Related Forms

Here are related forms for your dissertation

http://www.fsktm.um.edu.my/web/relatedforms/index.php




P.S: Thank you to Akma for suggesting  ;)

APA Formatting and Style Guide

Please refer to the UM's way of referencing in the link below;

http://www.umlib.um.edu.my/publications/APA-Guide.pdf

We are also required to use EndNote for easier referencing (I have used this software before for my bachelor degree final year project and yes it is helpful...however, you need some time to learn how to use it. For first time users, it may look complicated but once you know how to use it, then you'll save a lot of time for this section)

This is how it looks like, if you don't know;

Guidelines using EndNote:

1. http://www.endnote.com/support/helpdocs/ENXGettingStartedGuide.pdf
2. http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/library/tutorials/endnote/getstarted/PDFs/Guidelines%20for%20entering%20data%20into%20EndNote%20Fields.pdf
3. http://www.itc.nl/PDF/Library/EndNote/handout_endnoteX3_2010.pdf
4. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/faqs/endnote/how_use.html
5. http://www.lib.umich.edu/files/services/exploratory/pdfs/endnote13.pdf

Trial Version:
http://www.endnote.com/endemo.asp

DISSERTATION FORMAT

A brief guideline on the format of the dissertation as referred in the 

"Guide To The Preparation of Research Reports, Dissertations & Theses" 

book provided by the university.

A Dissertation should contain 30,000 words

Margins:

•    Top :           2.0 cm
•    Right :         2.0 cm
•    Left :           4.0 cm
•    Bottom :     2.0 cm

Line Spacing

• Double Spacing ---> Body of Text
• Single Spacing ----> in Tables, long quotations, footnotes, citation and in the bibliography.

Page Numbering

• Numbers should be printed 1.0 cm from the bottom margin & on the RIGHT hand side (without any punctuation)
• Font size recommended 8 for numbers
• Preface section - use (i, ii, iii etc)...numbering begins at second page with (ii)
• Title Page - none

Tables

• Must be printed within body of the text in the CENTER & LABELLED according to the chapter it appears
• label should be ABOVE the related table, for example in Chapter 3 it should be labeled as;

Table 3.1 : Short Title

if the table exceeds one page, the continued table in the following page should indicate a continuation, for example;

Table 3.1, continued

• if the table contain Citation, the Source of Reference should be placed BELOW the table.

Figures

• consist of graphs, illustrations or photographs 
• The label should be printed BELOW of the figure with the label Figure 3.1, Figure 3.2....etc
• If the Figure exceeds one page, indicate the continuation ( for example ; Figure 3.1, Continued ) 
• If the Figure contains Citation, the Source of Reference should be placed BELOW the label of the figure

will update more later ok..;)

Ways to overcome your Procrasinating Habit T__T

Procrastination or reasons for delaying writing up! 

• Procrastination is the thief of time - (Edward Young). If you ignore it the thesis (or deadline) will not go away!
• Task too big, too hard, too unfamiliar, too dull!!!
• Paralysis by planning 
• Perfectionism (Nobel prize syndrome)  
• Boredom 
• Deadline ‘too far away!’ 
• Insecurity /fear of failure 

Ok I admit, these are all frankly true why I feel like I'm lacking behind. I want my work to be perfect so that I don't have to go through it again and again...but now I realize that wanting to be TOO PERFECT is actually taking a lot of my time. 

So the action that I should have done long ago...but still not too late to apply (and rush up if i strongly wants to finish sooner) are the followings;

Overcoming procrastination

• Divide ‘big’ tasks into small chunks (fun size segments of 250 words)
• Check off ‘little tasks’keeping  as you go along (eg reference lists accurate & complete)
• Keep dated back-up copies 
• Find the most conducive environment/time 
• Take time out- reward yourself  for what you have done
• If you get stuck with one task/section move on to another & then go back to it

It's like making jigsaw puzzles, you start off with the small pieces then later one you will see the big picture, right?

Planning your thesis

• Use time effectively by having a weekly and daily combination of termly plans until deadline
• Make a timetable (with deadlines) & stick to them & link to supervision timetable have drafts prepared for discussion & questions
• Set realistic deadlines- deadlines are meant to be helpful, not a source of stress
• Show structure to supervisor & allow time for feedback

Planning devices

• Establish ‘task lists’
• Establish writing timetables
• Make detailed plans for structure 
• Identify when you work best (morning, afternoon, evening)
• Put aside ‘protected time' for big tasks
• Have a notebook with you to record brilliant ideas

Improving time management

• Evaluate your use of  time 
• Focus on priorities 
• Plan for more effective time use 
• Use time more effectively 
• Create time 
• Avoid distractions 
• Ask for help if you get stuck or need encouragement

Create time

• Get up earlier (or go to bed later!)
• Use ‘dead’ time effectively (lunch hours/travel time)
• Get others to share the load 
• Delegate if possible 
• Control how OTHERS use your time
• Control distractions….

"Time is what we want most, but... what we use worst.  ~Willaim Penn"

Lastly, we also need the support of these people to keep us motivated  and seek for guidance along our journey....................

