📚 UGC NET Paper 1 Unit 2 Topic 4: Thesis & Article Writing (Format & Referencing Styles)
🔍 Essential for Researchers & NET Aspirants! Master the structural frameworks of academic writing and global referencing standards used in scholarly publications. Covers thesis organization, journal article components, and citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE) with exam-focused examples. 🎯
💡 Quick Summary: A thesis typically follows IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion), while journal articles may use varied formats (review papers, case studies). Referencing styles prevent plagiarism and credit sources - key styles include APA (social sciences), MLA (humanities), Chicago (history), and IEEE (engineering).
1. Thesis Writing: Structure & Format
A thesis is a formal document presenting original research for academic degrees.
Standard Structure (PhD/MPhil):
- Preliminary Pages
- Title page (university logo, title, author, degree)
- Declaration & certification
- Abstract (150-300 words with keywords)
- Table of Contents (with page numbers)
- Main Text
- Introduction: Research gap, objectives, hypotheses
- Literature Review: Theoretical framework, critical analysis
- Methodology: Research design, sampling, tools, analysis
- Results: Data presentation (tables/figures with interpretations)
- Discussion: Findings vs. existing literature, implications
- End Matter
- References/Bibliography
- Appendices (questionnaires, raw data)
🔹 University-Specific Variations
- UGC Guidelines (India): Minimum 5 chapters, plagiarism <5%
- APA Style Thesis: Running head, level headings (Centered Bold, Flush Left Bold, etc.)
- Digital Theses: ETD (Electronic Theses & Dissertations) submissions require PDF/A format
2. Journal Article Writing
Scholarly articles communicate new findings to academic communities.
| Article Type | Structure | Word Limit* |
|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | Abstract, IMRAD, References | 3000-6000 |
| Review Article | Thematic sections, no methodology | 8000-12000 |
| Case Study | Background, case presentation, analysis | 2000-5000 |
*Varies by journal
Impactful Writing Tips:
- Title: ≤15 words, include key variables (e.g., "Effect of Gamification on Learning Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis")
- Abstract: Structured (Purpose, Methods, Results, Conclusion) or unstructured
- Keywords: 3-6 terms, use MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) for PubMed
3. Referencing Styles
Standardized systems to acknowledge sources and avoid plagiarism (Turnitin similarity <15-20%).
🔹 Major Styles Comparison
| Style | In-text Citation | Reference List Entry (Book) | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA (7th Ed.) | (Author, Year) | Author, A. (2020). Title. Publisher. | Psychology, Education |
| MLA (9th Ed.) | (Author Page) | Author, A. Title. Publisher, 2020. | Literature, Arts |
| Chicago (Author-Date) | (Author Year, Page) | Author, A. 2020. Title. City: Publisher. | History, Social Sciences |
| IEEE | [1] | [1] A. Author, Title. City: Publisher, 2020. | Engineering, Tech |
Special Cases:
- Journal Article: Author, A. (Year). Title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page-Range. DOI
- Website: Author (Year, Month Date). Title. Site. URL
- Multiple Authors: APA: "et al." after 3 authors; MLA: "et al." after 2
🔹 Citation Management Tools
- Zotero: Free, browser integration
- Mendeley: PDF organizer + social network
- EndNote: Advanced features (CWYW)
4. Plagiarism & Ethical Writing
UGC Promotion of Academic Integrity Regulations (2018):
- Level 0: Similarity <10% - No action
- Level 1: 10-40% - Revise & resubmit
- Level 2: >40% - Rejection + disciplinary action
How to Avoid Plagiarism:
- Use quotation marks for direct quotes
- Paraphrase properly (change structure + words)
- Cite even for ideas (not just text)
- Use Turnitin/iThenticate pre-submission
🔥 Most Repeated UGC NET Questions:
- Which style uses "et al." for 3+ authors in-text? (Ans: APA)
- What is the correct APA book reference format? (Ans: Author, A. (Year). Title. Publisher.)
- Which section is NOT in a standard thesis? (Ans: Acknowledgments*)
- Which tool is NOT a reference manager? (Ans: SPSS)
- What similarity % triggers UGC Level 1 action? (Ans: 10-40%)
*Usually in preliminary pages but not always mandatory
📝 Academic Writing Best Practices
- Tense Usage: Present for established knowledge, past for your methods/results
- Voice: Prefer active voice ("We analyzed" vs "Analysis was done")
- Hedging: Use cautious language ("suggests" vs "proves")
- Formatting: 12pt Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing (general rule)
📌 Exam Tip: Memorize 2-3 distinctive features per citation style:
- APA: Year in parentheses after author
- MLA: Page number without "p."
- Chicago: Uses footnotes for notes-bibliography style
🚀 Conclusion
Mastering academic writing formats and referencing is crucial for:
- NET Exam: 2-3 direct questions on citation styles
- Research Career: Journal submissions require strict style adherence
- Ethical Scholarship: Proper attribution builds academic credibility
💡 Pro Strategy: Practice converting references between styles - this reinforces format rules better than rote memorization!
