Thesis Writing Guide

The Writing Center

American University of Beirut

Table of Contents

The Purpose of this Handbook

Table of Requirements
A Run through the Process
The Preparation Stage
Be Realistic!
The Writing Process
Choosing a Topic
Keeping a Research Log
Conducting a Preliminary Study
Scheduling
Choosing a Committee and Advisor
Checklist
The Writing Stage
Writing the Proposal
Literature Review
Introduction
Methodology
Writing the Thesis
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Revising
Writing an Abstract
The Formatting Stage
Style
Organization
Citation
Rules and Formatting at AUB
Copyrighting your Thesis
Checklist
Submitting and Defending
Committee
Defense
Tips and Advice
Other References
Appendices
Example Outlines for Five Types of Proposals
Sample Pages

Purpose
Writing a thesis can be a difficult but exciting task. Yet the creativity of
the project, thoroughness of the research and insight of the analysis are only
part of the work. Many graduate students arent sure where to begin, what
to put into a thesis, and how to organize it. This booklet is a comprehensive
guide to writing a thesis at the American University of Beirut. Although it is
specifically catered to theses, this manual can also serve as a guide for
those doing PhD dissertations and various projects. You will find helpful
advice and direction regarding several aspects. Are you having problems
thinking of a topic? Check out The Preparation Stage section. Have you
gotten started, but are having problems actually writing and organizing your
thesis? Take a look at The Writing Stage segment. If youve done the
writing but arent sure what it should look like, you may want to consult
The Formatting Stage. Along with steps to writing your thesis, this
handbook introduces and explains the defense of the thesis in the
Submitting and Defending part. Guidance from your advisors is essential
and he/she should always have the last word, but youll find the answers to
your basic questions and uncertainties here.
This guide was written for the AUB Writing Center, and is intended as a
supplement, not a substitute for AUBs official Thesis Manualthe
university guidelines for submitting a thesis, posted on the Jafet Library
website at
http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/researchassistance/thesismanual/thesis
manual.htm

Table of Requirements
(in the order they appear in the thesis)
Preliminary Blank page
Pages
Title page
Thesis approval page
Thesis release form
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Preface
Table of contents
List of figures/ illustrations
List of tables
List of abbreviations
Glossary
Dedication
Body of
Introduction
Text
Literature review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
End Pages Appendix
Footnotes and Endnotes
Bibliography/References/Works Cited
Index

Required
Required
Required
Required
If any
Required
Optional
Required
If any
If any
If any
If any
If any
Required;
Organized
according to
conventions
of specific
disciplines
If any
If any
Required
If any

A Run through the Process

Writing a thesis can be complicated, but it doesnt have to be. Often,
graduate students are not familiar with the process that goes into writing
and submitting a thesis. Here is a basic overview of whats to come:
1. Preparing for the thesis may take as much effort as the thesis itself.
It is important that you have a topic which is both interesting to you (you
will be spending a lot of time on it!) and realistic; you should have an idea of
what you are getting yourself into before you start. Preparation also involves
picking an advisor and a committee in front of whom you will defend your
thesis.
2. Writing a thesis proposal is the first formal writing step in the
process. The proposal can sometimes be the first three chapters of the
thesis (the introduction, literature review and methodology), or at the very
least, their beginnings. When a proposal has been written, a proposal
2

meeting, or defense, takes place between you and the committee members
in order to verify that your research plan is acceptable.
3. After the research or experiment has been thoroughly done, the
remaining sections of the thesis need to be composed. These are usually
divided into the results, discussion and conclusions chapters.
4. Once youve written the thesis, you will need to write an abstract to
add to the beginning.
5. With the important thoughts on paper, you should consider the
formatting aspect of writing: style, general organization and other technical
details of the thesis. There are also certain university requirements of paper,
size, and other logistical features that need to be addressed.
6. After the thesis is complete, you will need to submit the thesis to
your advisor and committee members in advance, to give them a chance to
read it before your defense. The actual thesis defense is a presentation of
your work, followed by questioning by the committee.
At the end of this guide, you will find a list of other references that
may be helpful in thesis-writing. Templates of standard required pages can
be found in the appendices.
Some general sources that might help you in your thesis writing:
http://www.asgs.org/ (The Association for Support of Graduate
Students)
http://www.sss.uq.edu.au/linkto/phdwriting/ (First Thoughts to
Finished Writing University of Queensland, Australia)
http://learnerassociates.net/dissthes/ (Writing and Presenting your
Thesis and Dissertation, by S. Joseph Levin)
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/dissertation.html
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/learning/online/dissertation.html
(University of Kent)
http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2001/02/28/10
("Thesis Writing, Guru-Style," by Andrea Lord)
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker,
available in AUBs Jafet Library
The Preparation Stage
Before you actually start writing your thesis, you need to think about a
lot of things and prepare yourself. Writing a thesis is different from many of
the previous things you may have done because it is almost entirely defined
by you, and gives you the freedom to do what you want. It is important for
you to have a lot of academic, as well as emotional support at this time,
whether from your advisor, your fellow masters or PhD students, or others.

