[Project title goes here]

Thesis Proposal for the Master of Science Degree, Department of Geology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington

[Jane A !i"ing# [May, $%%&#

Approve' (y A'visory )ommittee Mem(ers*

Dr [)ommittee )hair#, Thesis )ommittee )hair

Dr [A'visor +,#, Thesis )ommittee A'visor

Dr [A'visor +$#, Thesis )ommittee A'visor

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

Introduction
This is a template for a thesis proposal -t incl.'es fig.re n.m(ering logic an' f.nctions -t also 'emonstrates the .se of Styles an' contains other tips for /riting 0(.t not content1relate' st.ff2 In your actual introduction, you would describe the problem that you will be trying to solve, including why the problem is worth solving.

Styles
This template .ses the Styles f.nctions of MS Wor' 3o. sho.l', too, not only for the hea'ings, (.t also for the te4t Styles provi'e yo. a n.m(er of clear a'vantages* 0,2 -t "eeps yo.r styles consistent thro.gho.t the 'oc.ment, /ith only a little effort5 0$2 -t allo/s 'oc.ment1 /i'e alteration of a style5 062 -t ma"es .sing the o.tline mo'e an' 'oc.ment map easy, (oth of /hich are great5 an' 072 -f yo. .se Styles in a smart /ay, MS Wor' /ill ma"e yo.r Ta(le of )ontents for yo., 8.ic"ly an' easily 0this applies to yo.r thesis, not yo.r proposal, (.t it9s (est to start early:2 Styles /ill save yo. a great 'eal of effort an' hassle later on When yo. change a style, it sho.l' a.tomatically change all instances of that style 0(e s.re yo. can vie/ styles in the formatting palette or a tool(ar2 -f it 'oesn9t, then highlight the paragraph /hose style yo. change', go to the style in the styles list, an' clic" the men. an' select ;Up'ate to Match Selection< Try this now* =et9s say yo. /ant a 'ifferent font for each of the main hea'ings in the 'oc.ment >ighlight the /hole ;-ntro'.ction< at the top of this page 0incl.'ing the paragraph ret.rn at the en' of the line2, an' go to ?ormat @ ?ont )hange the font color to re' Ao/ page thro.gh the 'oc.ment, an' note that all the >ea'ings /ill have a re' font color Try .n'oing /hat yo. 'i', an' notice that no/ only the -ntro'.ction is re' Un'o again, an' the re' is gone - have trie' to create a (.nch of .sef.l styles for yo., (.t yo. might nee' to ma"e some ne/ ones for yo.rself >ere are some .sef.l ones* An e8.ation li"e BCm c$ 0,2 might nee' a style, an' the follo/ing paragraph 0this one2 nee's a separate style (eca.se it sho.l' not (e in'ente', since it is not act.ally a ne/ paragraph content1/ise, nor even a ne/ sentence Aote that yo. can set ta( stops for a style, so yo. 'on9t nee' a (.nch of "l.'gy ta(s to place things correctly 0see Tips section (elo/2

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

Dynamic Figure Numbering

The (asic i'ea is that yo. can .se MS Wor'9s ;fiel' co'es< 0little calc.lations2 to "eep n.m(ers in se8.ence on a non1printe' page of the 'oc.ment, an' then have the act.al references in the 'oc.ment .se fiel' co'es to refer to these se8.ence' n.m(ers This allo/s yo. to very 8.ic"ly reor'er, a'', or remove fig.res, an' all the fig.re n.m(ers in the 'oc.ment /ill a.tomatically a'D.st incl.'ing citations to those fig.res in the te4t The ne4t sections 'escri(e ho/ to 'o this from scratch, to give yo. a goo' i'ea of ho/ it /or"s, (.t this 'oc.ment alrea'y has the system set .p E yo. nee' only to a'apt it to yo.r act.al fig.re list

