SEMINARIO  INTEGRADOR  2  
MANUAL  
   
 CHAPTER  1  
OVERVIEW  
 
1.1 The  5-­‐Chapter  Model  
 
The  Escuela  de  Lenguas  uses  the  five-­‐chapter  model  as  its  framework  for  
documenting  thesis  research.    Any  departure  from  this  model  must  be  approved  in    
 advance  by  your  thesis  committee.    The  five  chapters  include:  
• Chapter  1:    Introduction  
o Background  information  
o Introduction  to  the  problem  
o Aims  and  objectives  
• Chapter  2:    Literature  Review  
o Background  
o Development  of  theories  and  current  status  
o How  does  this  project  fit  in  with  literature  review?  
• Chapter  3:    Methodology  
o Introduction:    research  questions/hypothesis  
o Research  methods  (methodology)  
o Steps  taken  in  implementation  of  methodology  
• Chapter  4:    Results  and  Findings  
o Presentation  and  description  of  results  
o Discussion  and  interpretation  of  the  results  
• Chapter  5:    Conclusion  
o Summary  of  what  has  been  achieved  
o Comparison  of  aims  and  objectives  with  achievements  
o Contributions  made  by  this  piece  of  work  
o Future  work  
 
Additional  information  regarding  what  each  chapter  must  contain,  its  
structure,  and  how  they  are  to  be  incorporated  into  the  thesis  is  presented  in  
subsequent  chapters.    Only  the  first  three  chapters  are  required  for  the  completion  
of  Seminario  Integrador  2.    The  last  two  chapters  will  be  completed  with  the  
guidance  of  an  advisor.  
 
1.2 Writing  Skills  
 
You  are  expected  to  demonstrate  proficiency  in  the  use  of  the  English  language  
in  all  work  submitted  during  the  dissertation  process.    Thesis  documents  that  
exceed  the  amount  of  grammatical  and  spelling  errors  specified  for  a  B2  level  are  
unacceptable.    Your  thesis  committee  will  not  provide  remedial  help  on  writing  
skills.    You  are  responsible  for  proofreading  and  editing  your  work.    You  may  use  an  
editor  or  proofer;  however,  the  editor  must  not  assist  in  conducting  the  
investigation  or  writing  the  report.  
   
 CHAPTER  2  
DOCUMENTATION  PREPARATION  –  FORM  AND  STYLE  
 
2.1  References  and  Citations  
 
These  should  follow  the  Harvard  Referencing  Format.  
 
2.2  Margins  
 
1.5  cm  on  top  and  bottom  and  2  cm  on  sides  
 
2.3  Line  Spacing  
 
1.5  lines  
 
2.4  Paragraph  Spacing  
 
Paragraphs  should  be  indented  with  no  blank  lines  between  each  paragraph  
 
2.5  Page  Numbering  
 
All  pages  before  the  first  page  of  the  Introduction  should  be  numbered  using  
lower  case  Roman  Numerals  excluding  the  Title  Page,  which  has  no  page  number.    
Page  1  should  be  the  first  page  of  the  Introduction  Chapter.  
 
2.6  Font  and  Size  
 
Arial  12  
 
2.7  Title  Page  
 
A  template  will  be  provided  for  you.    Make  sure  that  you  make  the  necessary  
adjustments  to  the  template.  
 
2.8  Chapter  Title  Heading,  Subheadings,  and  Sub-­‐Subheadings  
 
All  chapter  title  heading  should  be  in  bold,  all  caps,  and  centered.    The  
number  of  the  chapter  and  title  of  the  chapter  should  be  on  separate  lines,  e.g.:  
 
CHAPTER  2  
LITERATURE  REVIEW  
 
There  should  be  one  blank  line  left  between  the  title  and  the  body  of  the  chapter.  
 