Project partners

• Other people needed to help you complete
• supervisor- ‘expert adviser’ 
• other staff (technical support, specialists)
• data access/ethics
• colleagues & other students (peer group support a key to success) 
• family & friends

Source of the tips: http://www.escmid.org/fileadmin/src/media/PDFs/4ESCMID_Library/4OLL/2008/Summer_School/L05_Griffin_Writing_A_Thesis.pdf

SO LET'S START WORKING, SHALL WE????? ;)

Chapter Two topics

Wow haven't update this blog for such a long time............

Currently, I am preparing Chapter Two for my thesis and this is what I would like to include after having discussed with my SV ;

                  2.1 Value Terms

                 2.2 Why value Value?

                 2.3 Values in IS discipline

                        - Difference between values in IS and IT

                 2.4 The Dimensions of Values in IS

                 2.5 Relationship between Value and IS success

                 2.6 Values brought by Student Portal 

                 2.7 Values in UMSISWEB University Malaya

Ok now that I have clear understanding and I can see it's a lot of work to be done in a limited time!!!!

I really hope I can manage to finish all of it by mid of this year..... huhu....

I will try my best to complete this chapter by March, at the same time doing my Chapter 3....

The other day,  I asked one of my coursemate regarding how many Chapters should be done and he said most people did 6 chapters minimum and some did more than that.

Moreover, if I wanted to attend the 2012 Convocation in August, I should submit my work approximately 8 months earlier (to be on the safe side) because correction for thesis takes 7 months at the most and 5 months at the least (Depends on how many corrections you have to redo and also your luck!)

After thinking back, the registration for Convocation will take place sometime between March - May 2012 and after the deadline, you won't be able to register it again and have to attend convocation in 2013 (NO!!!)

so to avoid that...................

I have to submit my thesis by approximately between July to Sept 2010, earlier would be better, in order to make it for the convocation registration and convocation sometime in August 2012.

I really have to put my determination into this since I really want to finish off my study as soon as possible!!!

SO LET'S START WORKING!!!!

Deadlines by end of 2010!

For the past few weeks, I haven't been in ease as I realize that this semester has almost come to an end, meaning this is the time I'm in my rambut gerbang mode.....if you're wondering what that means, well, it means that it is the time that I don't have time to manage myself....such as like after I take a shower, I don't even have the time to comb my hair which later I will end up looking like Lion King.....as long as I get my work done...haha! so the next time whenever I say rambut gerbang mode, you'll know what I mean....:P

So for this sem, as I am taking Research Foundation & Dissertation, my submissions are (based on what my coursemates informed me since I was absent last week coz i wasn't feeling well huhu) ;

29th October 2010

•  Research proposal
•  not more than 10 pages
• before 6 pm!
• upload via Moodle

Sometime early November * Starting second week of Nov

• Research proposal presentation
• for 20-30 minutes....alone!
• There will be four panels that comprise of the Professor who conducts this subject, another panel who is a Professor expertise in the major we're in/ field of study for our project and the other two are our classmates. * Correction: Only two panels, Prof and another Prof from our research domain
• Need to prepare two hard copies of the Proposal for the panels

Before January 2011

• Submit Progress Report for my dissertation
• My target : at least to do half of Chapter 2....a bit of Chapter 3....yikes, will I achieve it????!!!
• Plus, haven't seen my supervisor for such a long time...do you think she 'misses' me? yikes!

In case, any of you are wondering, this is my outline for the Research Proposal (i doubt how many people actually read this blog but for those who are interested, I feel appreciated, Thank You!...hehehe)

• INTRODUCTION
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCH
• LITERATURE REVIEW
• PROPOSED SOLUTION
• CONCLUSION

I'm just starting my Literature Review but my report has already reached 7 pages...I will try my best to organize the structure again coz I think I wrote too much for the introduction, Prof did stress out that he wants not more than 10 pages for the proposal....huhuhu.....from what I know, the Objective of Research, Literature Review and Proposed Solution...also the Conclusion are the main highlights that needs to be emphasize and convincing.

Any Suggestions or Inquiries, feel free to voice out! 

=)

SKILLS YOU WILL NEED AS A COMPUTER SCIENCE THESIS STUDENT

While there are no hard and fast rules that guarantee you have the background and skills required to complete a thesis in Computer Science, there are some indicators. Here is a list of some of these indicators.

• A good grade point average. This indicates that you have basic academic skills. It is difficult to specify an exact cut-off, but a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is a reasonable minimum.
• The ability to write in the English language. Practice writing. Effective communication is essential in all disciplines. If you need help, contact the Language Institute or English Department.
• The ability to express yourself orally. You will be asked to present lectures on your work at the Computer Science seminar.
• Mastery of the computer language in which you will develop your program. You should not look at your thesis work as an opportunity to learn how to program. You should be very familiar with the operating system you will use and system utilities such as editors, document formatters, debuggers, etc.
• The ability to work with others. You must be able to work with your thesis advisor, and you may need to work with other faculty and students as well.
• The ability to take direction. Your thesis advisor will give you guidance, but you must do the work.
• The ability to conduct literature surveys. You must insure that your work is current and relevant even though it may not be original or unique.
• The ability to integrate ideas from various areas. This is key to a thesis. Extracting items of interest from many sources and generating new information by integrating these items in new ways is the essence of writing a thesis.
• The ability to think independently. Your work must be your own. Your advisor will not tell you what to do at every step, but will only suggest a direction. The rest is up to you.
• The ability to perform when imprecise goals are set for you, that is, you must be self-directed.

[ Source: http://cs.fit.edu/~wds/guides/howto/ ]