MAKE A LIST OF FIGURES

This /o.l' not (e yo.r fig.re list that goes in the front of the thesis, (.t a non1 printing page at the en' of the 'oc.ment >ere yo. ma"e a list of fig.res, one per line, /ith a (rief 'escription 0not the /hole caption generally, altho.gh yo. co.l' if yo. /ish2 >o/ever, instea' of typing an act.al n.m(er, yo. p.t in a fiel' co'e 0-nsert @ ?iel' 2 /ith the contents FSBG ?igsF 0yo. can p.t anything yo. li"e in for the F?igsF part2 The SBG co'e D.st means a se8.ence, so every time it is fo.n' in the 'oc.ment, it increments the n.m(er 3o. can have m.ltiple se8.ences D.st (y changing the tag 0the F?igsF part2 So yo. co.l' have a separate se8.ence for Ta(les, an' yet another for e8.ations or chemical reactions for e4ample Aote that the last page of this 'oc.ment has s.ch a list alrea'y set .p for testing

INSERT BOOKMARKS
Ao/, in or'er to have the te4t (e a(le to access these se8.ence' n.m(ers, /e nee' to (oo"mar" each one So select each n.m(er 0not the spaces or other te4t aro.n' it2 an' insert a (oo"mar" 0-nsert@Boo"mar"2 Aame it something 'escriptive li"e F?igHIegionalMapF 0no spaces are allo/e' in (oo"mar" names2 Do not name it F?ig.re6F, (eca.se the point is that yo. canJt rely on /hat yo. no/ consi'er to (e fig.re 6 to remain fig.re 6 ThatJs the /hole point of this: 3o. might 'eci'e to reor'er things Aote that these are alrea'y set .p for the fig.res on the last page of this 'oc.ment

INSERT TEXT REFERENCES

3o.Jre nearly 'one 1 no/ /hen yo. /ant to insert a fig.re reference 0or ta(le or e8.ation, etc 2 instea' of typing the fig.re n.m(er itself, yo. insert a reference to the (oo"mar" To 'o this, yo. insert a fiel' 0-nsert @ ?iel' 2 an' type FIB? ?igHIegionalMapF 0or /hatever the (oo"mar" name yo. chose for that fig.re /as2 -f yo. forget, yo. can type FIB? F an' then hit the options (.tton, an' yo. /ill have access to a list of all the (oo"mar"s in yo.r 'oc.ment Do.(le clic" one an' it /ill (e inserte' into the (o4 after the FIB? F

SAMPLE TEXT FOR DEMONSTRATION

This is some te4t that refers to a regional map 0?ig ,2 The n.m(er in the prece'ing fig.re reference is given (y the fiel' co'e ;IB? ?igHIegionalMap< That /ay, if yo. change the or'er in the ?ig.re list page at the en', this n.m(er /ill a'D.st to match that or'er 6

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

This is some te4t that refers to a local map 0?ig $2 This is some te4t that refers to a photomicrograph of sample !)K$6 0?ig 62

CHECK FIGURE NUMBERING

3o.r references to fig.res m.st occ.r in n.merical or'er That is the first reference to fig.re n.m(er 7 sho.l' (e prior to the first reference to fig.re n.m(er L, an' yo. sho.l' not s"ip any fig.re n.m(ers - have incl.'e' in this 'oc.ment a script that /ill chec" this for yo. -n the special tool(ar that sho.l' open /ith this 'oc.ment, there is a (.tton 0 2 that creates a report highlighting errors in the or'er of fig.re citation )lic" that (.tton no/ to get a fig.re citation report Ao/, try s/itching the or'er of the references to ?ig.res $ an' 6 in the section D.st a(ove an' r.n the report again to see /hat happens /hen yo.9ve ma'e an error

Tips from Dave

>ere are some general tips for .sing the comm.nication tools that /ill help yo. /rite (etter J.st as yo. ma"e an effort to learn the tools of geology to 'o yo.r research effectively, yo. sho.l' ma"e an effort to learn the tools of /riting to 'o yo.r comm.nication effectively

