Guidelines for writing thesis

2018

Bachelor’s Programme in Chemistry

Master’s Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

Contents

Writing a thesis in a nutshell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Completing a thesis in practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2.1 Research section 32.2 Literature review: selecting material and source criticism 42.3 Writing process 42.3.1 Language of the thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.3.2 Language and style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.3.3 Using sources: references, quotation and plagiarism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.3.4 Examples of the format of references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.4 Layout and structure 72.4.1 Page layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.4.2 Structure of the thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.4.3 Title page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.4.4 Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.4.5 Headings and the table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.4.6 Figures, tables and formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.4.7 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.4.8 Preparing a list of references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.4.9 Length of the thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3 Submitting the thesis for examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.1 Submitting the Bachelor’s thesis for examination 133.2 Submitting the Master’s thesis for examination 133.3 Maturity test 143.3.1 Bachelor of Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143.3.2 Master of Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.4 Presenting the results 143.5 Publicity of the thesis 14

4 Assessment criteria and grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

4.1 Assessment criteria 17

5 Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Appendix 1. Example of the title page 21Appendix 2. Abstract 22Appendix 3. Plan for the Master’s thesis supervision 23Appendix 4. Thesis grading form 25

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

1

Writing a thesis in a nutshell

Agreeing on the topic (chapter 2.1)You can inquire about possible research topics from the professors or researchers. As forresearch conducted outside the Department, you must agree on it in advance with yourprofessor and prepare a written research proposal. After the topic has been decided, youcan prepare a written Master’s thesis agreement that states the topic, supervisors and theschedule of the project.

Research (chapter 2.1)The research project (9 cr) in bachelor’s degree lasts for approximately six weeks. In thecase of the Master’s thesis, experimental research conducted in a laboratory or equivalenttheoretical/computational research takes several months (approx. 4 months of full-timework, when the Research project (15 cr) is also done). You must complete your projectin accordance with the supervisor’s instructions. From the beginning, record everythingcarefully in your laboratory diary. After you have completed the project, prepare a reportof your work on the basis of the diary entries. Compare your results with those reportedin the research literature. Consider what kind of new information your own research hasproduced.

Literature section (chapter 2.2)After you have located the key references through reference databases and other sources,find the original publications. Evaluate the suitability and reliability of the material aswell as the need for additional information or outlining. Divide the material by topic andprepare a draft of the table of contents. Discuss how the thesis should be structured andhow the topic should be outlined with your supervisor.

Writing (chapters 2.3 and 2.4)You should aim at concise and objective content and clear sentences. A clear and con-sistent structure, polished language as well as a neat and uniform layout make the thesismore interesting for the reader. Be sure to use your own words – do not copy or imitate!Remember to acquire permission for figures used in research literature, for instance.

Maturity test (chapter 3.3)When the thesis is ready or almost ready, you must take a maturity test.

Presentation of results (chapter 3.4)The Bachelor’s degree includes a separate seminar presentation. The results of Master’sthesis are presented as part of the thesis itself.

Submitting a Master’s thesis for examination (chapters 3 and 4)After your supervisor has approved the thesis, it will be stored in an electronic formatin the E-thesis service. Before the permission to submit the master’s thesis is given, itscontent is verified using a plagiarism recognition system.

Bachelor’s thesis is approved by a professor in the Department of Chemistry or anexaminer set by them.

Master’s thesis is evaluated by two examiners. One of the examiners must be a profeossirin the Department of Chemistry and the other one must have a PhD. The examiners willpresent their evaluation to the steering group of the master’s programme, which officiallyapproves the thesis and grade. Before the steering group meeting, there is a feedbackdiscussion that informs you of the assessment criteria.

1. Introduction

A thesis represents the traditional final stage of studies, providing the student with anopportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained during previous studies in the contextof an extensive research project. The thesis shows ability for scientific thinking, controlof scientific methods, familiarity with the subject of the thesis and ability for scientificcommunication.

The scope and status of theses in degrees as well as the requirements of the maturity testand the related demonstration of proficiency in the native language (Finnish or Swedish)are specified in the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004).

Each student working on his or her thesis is assigned a personally responsible supervisor.The research topic and the supervisory arrangements (supervisors/immediate supervisors)are agreed on with the professor of the specialist option in question. Since the researchproject is completed as part of a research group, there will be plenty of support andguidance available for practical issues. The research usually consists of experimentallaboratory work, but possible topics also include theoretical and computational chemistryas well as the study of education in teacher education in chemistry. More information onresearch at the Department of Chemistry and thesis topics can be obtained from professorsand other researchers as well as from the Department’s website (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-science/faculty/chemistry).

2. Completing a thesis in practice

2.1 Research section

Usually, chemistry students complete both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degree researchproject in one of the research programmes in the Department of Chemistry. The researchproject can also be completed outside the Department upon agreement. In such a case, adetailed research proposal and thesis plan between the employer and the degree programme.The research project can also be completed abroad as part of a student exchange programme,for instance.

The research project in the bachelor’s degree (9 cr) lasts approximately six weeks, includingthe report. The credits are registered, when the report has been approved (the grading scaleis passed-failed).