Be Realistic!
First of all, it is essential to be realistic about a number of aspects of
the thesis. While you should choose a topic that will sustain your interest, it
is also important to acknowledge that it is unlikely that your research will be
a world-altering discovery. The thesis is an academic requirement, and much
of its purpose lies in its process and what you learn from it. Secondly, it is
important to realize how much time you are willing to spend on this project
and to act accordingly. If your aim is to have a study that lasts for years and
you have the means and will to do it, then go ahead. However, think twice
before jumping into a study that you will be unable to complete. Its also
important to have a topic which is narrow enough to be feasible.
The Writing Process
Needless to say, your thesis will involve a lot of writing. If you are
unsure of your skills as a writer, perhaps you should brush up on your
knowledge of the writing process. Writing is more than copying down words.
There are certain steps that must be followed to ensure a good piece of
writing. An important thing to remember is that writing is a process; you
should be writing throughout, not just when the time comes to turn in a
finished product. Its helpful to keep a notebook of ideas and rough drafts at
hand and continuously write down your thoughts.
The Writing Center at AUB is a good place to go if you need any kind
of help in writing, from brainstorming, to organizing, to help with grammar
and mechanics. Some websites that will help you in the writing process are:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/(The Owl at Purdue University)
http://www.idrc.ca/IMAGES/books/WFC_English/WFC_English/ (Writing for
Change by Alan Barker, Firoze Manil, and Judith Charlton)
http://webware.princeton.edu/sites/writing/writing_center/wcwritingresourc
es.htm (Writing Center at Princeton University)
Choosing a Topic
The first step in any writing process is choosing a topic to write on. If
you are not sure about how to start, which is likely to be the case, you
should try brainstorming. Its a good idea to read relevant articles and books
that cover the general area of your study. Articles are available through AUB
libraries at http://olib.aub.edu.lb/cgi-bin/jl_w207.sh. Then think of all
possible ideas, and dont leave anything out; you never know how one idea
might lead to another. Dont let other people interfere with you or your ideas
in a negative way. After all, this research is yours, so you should be making
all the decisions. Be as creative as you can be, and most importantly, write
all your thoughts down. What may seem like a doubtful idea one moment
may eventually become more and more promising. Writing down ideas helps

you to remember them and makes them more concrete, something you can
add to and build on.
The following websites may also help:
http://chris.golde.org/filecabinet/disspropose.html ("Some Thoughts on
Dissertation Proposal Writing," by Chris M., Golde)
http://chronicle.com/jobs/99/11/99111902c.htm ("Choosing a Research
Topic," by Richard M. Reis)
Keeping a Research Log
After you have some idea of what you want to do, another helpful
suggestion might be to keep a record of relevant or potentially-relevant
literature. This way it will be easier for you to actually get to writing. You can
write down names of books and citations, photocopy articles, and organize
them according to categories; whatever helps you keep track of possible
future references. You can also create your own database of electronic
resources (RefWorks) at AUB.
For help with research at AUB, you can visit
http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/researchassistance/tclinics/tclinics.htm.
You may also want to schedule one-on-one appointments with library
specialists to help you locate information on your topic in all the librarys
resources, including print and electronic resources. They can also teach you
to keep track of sources using the citation software RefWorks. To fill out the
appointment request form visit:
http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/forms/instrform.html
Conducting a Preliminary Study
Its good to have a preliminary study that precedes your official
research. This will give you an idea of what your thesis might be, how much
time you will need, or if you like the idea at all. Use it as an experiment and
test out some ideas you have.
Scheduling
Having a schedule is a key aspect of writing a thesis. Creating a rough
timeline or checklist will help you focus on deadlines, those of the university
or those youve set for yourself. It is also helpful to put this timeline in a
place where you will always see it, in order to be constantly reminded of
your work. Your timeline should be divided into five rough sections:
preparing for the thesis, writing a proposal, conducting research, writing the
thesis, and revising the thesis. Give yourself enough time for each part and
stay on schedule.
The following websites may help:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/dissertation.html (University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill),
http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/learning/online/index.html (University of Kent)