ENDNOTE
Dealing /ith references is a h.ge hassle The tric"y part is that the hassle 'oesn9t really happen as yo.9re /riting While yo. are /riting it9s fairly easy to stic" in references, especially if yo. are really thoro.ghly familiar /ith the literat.re The pro(lem is that the hassle happens at the cr.nch time, /hen yo. are trying to get the paper really finally finishe' at $*6% in the morning, an' yo. have to go thro.gh every single reference to chec" an' see if yo. remem(ere' to p.t it in the Ieferences )ite' list, or to ma"e s.re yo.9ve p.t the references in the correct or'er in each of yo.r citations To avoi' that, it9s (est to .se a program li"e Bn'Aote, /hich /ill "eep a li(rary of references for yo., an' 'eal /ith all aspects of the citation style an' the reference list -t9s har' to overstate ho/ .sef.l Bn'Aote is in scientific /riting 3o. can even ma"e notes on each paper to remin' yo.rself a(o.t its content

FIGURES ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

A'o(e -ll.strator is the (est program o.t there for 'oing fig.res Any vector1(ase' graphics program /ill 'o pretty /ell, tho.gh Aote that Photoshop an' programs li"e it are not vector1(ase', an' are not goo' choices for 'oing fig.res5 they /ill pro'.ce h.ge files that are 'iffic.lt to e'it The (est strategy is to have a separate file for each fig.re, an' have each fig.re (e on its o/n page in yo.r 'oc.ment -n yo.r thesis, these sho.l' (e interleave' /ith the te4t5 in yo.r proposal, it9s simplest to p.t them all at the en' Bach page sho.l' have a caption, i'eally in the same font as the main 'oc.ment

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

3o. sho.l' s.pply yo.r fig.res to yo.r a'visor an' committee as a single PD?, an' this is /here -ll.strator is especially great A'o(e Acro(at Professional can import a 'irectory of fig.re files in -ll.strator format, an' com(ine them into a single PD? 'oc.ment S.pplying the fig.res as a PD? is .sef.l (eca.se the committee can ma"e comments in the PD? itself if they /ish, an' the file siMe is smaller than a set of in'ivi'.al files, partic.larly if yo. NptimiMe the PD? in Acro(at Professional after ma"ing it 0loo" in the men.s for ;PD? NptimiMer<2 B'.cational copies of -ll.strator are availa(le for st.'ents9 personal comp.ters at s.(stantially re'.ce' cost, an' in a pinch, 6%1'ay f.ll1feat.re' 'emo versions can (e 'o/nloa'e' from A'o(e com Figure Caption umbering !elp The 'ynamic fig.re n.m(ering system -9ve create' for this 'oc.ment an' 'escri(e' a(ove ma"es it very easy to re1or'er, a'', or 'elete fig.res from the stan'point of the te4t, (.t /hat a(o.t the captions that are in the fig.re 'oc.ments themselvesO -f yo. 'o as - s.ggest an' .se A'o(e -ll.strator, yo. can ta"e a'vantage of another script - /rote -nformation a(o.t this is poste' here* http*PPalman'ine geol //. e'.PQ'avePotherPho/toHA-Hfig.re)aptions shtml

VIEW INVISIBLES
-n the tool(ar there is a paragraph mar" 0 2 )lic"ing it /ill toggle the visi(ility of spaces, ta(s, paragraph en's, page (rea"s, etc 3o. sho.l' al/ays leave this on as yo. /rite, so yo. can see the str.ct.re of yo.r 'oc.ment -f yo. 'on9t, yo. are lia(le to m.c" things .p an' ma"e it 'iffic.lt to get the 'oc.ment loo"ing the /ay yo. /ant it to loo"

IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE TABS OR PARAGRAPH RETURNS, YOURE DOING

SOMETHING WRONG

A r.le of th.m( that - .se to "eep myself organiMe', is that if yo. fin' yo.rself typing more than t/o spaces or one ta( or one paragraph (rea" in a ro/, then yo. are not .sing the Styles effectively Spaces an' ta(s can (e con'ense' into a single ta( 0?ormat @ Ta(s25 m.ltiple paragraphs to ma"e spaces can (e replace' (y either a single paragraph /ith appropriate spacing (efore or after 0goo'2, or D.st changing the (efore spacing of the paragraph that follo/s the space yo. are trying to create -n either case, ho/ever, (e s.re yo. are not altering a style that yo. have .se' else/here 0.nless that is yo.r goal2

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

Background
There must be enough detail here that the problem is understandable to geologists outside the specialty, such as the second and third members o" the committee. In addition, you must include enough background to show that a# you are "amiliar with the work that has already been done in the area and on the topic b# you understand that work$ and c# that you know how your proposed research "its in with the e%isting body o" work.

