UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Guidelines for Research Problems (Chem 191, 193, and 194)
Preliminaries
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry (B.S. Chem.) program are required to
complete an undergraduate thesis that demonstrates
the solution of a research problem by application of
concepts and experimental techniques from their
coursework. Although guided by an adviser, this
independent study must reveal the student’s ability in
proper experimental design, data gathering methods,
and correct interpretation of data. The written
manuscript must also reflect standards in scientific
and technical writing, and should display the
student’s capacity to synthesize theories and
concepts, and present and organize them logically,
soundly, and clearly.
This document outlines the responsibilities of the
student, faculty adviser, and thesis panel members, as
well as the guidelines for writing the manuscript,
proposal hearing, and oral defense.
Responsibilities
Student. The student should coordinate with an
adviser at an early stage of Chem 191 (currently
offered in the 2nd semester of their 3rd year) and
mutually agree on a research problem. As part of the
Chem 191 course, the student must prepare a
proposal consisting of an introductory chapter, a
review of related literature, research methodology,
and working bibliography along with a tentative
timetable and budget. Students may submit their draft
manuscripts to their assigned Chem 191 professor
and/or their chosen adviser for guidance. After
approval of the proposal, students must conduct
experimental work necessary to solve the research
problem while enrolled in Chem 193 and Chem 194.
Experimentation must demonstrate proper design,
appropriate methodology, comprehensive data
gathering, and later correct interpretation of results
supported by available literature. Students must
defend their thesis (in Chem 194) before a panel of
two faculty members either from the department or
from external units, depending on the panelists’
expertise. Successful defense of the thesis will enable
the student to write the final manuscript and at least
four bound copies must be submitted as a
requirement for graduation.
Adviser. The faculty adviser must provide guidance
to the student in the conduct of the research, from
defining the problem and sub-problems, to directing
the literature search as necessary, and in selecting
appropriate and accessible methodology. An
agreement stipulating the acceptance of the student
by the adviser must be signed by both parties and
submitted to the Chair of the Department. The
adviser must set a timetable with the student from
Chem 191 through Chem 194. The adviser must
make time for consultation by the student with a
mutually agreed-upon frequency, e.g., once a week,
or twice a month, to discuss research progress and
appropriate data gathering and experimentation is
carried out. The adviser is responsible for
copyediting the manuscript and should provide
guidance in the interpretation of the results
throughout the conduct of the study. For verification
purposes, the adviser must retain the student’s
laboratory journal and raw data for a minimum of
five years especially if results of the research work
are published.
Panel composition. A panel of two content experts,
along with the faculty adviser, shall be convened for
the proposal hearing and the oral defense; the same
panel composition is retained for both purposes. One
panelist (not the adviser) shall be appointed as chair,
while the other will serve as a member. Preferably,
panel members must have earned a graduate degree.
In the event that there is no faculty member in the
department that has sufficient expertise on a
particular research topic, professors from other
departments and units (e.g., Marine Biology,
Biology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Physics)
may be asked to sit as panelists. In some cases,
external experts (connected with another university,
or else an industry professional with an advanced
degree) may be asked to sit in the panel. Panel
members must not serve as editors of syntax and
grammar but must critique the content of the
manuscript. If possible, panel members should write
a formal review of the thesis manuscript prior to the
oral defense. Since they are chosen according to their
expertise, panel members may also be consulted by
the student and must provide additional guidance to
the student in the conduct of the research, as
necessary. The chair of the panel must summarize the
proceedings of the proposal hearing and oral defense

and submit the same to the designated faculty
adviser. If necessary, the chair can hold a pre-defense
meeting with the panel members to deliberate on a
decision solely based on the submitted manuscript.
External readers. If and when necessary, especially
in the event that no content expert is available in the
University, or an external expert cannot attend the
proposal hearing or oral defense, the manuscript may
be sent to external readers who will grade the
student’s work solely based on the submitted
manuscript. External readers must be connected to a
higher education institution and understand the rigor
of academic writing. Preferably, these readers should
come from universities at par with USC, i.e., a CHED
Center of Excellence, or at least must offer a graduate
program in chemistry. Readers are given one to two
weeks to review the thesis manuscript and return
their report to the chair of the thesis panel.
Communications between the reader and the panel
can be facilitated by the department coordinator for
research or the Chair of the Department.
General guidelines in writing the thesis
The thesis manuscript should be able to stand on its
own, given that a pre-defense hearing may be held or
an external reader may be consulted. It is therefore
essential that the manuscript must conform to
standards of academic writing and withstand the
rigors of critical examination. While there is no
substitute to the integrity of the data, results, and their
interpretation, the format of the thesis manuscript
plays an essential role in the examination of the
research work.
Formatting. The thesis should be written on letter-
sized (8½ in x 11 in) paper with the following
margins: top, bottom, and right = 1 in; left = 1.5 in.
Times New Roman, 12 pt, should be used as font
throughout the manuscript, including titles, headings,
and captions. Paragraphs for the body text should be
double-spaced and fully justified, with the first line
indented by 0.5 in (see separate section for Figures
and tables). There should be no space before or after
the paragraph; care must be taken to observe this
especially since there is a default setting in MS Word
adding 10 pt space after a paragraph. Chapter
numbers are written in full with each beginning letter
capitalized, e.g., Chapter One, while chapter titles,
e.g., INTRODUCTION, should be written in
uppercase letters and centered, but not underscored or
in bold. Specific parts of the thesis manuscript or
proposal, in their proper sequence, are defined in the
succeeding sections.