Choosing a Committee and Advisor

Choosing a committee and advisor is another main step in the process.
Whether you pick an advisor first and then choose a topic with their help, or
pick a topic and then choose a suitable advisor, is up to you. Regardless, a
good advisor can be a very useful asset in helping to direct you through your
thesis-writing as well as to guide and support your ideas. A good advisor will
have time to listen and respond thoughtfully. An advisory committee also
needs to be chosen well; its best to pick people who are encouraging of
your ideas and will help you rather than harm you during your writing and
defense.
Checklist
Ask yourself:
1. Am I familiar with research done by other people in my field of
research?
2. Do I have a clear understanding of the steps I will take to conduct my
study?
3. Do I have the ability to get through the steps and complete my study?
4. Am I motivated to get through my entire research study?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you are probably ready to
move on to the next stage. (http://learnerassociates.net/dissthes/)
The Writing Stage
Writing the Proposal
Purpose
The purpose of a proposal is to explain to the committee at your
proposal meeting, the type, scope, and nature of your research. The
proposal should be the foundation of the thesis.
Writing a proposal is the first formal writing step. It is important not to
rush into this before clearly defining your ideas and going through the
preparation stage properly. To make sure you are ready to start with a
proposal, you should check to see if you can answer yes to the above
questions.
Title
Your proposal should include a working title, that is, one that may be
changed later. A good title mentions the most important key terms in the
beginning and doesnt use ambiguous or unclear words.
Writing

A proposal is written in future-tense and usually consists of the first

three chapters of the thesis: the introduction, literature review and
methodology. Although it is helpful to write the full chapters at this point and
not pile up the work, many people do not actually write the full three
chapters. A solid foundation for the chapters is good enough.
Sample Theses
A good way to start writing a proposal is to read an example of one to get an
idea of what it should look like. Your advisor should have some old proposals
for you to examine or you could find them on your own at the AUB libraries
using the following link:
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/researchassistance/how/find_thesis.pdf.
You can also access Digital Dissertation at
http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/gateway. This is an online database of
theses done in the US and Europe which offers you a 24 page preview of the
thesis for free. It will give you a chance to see what topics people outside of
Lebanon are writing about, and the formats they use for their theses.
Literature Review
Next, you should begin writing your thesis. You could start with any
part of the proposal that you feel comfortable with at first. However it is
sensible to write a literature review first because it will allow you to go
through all the previous research and allow you to take it all in. This is
where your research log of relevant literature (mentioned above) might
come in handy. The literature review should be a comprehensive look at all
the research thats been done in the field of your study. You should not
simply summarize books and articles in your literature review. Rather,
organize it by topic. Within that, mention key issues, peoples theories and
research, etc.
These websites help specifically in writing a literature review:
http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html ("The Literature Review: A Few
Tips on Conducting it. University of Toronto),
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html (the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Introduction
After that, you may want to write your introduction. The introduction
describes your thesis briefly. In it, you need to include the background
information, the problem your study addresses, as well as a rationale for
why your research is needed and what you plan to do. You also need to
state the research questions that will guide your research. They will link
between your research and previous research. Its good to start with broad
relational questions here.

Methodology
Then you can move on to the methodology section of your proposal.
Methodology should be chosen carefully; consider all your options before
choosing. Sometimes you will even be able to use combined methodology or
develop your own instruments. Also, make sure you budget for your
methodology.
Here you can describe how your research will be done and the process
you go through. This includes the type of research methods as well as a
step-by-step description of the research. You can also talk about the
different materials and apparatuses you will use in the study, including
anything from surveys in the social sciences, to raw materials, chemicals
and equipment in the hard sciences. You will also need to talk about
participants if there are any; how you choose them, on what basis, who they
are, background information, etc. are all relevant here. Discussing how you
plan to analyze your data is also important. You may also mention when and
where your research will be conducted.
Each department may have different guidelines for this section of the
thesis so it is important to check with your advisor. In Appendix 1 you will
find five sample proposals for different types of studies.
Proposal Meeting
Once you have finished writing a thesis proposal, you will need to
submit one to the deans office, as well as to members of your committee for
your proposal meeting. Plan your meeting well; by the end, the committee
should fully understand that you are ready to take on the task of moving
forward with well-planned research.
Writing the Thesis
After you have finished the proposal and collected data, you should
begin writing the thesis. Its reasonable to start writing whatever part of the
thesis you feel most comfortable with. You can then move sections around
and sequence them as you see fit. At this point you will need to change the
tense of your methodology section to past tense, to reflect what you have
already done. You may need to edit or add to your original proposal and
make it into the thesis. The organizational format provided here is a
suggestion, but is not necessarily required for all departments. Remember,
your thesis advisor is the go-to person for everything regarding your thesis!
The Results Section
In this section, you will need to state the results of your research
without discussing them. There may be graphs, tables, figures, etc., all of
which you need to describe. This section may be optional and varies
depending on the discipline and department.