All  subheadings  should  be  numbered  with  the  number  of  the  chapter  and  follow  
from  there.    They  are  to  in  bold  and  begin  at  the  left  margin.    A  blank  line  is  to  be  left  
above  and  below  the  subheading  and  the  body,  e.g.:  
 
2.1  Introduction  
 
  The  theory  of  frame  semantics  is  the  brainchild  of  Charles  J.  Fillmore  
…  
 
All  sub-­‐subheadings  will  follow  the  same  format  for  subheadings.    If  you  use  
sub-­‐subheadings  there  must  be  at  least  two  for  the  subheading  in  question.  
 
2.9  Tables  and  Figures  in  the  Text  Body  
 
Each  table  or  figure  must  have  its  own  name  and  number  based  on  the  
chapter  in  which  it  appears.  
 
2.10  Appendices.  
 
Each  appendix  must  have  its  own  separate  title  page,  which  includes  the  
appendix  number  and  the  title;  these  will  follow  the  same  format  structure  as  that  of  
the  chapter  headings.  
 
2.11  Order  of  Pages  
 
o Title  Page  
o Candidates  Certificate  
o Abstract  
o Dedication  
o Acknowledgement  
o Table  of  Content  
o Table  of  Figures  
o Body  of  Thesis  
 
   
 CHAPTER  3  
INTRODUCTION  
 
3.1  Introduction  
 
  In  this  section  you  are  to  provide  a  brief  personal  narrative  regarding  the  
reasons  for  you  personal  interest  in  the  topic.    You  have  two  purposes  in  this  
section:    (a)  grab  your  readers’  attention  and  (b)  enlighten  your  readers  about  the  
thrust  of  the  study  and  its  importance.    You  will  conclude  this  section  with  a  brief  
overview  of  chapter  1.  
 
3.2  Background  
 
  In  this  section  you  will  provide  the  reader  with  background  narrative  citing  
literature  as  appropriate  and  needed,  this  includes  providing  the  conceptual  
underpinnings  for  the  study.    The  conceptual  framework  is  the  theoretical  base  from  
which  your  topic  has  evolved.    It  includes  the  basic,  historical,  theoretical  nature,  
and  background  of  your  topic.    This  information  is  the  material  that  under  girds,  and  
provides  the  basic  support  from  which  your  topic  emerges.    Essentially  you  are  
trying  to  present  a  rational/theoretical/research-­‐based  model  for  (a)  the  key  
variables  you  are  interested  in  investigating  and  (b)  any  believed  interrelationships  
between  the  dependent,  or  criterion,  variable  and  the  independent  variables.  
 
3.3  Statement  of  the  Problem  
 
  Give  a  clearly  and  concisely  detailed  explanation  of  the  problem  you  are  
investigating.    E.g.:    “while  evidence  of  this  relationship  have  been  established  in  the  
private  schools  of  New  Hampshire,  no  such  relationship  has  been  investigated  
within  the  public  schools  of  Missouri.”    “Yet,  the  results  of  proper  studies  have  been  
mixed  and  contradictory,  as  evidenced  by  research  by  Smith  (1990)  and  Allison  
(1992).    Still  not  enough  is  known  about  the  impact  of  ‘X’  on  ‘Y’  when  ‘Z’  is  taken  into  
account  for  students  of  this  age.”  
 
3.4  Purpose  of  the  Study  
 
  There  should  be  one  or  two  paragraphs  to  introduce  the  research  questions  
and  hypothesis.  
 
3.5  Aims  
 
  In  this  section  you  must  provide  the  reader  with  what  the  proposed  
outcomes  of  your  study  will  be  and  what  benefits  will  arise  from  this  study.    You  
should  think  in  concrete  terms  as  far  as  the  benefits  that  shall  arise  from  your  
research.  
 
