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Foundation University Rawalpindi Campus

Department of Humanities and Liberal Arts
MS English
Guidelines for Thesis

Welcome to this exciting phase of your academic careers. You have

transitioned from scholars contributing to academic discussions in the
classrooms to researchers developing critical frameworks to shape future
discourses about literature, linguistics and teaching of English.
Research will be a new field for many of you and may be a daunting
task for those who have passed through the rigors the research process
imposes on them. These guidelines are meant to familiarise the
researchers with the structure and requirements of the thesis for the MS
programme.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy
Tommy Lee Jones in Man of the House remarks: Plagiarism is an
academic crime punishable by academic death. This remark captures the
view the MS programme takes of plagiarism. The importance we give to
avoiding plagiarism can been ascertained from the fact that plagiarism is
being talked about so early in the guidelines.
When the final work is submitted it will be run through plagiarism-
checking software. If the exercise yields a score of 19% or higher on the
similarity index the thesis will be returned to the researcher with the
feedback and the researcher will be required to resubmit after bringing
the score to less than 19%.
The FUI reserves the right to withdraw the researchers degree if
plagiarism is detected at any stage even if it is after the approval of the
thesis.
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Word Limit
The MS thesis should be between 20000 to 25000 words as desired
by the HEC. The pages numbered in Arabic numerals will comprise the
length of the thesis. The works cited list or bibliography as well as the
introductory pages will not count towards the length of the thesis.
The analysis/discussion and the conclusion should comprise two-
thirds of the thesis.

Timeline of the Thesis

The MS programme can last up to a maximum of four years under
certain conditions. The research thesis has to be submitted within this
time. While no strict deadline can be given for the final submission of the
thesis you should try to complete your work as soon as possible. The
faculty of the MS programme will try its best to facilitate you to this end.

Evaluation
When you submit the thesis it will be run through anti-plagiarism
software. Upon meeting the set standard it will be forwarded to an internal
examiner and an external examiner. The examiners will evaluate the work
and comment on any shortcomings or flaws. They will also give
recommendations and verdict regarding the thesis. A template of the
criteria on which the thesis will be assessed will be shared with you.
Once the reports of the examiners have been received they will be
shared with you. After making the suggested changes you will be asked to
defend your work in front of a panel constituted by the competent
authority. The research thesis will be evaluated on the basis of the
defence and the comments by the examiners. The panel may approve the
thesis, may reject it or may require you to make amendment in the light of
the recommendations of the examiners. The decision of the panel will be
final and you cannot appeal against it through any channel.
Rules relating to the evaluation of the MS theses are being reproduced
below.
a. Thesis Evaluators / Examiners
(1) 1xinternal within the department
(2) 1xexternal (within the country)
b. Viva-voce for MS and M.Phil will only be conducted by the approved
Internal and External examiners.
CHANCES FOR RE-SUBMISSION OF THESIS AND VIVA-VOCE (For MS/M.Phil
only)
31. a. Thesis on first stage of evaluation is adjudges as Passed of Failed as
per the
findings of both the evaluators.
b. Only one chance for re-submission of the revised thesis shall be allowed
to a
Scholar in case of major or minor corrections.
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c. If the revised thesis is not approved under the provisions of para 32 and 33,
the thesis shall be finally rejected.
d. If thesis is adjudged as adequate but the scholar fails in the Viva-Voce, he
may be given one chance to re-appear in the Viva-Voce, within a period not
exceeding four months.
e. The Dean shall send the thesis to the approved evaluators who shall
evaluate the thesis and communicate the result to the concerned MSA as
follows:
(1) The scholar may be recommended for the award of the degree. In
such case, the scholar shall have Viva Voce as per para 35.
(2) The scholar may be asked to revise the thesis for re-submission If
one out of two evaluators find that the thesis needs revision, the
scholar will be advised to revise and re-submit the thesis for a fresh
examination by the same evaluators, within a period of twelve
months.
(3) If one evaluator raises serious objections and the thesis is rejected,
the case will be referred back to the relevant GSC.
(4) If two evaluators conclude that the thesis, despite having some
shortcomings,
is of sufficient merit, the scholar may be permitted to appear in the
viva-voce. The scholar may be permitted to re-submit the thesis
within six months, but without a fresh viva voce. The re-submitted
thesis must carry a certificate by the Supervisor to the effect that
the shortcomings identified have been rectified.

Parts of the Thesis

Introductory Pages
The introductory pages are the pages that appear before the actual
text of the thesis as a sort of preamble to the work. These pages do not
count towards the length of the thesis. These pages must subscribe to the
prescribed format.

