We can define a manuscript-style thesis is a dissertation that has one or many educational manuscripts. These documents are written to suit publication in particular venues. Students can present their manuscript-style thesis in a way that facilitates publication. It is essential to note that the research advisory committee is the only body that gives a student permission to submit an academic unit-approved manuscript-style thesis for publication.
Principles of writing a manuscript-style thesis
One must adhere to the CGPS policies and procedure if they wish to write a manuscript-style thesis. A dissertation needs approval from the academic unit after ensuring that the dissertation meets the scholarly requirements. Some of the requirements include:
- Formatting
Although the formats may differ depending on the different departments, you should stick to the acceptable format identified by the academic unit. The manuscript-style thesis must also have consistency from the start to the end. Ensure that you stick to the same format all through to maintain coherence, cohesiveness, and clarity. Ensure you use appropriate punctuation, spelling, and grammar. You can refer to previously published manuscripts and borrow the formatting and numbering styles.
Ensure that your numbering is sequential with the equations, figures, tables, and subsections have the appropriate labels within each chapter. List your references either by chapter or at the end of your document.
- Contents
A thesis is a document that contains and describes everything concerning the research of a graduate student. If you got the manuscript-style thesis way, you should ensure that each manuscript fits into the body to accomplish the thesis’s objective. The thesis should naturally flow, and each section should connect and give it a unifying factor and make it one document.
Start with an introduction and literature review to establish the student’s familiarity with the thesis’s scope, outline the aim and objectives of the research and provide a context to the manuscript. Then go ahead and discuss the methodology by describing the mode of research you will be using in its chapter. Similar to any other thesis chapters, the manuscript should also fit together. Make it easy for others to understand the relationship between the manuscripts and their relevance. Place each manuscript on its chapter for logical progression and to make it clear for the readers.
The final chapter is the conclusion. It should highlight the research’s findings and the main contribution of the research to the main objective. After the conclusion, you should ensure that you include the supporting documentation and appendices. These are materials that are not part of the research but are references to some sections.
- Co-authored manuscripts
Following the academic unit’s approval and the student’s advisory committee, you can include these manuscripts in the thesis. You can add as many co-authors as possible. There is no limit. The lead author should be an active participant by having at least one manuscript in the thesis. For each manuscript, include complete citations and page numbers. To avoid conflict of intellectual property and other related issues, ensure you iron out all the obligations and legal requirements (authorship, copyright, and data confidentiality) in advance. Print a statement outlining the status of any unpublished paper in contemplated dealing or dealing with copyright issues. In a case where there is a disparity between published manuscripts, you should describe it in an addendum. The comments should detail the type of changes and simple explanations for the changes.
- Thesis review
After you are done with your thesis, it has to go through review. It is where the process of defending your thesis comes is and the examining committee takes control of judging and approving your work. You should be prepared for your thesis to undergo serious criticisms and review, and even revision.
Regardless of the hustle and the student’s hard work, the thesis needs to be acceptable to the examining committee and external examiners for one to successfully graduate.
- Copyright
It is your obligation as a student or co-author to seek permission from copyright holders for material, documents, and information that does not belong to you. You also hold the financial burden’s responsibility if there will be financial obligations to using copyrighted material. You should also clearly indicate and print sections containing co-authored or copyrighted material under license or with permission. The license of permission letters should be readily available on request.