationofthechurchoccurredinXXXX…

A. Whatbroughtaboutthisreformation?B. HowdidthataffecttheEvangelicalChurch?C. Howdidthataffectevangelisminthattimeandthechurch?D. Wherearewenowthatwouldsupportanewreformationoftheevangelical

church?III. Acallforreformationinthe20thCenturyEvangelicalChurch

A. Wherethechurchorsocietyisspiritually,comparedtothepast,tosupportaneedforreformation?

B. Howwouldwesupportreformationinthecurrentevangelicalchurch?C. Whatwouldbethelessonsweneedtotakefrompreviousreformationsand

declineoftheevangelicalchurchintoday’ssociety?OutlinescanbeadaptedtosupportchaptersofaMaster’sThesis.Eachquestionposedcanbea chapterorpointneedingsupportinthepaper.[Tip:Byusinganoutlineyouallowyourselfto bedirectedinyourresearchandwriting,andallowforflexibilityshouldyounotfindresearch tosupportapoint.Youcaneasilysubstituteoreliminatethatpointwithoutlosingfocusonyour topic,andmaintainbalanceinyourwriting.]


WritingDecideonyourtopic.Chooseatopicappropriatetothelengthofyourpaperandthatinterestsyou.Youwantatopicthatissufficientlybroadtoberobustbutnottoobroadsoto hinderyourmatriculationthroughthethesisprocess.Hence,amaster’sthesiscouldinvolve abroadtopicsuchas“ANeedforReformationinthe20thCenturyEvangelicalChurch” versusanarrowtopicsuchas“TheReformed20thCenturyEvangelicalChurchModel”.Thefirstcanbeagooddocumentwithwell‐developedtopicsanddiscussionsonReformationofthe20thCenturyEvangelicalChurch,thelatterwouldbeanarrowdiscussionpapernotnearlysuitableforaMaster’sThesis.[Tip:Whenchoosingyourtopicyoumayneedtodosomebrief,earlyresearchtoensurethatthereissufficientmaterialtocoveryourtopicandpresentawell‐formedMaster’sThesis.Ifyoustartdevelopingyourpaperandfindthatyourresearchisnotofsufficientbreadththendonotfearchangingyour topic.]Exploretheresearchandwrittenmaterialavailableonyourtopic.Afrequentmistakeinwritingisfailingtoprovidesufficientexamplesandevidencethatgivedetailedsupportofyourtalkingpoint,topic,andthesis.General,unsupportedstatementsandpointsareunconvincinganduninteresting.Takenoteswhileyouarereadingyourresearch(besuretowritedownthecitationforyournotes,thiswillassistyouinavoidingplagiarismshouldyouincorporateanypartofthatnoteinyourwriting).Thenotes,andresearchassociatedwiththem,mayneverappearinyourwriting,but mayfurtherhelpyoudirectthetopicyouarediscussing.[Tip:Keepanon‐goingcitation list(alreadyinAPAformat)ofallofyourreferencematerialsthatyouhavereviewed.Thiswillallowyoutoeasilyreferencethematerialsyouhaveusedforresearchand keepyoufromhavingtolocateacitationwhenyouarefinished.Thisalsoassistsyouinavoidingplagiarism.FormulateyourThesis(mainidea)anddecideonthepointsyouwanttomaketosupportthatidea. Yourthesisshouldrequireyoutoexpressapositiononyourtopicanddefendthat positionwithresearchandwrittenmaterials.[Tip:Writeyourthesis(oryourendgoal)at thetopofapaperandputeachpointyouwishtomakeasanoutlinefororganizingyour researchforlaterwriting.]Developyourwrittenthesisstatementtosummarizetheargumentyouwillposeandsupportwithyourresearchinordertosupportyourmaintopic.Startselectingdetailedresearchandwrittenmaterialthatsupportsthepointsyouwanttomakeinyourwriting(thiswillinvolvealotofreadingandresearch).[Tip:Whenyou


gatheryourprintmaterials,organizethemundereachtopicthatyouwanttousetosupport yourmainthesis.Thiswilllaterassistyouinwritingyourpaperandorganizingyour thoughts.]Onceyouhavecollectedyourdata,decideontheorderyouwanttopresentyourdata.[Tip: Keepthebalanceofyourpaperinmind,ifyouhavebulkyamountsofdataforonepoint, trybreakingthatpointintosmallerdiscussionareastoassistyourreaderalong.Adjustyour outlineaccordingtothosediscussionareas.]Usingyourdataarrangedaccordingtoyouroutline,discussionpoints,andendgoal,startwritingyourfirstdraft,followingyouroutline,andincludereferencesforyourgatheredmaterials.Edit.Youwillnoteditlessthan3timesbeforemovingintothefinaldraftphaseofyourwriting.Wheneditingkeepinmind:

Content:DoIhavesufficientinformationtosupportmytopicsandendgoal?ShouldI gathermoreresearchtosupportanypoint?

Style:AmIwritingtomyaudience,isthereanythingthatneedsmoredetailedexplanationinordertogetmypointacrossbetter?ArethereanyareasinwhichmyaudiencemaynotunderstandthetopicIamdiscussing?

Mechanics:Grammar,wordusage,sentencestructure,punctuation,formattingforAPA, andorganization.Youwillneedhelphere,wealldo!Thisiswhereyoureditorcomesin handy,usethem,abusethem,takethembakedgoods.Handyourpapertobuddiesto readandpointoutthings.Allofthesetechniquesareimportanttoformattingagood, wellwrittenpaper.Youhavelookedatyourwritingforweeksandwillbecomeblindto yourownmistakes,havingextraeyeswillallowyoutopresentamorepolishedand wellwrittenpaper.Remember,eventhemostaccomplishedwriteruseseditorsto achievetheirfinishedproduct.[Tip:Citeasyouwrite.Itiseasytoforgetwhereaquoteorreferencedmaterialcomesfrom,sociteitasyouarewritingit,itwillmakeyour editingprocesseasierintheend.]

HelpfulWebsites

owl.english.purdue.edu(GreatforAPAtipsandwritinghelpalso.) www.apastyle.org(OfficialAmericanPsychologicalAssociationsite) grammar.quickanddirtytips.com(GrammarGirl)(Alsoavailableaspodcasts)

WritetheFINALDRAFT:Yes,evenafterallthoseeyeshavelookedatandwrotealloveryourhardwork,youwillneedtoeditagain.Takeallofthefeedbackandgiveyourpaperaseriouslook.Changethemechanicswhereneeded.Addressanythingthatisnotclearinyourtopics,adjustwordingtoeasethereadersprogressthroughyourpaper.Allofthiswill benefityouintheend.Then,haveyourfinalfinalized.Thisinvolvesonemorelookbyan outsider.Allowthemtomarkitup,andmakethoseadjustments(thisisyourbigvisittothe writingcenter).FINAL:Youareready,youareformatted,youhavemadeyourpoints,youhavenotedyour


researchanddocumentsproperly,yourgrammarisfluid,yourpunctuationisright,youare understood,andyouhavemadeyourpoint.Itistimetohandinyourwork.AppendixC:Plagiarism

Plagiarismisnotjustusingsomeoneelse’swords,butusingsomeone’sideasalso.Whenyouarereferencing,evenabriefreference,someone’sthoughtsorideasonatopic,even ifitisnottheirdirectwords,youmustcitethem.Generallyknownoracceptedknowledge,like creationism,doesnotneedtobecited,butsomeone’sdirectworkregardingcreationismmust becited.Ifyouareindoubtastowhetherornottociteawork,citeitanyway.Youarebetter safethansorry.AllstudentsshouldregularlyreviewthePowerPointPresentationbyDr.EmilyHeady oftheOnlineWritingCenterathttp://www.liberty.edu/academics/graduate/writing/index.cfm?PID=12268alongwithother availablewritingresources.Resources

OnlineWritingCenter:http://www.liberty.edu/academics/graduate/writing/index.cfm?PID=12268

FairUseandtheFairUseChecklist:

http://www.liberty.edu/informationservices/ilrc/library/index.cfm?PID=20109

ResearchCitationAssistancefromtheIntegratedLearningResourceCenter(ILRC):http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=1221