The duration of the research section of the Master’s thesis varies with the topic. Its scopeis 15 credits whereas that of the whole Master’s thesis is 30 credits. When the Researchproject is also included (15 credits), the research lasts for one whole term (15+15 credits).Additionally, writing of the thesis corresponds to workload of one period (15 credits).Practical research is completed as regular, full-time work. It is followed by the processingof the results, which also takes time. The Research project (15 credits) is graded aspassed/failed when the report for the whole research has been given in. It is possible toimprove the report when it is included as part of the thesis. Students in the AdvancedSpectroscopy in Chemistry –study track must always do a 10 cr research project which isincluded in their thesis and the project will be graded 0-5.

You must immediately record every stage of the process in the form of comprehensive andclear entries in a bound laboratory notebook so that it contains unambiguous descriptionsof all stages and observations. The laboratory notebook is an important document whichyou must update carefully. You must not revise or delete the entries afterwards, orremove pages from the diary. If you revise or correct earlier results, you must record therevisions and corrections as new entries. After you have completed the project, you mustsubmit the diary to your supervisor.

The research report includes an introduction to the topic, the aims (these should bepresented already in the beginning of the thesis) and methods of research, a descriptionof all project stages, a presentation of the results and a discussion of the results. Thediscussion must entail a comparison between your observations and the data given in

2.2 Literature review: selecting material and source criticism 4

research literature as well as your conclusions. The order in which you prepare thesesections varies with the topic. For instance, it may be a good idea to finish the discussionand the conclusion after you have completed the literature review. The description of theresearch methods must be so detailed that it can be used to repeat all the stages of theproject exactly in the same way. The report must also describe all problematic stages andissues that required special attention. Naturally, the same writing guidelines and referencerules apply to both the report and the other sections of the thesis (chapter 2.3.3).

The experimental section and the accompanying report are taken into consideration in thegrading of the Master’s thesis. The assessment of the thesis focuses on the mastery ofresearch methods, the application of theory to practice, the analysis of experimental data,the independence of the research, initiative and responsibility as well as the level of writingskills (composition, academic style and language). Chapter 4 has more information aboutthe grading.

2.2 Literature review: selecting material and source criticism

You can begin familiarising yourself with the research topic by reading review articles andusing reference books, if available. Your supervisor can provide you with information onuseful books, article references, search words and researchers’ names.

Your thesis is based on original scientific research articles so that textbooks and reviewarticles constitute basic background material only. You should keep a diary that containsyour information search plan, search terms, important researchers and other things thatcould be considered useful whilst conducting a literature search.

If you plan to use material published online, you must copy the material for yourself, andwrite down the date of access and other necessary reference information. This is becausewebsites may change or even disappear when they are updated. Keep in mind that you mustbe extremely critical when using documents published on private websites! Whilst articlesin scientific journals have been peer reviewed and revised, there is no such guarantee forthe reliability of individual webpages.

You must write your thesis in a way that a well-educated chemist is able to understandyou, which means that you do not have to explain general textbook information in detail.You should therefore focus on the essential and eliminate the unessential. By compilingmaterial in tables, you can make your thesis more compact and decrease the number ofpages. Remember to add reference numbers to all results in tables too!

2.3 Writing process

It is challenging to write scientific text that flows naturally, but you can improve your skillsthrough practice. For this reason, you should reserve time for writing on a daily basis. Inthis way, you are able to keep in touch with both the writing process and the text itself.You should begin from the section that you feel is the easiest to approach. In general, youare following the principles of process writing, which means that you edit the text everytime you are working on it.

2.3 Writing process 5

Practical tips:

Well begun is half done! However, do not get lost in an endless thinking process.It is a good idea to finish the draft version quickly, as it can be supplemented andimproved later. Your supervisor will not be able to comment on your writing untilthere is a manuscript.

Learn to use libraries and their databases well, for you will need this skill constantly.

It is better to ask for advice in time rather than to waste time by repeating the samemistakes.

2.3.1 Language of the thesis

Master’s thesis can be written in English, Finnish or Swedish. Students in the AdvancedSpectroscopy in Chemistry –study track write their thesis always in English.

2.3.2 Language and style

In order to engage the reader’s attention, it is of utmost importance that you polish thelanguage, style and layout of your thesis carefully. This means using good standard lan-guage and a formal style. You must follow the conventions and the general documentationstyle of your field. Your writing should be straightforward, clear and based on your ownwords. Divide long and complicated sentences. Avoid repetition, extraneous sentences andunusual expressions.

The nomenclature and the vocabulary of your thesis must be logical and follow the generalconventions of the field – chemistry theses usually follow the recommendations of theIUPAC. State units of measurement in accordance with the SI, or the International Systemof Units. Explain abbreviations and trade names when using them for the first time. Everyabbreviation should be explained when it is used for the first time. Abbreviations andsymbols should be given in a list which follows the table of contents. You should becareful when using abbreviations so as not to affect the readability of the text. You can findFinnish Chemical Societies’ English-Finnish glossary of terms used in chemistry at https://kemianseurat.fi/sanasto/. The department of chemistry has its own glossary of terms: http://www.helsinki.fi/kemia/fysikaalinen/opetus/FSEchem/FSEchem.html, (English-Finnish-Swedish). However, new terms come into use constantly and not all have an establishedFinnish translation. When new terms are used, you should usually also include the Englishterm. If needed, you should try to ask a specialist if the translation is correct.

