1. Research Methods Technical Writing Thesis Conference/Journal Papers
Costas Kyriacou

2. Writing a Thesis: Writing Style and Format: Thesis Content:
Follow guidelines and/or templates provided by the Department
Consult your Advisor
Thesis Content:
Acknowledgements (Optional)
Abstract (No references)
Introduction
Background Information – Related Work (Title can change according to your project)
Methodology (Title can change according to your project)
Technical description of your work
Evaluation
Evaluation Methodology
Results
Discussion of Results
Conclusions
References
Appendices
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

3. Thesis - Acknowledgements
Thank the people who helped you in the project
Your advisor(s) for his/their guidance
The members of your evaluation committee for participating in the committee and their comments on the Thesis
PhD students must submit their Thesis early enough for the evaluation committee to read and make suggestions
Your colleagues for sharing their views or reviewing your work
Your sponsors
Research Funding Agencies (if your studies are funded through a research program)
Others who provided you with equipment, software licences, access to data, etc
Others
Family, Friends, God
Don’t overdo it
This section is optional
If omitted it shows that you either did everything by yourself or you show no gratitude to the people who helped you
Bad for you and your work In both cases
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

4. Thesis - Abstract This is a short summary of your work
PhD abstracts are often published in
Scientific Periodicals from professional organizations (IEEE etc)
Bulletins (Networks-of-Excellence, Forums etc)
Web sites (University or Specialized such as the Computer Architecture Portal)
Use it to promote your work
People read first the Abstract and if found interesting can search for your papers or contact you for more information
Must contain three main components
Introduction to the problem solved by your work
Motivation for doing this work
Aim of the research work and overview of the methodology used to solve the problem
Evaluation methodology and summary of main results achieved
Typical size – 1 page
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

5. Thesis - Introduction This is an extended summary of your work
Main components of the Introduction:
Opening Part (one or two paragraphs)
State what is the problem to be solved and
Your Thesis (the main aim of your project)
Present State-of-the-Art work in the area
Summary of the methodology used
Must relate to the objectives specified in the project proposal and how they are met.
Evaluation
Summary of the evaluation methodology and the main results achieved
Overview of the structure of your Thesis (Last / Optional)
E.g. { Chapter 1 presents an overview of the ….. Chapter 2 describes the ????. The evaluation methodology is presented in Chapter 3 etc.
For PhD include also
Statement of the contributions of your work
List of the publications that describe your work
3 to 5 pages for MSc, 5 to 10 pages for PhD
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

6. Thesis – Background Information
This chapter must provide
the necessary background for someone working in the general area of your work to understand it
It should not include what is considered a general knowledge for a Masters graduate in the specific area
A detailed description of the state-of-the-art work related to your project
With adequate references on text and diagrams or pictures used
Well structured
Not just a list of unrelated references to the work of others
It should help in justifying your approach in solving the problem
This is and extended version of the Literature Review of your project proposal It
Shows that you have studied and mastered the area of your project
Places your work into content
Shows that you acknowledge and give credit to the work of others
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

7. Thesis - Methodology
Detail description of how you have solved the problem and how the objectives of the project have been met.
Justify your design choices
Use of diagrams and flowcharts and provide a clear and technically sound description of your work
Use of examples to clarify your methodology
Can be more than one chapters
Chapter Title must be related to your work
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

8. Thesis – Validation/Evaluation
This chapter shows how successful is your work
It must contain:
Validation/Evaluation Methodology
Describe in detail the methodology used to evaluate your work
Use of
experiments,
simulations,
surveys,
analytical modelling
Give the technical specification and settings of equipment used for your experiments or describe the sample used for your surveys and statistical analysis
Justify your evaluation methodology
Results achieved
Use tables and Graphs
Discussion of results
Critically discuss your results
Avoid describing in words what is given by the tables or figures
If possible relate your results with the results obtain by others
Make sure you compare similar and compatible things
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

9. Thesis - Conclusions This is the overall judgement of your work
State whether you have met the project objectives stated in the Project Proposal and how good are your results
It should include:
Overview of the problem and the methodology used to solve it
Significant problems encountered and how they were solved
Overview of the evaluation methodology used and a summary of the results achieved
Future work
Important Issues related but not addressed in your work
Significant for PhD students
They are expecteed to continue carrying out research
Academia
Research Organizations
Research & Development Departments
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou

10. Thesis – References and Appendices
For Reference use information in “Publications” lecture
Follow the format set by your Department – if any
Appendices may include:
Extended results of experiments that could no be shown in the main text
Source code of software
Datasheets and Manuals
Other useful information
The decimal system needs ten distinct symblos or states0 to 9. This can not be supported by digital electronics.
Research Methods
Costas Kyriacou