Tables and Graphs

Make sure you introduce and describe all graphs and figures in your
text (you will also need to discuss them in the discussion section). Use
similar wording to describe similar graphs for the sake of clarity. Also, at
early stages in the writing, keep the graphs simple and even hand-written.
Creating graphs on the computer will only take time, and may not be used
or may be modified, in the end product; dont waste your time. A section in
the preliminary pages should be dedicated to a list of figures and graphs in
your thesis.
The Discussion Section
In the discussion section, you will need to talk about the previously
mentioned results. You should address your research questions and explain
how your research relates to previous research.
Conclusions
In the conclusions section, make sure that you are adding something
new and not restating the discussion chapter. Help the reader understand
what your research means or implies. Write about how the key ideas in your
thesis can be applied to other fields of study. Sometimes this section is done
best after taking a break from the rest of the thesis.
Before you finish, go back to the beginning of your thesis, to the
introduction, and make sure that everything you said you would cover is
covered throughout. Also, make sure that the concepts in the conclusion are
presented in the introduction. Basically make sure your thesis is coherent.
Revising
Revising is often not given the importance it deserves. Make sure you
revise your thesis adequately before submitting it. Revision can be done on
organization, ideas, grammar, usage, etc. You can get help from a
professional editor or simply have peers read over your work. The Writing
Center is a good place to go to have someone read with you and revise what
youve written; a fresh perspective is usually helpful in giving new ideas and
refining old ones.
Writing an Abstract
An abstract is a very brief summary of the main points of your
research that will be placed at the beginning of your thesis. It is important to
identify the research questions that you deal with in your thesis. Make sure
it contains the statement of the problem, describes methods and procedures,
and briefly goes into results and conclusions. The purpose of an abstract is
to give other researchers an idea of what your thesis is about. Giving the

right information in an abstract is important because it will inform your

readers about your thesis quickly, allowing them to decide whether or not it
is relevant for their own research. An abstract is usually maximum one page
long, and often even less. Check with your department for details.

The Formatting Stage

Style
There is no specific length that a thesis needs to be but each
department may have specifications. There is no minimum length as
specified by AUB; the advisor will help you decide about the number of
pages. All theses need to be written in English, except theses in the Arabic
department. Arabic thesis writing styles are the same as the ones for
English. The parts of the thesis that refer to research that has already been
done should probably be written in past tense. Make sure to use clear and
unambiguous words in your writing. Keep using the same terms throughout
to refer to the same thing; it will help keep your writing clear. For questions
regarding style, contact the Archives and Special Collections Department by
e-mail asc@aub.edu.lb, or by telephone (961) 1-350 000 ext.2609/10.
Organization
The thesis should be divided into: preliminary pages, text, and end
pages. Each of these parts may be divided into sections. A clear table of
contents should explain the organization of the thesis.
Citation
Citation is the documenting of other sources used in your research.
Different departments will require different citation styles. Some may require
APA, others MLA, still others the Chicago or other styles. Refer to your
department for information on citation style. If no style is specified, you
should use the Turabian style. References on how to use these styles can be
found in the AUB libraries.
AUB Requirements
There are certain requirements that need to be met for your thesis to
be accepted by AUB. These include submission deadlines, number of copies,
size, paper, typeface, style and form, organization, and much more. Please
visit the following website for more information on thesis submitting
requirements:
http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/researchassistance/thesismanual/thesis
manual.htm

10

Dont wait till the last deadline to make sure your thesis is formatted
correctly. Visit the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) Department in
Jafet Library, from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am. to 5:00 pm or contact them
by e-mail asc@aub.edu.lb, or by telephone (961) 1-350 000 ext.2609/10 for
questions and comments. This is also the place to go for thesis submission.
Visit the following site for quick guidelines on formatting your thesis:
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/researchassistance/how/how.htm#11
Copyrighting Your Thesis
AUB gives students to copyright their theses two years. In the required
release form at the beginning of the thesis, students can choose between
1. Authorize the American University of Beirut to supply copies of my
thesis/dissertation/project to libraries or individuals upon request.
Or
2. Do not authorize the American University of Beirut to supply copies of my
thesis/dissertation/project to libraries or individuals for a period of two years
starting with the date of the thesis/dissertation/project defense.