Problem / Hypotheses
This is a more detailed discussion o" the problem, in particular stating hypotheses to e%plain the problem, which o" them you propose to test, and the general research approach you will take to that testing &but not the detailed methods#. 'ou should speci"y what the possible test outcomes will say about the hypotheses( which outcome would re"ute a hypothesis and which would support it. ote that not all pro)ects are hypothesis*testing. 'ou might e%plore a previously une%plored region and describe the geology. 'ou might develop a new analytical method. +r you might describe the structure o" a new mineral, "or e%ample. !owever, most pro)ects are "ocused on the testing o" one or more hypotheses.

Study Area
,ive a description o" the study area, and why that area was chosen to test the particular hypotheses.

Methods
'ou should describe the methods you will use in su""icient detail to show that you have a "irm grasp o" them, and that you have care"ully considered how you will go "rom "ieldwork through data collection and data analysis to get results that will test your hypotheses.

!pected "esults and Potential #i$$iculties

!ere is a section to come back to your hypotheses, describe the data you e%pect to collect, and reiterate how it will support or re"ute one or more hypotheses. 'ou should also describe any

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

roadblocks you can "oresee in the pro)ect, and how you will work through or around them.

Project %imeline
This should be a table o" when you e%pect to achieve each milestone on your way to completion. Include work that you have already completed as well.

"e$erences &ited
-very re"erence must be cited, and every cited re"erence must be in this list, including re"erences only mentioned in "igure captions. I" you use -nd ote, this task will be made much, much easier.

Jane Viking Thesis Proposal

This page does not get printed, but must be in the document. It exists to support Daves Dynamic Figure Numbering System. Do not delete this paragraph, either.
This page is a list of ?ig.res 0an' yo. co.l' have ta(les, too2 /ith a (rief 'escription ne4t to each one The 'escription after the fig.re n.m(er is D.st for the a.thor9s .se5 it9s not part of the System Aote that on this page, the n.m(ers are create' .sing the fiel' co'e* ;SBG ?igs<, an' each n.m(er 0(.t not any s.rro.n'ing te4t or spaces2 is enclose' (y a (oo"mar" /hose title is 'escriptive 3o. can vie/ the locations of the (oo"mar"s (y clic"ing the ;!ie/ Boo"mar"s< (.tton 0 2 in the tool(ar 0or yo. can set the (oo"mar" 'isplay in the preferences2 Beca.se the n.m(ers are 'efine' (y the SBG fiel' co'e, if yo. reor'er the lines here, then the n.m(ers /ill reor'er themselves an' the references in the te4t /ill fi4 themselves too: Try it 0After yo. reor'er them, yo. /ill nee' to select the /hole 'oc.ment, an' then .p'ate the fiel's (y clic"ing this (.tton on the special tool(ar* 2 3o. can even insert a ne/ one (et/een t/o e4isting ones, an' the n.m(ers /ill all fi4 themselves 0The easiest /ay to insert a ne/ one is to copy an e4isting one That /ay, yo. get the fiel' co'e for free an' nee' only create a ne/ (oo"mar" for the n.m(er 2 3o. can clic" ;!ie/ ?iel' )o'es< 0 as /ell as ;!ie/ Boo"mar"s< 0 2 ?ig.re , A Iegional Map ?ig.re $ A =ocal Map ?ig.re 6 A Photomicrograph of sample !)K$6 2 in the tool(ar to help .n'erstan' the system,

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