A term that will be used several times in your document can be abbreviated the first time it is introduced immediately after the term in parentheses [e.g., American Psychological Association (APA)]. Once the term has been abbreviated, use throughout the document. To introduce an abbreviation and at the same time do a citation the following format will illustrate: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010). “Abbreviations introduced on the first mention of the term and used fewer than three times thereafter, particularly in a long paper, may be difficult for a reader to remember, and you probably serve the reader best if you write them out each time” (p. 107). Do not use acronyms in a table or figure. Use U.S. (no internal space after the period) when used as an adjective (APA, p. 88). For example: U.S. Senate or U.S. Department of Education; whereas use this format when referring to residents of the United States. Most often United States is the correct format.
The following abbreviations should NOT be used outside parenthetical comments:
Use periods when making an abbreviation within a reference (p. 6, 2nd ed.) (Do not hyper-rise the th in second or the rd in third) Do not use periods within degree titles and organization titles (PhD, APA). Do not use periods within measurements (lb, ft, s) except inches (in.). Use s for second, m for meter. To form plurals of abbreviations, add s alone, without apostrophe (PhDs, IQs, vols., Eds). (except for the last name of an author that ends in s--Jones possessive is Jones's In using standard abbreviations for measurements, like m for meter, do not add an s to make it plural (100 seconds is 100 s). Do not use the abbreviation "pp." for magazine or journal citations; just give the numbers themselves. Do use "pp." for citations of encyclopedia entries, chapters or articles in edited books. Use two-letter postal codes for United States' state names (GA). Washington, DC has no periods.
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According to the APA Publication Manual, you should use past tense for discussing literature, an action or condition that occurred at a specific time in the past. Past tense should be used to describe previous research or when referencing quotes, as the process has already been completed. Any study but the proposal has already been done, so the tense is past tense except for the verbiage taking about the proposal which would be future tense (not yet done). Past tense should be used to describe previous research or when referencing quotes, as the process has already been completed. An example of the appropriate use of past tense might be: Jones (2005) defined or Smith (2004) published.When referring to what authors have written in the literature you should use past tense. Thompson stated, not states. When referring to your dissertation study when you are completed, you will refer to what you did in the past tense. For the proposal use future tense--The purpose of the proposed study will be to… not is (is in the present tense). When you indicate what is in a chapter of your proposal or dissertation, use present tense because what you have written will always be in the chapter, thus in the present.
Generally, tables are used to display numbers, and figures are used to display graphics. Capitalize the word “Table” (not bold or italicized) above the “table” beginning at the left-hand margin followed by the number (1, 2…) as referred to in the text. Double space and begin the title directly below the table number. Capitalize every major word in the title that should be brief, clear, and descriptive. If more than one line, the title can be single space. Horizontal lines are permitted but not vertical lines. Horizontal lines should begin at the left margin and extend slightly beyond the most right-hand column of data. A line goes one double space below the last line of data. Each column and each row will have a heading. Table centered in page. The first word of the heading is capitalize and may include standard abbreviations and symbols (%. M SD, df, F). Table notes go below table. Note is capitalized followed by a period. See the APA Manual and/or the following website for more information: http://web.psych.washington.edu/writingcenter/writingguides/pdf/tables.pdf Common errors are including tables that are longer than ¼ a page into the chapters; move all long tables and figures to an Appendix and mention this in the narrative. Properly label all figures and tables following APA standards. Figures follow APA and avoid vertical lines as much as possible (see APA) and are long figures and tables put into the Appendix? Figure titles use only capitalization of the first word and proper nouns.
Table 1 Cats are Super Creatures Figure 1. Cats are super creatures Replace pronouns such as this, them, there, it, as it, their, etc. with a clear reference to defined subjects. For example, if a writer states “This is false because….” the reader may ask “what does this refer to?” Avoid using at the beginning of a sentence. As in, “This causes concern.'' Reason: “`this'' can refer to the subject of the previous sentence, the entire previous sentence, the entire previous paragraph, the entire previous section, etc. More important, it can be interpreted in the concrete sense or in the meta-sense. For example, in: ``X does Y. This means ...'' the reader can assume ``this'' refers to Y or to the fact that X does it. Even when restricted (e.g., ``this computation...''), the phrase is weak and often ambiguous. Never use that to refer to a person. Remember: A pronoun refers to the last named noun.
There are two ways you can take a screen shot. The first common way is to hold "Ctrl" and "Print Screen SysRq" (located on the upper right hand side next to the "Scroll Lock" key) at the same time. The screen will glimpse very quickly that you will hardly see it then open up a word document. Right click the mouse, click on paste, and you will have your screen shot. Remember to save the screen shot. The other way is the "Snipping Tool" program. The snipping tool may not be standard on all computers. You may have it or not, or you may have it and not know it. Go to "Start" menu and "search program and files" and put in "Snipping Tool" to see if your computer has it. If it does, it is very easy to use. Just open up "Snipping tool" and highlight on the page whatever you want to be part of your screen shot and instant screen shot. Just remember to save the screen shot.
Rather than copying and pasting material from one file to another (e.g., chapter 1 and chapter 2); first, open the first file and then go to the place in the document where you want to insert the second file. Now on the insert tab go to the “Object” in the text block and click on the down arrow and then select “Text from File.” Go to the Word file that you want to insert and click on it like you would normally do to open. The second file will now be added to the first file. This is a good way to handle tables, charts, and figures. Just prepare each one in a separate file and then at an appropriate time, insert it in the proposal or dissertation rather than doing along the way in your draft documents.
Express parallel ideas words, phrases, clauses, or sentences in parallel form. Wrong; Program was stimulating and a challenge. Right: Program was stimulating and challenging. Wrong: He was hot, cranky, and needed food. Right: He was hot, cranky, and hungry. Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words. For example, Tom enjoys singing, dancing, and swimming. All words end in “ing.” Read your paper and pause at the words AND and OR. Look on each side of these words to ensure the words are parallel.
It is important to keep data safe once the study is completed. Detail what data and information will be kept secured, where data will be secured, who will have access to the secured data, the length of time for securing the data, and what will happen to the data at the end of the secured period. Records should be kept for 3-5 years and then destroyed. Explain in detail the operational process of securing names of potential participants, communicating with the participants, and receiving confirmation from the participants. How will their confidentiality be protected throughout the dissertation process?
Research studies should be driven by the major theories in the field related to the problem – does the theoretical framework summarize the major models that are still valid today that are the basis behind this study? Are theories that are opposing in the field related to the problem summarized, compared, and contrasted with major issues clear? How do the theories noted bring together ideas, facts, and observations that help to frame the inquiry for this study? Explain how possible new results could affect the major theories in use today related to the problem statement topic.
Do not capitalize theories or models in your dissertation. When using track changes the comments are difficult to read. The size of the text in the comment box can be enlarged as follows: In the Home tab look for the small arrow to the right of the word Styles. Left click on the little arrow and then go to the bottom of the list to options. Left click and then change recommended list to “all styles” and then select “alphabetical” for the order and click ok. Go back to the list and right click on balloon text and then change the 8-point size to whatever size you want. The comment text size is usually unique to a specific paper and the same process will have to be used.
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AuthorAs your blog hostess, I suppose I should tell you something you would not find on LinkedIn or a curriculum vita, so I shall. I am an animal lover, a semi-professional photographer, a seamstress, and a career student who just happens to have the most amazing teenage granddaughters ever born! My other business is a writing service for children: www.atlantapawpals.com Archives
May 2014
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