2.3.3 Using sources: references, quotation and plagiarism

When presenting information in your thesis, you must refer to the original source of theinformation. Get access to the original publications in order to avoid referring to sourceswith which you have not familiarised yourself. Your text must always indicate which resultsand conclusions are derived from secondary sources and which are your own. Keep inmind that it is forbidden to present information obtained from articles, theses and books asyour own. If you are going to use already published figures or tables as such, you must ask

2.3 Writing process 6

proper permission for doing so and indicate that such permission has been granted by theholder of the right in conjunction with the figure or table in question. Using informationwithout proper documentation of sources will affect your grade negatively whilst directcopying (plagiarism) may lead to the rejection of the thesis. All Master’s theses written atthe University of Helsinki are verified using a plagiarism recognition system before theyare approved (for more information, see https://blogs.helsinki.fi/alakopsaa/?lang=en). Theconsequences of plagiarism are specified in Section 45 of the Regulations on Degrees andthe Protection of Students’ Rights at the University of Helsinki and in Rector’s decision172/2011. Guidance to the ethical principles of academic writing can be found on theDon’t Copy! website at https://blogs.helsinki.fi/alakopsaa/?lang=en.

The most important consideration when using sources is consistency and clarity. Referencesprovide detailed information on the used or cited source, which enables the reader to locatethe right article or book, if necessary. You should immediately save all the necessaryreferences as fully as possible using a reference management tool. For instance, at theUniversity of Helsinki, students can use the RefWorks tool, which is also available foruse outside the University network through a Web browser after the user has logged in.University libraries provide training in the use of this software. With RefWorks, you canprint a bibliography in the format either required by different journals or defined by theuser. Finally, remember to check formatting and validity of the references.

General principles of using references

Include all references given in the text in the bibliography. The bibliographycontains only those references that appear in the text.

You must always state clearly which results and conclusions are your own and whichones derive from research literature.

2.3.4 Examples of the format of references

When using numbered references, you number the references in the order in which theyappear in the text. State the number of the reference immediately after the referencedinformation in superscript. The same number always corresponds to the same article evenif you refer to it repeatedly. Usually, the reference is included in the first sentence inwhich the information appears. If there is a punctuation mark at the end of the reference(a comma, full stop or semicolon), place the number after it. In the bibliography (chapter2.4.8), which is placed at the end of the thesis, references are in numerical order and appearonly once even if the text contains several references to the same article.

Examples of the format of numbered references::

In the field of analytical chemistry, phospholipid bilayers have been utilised in, amongother things, the capillary electrophoresis of steroids.4

ALD (atomic layer deposition) is a chemical gas phase method that applies the startingmaterials to the substrate one after another.89-93

2.4 Layout and structure 7

Michalke and Schramel94 quantified selenium and platinum in their research, Magnussonand his working group95,96 selenium and arsenic compounds, and Tangen and his workinggroup99-101 the organic compounds of lead.

Asahi et al.116 have produced TiO2 alloyed with nitrogen as both powder and thinfilm.

If an article has two authors, give both names (Michalke and Schramel94 quantified. . . ).If there are more than two authors, indicate the name of the first author, followed by theLatin et al. (Asahi et al.116 have produced. . . ).

2.4 Layout and structure

It is important that the format of the thesis is consistent and clear. The language andthe layout of a thesis submitted for assessment must be polished. You can take a look atpreviously approved theses for guidance but evaluate them critically and think how youcould improve them.

2.4.1 Page layout

Theses are only published in electronic form as pdf-files.

• top and bottom margin: 2.5 cm• font: 12pt Times New Roman• line spacing: 1.5• the text is distributed evenly between the margins (justified)• page numbers are placed on either the bottom or top margin. Page numbering

starts from the first page of text and continues as running through the bibliography.Appendices are numbered separately and page numbering restarts on the first page ofeach appendix.

Divide the text into paragraphs in accordance with the content. Separate the paragraphsfrom each other with an empty line instead of indentation. Do not place a new mainheading in the last quarter of the page or break a paragraph when changing the page so asto leave only one or two lines on the previous or following page. Leave enough room forfigures and tables so that the text does not “suffocate” them. Place the heading and captionof a table or a figure on the same page with the table or figure in question.

2.4 Layout and structure 8

2.4.2 Structure of the thesis

The main sections of the thesis could be ordered as follows:

1. title page2. abstract3. table of contents4. list of abbreviations and symbols5. introduction (the goals of the research are presented here)6. literature review (with division into paragraphs and headings in accordance

with the content)7. experimental section (with an introduction, the presentation and discussion of

the results as well as the description of the experimental methods)8. conclusion9. bibliography

10. appendices

The structure of the thesis can be modified as needed, but the sections in bold should beincluded in every thesis. Bachelor’s thesis is commonly a literature review which does notinclude an experimental section. The report for the Research practical training is given inseparately.