 
3.6  Definition  of  Key  Terms  
 
  An  introductory  sentence  should  be  used  to  transition  to  the  definition  of  key  
terms.    The  terms  in  this  section  should  be  terms  directly  related  to  your  research  
that  will  be  used  by  you  throughout  the  research.    It  is  up  to  you,  the  researcher,  to  
define  each  term,  as  you  want  the  reader  to  know  that  term.    In  every  case  possible,  
cite  a  source  for  your  definition.    It  is  all  right  to  have  some  definitions  without  
citations  when  you  are  listing  a  “commonly  understood”  term  to  you  have  no  source.    
The  definitions  MUST  be  stated  in  a  prose  fashion  and  CANNOT  be  done  in  a  
dictionary  style.  
 
3.7  Summary  
 
  Present  a  summary  of  key  points  included  in  Chapter  1.    Then  present  a  
description  of  how  the  remainder  of  the  study  is  organized  (that  is,  Chapters  2  
through  5  and  any  appendices  that  will  be  included.)  
 
   
 CHAPTER  4  
LITERATURE  REVIEW  
 
4.1  Introduction  
 
  Write  a  brief  introduction  of  2-­‐3  paragraphs  to  refresh  your  readers’  memory  
about  the  problem  and  purpose  of  the  study  you  presented  in  chapter  1.    Also,  tell  
your  reader  about  the  form  this  chapter  will  take  in  terms  of  purpose,  scope,  and  
sequence/organization.    The  introduction  of  this  chapter  should  include  the  titles  of  
the  main  headings  you  have  in  this  chapter.    Remember  that  in  this  chapter  you  are  
reporting  on  what  other  researchers,  experts,  theorists,  etc.  have  already  said  about  
the  subject.    Therefore,  for  the  most  part,  the  verbs  in  this  chapter  are  past  tense.    It  
is  a  skill  on  the  part  of  the  students  to  report  on  the  literature  in  such  a  way  that  the  
student  also  compares,  contrasts,  and  in  so  doing  analyzed  what  is  found  in  the  
literature.  
 
4.2  Effective  Schools  Research  
 
  Your  literature  review  should  be  organized  around  a  format  that  clearly  
covers  (a)  the  research  related  to  the  criterion/dependent  variable  of  your  study  
and  subcomponents,  (b)  the  research  related  to  the  independent  variables  of  the  
study,  (c)  to  issues  of  measurement,  and  (d)  to  alternative  points  of  view.  
 
4.3  Summary  
 
  This  chapter  should  have  a  summary  that  ties  together  the  main  headings  of  
the  chapter.  
 
Note:  
o Consistency  is  the  law.    Decide  how  to  do  something  and  do  that  the  same  
way  through  the  chapter.  
o Except  in  rare  cases,  use  last  names  only  for  persons  noted  or  references  in  
the  study  and  do  not  use  position  or  academic  titles.  
o In  most  cases,  paraphrase  what  you  want  to  share  for  your  reader  from  what  
you  have  found  in  the  literature.    Overuse  of  “directly  quoted”  material  is  to  
be  avoided.  
o How  long  should  chapter  2  be?    There  are  4  criteria  in  determining  the  
adequacy  of  the  review  of  literature:    (1)  complete  enough  to  inform  and  
enlighten  the  reader,  (2)  clear  in  every  regard,  (3)  correct  in  style  and  
accuracy,  (4)  concise  as  possible  while  meeting  the  complete  criterion.  
o Remember:    A  considerable  portion  of  what  you  find  your  literature  search  
can  and  will  be  important  parts  of  chapter  1,  “Background”  and  Chapter  3,  
“Methodology.”      
 
 
   
 CHAPTER  5  
METHODOLOGY  
 
5.1  Introduction  
 
  This  should  serve  to  introduce  the  reader  to  this  chapter  and  to  refresh  the  
readers’  memory  about  (a)  the  problem  being  investigated,  (b)  the  research  
questions  posed  to  guide  the  researcher  in  fulfilling  the  purposes  of  the  study,  (c)  
the  hypotheses  to  be  tested.  
 
