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Thesis Instructions at Karelia University of Applied Sciences : Report layout

The following instructions describe the stages of the thesis process at Karelia University of Applied Sciences, from the choice of the topic to the publications of the thesis. The related forms and templates are also enclosed.

Report layout

It is worthwhile to layout your thesis report correctly from the very beginning. These instructions may help:

       Thesis Template

Download the Thesis template to your own computer as a Word template (.dotx). Start writing using the layout and settings of the template so the styles and settings are automatically according to the requirements. Save your drafts similar to normal Word files in the .docx format.

Formatting Details for the Thesis

When you have been processing and editing your thesis report for a long time, it is possible that some of the settings have changed and are no longer correct. For finalising your report, you can find a detailed formatting guide in the document called Detailed Instructions for the Thesis Layout.

Title Page, Abstract(s), Contents and Appendices

Cover Page

Use the Thesis Template file for the title cover page layout.

The thesis title should be compact and clear and contain the most essential information. The first words of the title are the most important and convey the key concepts of the thesis. The rest of the title can include descriptive elements. Whenever possible, use the basic forms of words, such as keywords and key concepts. Sometimes a secondary title can clarify the contents of the thesis.

Abstract(s)

If you report your thesis in English, you can include an abstract in some other language in addition to the one in English. The abstract should be about 150-200 words and divided into paragraphs. The paragraphs are separated by a blank line. The line spacing is 1 and font size 12. The text looks neat if both left and right sides are aligned (justified). At the bottom of the page, the most essential content of the thesis is described with the use of keywords (usually 3–4 words). The keywords should exist in the General Finnish Ontology, YSO.

Check out a  guide: What is in an Abstract? (Thinglink)

For the title, separate subheading (secondary title) with a colon. Example:

Global Esports Markets : Opportunities and Challenges

Use the same format for the title in Wihi and Theseus.

Contents

The table of contents is placed after the title page and the abstract. Use “Contents” as its heading. The heading font size should be 14 (bold). The headings should appear in the list of contents in the same form as they are in the text. The formatting should follow the instructions. In addition to the headings for the text passages, also the abstract, references and appendices are listed. If there are many appendices, a separate list can be created. Such a list appears before the appendices. If necessary, lists of tables, figures and pictures also can be created.  The margins should be the same as elsewhere in the report. Line spacing 1 should be used.

Appendices

All appendices should be placed at the end of the report after the references. They have a heading and are numbered consequently in the same order in which they are referred to in the text. The number and page of each appendix is in the upper right-hand corner, and they are separated by a tab. Appendices usually include information not fully needed for understanding the report, such as that found in questionnaires. However, they are referred to in the text, for example, as Appendix 3. In the list of contents, appendices have the heading Appendices (or Appendix, if there is only one). If the appendix was not created by you, it is necessary to add the reference to the original course.

Abbreviations and Special Terms

If the report contains many abbreviations, acronyms, or unfamiliar terms, such as symbols or professional terms, they could be defined and explained in a special glossary as per the instructions. The list of abbreviations and the glossary are placed to the beginning of the report after the contents page. They will benefit the reader most if they can be found right at the beginning. If needed, the list of abbreviations and glossary also include citations in the same way as the text elsewhere in the report.  

Example of the list of abbreviations:

COBRA      Coherent On-line Baseband Receiver for Astronomy.

DNA          Deoxyriboenucleic acid, a molecule that contains the biological instructions.

ECG          Electrocardiogram, a medical test that detects the electrical activity of the heart.

http://www.karelia.fi/fi/tutkimus-kehitys/avoin-tiede-ja-tutkimus