2.4.3 Title page

A template for the title page is given in appendix 1. The following information must appearon the title page:

• the name of the thesis• the type of the thesis (a Bachelor’s thesis or a Master’s thesis)• the author• the degree programme as well as the name of the University• the month and the year when the thesis was submitted for assessment and grading

2.4.4 Abstract

Place the abstract page immediately after the title page without a page number. When yousubmit your Master’s thesis for assessment, the abstract page is separately submitted as anelectronic file to the presenting official. Write the abstract on a form available from (https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/fi/artikkeli/tutkielma-ja-kypsyysnayte-maisterin-tutkinnossa?degree_programme_code=MH50_007).

The purpose of the abstract is to describe the key content of your thesis and thus help thereader to decide whether the thesis is interesting enough to read. The abstract is also ameans of sharing information about research conducted at the University, which meansthat it must be prepared carefully. The supervisor checks the abstract before it is attachedto the thesis.

2.4 Layout and structure 9

The abstract must at least cover the topic, subject, aim and methodology of research aswell as the key results and the conclusions drawn from those results. When writing yourabstract, use complete sentences and no subheadings. It must not include references orquotations, nor should it contain information or claims not included in the thesis itself. Usethe same font as you did in the main text but set line spacing to 1.0.

The abstract must state that the depository of the thesis is the digital archive of theUniversity of Helsinki / E-thesis. In case of Bachelor’s theses the depository of the thesis isthe digital archive of the University of Helsinki (bachelor’s thesis will be stored in E-thesisstarting from 2018 or 2019).

2.4.5 Headings and the table of contents

Use clearly numbered main and subheadings in your chapters. Your headings should beginfrom the left margin, have their own line and be formatted in bold. The purpose of headingsis to make reading easier, which means that they must state the key content of the chapter.Avoid using too many levels and writing paragraphs that are too short. You can indicate thesubheadings’ order of importance through numbering and font. Do not use abbreviationsin headings. Prepare the table of contents in accordance with the headings and use thesame font as the text.

2.4.6 Figures, tables and formulas

Number figures and tables using Arabic numerals and refer to them in the text before theyappear. Also add an explanatory caption to them. Place the caption below figures buton top of tables. The font or line spacing of a caption text can be slightly smaller thanthat of the main text. The caption must explain the physical quantities or phenomena youare describing, the manner of obtaining the results as well as other key points about thesignificance of the presented information. You must also include the necessary references ifyou are referring to results published in research literature. You can add explanatory detailsas footnotes under the table. You can orient the table horizontally (landscape orientation)if it does not fit the page properly vertically (portrait orientation).

Always place tables whose size is less than a page on one page. If the table is so largethat you cannot fit it on one page, continue it on the next page and add the following noteto it: “Table [number of the table] continues.” Also remember to add the table headings(column headings) to a table continuing on the next page. The text in figures and tablesmust be in the same language as the main text. It is a good idea to use figures and summarytables because they allow you to illustrate the issues discussed in the main text and to showplenty of information in a compact form.

Number in-text equations and formulas in sequence, as in the following equation 1.

a2 +b2 = c2 (1)

Refer to the structural formulas of compounds using bold numbers and number them inthe text in the order of their appearance. Individual structural formulas are not referred asfigures. You can transfer the graphs, formulas and equations of your thesis directly fromdrawing or graphics software. For example you can use Origin and ChemDraw with an

2.4 Layout and structure 10

academic license. Figures must use the same the same settings throughout the whole thesis.This is simple by using different publisher settings in the program. E.g. in ChemDraw it ispossible to choose settings used by e.g. Royal Society of Chemistry –journals: Object→Apply Object Settings from [RSC (2 Column) Document].

2.4.7 Conclusion

Placed at the end of the thesis, the conclusion presents the key results and your viewon what their significance is and how research on the topic or its applications could bedeveloped further. Make sure that the reader always knows which results and conclusionsare your own and which derive from the research literature.

2.4.8 Preparing a list of references

Place the list of references after the conclusion. Each source of information may appear inthe list just once even if you refer to it several times in the text. Arrange the referencesin numerical order and prepare the reference information in strict accordance with theguidelines. You can also print them in the appropriate format using reference managementsoftware. A reference entry must include at least the following information so that theoriginal publication can be located:

• journal articles: authors (first name initials and surname); the name of the journalusing the abbreviations listed in the Chemical Abstracts Service database (http://cassi.cas.org/), the year of publication, the number of the volume, the number of theissue (if necessary) and the page number of the article (the first page or the first andthe last page) or the article number (DOI);

• books: author(s) or the authors of the chapter in question and the editors of the wholebook, title, edition, publisher, the place of publication, the year of publication, thenumber of pages;

• electronic sources: author(s), title, document type, publication information, the date ofaccess.

The referencing model for RSC-journals: A. Name, B. Name and C. Name, Journal, year,volume, page.

Examples of referencesThe following examples have been formatted in accordance with model used in the RoyalSociety of Chemistry journals (http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001664/how-to-reference-using-the-rsc-style). References must be complete and not include et al.,ibid., idem or similar abbreviations. However, the names of journals must be abbreviatedusing the Chemical Abstracts Service database.

1. T. E. Tomov, R. Tsukanov, M. Liber, R. Masoud, N. Plavner and E. Nir, J. Am. Chem.Soc., 2013, 135, 11935.

2. H. Itatani, H. Yoshimoto, T. Ibata, J. Toyoda, M. Sawada, M. Wada, T. Hamaguchiand S. Higashizaki, Chem. Ind. (London), 1971, 674.

