Thesis Documentation
GUIDELINES ON WRITING A GRADUATE PROJECT THESIS SHAN BARKATAKI, COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, CSUN
1. PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines on writing a graduate project thesis. It is not intended to be used in writing a thesis describing theoretical research work. A graduate project thesis represents the culminating experience resulting from your graduate study. Your thesis is the most important artifact you create in earning your degree. It will persist in perpetuity, long after your graduation. It is the thesis that proves that you have mastery in the subject matter. The thesis demonstrates that you are capable of finding solutions to significant problems. It shows that you can perform critical analysis and make sound technical decisions based on the findings. Most importantly, the thesis is proof that you can describe the project related activities and results in a well written scholarly publication, which is your thesis. 1. Your thesis is published by the CSUN Library. It is available for inspection by anyone, throughout the world. Each graduate thesis bears the signature of this department. Therefore, your thesis must be written to a standard consistent with published technical work in professional publications, such as: conference proceedings, SIG publications, and scholarly journals. A successful demonstration of the software product you have produced is clearly very important; a defense is not complete without such a demonstration. However, the demonstration is seen only by the committee. In reality, you earn your degree with the thesis, not with the demonstration. Many students spend more time and energy in getting the demonstration ready and not nearly enough in writing the thesis. That is a poor choice that often results in delayed graduation. It is important that you schedule enough time for writing the thesis. By the time you start writing the thesis, you should
1. PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines on writing a graduate project thesis. It is not intended to be used in writing a thesis describing theoretical research work. A graduate project thesis represents the culminating experience resulting from your graduate study. Your thesis is the most important artifact you create in earning your degree. It will persist in perpetuity, long after your graduation. It is the thesis that proves that you have mastery in the subject matter. The thesis demonstrates that you are capable of finding solutions to significant problems. It shows that you can perform critical analysis and make sound technical decisions based on the findings. Most importantly, the thesis is proof that you can describe the project related activities and results in a well written scholarly publication, which is your thesis. 1. Your thesis is published by the CSUN Library. It is available for inspection by anyone, throughout the world. Each graduate thesis bears the signature of this department. Therefore, your thesis must be written to a standard consistent with published technical work in professional publications, such as: conference proceedings, SIG publications, and scholarly journals. A successful demonstration of the software product you have produced is clearly very important; a defense is not complete without such a demonstration. However, the demonstration is seen only by the committee. In reality, you earn your degree with the thesis, not with the demonstration. Many students spend more time and energy in getting the demonstration ready and not nearly enough in writing the thesis. That is a poor choice that often results in delayed graduation. It is important that you schedule enough time for writing the thesis. By the time you start writing the thesis, you should
Citations: 8 Guidelines on Writing a Graduate Project Thesis (DRAFT‐ Rev1 June 9, 2011) 6 10 Guidelines on Writing a Graduate Project Thesis (DRAFT‐ Rev1 June 9, 2011) 5 Guidelines on Writing a Graduate Project Thesis (DRAFT‐ Rev1 June 9, 2011) 9.2 Guidelines on Writing a Graduate Project Thesis (DRAFT‐ Rev1 June 9, 2011)