Simplified Architectural Thesis Writing Guide 2020-2021 (part 1 of 2)

By: Dianne Naval

COMPOSING THE THESIS TITLE

• What is your Thesis?
o Thesis, defined:
▪ A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved
• Formulating the Thesis title
o “Object – Theory – Method”
▪ Object: what is the building typology?
▪ Theory: what is the hypothesis that you are testing?
▪ Method: what is the means, architecturally, to achieve it?
▪ E.g., The Knowledge Bubble: A pandemic-proof campus (object) that continuously
provide a safe and conducive learning venue (theory) through adaptable architecture
(method)
o Number of words in the title should not exceed twenty substantive words (Baker and Hutz, 1999)

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
• Brief overview of the Problem
• In one paragraph, it should answer the following questions:
o What is the Project?
o For whom is the Project?
o Where is the Project located?
o What is the Project trying to address?
o How will the Project address the Problem?
o Why did you choose the Problem?

CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

• 2.1. Rationale
o A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action
o In three paragraphs or less, it should answer the following questions:
▪ Why are you doing this Project?
▪ What are the current state (backed with data) of the following vis-à-vis the Problem:
• Economic forces
• Social forces
• Environmental forces
• Technological forces
▪ Given the current state of the forces as described in the preceding item, answer the
following:
• What is the need that you are addressing with this Project?
• What is the missing subject or idea that you are trying to find with this Project?
• What are the gaps in the current body of knowledge that you are trying to fill?
▪ “The situation is (x); therefore, (y) is needed.”
• Where: x = current situation; y = the Project
• 2.2. Problem Statement
o 2.2.1. Main Problem
▪ “The architectural solution for a/an (x) that will address (y), for/in order to (z).”
• Where: x = facility/building; y = situation; z = desired result

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 ▪ Objective of the Problem
• What is the Project trying to provide?
• “The main objective of the Project is to provide (z) a/an (x) that shall (y). The (x)
shall also (action word) the (z) to (w)”
o Where: z = stakeholder; x = facility/building; y = purpose; w = social,
economic, cultural, technological purposes
o 2.2.2. Sub Problems
▪ “Design considerations for (x)”
▪ “Facilities and/or programs needed to address (y)”
▪ “Strategies to achieve (z)”
▪ Objective of the Problem (per sub problem)
• “To provide…”, “To introduce…”, “To propose…”, “To determine…”, “to
compose”; “To design”, etc.
• 2.3. Project Proponent Profile
• 2.4. Stakeholders Profile
o Stakeholder, defined.
▪ A party that has an interest in an activity, resource, capital, or organization;
▪ A party who has some particular direct or indirect interest in a project or outcome
▪ Primary Stakeholder, defined.
• Stakeholder/s that is/are most likely to be directly affected by the Project
• E.g., in a socialized housing project: residents as they will be the main user of
the project
▪ Secondary Stakeholder, defined.
• Stakeholder/s that is/are indirectly affected by the Project
• E.g., in a commercial center: the surrounding community as they will be
affected by the traffic and commercial activity of the project
▪ Tertiary Stakeholder, defined.
• Often referred to as external stakeholders
• E.g., in a museum: advocacy groups, professionals related to the collection
meant to be housed
o Use this table for this section:
*example here is for a school
Impact to Contribution Main Impact of the
Stakeholder Classification Influence Role
Stakeholder to the Project consideration Project
Teacher Primary High High Dispenses Ensure that Conducive - Job
education teaching learning opportunities
to students facilities are environment - Opportunities
properly and to be able to for new
efficiently conduct teaching
used in classes with methods
conducting ease and
educational efficiency
activities

• 2.5. Definition of Terms and Concepts

o Conceptual definition
▪ Definition based on concepts or hypothetic ones which are usually take from dictionary,
encyclopedia, and published journals
o Operational definition
▪ Definition based on observable characteristics and how it is used in the study
• 2.6. Significance of the Study
o Why is it important to address the Problem?
o What are the benefits of addressing the Problem?
o What will the Project contribute to the body of knowledge in architecture?