3. T. J. Hebden, R. R. Schrock, M. K. Takase and P. Müller, Chem. Commun., 2012,DOI: 10.1039/C2CC17634C.

2.4 Layout and structure 11

4. M. Weis and F. H. Frimmel, Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem., 1989, 335, 927.5. C. Maccà, Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 1990, 336, 29.6. M. Modell, U.S. Pat., 4 543 190, 1985.7. K. Kesencl, A. Denizli and E. Piskin, Turk. J. Eng. Environ. Sci., 1997, 21, 343;

Chem. Abstr., 1998, 128, 168303.8. G. D. Christian, Analytical Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 5. ed., 1994, p.

556.9. Reference 8, p. 559.

10. T. Aaltonen, Atomic Layer Deposition of Noble Metal Thin Films, dissertation,University of Helsinki, 2005. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:952-10-2390-2

11. J. D. Olechno and J. A. Nolan, in Capillary Electrophoresis in Analytical Biotechnol-ogy, ed. P. G. Righetti, CRC Press, USA, 1996, ch. 3, p. 61.

12. Bioenergy on the website Genomic Science Program, U.S. Department of Energy,2014. http://genomicscience.energy.gov/biofuels/index.shtml, 22.1.2014.

Explanations for the above examples

1. Italicise the abbreviation of the journal’s name. Do not italicise the year even when itindicates the number of the volume. Here the number of the volume appears in bold.If the page numbering starts at the beginning in each number, you must also indicatethe issue of the journal.

2. If the abbreviation of the journal includes the place of publication, put it in brackets.State all authors of the article.

3. If the page number is not available, the DOI number should be given.4. Even if the name of the journal has changed, give the name in use at the time of the

publication of the article.5. Even if the name of the journal has changed, give the name in use at the time of the

publication of the article.6. A reference to a patent.7. If you have not been able to use the original article for some reason or if it has been

written in a language that the reader is probably unfamiliar with, you can refer tothe information using, for instance, a journal of abstracts. In such a case, you mustinclude the journal of abstracts (e.g. Chemical Abstracts) in the reference. Do notrefer directly to a source that you have not read yourself!

8. A reference to a book.9. Reference to different pages in a book mentioned earlier. You can also mention this

in the text, in which case there is no need for a different reference number. It is alsopossible to refer to a certain chapter in a book if you refer several times to it.

10. A reference to a doctoral dissertation. The referenced dissertation has also beenarchived digitally.

11. A reference to a work with multiple authors and compiled by editors in which differentchapters have different authors, for instance.

12. An article on a website. Note the importance of the date of accessing the material.

2.4.9 Length of the thesis

The number of pages is not considered while grading the thesis, but it is more important toconsider the length when compared with the scope and level of the thesis. A suitable lengthfor a bachelor’s thesis (6 cr) is about 20 page. The length of a master’s thesis depends moreon the available source material. For example, presenting experimental results can require

2.4 Layout and structure 12

different amount of space. The length of a master’s thesis in chemistry is approximately80 pages at most. However, a well made thesis of 40-50 pages can fulfill the requirementsof an excellent thesis. Without the 15 cr research project, the length will be shorter. Ifnecessary, results can also be presented as appendices at the end of the thesis.

3. Submitting the thesis for examination

3.1 Submitting the Bachelor’s thesis for examination

When your Bachelor’s thesis is ready and polished, you can submit it to your supervisor forexamination. The supervisor will check the text and give necessary correction suggestions(also check the Maturity test, chapter 3.3). Only after the supervisor has given permission,the thesis will uploaded to the E-thesis service (http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/en). You mustagree on the examination in advance and remember to give the examiner enough time (atleast one to two weeks).

3.2 Submitting the Master’s thesis for examination

When your Master’s thesis is ready and polished, you can submit it to your supervisor forexamination. The supervisor will check the text and give necessary correction suggestions(also check the Maturity test, chapter 3.3). Only after the supervisor has given permission,the thesis will be uploaded to the E-thesis service (http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/en). You mustagree on the examination in advance and remember to give the examiners enough time (atleast two to three weeks). Detailed guidelines for the examination stage of the Master’sthesis can be found on Instructions for students (https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/thesis-and-maturity-test-masters-degree?degree_programme_code=MH50_007).

Before the assessment, the thesis is verified using the University’s plagiarism recognitionsystem. The finished thesis is uploaded to the E-thesis service (http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/en)in PDF format. At this point, you will be asked for permission to publish the thesis onthe University’s external webpages; whilst the author possesses the copyright to his orher own text, the thesis itself may contain shared research results. For this reason, youshould discuss its publication with your supervisor and colleagues. The thesis author isalso responsible that all references are correct and that all necessary rights and permissionshave been acquired to use copyrighted material.

The examiners prepare a grading proposal for the steering group of the Master’s programmein Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, which is officially responsible for approving Mas-ter’s theses and confirms the grades. Before the steering group meeting, there is a feedbackdiscussion informing you of the grading and its grounds. You must sign a notification forthe steering group in which you state that you have received the examiners’ grade proposal.If you are dissatisfied with the grading of your thesis, you may appeal. You must submit the

3.3 Maturity test 14

appeal in writing no later than 14 days of receiving the notification of the approval decision,excluding the day of notification. Instructions on appealing can be found in Instructionsfor Students: https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/legal-protection-students.

