Thesis Structure

"I Keep Six Honest Serving Men..." I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who. I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest. I let them rest from nine till five, For I am busy then, As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea, For they are hungry men. But different folk have different views; I know a person small- She keeps ten million serving-men, Who get no rest at all! She sends'em abroad on her own affairs, From the second she opens her eyes- One million Hows, two million Wheres, And seven million Whys!

Structure Title Page Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures Abstract Declaration Acknowledgments Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discussion Conclusions Future Work Appendices

Beginnings prepare readers for understanding the work Summary tells readers what happens in document Introduction prepares readers for the middle Title orients readers to document

A strong title orients readers to your area of work Effects of Humidity on the Growth of Avalanches Effects of Humidity on the Growth of Electron Avalanches in Electrical Gas Discharges

A strong title also separates your work from everyone else's work Studies on the Electrodeposition of Lead on Copper Effects of Rhodamine-B on the Electrodeposition of Lead on Copper

ABSTRACT COVERED PREVIOUSLY

INTRODUCTION

Introductory Chapter Possible sections in this chapter : 1. Background 2. Research Problem 3. Methodology (or method to be used) 4. Thesis roadmap/Overview/Outline 5. Definitions 6. Orthogonal Issues 7. Conclusions

A document's introduction prepares readers for the discussion Topic? Importance? Introduction Arrangement? Background?

The introduction defines the scope and limitations of the work Proposed Study on Effects of Alcohol on Life Expectancy Three classes of drinkers: non-drinkers moderate drinkers heavy drinkers Ten-year study Other effects, such as exercise, not considered Medical histories not considered Women may not experience the same effects Men surveyed scope limitations

A strong introduction tells readers why the research is important This paper presents a design for a platinum catalytic igniter in hydrogen-air mixtures. This igniter has application in nuclear reactors. One danger at a nuclear reactor is a loss-of-coolant accident. Such an accident can produce large quantities of hydrogen gas when hot water and steam react with zirconium fuel rods. In a serious accident, the evolution of hydrogen may be so rapid that it produces an explosive hydrogen-air mixture in the reactor containment building. This mixture could breach the containment walls and allow radiation to escape. Our method to eliminate this danger is to intentionally ignite the hydrogen-air mixture at concentrations below those for which any serious damage might result. importance

MIDDLE CHAPTERS

Literature Review (aka State of the Art) This chapter outlines the state of the art in your field, organised by ideas, research trends NOT chronologically or by author The objective of this chapter is to tell the reader that this is an important and interesting problem Literature Survey vs. Literature Review Bibliography vs. Literature Review

Research Question (aka Problem Statement) The title of this slide is an example of the arts/science divide, in arts subjects this is generally called “research question to be answered/addressesed" in science subjects (especially engineering) this is generally referred to as “problem to be solved".

Research Question (aka Problem Statement) In this chapter you need to  state the research question, clearly and concisely  demonstrate that this particular research has not been answered (why current approaches fail)  Discuss why this is a worthwhile question (including applications where it may be used)  try to include enough information so that a future researcher could continue your research once you are done.  You have to demonstrate your familiarity with the important researchers in your field here.

Methodology Research Methods Software Development Organizational Methods

Solving the Research Question You need to convince the reader that the research question has been resolved, only discuss your research that pertains to the resolution of the problem, if you worked on techniques that were dead-ends, don't bother including these in the discussion (unless it is somehow relevant to the resolution).

Solving the Research Question Record any limitations, assumptions, etc. in methods used Report exactly under what conditions the results were obtained If wrote computer programs to solve the problem => use my checksheet on software, comments, etc. => record hardware, software versions, language versions, operation system versions, any relevant environmental configurations

In the middle of a report, you present your work Choose a logical strategy Make sections and subsections Heading Subheading Heading Subheading Heading [Sandia, 1985]

Common strategies exist for the middles of scientific reports Chronological [Maizels, 2001] Spatial [Pratt & Whitney, 2000]

Common strategies exist for the middles of scientific reports Parallel Parts Corel Corporation Flow [Sandia, 1985]

Section headings should be descriptive and parallel Non-Parallel Non-Descriptive Introduction Background Marx Generators Line Pulse Beam Generation Transporting Beam Pellets Results Conclusions Introduction Background Marx Generators Line Pulse Beam Generation Transporting Beam Pellets Results Conclusions Parallel Descriptive Introduction Past Designs for Particle Beam Fusion New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Forming Line Pulse Generating Particle Beam Transporting Particle Beam Irradiating Deuterium-Tritium Pellets Results of New Design Conclusions and Recommendations Introduction Past Designs for Particle Beam Fusion New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Forming Line Pulse Generating Particle Beam Transporting Particle Beam Irradiating Deuterium-Tritium Pellets Results of New Design Conclusions and Recommendations

When you divide a section into subsections, all the pieces should be of the same pie New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Generating Particle Beam Pellets New Design for Particle Beam Fusion Charging Marx Generators Generating Particle Beam Irradiating Deuterium-Tritium Pellets

Organization is hidden without Secondary headings Performance of the Solar One Receiver Introduction Steady State Efficiency Average Efficiency Start-Up Time Operation Time Operation During Cloud Transients Panel Mechanical Supports Tube Leaks Conclusion Performance of the Solar One Receiver Introduction Receiver’s Efficiency Steady State Efficiency Average Efficiency Receiver’s Operation Cycle Start-Up Time Operation Time Operation During Cloud Transients Receiver’s Mechanical Wear Panel Mechanical Supports Tube Leaks Conclusion

CONCLUSIONS

In a strong ending, you analyze results and give a future perspective Analyze results from overall perspective Conclusions Analysis of Results Several options: Make recommendations Discuss future work Repeat limitations Future Perspective

Use appendices to supply background for secondary audiences Appendix A Concern About the Greenhouse Effect For almost a hundred years, experts have been concerned with the increasing concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides in the earth's lower atmosphere. These gases are natural by-products of combustion. Figure A-1 illustrates the correlation between global temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations...

Use appendices to supply secondary or tangential information to primary readers Appendix B Project Stormfury In 1961, the United States Weather Bureau and the Department of Defense (Navy) began a project to reduce the strength of hurricanes. The project, called Project Stormfury, uses cloud seeding, a process used to produce rainfall and reduce hail in thunderstorms. In Project Stormfury, silver iodide crystals, similar in structure to ice, are dispersed by airplanes in the upper reaches of cloud formations just outside the hurricane's eye where the winds are highest. Initial results showed that wind speeds decreased between 15–30% after seedings...

Glossary burst point: the exact point in space where an atomic bomb is detonated. clear visibility: a viewing range of twenty miles. fallout: the descent to the Earth's surface of radioactive particles from a cloud contaminated with the fission products of a nuclear explosion. hypocenter: the point on the earth's surface directly below the burst point; also called ground zero. For secondary readers, use a glossary to define unfamiliar terms

Linking it all together

Link chapters together Chapter N Introduction N.1 As has been discussed in the previous chapter... Conclusion N.X In this chapter, the following topics were discussed...equipped with this information, in the next chapter it will be investigated how to apply this in...

Mirroring of chapters : Chapter 1 = Chapter 6 Chapter 2 = Chapter 5 Chapter 3 = Chapter 4 Chap 1 Chap 2 Chap 3 Chap 6 Chap 5 Chap 4

Mirroring of chapters : All points raised in the Introduction chapter should be addressed in the Conclusions. All sections in the Research Method (or Design) chapter should appear in the Data Analysis (or Implementation) chapter. All Literature Review section should be re- discussed in the Data Findings (or Testing and Evaluation) chapter