The Thesis Defense

Preparing for the Defense
Although the name thesis defense sounds like something frightening
and violent, it is actually just a meeting where you will explain your thesis
and answer questions; you do not actually need to defend yourself.
Try to attend a thesis defense to see exactly what it is like. If that is
not an option in your department, ask others that have gone through it to
describe the experience and give their advice.
Discuss research with others who may bring insight into your paper.
The questions they ask could help you see where you have a problem.
Its best to only allow your advisor to read your thesis as you are write
it; stick to the suggestions he/she makes. Its better not to give copies of
your thesis to your committee before you have finished writing. You may
think this will help, but if two members of the committee disagree on
something, you may have a problem pleasing everybody.
Make sure to meet with your advisor and talk about how to go about
the defense.
During the defense
Its helpful to remember that the thesis defense is meant to be critical
of your work. A good rule of thumb is to answer only questions, and not
comments. Answering everything said in the defense will only make you
frustrated and wont be helpful. Instead, calmly say thank you, write a

11

note for yourself to check over later, and proceed with the defense. Although
its hard to detach yourself from something youve put so much work into,
this will save you time, energy and emotions. You may also want to tape
record your defense so that you can actually listen to the comments and
leave the note-taking for later.

Tips and Advice

(Taken from Joan Bolkers Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day.)

Getting started
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. Here a few tips to help you
get an idea of what you want to do
When thinking of a thesis topic, think of what has interested you in the
past, what appeals to you and what you would like to explore further.
Figure out what kind of research others have found most interesting and
enjoyable, both to study and to read.
Ask for help from you advisor and peers and be aware of what sources
are available in your field at the library. Especially your advisor can give you
helpful feedback on ideas that are too extravagant and unrealistic, as well as
ones that may be feasible and realistic.
Sometimes you may want to pursue a topic that is highly popular at the
moment. Likewise, you may want to pursue an area of research that is
relatively new, and therefore possibly contribute something new and exciting
to the field.
Getting stuck
So youre writing your thesis and doing finethen suddenly you get writers
block! The following might help
Take a break, but make sure youre not doing yourself more harm than
good; be aware of deadlines.
Try freewriting. Write as much as you can, about anything at all and in
whatever style you want for a few minutes, hours, days at a time. Try poetry
if you feel inspired, or write about why you think youre stuck. This may help
you get past your writers block.
Cut yourself off from something you really like until you finish a part of
the thesis. The reward will motivate you to keep working.
Make sure the goals you are setting for yourself are realistic, and you are
not killing your own motivation by trying to write too much too fast.
Reread what youve written already and see if any interesting points jump
out at you. Try to comment on them and see if it takes you anywhere.
Look further into some of the smaller concepts youve talked about. Try
to dig deeper and see if it will take you forward.

12

Preventing getting stuck can be even more important. Try putting

yourself in the mindset that if you dont write, you will feel bad. When you
finish writing for the day, make sure that it is something that is easy to pick
up again the next time you write. This will keep you motivated to write.
Write before you do anything else; give it priority. Take things one day at a
time and dont get upset if you feel like you havent written enough; it will
only heighten your anxiety. Finally, keep in mind the rewards of your
writing.
Interruptions
Interruptions can be anything from a failing hard drive on a computer,
to lack of motivation, to getting sick. The following are things you can do in
the case of an event beyond your control:
Plan out what you can and cannot do about the situation.
Ask yourself if this will delay your thesis or cause you never to finish it.
Dont panic.
Get all the help you can.
*Always keep hard copy versions of your thesis!*
This guide was composed for the Writing Center by Olga Habre. Fall 2007.
Other References
Bolker, Joan. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. New
York: Henry Holt and Company, 1998. (Available in Jafet Library)
Gibaldi, Joseph. The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly
Publishing. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1998.
Crews, Kenneth D. Copyright Law and the Doctoral Dissertation:
Guidelines to Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities. Ann Arbor: University
Microfilms, Inc., 1992.
Day, Robert A. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper. 5th ed.
Boulder, Colorado: NetLibrary, Inc., 2000. Electronic access:
http://encompass.library.cornell.edu/cgibin/scripts/ebooks.cgi?bookid=7615.
Murray, Rowena. How to write a thesis. Philadelphia: Open University
Press, 2002. (Available in Reference section of Jafet Library)
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 4th ed.
Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association, 1994.

