Email address:	[email protected]
Website:	www.geocities.com/dannyarao/

STATE OF ENROLLMENT ADDRESS:

Congratulations! Your enrollment in Journ 200 means that you've already passed a thesis proposal duly approved by your Journ 199 teacher.

A major part of the work is presumably done, given that you already know the statement of problem. By this time, I assume that you have also identified the objectives and have already finalized the methodology and study framework. However, we may still need to refine your thesis proposal if you're still confused as to "which way to go," so to speak.

Unlike other subjects, we will only meet once and the rest of the semester will be devoted to individual consultations. This is the reason why just as you know mine, I will need to know your contact information (e.g., address, email, landline and cellphone numbers).

THESIS WRITING TIPS:

• Remember that your thesis should mainly use primary sources of information. This means that you need to interview sources or even organize focus group discussions and conduct surveys, depending on the nature of your study.
• Secondary sources of information must only be used for background information. As much as possible, do not depend on secondary sources in analyzing interrelationship of variables or in making conclusions.
• Cite your sources. Use footnotes and make sure that your bibliography uses proper citation.
• Analyze and write the data as soon as you gather them. This will ensure that you don't forget details.
• Constantly refer to your statement of the problem and objectives as you write your findings. Whenever possible, use your specific objectives as basis for dividing your findings into chapters or parts.
• Write your findings in a way that clearly identifies YOUR analysis compared to your sources'.
• Do not editorialize. Avoid adjectives and adverbs in strengthening your arguments. Let the data speak for themselves.
• In writing the conclusion, refer to your statement of the problem and explicitly answer it in the first few paragraphs. After answering the problem, sum up all the important points you raised in your findings.
• Recommendations, if possible, should be divided into two: (1) Recommendations for needed reforms; and (2) Recommendations for further study. These should all be as specific as possible and must pass the test of practicality, beneficiality and necessity.
• As regards the first part, the thesis writer exercises the research dictum that "a criticism is as good as the alternative." Reforms could be in terms of policy formulation or implementation.
• As regards the second part, the thesis writer realizes the scope and limitations of his or her study and therefore identifies probable areas of study that other researchers may conduct.

CLASS SCHEDULE:
(subject to change with prior notice)