3.3 Maturity test

Both the first and the second cycle of higher education involves taking a maturity test. It isa written test specified in the Government Decree on University Degrees that demonstratesyour familiarity with the topic of the thesis and your proficiency in Finnish or Swedish.The demonstration of language skills focuses on the native language and thus only appliesto Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking students. Students whose native language isother than Finnish or Swedish can take the maturity test in another language (in English).In such case, the maturity test does not constitute an official demonstration of languageskills.

3.3.1 Bachelor of Science

If your native language is Finnish or Swedish, you write your Bachelor’s thesis and thematurity test in your native language. In bachelor’s degree the thesis manuscript and theabstract are considered to be the maturity test.

3.3.2 Master of Science

If you have demonstrated the required proficiency in the native language in conjunctionwith the Bachelor’s thesis, the maturity test for the Master’s degree only demonstratesyour familiarity with the field of the thesis. The maturity test is completed as decided byyour professor: it can be either writing the abstract or an essay on a topic given by theprofessor.

3.4 Presenting the results

The bachelor’s degree includes a BSc presentation, where you present either the results fromyour Research practical training or the subject of your bachelor’s thesis. The presentationis part of your language studies

Results from your master’s thesis research are presented in a seminar and are part of thethesis.

3.5 Publicity of the thesis

Theses in higher education degrees become public after they have been approved, whichmeans that they must not contain classified material. Bachelor’s and master’s thesesare available as pdf-files in the University of Helsinki digital archive (Helda, E-Thesis).

3.5 Publicity of the thesis 15

The approved theses are also available at the Kumpula Campus Library computers, butthey can be freely published online. You should consult your supervisor and, if neces-sary, your colleagues involved in the research project before concluding the publicationagreement.

4. Assessment criteria and grading

Bachelor’s and master’s theses are assessed using a general numerical scale from 0 to 5.Research practical training in bachelor’s degree (9 cr) and Research project in master’sdegree (KEM412, 15 cr) are graded as pass/fail. However, the Research project in theAdvanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry –study track (KEM422, 10 cr) is graded as 0-5.

The grading principles below have been prepared for master’s theses, but the same princi-ples can also be applied to bachelor’s theses, as long as the different level requirementshave been considered. Assessment of approved Master’s theses uses the five-point generalscale:

5 (Excellent): The thesis is of an exceptionally high quality and demonstrates theauthor’s academic maturity, critical thinking skills and thoroughfamiliarity with the topic. The thesis covers all essential issues in alogical order and constitutes a coherent and consistent whole. Thethesis meets excellently the requirements set for Master’s theses inall the areas assessed.

4 (Very Good): The thesis is of a very high quality and demonstrates the author’smaturity, critical thinking and familiarity with the topic. The thesiscovers all essential issues in a logical order and constitutes a clearand consistent whole. The thesis meets very well the requirementsset for Master’s theses in almost all the areas assessed.

3 (Good): The thesis is of a high quality, covers all essential issues in a logicalorder and constitutes a consistent whole. The thesis meets well therequirements set for Master’s theses in most of the areas assessed.

2 (Satisfactory): The thesis constitutes an understandable and sufficiently logicalwhole. The thesis has some deficiencies, but meets the requirementsset for Master’s theses in several areas assessed.

1 (Passable): The thesis covers some essential issues in a somewhat logical or-der and is passable. The thesis has many deficiencies, but meetspassably the requirements set for Master’s theses in several areasassessed.

0 (Fail): The thesis is fragmented and illogical and does not constitute awhole. The requirements set for the various areas assessed are notacceptably met.

4.1 Assessment criteria 17

4.1 Assessment criteria

Three broad areas will be evaluated:

1. Assignment and content of the thesis,2. Structure of the thesis and quality of presentation and3. the Work processes.

In the evaluation of part 1) special emphasis is on

• How the topic of the thesis is presented and how the research goals are justified.• How the research question is formulated and focused.• Choice of reference material, its suitability and depth.• Presentation of results and how they address the goals of the research.• Quality of research methodology and results.• Evaluation of the validity and significance of the results.

In the evaluation of part 2) special emphasis is on

• The coherence and focus in the structure of the thesis• Scientific style of presentation, correctness of the language and overall readability of

the text.• Use of references.• Use of equations, tables and figures and their quality.

In the evaluation of part 3) special emphasis is on

• Independent and creative thinking during the thesis work.• Skills in practical research work and ability to conduct results and data systematically.• Ability to collaborate with the supervisor and (if relevant) with other members of the

research team• How well the planned schedule is implemented.

Each part is evaluated on a scale of 0-5 (more details on next pages). The criterion foracceptance is that within each category the minimum 1 is achieved. The final grade of thethesis will not necessarily be the average of the three points. Instructions on how to applythe assessment criteria are presented in table 1.

4.1A

ssessm

en

tc

riteria

18

Table 1: Instructions on how to apply the assessment criteria.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Assignmentand content

Essential elements are missing (e.g.introduction or conclusions). Thereference material is absent or ithas not been used in an appropriateway. Research topic is vague orseverely misunderstood.