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Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999.
The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 2003.
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Graduate studies in the FAFS:
http://wwwlb.aub.edu.lb/~webfafs/pdf/graduate_manual.pdf
Graduate studies in the FEA:
http://webfealb.fea.aub.edu.lb/ece/pages/public/Internal.aspx?tab=Static&Page=academi
cs_graduate__manual

14

Appendix 1
Example Outlines for Five Types of Proposals
The following five proposal outlines are modified from those listed by the
Southern Connecticut State University School of Graduate Studies in their
Revised Thesis Proposal Requirements and Guidelines dated May 1999.
AN OUTLINE OF AN INVESTIGATIVE OR EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
A.
B.
C.

D.

E.

Title of proposed thesis

Abstract optional
Introduction
1. Statement of purpose(s)
2. Literature review - Relationship of study to related research and
analysis of pertinent research
3. Statement of need or relevance of the study
Methodology
1. Experimental design (include methods and materials)
2. Subjects to be used, if appropriate
3. Measures used (surveys, interviews, psychological instruments,
protocols, etcetera)
4. Plan for the analysis of data
List of References

AN OUTLINE OF A DESCRIPTIVE OR HISTORICAL STUDY

A.
B.
C.

D.

D.

Title of proposed thesis

Abstract optional
Introduction
1. Statement of purpose(s)
2. Literature review - Relationship of study to related research and
analysis of pertinent research
3. Statement of need or relevance of the study
Methodology
1. Research plan
2. Proposed chapter development with discussion of major
subheadings
List of References

AN OUTLINE OF AN INTERPRETIVE, ANALYTICAL OR

CRITICAL STUDY
A.
B.
C.

D.
E.

Title of proposed thesis

Abstract optional
Introduction
1. Summary of the argument and its significance as a contribution to
knowledge
2. Review of the criticism and scholarly literature on the subject
Methodology
Description of the analytical, critical, or interpretative methods and the
theoretical approaches that will be used
List of References

15

AN OUTLINE OF A CREATIVE STUDY*

A.
B.
C.

D.
E.

Title of proposed thesis

Abstract optional
Introduction
1. A clear, concise description of the nature and themes of the final
creative product
2. An explanation of why a creative thesis was chosen and why the
specific form and genre were selected
Methodology
A brief discussion of the major elements of the craft that will be used
and how they will be used to achieve certain aims or effects.
List of References

* Examples of research creative methods: Art Project, Music Recital, or Curriculum

Development

AN OUTLINE OF A QUALITATIVE STUDY*

Title of proposed thesis
Abstract optional
Introduction
1. Statement of purpose and/or a description of the phenomenon to
be studied including its significance to the field of study and
research questions.
2. Review of relevant research as appropriate to methodology used
(include researcher's perspective)
Methodology
1. Sample selection
2. Data gathering technique
3. Data analysis methods
4. Limitations
5. Ethical considerations
E.
List of References
*Examples of research using qualitative methods: phenomenological, ethnographic,
grounded theory, philosophical investigations

(taken from http://www.tamucommerce.edu/honors/documents/Thesis_Proposal_Guidelines.doc)

16

Appendix 2
(sample pages)

BLANK PAGE

17

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

THESIS FULL TITLE

by

STUDENT FULL NAME

A thesis
submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Arts
to the Department of Economics
of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
at the American University of Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon
January 1999

18

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

THESIS/DISSERTATION FULL TITLE

by

STUDENT FULL NAME

Approved by:

[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Dr. Full Name, rank]
Advisor
[Department]
(as listed in AUB Catalogue of current year)
[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Idem]
Member of Committee

[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Idem]
Member of Committee

[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Idem]
Member of Committee

Date of thesis/dissertation defense: [Month Day, Year]

19

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

PROJECT FULL TITLE

by

STUDENT FULL NAME

Approved by:

[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Dr. Full Name, rank]
First Reader
[Department]
(as listed in AUB Catalogue of current year)

[Signature]
______________________________________________________________________
[Idem]
Second Reader

Date of project presentation: [Month Day, Year]

20

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

THESIS/DISSERTATION/PROJECT RELEASE FORM

I, [Name of Student in full]

authorize the American University of Beirut to supply copies of my

thesis/dissertation/project to libraries or individuals upon request.

do not authorize the American University of Beirut to supply copies of my

thesis/dissertation/project to libraries or individuals for a period of two years starting with
the date of the thesis/dissertation/project defense.

____________________
Signature

____________________
Date

(Check whichever wording is applicable)

N.B. This form is signed when submitting the thesis to the Archives Librarian.