5.2  Research  Questions  
 
  After  an  introductory  sentence,  simply  restate  the  research  questions  from  
chapter  1.  
 
5.3  Methodology  
 
  In  this  section  you  should  clearly  define  the  type  of  methodological  
framework  that  you  intend  to  follow  (qualitative,  quantitative,  mixed,  etc.)  and  how  
that  approach  is  best  suited  to  answer  your  research  questions.    Make  sure  to  cite  
any  appropriate  references.  
 
5.4  Data  Collection  and  instrumentation  
 
  Length  of  this  section  will  vary  greatly  from  thesis  to  thesis.    The  research  is  
obligate  to  describe  precisely  and  expansively  the  data  collection  methodology  (e.g.  
survey,  personal  interview,  participant  observations,  etc.)  
  Include  a  separate  section  for  each  instrument  adopted  or  developed  for  data  
collection,  whether  that  might  be  a  published  instrument,  researcher-­‐developed  
instruments,  interview  schedules,  or  test  results.    Be  sure  to  include  information  for  
each  instrument  on  (a)  form  of  the  instrument,  with  sample  items  and  
scaling/scoring  information,  (be)  assurances,  or  at  least  estimates,  of  the  validity  
and  reliability  of  the  instrument,  and  (c)  references  to  an  appendix  in  which  the  
reader  will  find  the  complete  sample.  
 
5.5  Populations  and  Sample  
 
  Length  of  this  section  will  vary  from  thesis  to  thesis.    The  researcher  is  
obligated  to  define  precisely  the  population  represented  by  this  research  project.    
Also,  the  method  for  selection  of  a  representative  sample  from  the  population  must  
be  specified,  along  with  the  exact  number  of  subjects  to  be  included  in  the  sample.    
The  sample  unit  needs  to  be  specified  (e.g.,  school  district,  school  building,  student,  
teacher,  or  principal  as  the  “unit  of  analysis”)  as  well  as  the  sampling  method  (e.g.,  
random,  proportional  random,  total  population  as  sample,  time,  series).      
   In  this  section  the  researcher  must  also  establish  the  social  context  of  the  
sample.    This  includes,  but  is  not  limited  to,  the  physical  setting  of  the  sample  
(school  district,  school,  classroom,  etc.)  as  well  as  the  city  or  state  itself.  
 
5.6  Data  Analysis  
 
  Specify  the  statistical  analyses  that  will  be  used  to  answer  the  research  
questions  and/or  test  the  research  hypotheses.    Cite  literature  sources  for  your  
discussion  of  the  statistical  techniques.    Describe  in  detail  the  categorization  
methods  that  you  will  use  and  explain  the  reasons  for  the  categories.  
 
5.7  Summary    
 
  In  one  or  two  paragraphs,  summarize  the  information  presented  under  
Population  and  Sample,  Data  Collection,  and  Data  Analysis.  
   
 CHAPTER  6  
ANALYSIS  OF  DATA  
 
6.1    Introduction  
 
  Write  2  to  3  paragraphs  that  present  an  overview  of  how  the  chapter  is  
organized  to  present  the  data  analysis.    You  should  begin  with  a  brief  review  of  the  
purpose  of  the  study  and  the  problem  to  be  addressed.    If  a  survey  instrument  was  
utilized  and/or  developed  for  the  study,  provide  a  brief  description  of  the  contents  
of  the  instrument.  
 
6.2    Organization  of  Data  Analysis  
 
  Use  2  or  3  paragraphs  to  provide  an  overview  of  how  the  data  will  be  
presented.    What  is  covered  here  is  highly  dependent  upon  the  design  of  the  study.    
If  a  survey  instrument  was  part  of  the  research  that  contained  demographic  data  
used  to  determine  independent  variables  and  this  is  to  be  presented  first,  this  
should  be  mentioned.    The  way  in  which  the  research  questions  and  hypotheses  will  
be  presented  should  be  reviewed.    If  there  is  a  difference  in  the  presentation  for  data  
for  different  research  questions  and  hypotheses,  proved  a  brief  statement  of  the  
different  treatment.    For  example,  some  research  questions  may  have  only  
descriptive  data.    Additional  research  questions  may  each  have  one  or  more  
hypotheses  with  accompanying  data  analysis  and  findings  from  each  hypotheses.  
 
