Why should I read these instructions?
Sources used in the instructions | Authors
These instructions are worth reading so that you do not have to learn everything through trial and error. These instructions aim to support the progress of your work in all stages of the thesis process. Nevertheless, cooperation with the supervisor is essential. The author of the thesis is obliged to think independently but, on the other hand, entitled to supervision. The thesis process will be accelerated by appropriate interim targets and communication with the supervisor. (See Supervision for more details.)
A Bachelor's thesis and Master's thesis are different in nature, but the same rules apply to the way in which they are written. Therefore, most of these instructions apply to both types of thesis.
These general instructions cover many of the issues you may face during the thesis process. However, they are not intended as a complete handbook of scientific writing or referencing. For example, they do not cover all the special cases of referencing. There are excellent guides on this topic elsewhere. Please see the list of references below for tips, and ask your supervisor for further advice.
The thesis process and writing the report comprise many issues to which there is not only one approach. These instructions aim to provide means and tools for basic situations. The instructions given apply to all fields of study, although there are terminological differences between different fields.
As Juha T. Hakala states, the thesis plays an important role in the process which prepares the student for working life. When writing the thesis, the student faces the same requirements as in working life:
- search for information in order to solve a specific problem
- extensive application of knowledge and skills
- target-oriented planning of one's own work and ability to set up a schedule
- problem-solving, deduction and rationalisation skills
- process-like working method
- written and oral communication skills
- critical approach to sources and to one's own work
- evaluation of one's own work and development of one's own work practices. (Hakala 2004, 9-10.)
According to Hakala (2004), the problems experienced in writing the thesis are usually due to the fact that the job seems large and vague, and it causes anxiety before the process actually begins. A project with an extent of 15 ECTS credits (Bachelor's thesis) or 30 ECTS credits (Master's thesis) is no pushover; but, on the hand, it is not insuperable either. (Hakala 2004, 13.)
REFERENCES
Sources used in these instructions are written in Finnish, except *. Below you find other good books on (academic) writing (as e-books).
Murray, R. & Moore, S. 2006. Handbook of Academic Writing : A Fresh Approach. Berkshire: Open University Press. lillukka.samk.fi/login (eBook)
Turley, R.M. 2000. Writing Essays. A Guide for Students in English and the Humanities. London & New York: Routledge. lillukka.samk.fi/login (eBook)
* Pears, R. & Shields, G. 2008. Cite them right: The essential guide to referencing and plagiarism. New ed. Newcastle upon Tyne: Pear Tree books.
* Thesis Committee. 2008. Thesis instructions. All degree programmes. Joensuu: North Karelia University of Applied Sciences. Viitattu 26.8.2009. http://www.pkamk.fi/opiskelijapalvelut/opiskelu/opinnayte/Thesis_intructions.pdf
AUTHORS
The instructions were written by Anne Sankari (SAMK’s Administrative Services), partly on the basis of previous instruction. The author used feedback received from supervisors and students (e.g. online survey done in October-November 2008, Thesis Development Group, comments in the blog and elsewhere).
Instructions on referencing, compiling the list of references and writing the abstract were written by the Library Group (Kaisa Paasio, Anne Kaunisto, Maria Korpela, Katja Lempinen, Susanna Ruohomäki and Irina Vikman). Instructions on model layout were provided by Heidi Varpelaide. The web version of the instructions was made by Anne Sankari and Jari Lahti. The instructions were translated into English by Jarmo Nousiainen.