Body of the Thesis

The main text of the thesis follows the introductory pages. The main
text/body of the thesis is the length of the thesis. It constitutes many
divisions such as:

Introduction
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This part of the thesis introduces the reader to the topic and gives
them the necessary background and concepts related to the issue being
researched. Definitions and terms that the researcher is going to use are
mentioned here as is the historical/social background of the issue. Your
statement of the problem goes here. Statement of the problem needs to
be precise and focused. The statement of the problem will later be
reflected in the questions of the study, discussion and the conclusion. So it
is paramount that all these are congruent.
A key component of the first chapter is the theoretical framework.
Here you will outline the theory you have chosen for the work discussing
in detail the various aspects of the theory. The theoretical framework
provides the perspective of the research. The questions and
analysis/discussion of the research topic must be in light of this theory.
The theoretical framework must come from the original source. You cannot
rely on commentaries on a theorist for your framework.
Literature Review
In this section you will analyse the existing material related to the
research. Remember the literature review is not a mere compilation of
works on similar themes. The literature review has to be a review whereby
you shape your study by using the existing researches and material. You
must comment on how the existing literature informs your study in terms
of the gap, points for analysis, research questions, method, data collection
etc.

Research Method
This chapter contains a detailed description of the methodology that
you adopted for the research. Not only must it talk about the research
method, resources, instruments etc. it must also give the rationale for
choosing the specific method etc.
You may talk about the data collection and data analysis here in a
length that suits your topic. Due to the nature of the researches in English
Studies this chapter may not be a long one but you should attempt to
detail the research method clearly.

Analysis/Discussion
Here you will discuss the issue in light of the theoretical framework.
Remember that the theoretical framework is your guide here. You
discussion must be within the purview of the theoretical framework you
chose and your discussion should also be such as would allow you to
answer the research questions in the ultimate chapter. While the
discussion is primarily your interpretation it may be supplemented and
supported by views of theorists and critics etc.
Certain researches may require detailed presentation of the data.
This may be done with the consent of the supervisor in a separate chapter
preceding the analysis.

Conclusion
The conclusion is not just a sum up of the preceding chapters.
Summarise your study and the discussion and go on to answer the
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questions you had posed for the study. Also mention the limitations of the
study. The nature of the topic may require recommendations to be made.
You must also mention future researches that your study points towards. It
is here that you detail the significance of the study.

Works Cited/References
Researchers in literature must use the heading Works Cited to list all
the sources they mentioned in the in-text citation. The works cited list
needs to follow the MLA Style as provided in MLA Handbook for
Researchers Seventh Edition. Researchers of Batch 3 will use the eighth
edition of the MLA manual.
Researchers in linguistics need to use the heading References and
make entries using the APA style as given in the sixth edition of the
manual.
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Binding
When the researchers submit their theses for their defence or viva
exam the theses must be spiral bound. But once the thesis has been
approved you will be required to submit five hard bound copies of your
work. The FUIs rule regarding the binding is being reproduced below.
The final five copies of the thesis must be hard bound (Maroon for M.Phil and
Navy Blue for Ph.D.). The complete title of the thesis should be printed in block, golden
letters on the top of the cover. In the middle of the cover full name of the candidate
should be printed. The spine should have the surname of the scholar, the year in which
the thesis was submitted and the name of the degree for which the thesis was
presented, i.e., MS, M.Phil or PhD.

Data Protection
It is your responsibility to protect their data whether it is in the form
of printed pages or computer files. Data loss due to some Windows crash,
removable disks getting corrupted, viruses or any other reason will not
qualify you for any reprieve. Take necessary precautions e.g. writing files
on CDs, storing files in a number of devices, storing files on the Internet
based drives, or in the email account to protect your data.

Meetings with Supervisor

As part of ensuring the quality of supervision and to monitor the

interaction of the researchers and their supervisors the FUI has a student-
led approach whereby it involves students in keeping track of their
meetings with the supervisors and reporting the key features back to the
Research Coordinator or Programme Manager, as desired.

You are advised to keep track of your meetings with the supervisors
in terms of the following points: date of the meeting, agenda of the
meeting, review of work since the last meeting and duration of the
meeting. This is only for the purpose of quality assurance and will have no
bearing on your evaluation. Also it will be kept confidential. You are also
advised to retain the drafts that they show to the supervisor for future
reference and as proof of the supervisors directions.

Relations with Supervisor

Your research will involve close interaction with your supervisor. The
interaction may lead to academic differences of opinion. Do not make it
personal and maintain focus on your research. It is your responsibility and
also academic courtesy to treat the supervisor with the highest degree of
respect. Establish open and frank communication right from the start and
build on it. Should there be any issue try to resolve it by directly
communicating with the supervisor in person.
Should things come to a point where you feel the supervisor is not
working with you the way you want them to or is not treating you with
respect you may approach the Research Coordinator/Programme Manager
regarding the issue. The issue will be dealt with confidentially and the
relevant person will try to resolve the issue. It must be emphasised that
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the onus of the work rests with you and you need to go the extra mile to
satisfy your supervisor.
In the cases where all avenues of a fruitful working relations have
been exhausted the supervisor may be changed subject to the rules
regarding the change of supervisor copied below.

CHANGE OF SUPERVISOR
22. The following procedure will be adopted for the change of supervisor at MS, M.Phil
and Ph.D. levels:-
a. The scholar should apply for change of supervisor to the respective HoD.
b. The names of the current and intended Supervisors with their consent (in
writing).
c. The HoD in consultation with the respective supervisor should recommend
the change and forward the same to GSC.
d. The recommendations of the GSC will be submitted to the Rector, FUI for final
approval.