Research topic is narrowly described andthe linking of the research goals with thewider background is insufficient. Thereferences used are limited and the overalldependence of the text on the references isnot obvious. The work shows limited orincorrect understanding of the thesis topic.

The topic of the thesis and theresearch goals are presentedrobustly. Research methods andmaterials are sufficient andcorrectly used. Presentation ofresults is acceptable. Conclusionsand outlook show that the studentis familiar with the research topic.

The topic of the thesis, researchgoals and questions and researchmethods are well presented.Research methods are valid. Thereference material is sufficient andwell chosen. Presentation of resultsis excellent. The validity andsignificance of the results isevaluated. Conclusions andoutlook show insight and coherentview on the topic of the thesis.

Structureand qualityofpresentation

Thesis lacks structure. The text hasnot been written according to thestandards of scientific writing.Citations to references are lacking.The overall style does not conformat all to standard of scientificwriting. The figures and equationsare irrelevant or poorly connectedto the text.

Significant structural deficiencies. The useof the standards of scientific writing andcitation technique are deficient. The thesisis too long or too short or therequirements on the overall style are notmet. The figures and tables in the thesisare of poor quality, lacking or do notsupport the text. The equations areunclear, unnecessary or wrong, or thesymbols are not explained. The thesislacks preciseness, it contains scientificmistakes or lots of grammatical errors.

The structure of the thesis is good.The thesis conforms largely to thestandards of scientific writing. Thelength is acceptable and therequirements on the overall styleare mostly met. The figures andtables in the thesis are informativeand support the written text. Theequations are mostly in balancewith the written text. The text ismostly clear and grammaticallyprecise.

The structure of the thesis isexcellent. The thesis conforms tothe standards of scientific writing.The length is suitable and theoverall style is excellent. Thefigures and tables in the thesis areprepared well, are informative andsupport the written text. Theequations are sufficient and wellbalanced with the written text, andall used symbols and acronyms areexplained. Language andappearance are exemplary.

Workprocess

Independence and capabilities tocollaborate with the supervisor aredifficult to assess or nonexistent.The thesis takes exceptionally longtime to finish.

Independence is largely missing and thethesis proceeds mainly by the decisionsand advices of the supervisor. The studentlacks understanding of the methodologyapplied in the thesis. The thesis fallssignificantly behind the planned schedule.

Some independent thinking duringthe thesis work. Skilled applicationof practical research methods.Student interacts with thesupervisor, but requires oftenexternal input for making minordecisions. Work proceeds mostlyaccording to the planned schedule.

Creativity and independence inpractical research work,application of the methods, andanalysis and inspection of theresults. Skilled collaborationand/or interaction with thesupervisor and other teammembers (if relevant) during thethesis work. Planned schedule ismet.

5. Literature

There are plenty of different Master’s thesis guides and other literature to support yourthesis project.

• Kielijelppi, Helsingin yliopiston kielikeskus,www.kielijelppi.fi.• Gradutakuu – Erilainen graduopas, http://www.gradutakuu.fi/.• P. Atjonen, Akateemisen tutkielman raportointiopas, University of Eastern Fin-

land, 2010, http://www.uef.fi/documents/11461/898474/akateemisen_tutkielman_raportointiopas.pdf.• J. Blackwell, J. A. Martin, Scientific approach to scientific writing, Springer, New

York, 2011.• M. Davis, K. Davis ja M. Dunagan, Scientific Papers and Presentations, Academic

Press, San Diego, CA, 2012.• A. H. Hofmann, Scientific writing and communication: papers, proposals, and pre-

sentations, Oxford University Press, New York, 2010.• J. T. Hakala, Uusi graduopas: melkein maisterin entistä ehompi niksikirja, Gaudeamus

Helsinki University Press, 2008.• A. Karisto ja U. Seppälä, MAUKAS GRADU. Valmistusvihjeitä tutkielman tekijöille,

Vastapaino, 2004.• M. Kinnunen ja O. Löytty, Iso Gee: gradua ei jätetä!, Vastapaino, 1999.• S. Kniivilä, S. Lindblom-Ylänne ja A. Mäntynen, Tiede ja teksti: tehoa ja taitoa

tutkielman kirjoittamiseen, 2. p., Sanoma Pro, 2012.• K. Iisa, H. Oittinen ja A. Piehl, Kielenhuollon käsikirja, 7. laajennettu ja päivitetty

painos, Suomen yrityskirjat, 2012.• T. Itkonen ja S. Maamies, Uusi kieliopas, 4. tarkistettu painos, Tammi, 2011.• Englantilais-suomalai(s-englantilai)nen kemian perussanasto, Suomalaisten Kemistien

Seura, 2014, https://kemianseurat.fi/sanasto/.• Pieni kemian sanasto (englanti–suomi–ruotsi), Kemian osasto, Helsingin yliopisto,

2015, http://www.helsinki.fi/kemia/fysikaalinen/opetus/FSEchem/FSEchem.html.