21

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks are for Mrs. Diana Abi Said, Miss Mona Al-Sayed for their great help in
the computer work and for Mr. Mohammed Naja for his assistance in the technical work.
My recognition and gratitude are addressed to INRA-FRANCE (Institut National de
Recherche Agronomique) for its financial support and for providing tomato seeds, and to
Debbaneh Frres company for providing the greenhouse and tomato seeds.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF

22

Rami Ali Dalloul

for

Master of Science
Major: Poultry Science

Title: National Salmonella Surveillance in Poultry Breeders: Antimicrobial

Susceptibility, Virulence, and Molecular Studies

Salmonella organisms were isolated from chicken breeding farms of four provinces of
Lebanon. Twelve out of 800 samples collected in the surveillance were positive for Salmonella.
The biochemical characters of the 12 Salmonella isolates from chicken breeding farms were
matching with the genus Salmonella. The somatic and flagellar antigens of the 12 Salmonella
isolates were identified and compared to Kauffman-White-Scheme for Salmonella serotypes.
Seven isolates were S. blegdam and the other five isolates were S. paratyphi B var odense.
The antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella isolates from chickens were
compared to isolates of the same serotype from humans. Among the 9 antimicrobial agents tested
in vitro for effectiveness against Salmonella isolates, only gentamicin and polymyxin B were
100% effective against chicken and human isolates. There was variation in the effectiveness of
the other antimicrobial agents against Salmonella of chickens versus those of humans.
S. blegdam was highly virulent in day-old chicks in comparison to S. paratyphi B var
odense and the reference S. typhimurium.
Using the Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis technique, the
protein profiles of S. paratyphi B var odense from chickens showed a similar banding pattern.
The protein profiles of S. moscow from chickens showed similarity to isolates from humans. The
protein profile of S. blegdam from chickens and humans were similar. A clear difference in
banding patterns was present in some S. typhimurium isolates from chickens and humans showed
similarity in protein profiles.

CONTENTS (A)

23

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..

ABSTRACT...

vi

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

xii

LIST OF TABLES..

xiii

Chapter

I. INTRODUCTION.

II. THE INTERNET ..

4
A. Definition of the Internet

B. History of the Internet

C. Ownership and Control of the Internet ..

D. Applications of the Internet

1. E-Mail
..
2. Usenet.
3. The World Wide Web
a. Definition of the World Wide Web
b. History and Evolution of the World Wide Web.
c. Role of the World Wide Web in the Growth of the
Internet....

5
6
6
6
6

E. Growth of the Internet .

III. INTERNET ADVERTISING..

11

A. Definition of the Internet Advertising

Page
11

B. Models of Internet Advertising...

C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
(
A
)

12 ACKNOWLEDG

ABSTRACT ..........

LIST OF ILLUST
24

LIST OF TABLE

IV.

1. The Text-Based Advertising Model ..

a. Email Advertising.
b. Newgroups Sponsorships.....
2. The Multimedia-Based Advertising Model....
a. Web Sites Content Sponsorships..
.
b.
Interstitials ...
.
c.
Banners
Banners.
i. Definition ..
....
Definition...
ii.
Size

iii.
Evolution...
iv. Tips

12
12
14
14
14
16
17
18
19
21
24

C. Pricing of Internet Advertising.

25

1. Pricing of Commercial E-Mails .

..CommerciaMails.
2.
Pricing of Newsgroups and Web Sites Content Sponsorship.
..
.
3.
Pricing of Banners and Interstitials
Interstitials..
a. The Cost per Thousand Impressions Method...

MethodM.
b.
The Click-Through Ratio Method ...
ClicThroughThroug..
c.
The Key Words Method ..

D. Internet Advertising Objectivers..

....
1. The Hierarchy of Effects Model
EffectsModel..
2. Internet Advertising Communication Objectives ..
..
E. Evolution of Internet Advertisers ....

26
26
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
30

THE INTERNET AS COMPARED TO OTHER

ADVERTISING MEDIA ..32

A. The Internet Advertising Medium ... 32
.....
..
1. Growth of the Internet Advertising. 32

Revenues..
2. Increasing Popularity of the Internet Advertising Carrier.. 3232
34
.......
32
..
3.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet Advertising
Medium.. 35
a. Advantages... 36
...
i. Market 36

ii. Targeting 36
.
.
iii.
Information Capacity 37
.
....
iv.
Flexibility.. 37
..Interactivity .. 38

v.
25

vi. Sales Potential...

...
b. Disadvantages
.
i. Limited Production Quality...
.....

