Dear students,
Graduation season has arrived again, and second-year master’s students are busy writing and revising their theses. Please pay close attention to the following points during revision. Doctoral students converting their work into a master’s thesis should also take note, and future students may use these guidelines as a reference.
A line spacing of 1.5 is too wide. With figures included, a page may contain fewer than one hundred words, which can give the impression that the thesis has been deliberately padded. For master’s theses, I require a fixed line spacing of 20 points. Leave one blank line above and below each figure and table.
Include at least 25 references. The literature review in Chapter 1 must discuss at least 15 relevant papers, demonstrating that you consulted related work during your master’s studies. Each reviewed paper must be discussed in terms of its key contributions, strengths, or weaknesses. Do not cover multiple references, such as [10]–[12], with a single sentence.
Do not create paragraphs arbitrarily. Start a new paragraph only when appropriate. Many students begin a new paragraph after only a sentence or two, making the entire page look sparse and insubstantial.
Figures and tables must be clear and appropriately sized. If they are too small, they will be difficult to read; if they are too large, they will take up unnecessary space. Use good judgment and avoid giving the impression that you are padding the thesis.
Every figure and table must be explained in the text. Do not assume that readers will understand simply because a figure or table is provided. Figures and tables cannot replace written explanations, and all parameters shown in them must be clearly defined.
Text within figures and tables must use consistent font sizes. The text size in Figure 1 must be consistent with that in Figures 2 and 3.
Flowcharts must be rigorous and correct. The flow direction and block shapes must follow established conventions; do not draw them arbitrarily. Engineering flowcharts have standards. If you are unfamiliar with them, consult appropriate online references.
Every master’s thesis contains key technologies that you developed or innovated and that should be passed on to future lab members. Describe them in as much detail as possible so that junior students can understand them after you graduate without having to contact you for clarification.
A master’s thesis only needs to be at least 40 pages long. Do not add unnecessary material or deliberately increase its length. Explain in detail what truly requires detail. If experimental videos are available, upload them to YouTube and include the links in the references.
Your master’s thesis represents two years of effort and achievement. It is valuable and should remain in the laboratory as one of your representative works. When future students read it, they should appreciate and admire your work rather than criticize it. The quality of your thesis also reflects the attitude you will bring to your future career. Keep this firmly in mind.
June 6, 2015