ILRCWebsite:http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=10446

LibertyUniversity’sPlagiarismPolicycanbefoundintheGraduateCatalogPages30,32. Thepolicystates,inbrief,asfollows:PlagiarismPlagiarismistheintentionalfailuretogivesufficientattributiontothewords,ideas,ordataofothersthatthestudenthasincorporatedintohis/herworkforthepurposeofmisleadingthereader.Insomecases,astudentmaybecarelessandfailtogivecredittothewords,ideasordataofothers.Insuchsituations,plagiarismhasstilloccurred,buttheprofessormaychoosefromanarrayofsanctionshe/shedeemsappropriate.Inordertoavoidplagiarism,studentsmustconscientiouslyprovidesufficientattribution.Attributionissufficientifitadequatelyinformsand,therefore,doesnotmateriallymisleadareasonablereaderastothetruesourceofthewords,ideas,ordata.Studentswhohaveanydoubtastowhethertheyhaveprovidedsufficientattributionhavetheresponsibilitytoobtainguidancefromtheirprofessororotherpersontowhomtheyaresubmittingtheir


work.Plagiarisminpapers,projectsoranyassignmentpreparedforaclassshallincludethefollowing:

Omittingquotationmarksorotherconventionalmarkingsaroundmaterialquoted fromanyprintedsource(includingdigitalmaterial)

Directlyquotingorparaphrasingaspecificpassagefromaspecificsourcewithout properlyreferencingthesource

Replicatinganotherperson’sworkorpartsthereofandthensubmittingitasanoriginal

Purchasingapaper(orpartsofapaper)andrepresentingitasone’sownwork Multiplesubmissions:Multiplesubmissionsistheuseofworkpreviously

submittedat thisoranyotherinstitutiontofulfillacademicrequirementsinanotherclass.For example,usingapaperfromapriorclassforacurrentcourseassignmentisacademic fraud.Slightlyalteredworkthathasbeenresubmittedisalsoconsideredtobe fraudulent.Withpriorpermission,someprofessorsmayallowstudentstocomplete oneassignmentfortwoclasses.Inthiscasepriorpermissionfrombothinstructorsis absolutelynecessary.

CheatingCheatingisaformofdishonestyinwhichastudentattemptstogivetheappearanceofalevelofknowledgeorskillthatthestudenthasnotobtained,givesunauthorizedaid,orwronglytakesadvantageofanother’swork.Examplesinclude,butarenotlimitedto:

Copyingfromanotherperson’sworkonanexaminationoranassignment Allowinganotherstudenttocopyanyportionofone’sworkonanexamination

oran assignment Usingunauthorizedmaterialsorgivingorreceivinganyotherunauthorized

assistance onanexaminationoranassignment Takeanexaminationorcompletinganassignmentforanother,orpermitting

another totakeanexaminationortocompleteanassignmentforthestudent Reusingapaperfromapreviouscourse Payinganotherstudenttocompleteacourse,anindividualassignmentoran

examination2. Falsification

Falsificationisaformofdishonestyinwhichastudentmisrepresentsthetruth,inventsfacts,ordistortstheoriginorcontentofinformationusedasauthority.Examplesinclude,butarenotlimitedto:

Dishonestlyansweringorprovidinginformationintheapplicationprocess

Citingasourcethatisknownnottoexist Attributingtoasourceideasandinformationthatarenotincludedinthesource Falselycitingasourceinsupportofathoughtorideawhenitisknownnotto

supportthethoughtoridea


Citingasourceinabibliographywhenthesourcewasneithercitedinthebodyof thepapernorconsulted

Intentionallydistortingthemeaningorapplicabilityofdata Inventingdataorstatisticalresultstosupportconclusions


AppendixD:FinalDefenseAnnouncement

PleaseSpecifytheLocationofDefense: DefenseDateandTime: ThesisTitle: Abstract:BiographicalInformation:CandidateSignature DatePrintName*PleasesubmitthecompletedformtotheProgramDirector.(ThisdocumentissourcedfromtheLibertyUniversitySchoolofEducation.)


AppendixE:FinalThesisDefenseDecisionForm

HELMSSCHOOLOFGOVERNMENTMASTEROFSCIENCEIDNumber LastName FirstName StudentSignature DATE: THESISTITLE:CommitteeDecision:ExplainDecision(asapplicable):Listrevisionsneeded:Chair:Reader1: Reader2:

Documents

The Helms School of Government Graduate Thesis Guide – MS ... · The thesis proposal is the background and planning document for the thesis. It must be It must be professional and