The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Graduate Studies maintains a website (Graduate Studies Resources) with useful links to guide the graduate student in grammar, style, evaluating web resources, and formats (Thesis students will find the Texas A&M link useful for formatting procedures and other technical assistance). The thesis advisor will provide guidance regarding the site. The site may be accessed through the University Karrmann Library (/library/reference/writers.html)

1.Checklist for Completion of the Masters Thesis

__In consultation with program advisor, the student proposes a committee of three faculty members. The committee usually includes thesis advisor, one additional major department member, and one faculty member from another area.

__Prepare a thesis proposal that includes the following:

An approval page to be assigned by the advisor and committee members
An introduction
A statement of the problem
Purpose of the study
Hypothesis, if applicable
Significance or implications of the study
Assumptions necessary to undertake the study
Delimitation of the study
Method of approach including data sources, data gathering methods, and likely analyses
General plan of the organization

__Approval (in writing) of the study by the Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Research before research is initiated, if necessary.

__Submit thesis proposal with signed approval page and approval memo from Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Research, if necessary, to the School of Graduate Studies Office to be placed in student file.

__Register for 7990, "Thesis Research".

__Prepare the thesis with regular meetings with the thesis advisor

__Submit completed thesis to thesis advisor-advisor will submit thesis for review to committee

__Thesis advisor, in consultation with the student, schedules the thesis oral examination.

__Thesis advisor certifies in writing that the oral examination has been successfully completed. The certification is provided for the School of Graduate Studies.

__Submit completed thesis (with signatures), paper deposition form, an extra copy of the abstract and binding payment to the School of Graduate Studies. Each student should consult his/her thesis advisor regarding requirements for additional copies. The thesis binding fee currently (4/4/01) is $ 30.00/copy.

2. Paper Preparation

1. The paper should follow one of three adopted manuals: A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Katie L. Turabian; The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or Modern Language Association Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, or any style approved by the major department.
2. The library copy must be printed on one side of standard size (8 ½ x11") with high cotton content twenty pound bond paper.
3. A paper must be word processed with 12 point Times New Roman font utilized for the body of the paper
4. Margins: the left margin of each page must be two inches. The top, right, and bottom margins are one inch. Tables, figures, and appendix materials must fit the same margins.
5. A thesis proposal must follow the proposal approval page format - no page number (Appendix A)
6. A thesis approval page must follow the approval page format - no page number (Appendix B)
7. A thesis title page must follow the thesis title page format - no page number (Appendix C)
8. A thesis must include an abstract based on the University of Wisconsin approved format (Appendix D)
9. A thesis must include a table of contents (the chapters usually follow the elements in the appendix, but other formats are possible with the approval of the thesis committee). (Appendix E)

3. General Suggestions

• There is no set length for thesis paper
• The student should demonstrate the ability to interpret data and show evidence of critical thinking in the evaluation of sources
• The writer of the paper should develop the subject according to the principles of clear and effective composition. The writer should organize the material in his/her paper on the basis of its relation to one central idea.
• Attention should be given to the expression of ideas with consideration for writing style, grammar, and guidelines to reduce bias in language. Bias in languages includes gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identity, disabilities, and age. It is the student's responsibility to have the paper reviewed by a competent individual for writing conventions such as spelling, grammar, unity, clarity, coherence and emphasis.
• It is the student's responsibility to prepare the final draft.
• It is up to the student to be in accordance with his/her advisor regarding deadlines. Please provide the advisor adequate time to read and critique each draft of the paper. The advisor should allow the student time to make suggested changes.
• The completed thesis is due at the School of Graduate Studies Office within one week after successfully completing the oral examination.
• The student is advised to finish the paper as soon as possible even if he/she receives an "Incomplete" in thesis research for a semester.
• The student is required to make application for the thesis oral examination during the first week of the summer session or the first two weeks of the fall/spring semester in which the oral examination is to be completed through the School of Graduate Studies. The application forms are available at the office or online.
• Please check with your advisor for additional requirements.