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 ▪ Spatial and programmatic innovations
▪ Form-making, style, and aesthetics
▪ Schools of thought or movement
o Answer these three preceding items vis-à-vis the following:
▪ 2.6.1 Significance to the Community
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be population, fiscal
condition, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
▪ 2.6.2 Significance to the Economy
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be construction cost,
fiscal condition, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
▪ 2.6.3. Significance to the National/Local Government
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be significant portion of
the development plans, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
▪ 2.6.4. Significance to Culture
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be inventory of cultural
properties, presence of intangible heritage, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
▪ 2.6.5. Significance to Environment
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be pollution data, hazard
maps, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
▪ 2.6.6. Technical Significance and Implications
• Current situation narrated and laid out with data (can be architectural
conditions, legal conditions, etc.)
• Answer to the above pointers
• 2.7. Scope and Limitations
o Scope, defined.
▪ Refers to the coverage in terms of the aspects of the Problem
o Limitations, defined.
▪ Refers to the areas not covered for different reasons such as limitations in time,
resources, access to participants
o Use this table for this section, add items you deem fit:

Scope Limitation
Area
Population
Condition
Standards
Disciplines
Funding

• 2.8. Target Users

o Use this table for this section:

User/s Current Situation Effect of the Project

Primary
Secondary
Tertiary

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CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• A framework is the blueprint and guide on which to build and support your study
• Symbolic representation that helps the researcher to express abstract concepts and relationships
concisely
• Theoretical framework as distinguished from Conceptual framework:
o Theoretical framework dwells on time tested theories that embody the findings of numerous
investigations on how a phenomenon occur while a Conceptual framework is the researcher’s
idea on how the research problem will have to be explored.
o Theoretical framework provides a general representation of relationships between things in
each phenomenon while Conceptual framework embodies the specific direction by which the
study will have to be undertaken.
• Theoretical framework, guide questions:
o How is your Problem usually done, solved, or addressed based on the data you acquired?
• Conceptual framework, guide questions:
o How do you plan to solve your Project?
o How will you make meaning of the data you acquired?

• Key elements:

Starting Point

Concept Operation Theory

Goal

• May be represented through an “Input-Process-Output” diagram:

o Input: External factor
Process: Transformation, operation
Output: Result
o Example:

Input Process Output:

Grades: Group Compute: Group Final grade
work, quizzes, work (35%),
exams Quizzes (35%),
Exams (30%)

CHAPTER 4: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• RRL, purpose.
o Review literature related to the Project to determine the similarities and differences of the
findings between and present studies
o Gain insight into aspects of the problem that are controversial and critical

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 o Provide the researcher with a background regarding the aspects which have been studied and
not yet studied
o Gain ideas on how to proceed with solving the problem
• Accepted literature:
o Books, academic journals, news and features articles (online and print) from credible publications
o Not accepted: materials from tabloids, blogs, Wikipedia, product websites
• How to write the RRL:
o 4.1. Introduction
▪ What is the purpose of this Chapter in relation to your Problem?
o 4.2. Topic 1: Subject (what is the subject matter of the literature)
▪ 4.2.1. Introduction
• What is the literature about, in a nutshell?
• What is the relevance of this literature to the Problem?
▪ 4.2.2. Findings
• What have you discovered in this literature that is useful to your Problem?
• What are the ideas or solutions that this literature offers to your Problem?
▪ 4.2.3. Conclusion
• Summarize the relationship of the subject vis-à-vis the Problem and the
solution or idea it offers
▪ 4.2.4. References
• APA citation
o Minimum topics/references: 2 local, 2 international

CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

• 5.1. Introduction
o What is the Research Design to be used?
• 5.2. Research Focus
o Technology in architecture that is to be highlighted in your Design Solution
o Must be relevant to the Problem
▪ E.g., if your Problem deals with sustainable architecture, your Research Focus must be
related to technologies that helps the Project to reduce its carbon footprint
o In three paragraphs or less, the section must answer the following guide questions:
▪ What is the technology presented?
▪ How does it operate?
▪ What are other related applications (may be case studies) of this technology?
▪ How can this technology be applied in the Project?
o There must be illustrations and diagrams that explain the chosen technology
• 5.3. Research Strategies
o What are the research instruments and data gathering methods to be applied?
o List down the rationale behind each instrument/method to be used
• 5.4. Data Collection
o Illustration of results
o Presentation of data gathered
• 5.5. Data Analysis
o What are the implications of the data gathered?
o How can this data translate into the design?

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