6.3    Presentation  of  Descriptive  Characteristics  of  Respondents  
 
  This  should  be  introduced  by  a  discussion  of  the  demographic  data  in  
narrative  and  in  tables.    This  section  should  be  mentioned  in  general  terms  in  the  
introduction,  but  in  much  more  detail  at  this  point.  
 
6.4    Research  Questions  
 
  Use  an  introductory  sentence  too  introduce  the  questions,  then  simply  state  
your  research  questions.  
 
6.5    Analysis  of  Data  
 
  Use  an  introductory  sentence  then  present  each  research  question.  
 
Research  Question  1  –  To  what  degree  …  ?  
 
  This  should  be  followed  by  a  discussion  of  the  type  of  statistical  analysis  that  
was  utilized  followed  by  the  related  hypotheses  if  there  is  a  related  hypothesis.    You  
may  not  have  a  related  hypothesis  for  a  research  question  or  you  may  have  one  or  
more.    Therefore  the  analysis  of  data  varies  greatly  depending  upon  the  research  
question,  hypothesis,  and  design.  
    
 CHAPTER  7  
FINDINGS,  CONCLUSIONS,  AND  IMPLICATIONS  
 
7.1    Introduction  
 
  This  introductory  paragraph  should  review  the  five  sections  that  will  be  in  
the  chapter.  
 
7.2    Summary  of  the  Study  
 
  This  section  should  give  an  overview  of  the  entire  study.    It  should  begin  with  
a  review  of  the  problem  and  the  type  of  information  collected.    The  research  
questions  should  also  be  restated.  
  A  brief  statement  or  several  sentences  regarding  the  contents  of  the  review  
of  literature  should  be  included.    If  the  review  of  literature  was  the  basis  for  the  
development  of  a  survey  instrument  this  should  be  mentioned.  
  The  population  from  which  the  sample  was  drawn  should  be  described.    If  
there  is  a  response  rate  from  a  survey  this  should  be  stated.  
 
7.3    Findings  
 
  A  review  of  all  of  the  findings  from  the  statistical  analysis  of  data  should  be  
presented.    This  should  occur  in  the  same  sequence  as  they  were  presented  in  
Chapter  4.    They  should  be  presented  factually  and  in  an  organized  narrative.  
 
7.4    Conclusions  
 
  Conclusions  should  be  based  on  the  research  questions  in  Chapter  1.    They  
should  be  presented  in  the  same  order  as  the  research  questions.    This  last  chapter  
of  the  research  paper  should  bring  the  research  full  circle.  
  Feel  free  to  disagree  with  what  was  found  in  the  literature,  just  be  sure  to  
explain  what  is  being  thought.    As  the  researcher,  you  may  draw  upon  life  
experience  to  support  your  thoughts,  views,  and  ideas.    Tie  everything  together.    
Analyze,  synthesize,  and  evaluate  what  was  found  in  the  research  with  what  you  
think.  
 
7.5    Implications  
 
  Implications  are  practical  suggestions  for  addressing  the  issues  that  have  
been  raised  in  the  research.    These  should  be  suggestions  of  what  should  be  done.    
Be  sure  to  add,  following  what  should  be  done,  how  it  can  be  done.    This  is  
important!    It  is  easy  to  make  suggestions  as  to  what  should  be  done  regarding  an  
issue;  it  is  another  thing  to  suggest  how  it  can  be  done.    There  may  not  be  more  than  
two  or  three  implications  for  practice.    The  quantity  is  not  as  important  as  the  
quality  of  thought  behind  the  suggestions.