Appendices

Appendix 1. Example of the title pageAppendix 2. AbstractAppendix 3. Form for the plan for Master’s thesis supervisionAppendix 4. Form for thesis grading

Chemical reactions

Master’s thesisCharlie Chemist

Master’s Programme in Chemistryand Molecular SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiOctober 2018

Tiedekunta – Fakultet – Faculty Koulutusohjelma – Utbildningsprogram – Degree programme

Faculty of Science Master’s Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

Tekijä – Författare – Author

Charlie Chemist

Työn laji – Arbetets art – Level Aika – Datum – Month and year Sivumäärä – Sidoantal – Number of pages

Master’s thesis October 2018 69

Tiivistelmä – Referat – Abstract

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Donec odio elit, dictumin, hendrerit sit amet, egestas sed, leo. Praesent feugiat sapien aliquet odio. Integer vitae justo. Aliquam vestibulumfringilla lorem. Sed neque lectus, consectetuer at, consectetuer sed, eleifend ac, lectus. Nulla facilisi. Pellentesqueeget lectus. Proin eu metus. Sed porttitor. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Suspendisse eu lectus. Ut mi mi, lacinia sitamet, placerat et, mollis vitae, dui. Sed ante tellus, tristique ut, iaculis eu, malesuada ac, dui. Mauris nibh leo, facilisisnon, adipiscing quis, ultrices a, dui.

Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Donec odio elit, dictumin, hendrerit sit amet, egestas sed, leo. Praesent feugiat sapien aliquet odio. Integer vitae justo. Aliquam vestibulumfringilla lorem. Sed neque lectus, consectetuer at, consectetuer sed, eleifend ac, lectus. Nulla facilisi. Pellentesqueeget lectus. Proin eu metus. Sed porttitor. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Suspendisse eu lectus. Ut mi mi, lacinia sitamet, placerat et, mollis vitae, dui. Sed ante tellus, tristique ut, iaculis eu, malesuada ac, dui. Mauris nibh leo, facilisisnon, adipiscing quis, ultrices a, dui.

Avainsanat – Nyckelord – Keywords

chemistry, reaction

Säilytyspaikka – Förvaringställe – Where deposited

Helda / E-Thesis

Muita tietoja – Övriga uppgifter – Additional information

PLAN FOR THE MASTER’S THESIS SUPERVISION

Master’s Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

Please fill in using a computer or in clear print. A research plan should also be included.

AUTHOR OF THE THESIS

Name

Student number

E-mail address

Phone number

Address

THESIS

Working title of the thesis

Starting date

Estimated date of completion

Place where the thesis research is done (project, employer etc.) and contact information

SUPERVISION

Main supervisor (name, degree and/or job title, organization, contact information)

2nd supervisor (name, degree and/or job title, organization, contact information)

AIMS OF WORK AND TIME MANAGEMENT

Estimated time used to work on the thesis (e.g. h/week)

Time table including a tentative meeting schedule with the supervisor (in different stages of the thesis)

Deadlines for different stages of the thesis

Agreement on amount of meetings, means of communication and time available for discussions

Other things (e.g. student’s expectations for the supervisor / supervisor’s expectations for the student, use and

publication of the research data)

Signatures

Date and signature of the thesis author

Date and signature of the professor who has accepted the plan

The main supervisor shall keep the original plan.

Additionally, a copy of this plan should be given to the student, other supervisors and director of the programme.

Master’s thesis gradingMaster’s Programme in Chemistry and Molecular

Sciences

Author

Title

Examiner 1 Degree and affiliationshould be given when necessary

Examiner 2

Date of accepted Maturity test Language of Maturity test

Date of Urkund review Thesis includes the 15 cr Research project(KEM412)

Suggested grade Thesis includes the 10 cr Research project(KEM422, ASC-study track)

Area ofgrading

1. Assignment andcontent of the thesis

2. Structure of the thesis andquality of presentation 3. The work processes

Grade 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Passable Good Excellent Passable Good Excellent Passable Good Excellent

Most significant merits and shortcomings of the thesis:

If the highest thesis grade (5) is proposed, a separate statement is required. The statement should justify why thethesis should be considered as excellent (the best 15% of theses).

Signatures of the examiners:

I hereby certify that I have been notifed of the basis of my master’s thesis grade. If I would like to appeal the gradingof the thesis according to section 56 of the Regulations on Degrees and the Protection of Students’ Rights at theUniversity of Helsinki, it must be done in writing within 14 days of receiving the notification of the approval, excludingthe day of notification. Instructions on appealing can be found in Instructions for Students:https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/legal-protection-students.

Date Signature of the author

Index

Abstract, 8, 22Assessment criteria, 17

Conclusion, 10

Equations, 9Examination of thesis, BSc, 13Examination of thesis, MSc, 13

Figures, 9

Grading, 16

Headings, 9

Language and style, 5Language of the thesis, 5Layout, 7Length of the thesis, 11Literature review, 4

Material selection, 4Maturity test, 14Maturity test, BSc, 14Maturity test, MSc, 14

Page layout, 7Plagiarism, 5Plan for the Master’s thesis supervision,

23Presenting the results, 14

References, 5, 6, 10Research section, 3

Structure, 7, 8

Table of contents, 9Tables, 9Thesis grading form, 25Thesis, publicity, 14Title page, 8, 21

Using sources, 5

Writing a thesis in a nutshell, 1Writing process, 4

Copyright c© 2018 Tom Lagerwall

PublishersBACHELOR’S PROGRAMME IN CHEMISTRY ANDMASTER’S PROGRAMME IN CHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR SCIENCES

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