V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

38
38
38

48

Appendix

I.

SOURCE CODE. 50

II. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.. 52

BIBLIOGRAPHY 54

CONTENTS (B)

26

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT

v
vi

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

xi

LIST OF TABLES...

xiii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS....
....

xiv

Chapter

1. INTRODUCTION.
1
1.1. Thesis Objective .

1.2. Thesis Significance .

1.3. Thesis Organization ....

2. LITERATURE REVIEW...

2.1. Oxide-Coated Sands.

2.2. Effect of coating on The Sands Properties .

2.2.1. pH of Point of Zero Charge

2.2.2. Specific Surface Area of Filter Media ...
2.2.3. Iron Content ...
2.2.4. Zeta Potential .

8
9
9
9

2.3. Performance of Coated Sands .

14

2.3.1. Filtering Capacity

2.3.2. Adsorptive Capacity of IOCS.
2.3.2.1. Adsorptive Characteristics..
2.3.2.2. Adsorbing Capability of IOCS ...

14
17
17
20

27

2.3.2.3. Metal Polishing Performance of IOCS

oo.
2.3.4. Removal of Certain Metals of Concern..
2.3.4.1. Complexed Metal Ions.
...
2.3.4.2. Chromium Removals...
..
2.3.4.3. Cyanide ...

23
24
24
25
26

2.4. Mechanism of Adsorption

26

2.5. Factors Affecting the Performance of Coated Sands...

30

2.5.1. pH and Temperature

...
2.5.1.1. Crystallinity....

2.5.1.2. Adsorbing Capability.

..
2.5.1.3. Attachment Strength...

2.5.2. Type
of Support Media...
..
2.5.2.1. Comparative Evaluation of The Media...
Properties...
2.5.2.1.1. Morphology and Mineralogy...
2.5.2.1.2. Physical and Chemical Properties
2.5.2.1.3. Physical Stability.
2.5.2.1.4. Adsorbing capabilities..
2.5.3. Metal salt used in coating

30
30
33
34
34

2.6. Sand Coating Techniques....

39

2.6.1. Using pre-Formed Flocs..

2.6.2. Batch Mixing of Sand, Salt, and Base
2.6.3. Direct Precipitation of Iron on Particle Surface..

39
39
40

3. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES...

41

3.1. Choice of the Coating Material ...

41

3.1.1. Kind of Metal..

3.1.2. Type of Base...
3.1.3. Source of Iron..

41
42
42

3.2. Sand Coating Procedure...

43

3.2.1. Support Media.

3.2.2. Sand Preparation.

43
44

28

34
34
35
36
36
36

3.2.3. Sand Coating...

3.2.4. Combination of Coating parameters...

4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

44
46

48

Appendix

1.

SOURCE CODE. 50

2.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.. 52

BIBLIOGRAPHY 54

ILLUSTRATIONS

29

Figure
1.

Page
Frictional performance of groups of test sections constructed with
limestone rock asphalt aggregates............................................

2.

Non-linear behavior of lightweight source places in the cold region...

30

3.

Frictional performance of high quality limestone.........................

33

4.

Frictional performance of low quality limestone..........................

34

5.

Frictional performance of limestone rock asphalt.........................

36

6.

Frictional performance of low quality siliceous gravel...................

39

7.

Frictional performance of high quality siliceous gravel..................

50

8.

The correlation of PV with the PVMSS interaction term................

54

9.

The correlation of MSS with the PVMSS interaction.....................

75

10.

PV values for low soundness and varying soundness aggregates.......

86

11.

Service life versus PV of low soundness loss aggregates placed in the

warm region at ADT=750....................................................

101

30

TABLES

Table
3.1.
3.2.
5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
5.4.
5.5.
5.6.

Page
Statistical results with ranges of significant and related variables for
the general models..............................................................

Statistical results with ranges of significant and related variables for

the individual aggregate models..............................................

20

Three-variable general model: polish value (PV) limits for sound

aggregates placed in the warm region.......................................

52

Three-variable general model: polish value (PV) limits for sound

aggregates placed in the cold region ........................................

60

Three-variable general model: aggregates with varying soundness

losses placed in the warm region.............................................

73

Three-variable general model: aggregates with varying soundness

losses placed in the cold region...............................................

103

Three-variable with INRD model: INRD, PV, and LA limits for

aggregates placed in the warm region.......................................

109

Three-variable with INRD model: INRD, PV, and LA limits for

aggregates placed in the cold region.........................................

129

31

Title
page in Arabic

()

6991

32

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Thesis/Dissertation template:
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33