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Sections of the manuscript. The thesis manuscript
consists of the following, in proper sequence: title
page, approval page, abstract, acknowledgments (if
any), table of contents, list of figures, list of tables,
chapters one through five (described below),
references, and appendices. For the thesis proposal, a
budget and a schedule of activities (Gantt chart)
should also be submitted. Details for each section
follow below.
The title of the thesis should not contain words like
analysis, determination, etc., and should not define
the methodology (e.g., by Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy) nor the scope and limitation (e.g., in
two selected areas). Instead, it should succinctly
represent or reflect the research problem and/or the
solution to that problem. A sample template for the
title page, including spacing from the top and
bottom of the paper, is attached in Annex 1.
The approval page must be signed by the adviser,
panel members, Chair of the Department (for the
thesis proposal), and for the final manuscript, the
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Annex
2).
Chapter headings are underscored, e.g., Statement
of the Problem, not indented, and should not be
numbered for the undergraduate thesis. (Different
guidelines are employed for a graduate thesis.)
Subheadings must be italicized, indented 0.5 in,
and separated by a full stop from the body of the
text which follows on the same line (Annex 3).
Chapter One is the INTRODUCTION and consists
of the Rationale of the Study, Statement of the
Problem, Significance of the Study, and Scope and
Limitations. The Rationale of the Study should
include text citations of previous studies, as
applicable, and should logically present an
argument why the study is conducted. The main
Statement of the Problem must concisely define the
research problem. It should not include the date,
duration, or location of the study. It must use action
and object statements. Specific objectives or sub-
problems must not use the same verbs in the main
statement; instead more specific verbs must be
used in defining the sub-problems. Significance of
the Study outlines who the beneficiaries of the
study are. It should define what the benefit is and
for which particular sectors will the benefit apply.
Scope and Limitations will define the duration,
including dates of sample collection if necessary,
and location(s) of the study. A summary of the
methodology, including sampling size and
frequency, may be included here highlighting the

strategy and techniques that will be employed to
solve the research problem. On the other hand,
limitations of the study summarize methodology
that can help solve the problem but will not be
carried out in the current study. Limitations should
be stated but not necessarily justified, e.g., why one
method is preferred over others, or what
parameters were excluded.
Chapter Two comprises the REVIEW OF
RELATED LITERATURE. This section should
not be a discussion of the theoretical background of
the study, e.g., there is no need to discuss the
concept behind atomic absorption spectroscopy or
phytochemical analysis. Instead, it should include
related or alternative studies that deal with the
research problem and rationalize why, for example,
one method or analysis is preferred over others.
Preferably, primary sources, i.e., journal articles,
should be cited here. This chapter may include a
section on Related Studies, which should review
related unpublished theses in the department or
elsewhere in the University.
Chapter Three covers the RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY used. It should describe, as
applicable, the description of the sample, the
sampling sites, sampling protocol (collection and
preparation), separation techniques, figures of
merit, synthetic methodology, characterization
techniques, data verification, and statistical
treatment. Materials and preparation of stock and
standard solutions should not be included here and
should instead be reported as an appendix.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION are presented in
Chapter Four. Data and results must be presented
in narrative form conforming to the standards of
scholarly writing, with the aid of tables and figures
for clarity. The same data set should not be
presented in both table and figure forms; instead
the format that gives better clarity should be
preferred over the other. Discussion should directly
follow the results presented and should be
substantiated with arguments from the literature.
Care should be taken not to refer to the figure or
table as the subject of the sentence, e.g.,
Incorrect: Figure 3 shows the variation of lead
in sediment during the two collection periods.
instead, the result or pertinent data should be the
subject, e.g.,
Correct: Variation of lead concentrations in
sediment from the two collection periods is
presented in Figure 3.
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Chapter Five comprises of the SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Summary describes the study and method
used, along with the findings of the research. The
findings should answer the specific objectives of
the study, while the Conclusion should answer the
main statement of the problem. Recommendations
should include how results from the present study
can be utilized. Suggestions for further studies may
also be given here.
References. The list of references in the final thesis
manuscript should only include those cited in the
text, and not the complete bibliography used for the
research manuscript. The thesis proposal, on the other
hand, may include a full working bibliography.
Citations in the text should follow the (author, year)
format while the list of references should follow the
ACS Style Guide. An en dash should be used to
separate page numbers, as shown below. Correct
journal abbreviations may be obtained from ISI or
Scopus databases. Examples below illustrate proper
referencing of journal articles according to the style
guide:
Two authors:
Sheldrick, B.; Mackie, W. Magnesium galactarate
dihydrate. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. C. 1989, 45, 1072–
1073.
Citation in text: (Sheldrick and Mackie, 1989) or
Sheldrick and Mackie (1989)
More than two authors:
Thompson, J. S.; Marks, T. J.; Ibers, J. A. Blue copper
proteins: Synthesis, spectra, and structures of CuIN3(SR)
and CuIIN3(SR) active site analogues. Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. U.S.A. 1977, 74(8), 3114–3118.
Citation in text: (Thompson et al., 1977) or Thompson et
al. (1977)
More than five authors:
Buagas, D. J. B.; Megraso, C. C. F.; Namata, J. D. O.;
Lim, P. J. Y.; Gatus, K. P. et al. Tracking quicksilver:
estimation of mercury waste from consumer products
and subsequent verification by analysis of soil, water,
sediment, and plant samples from the Cebu City,
Philippines, landfill. Environ. Monit. Assess. 2015,
187(3), 138–149.
Citation in text: (Buagas et al., 2015) or Buagas et al.
(2015)
Figures and tables. Figures and tables cannot
substitute for a good narrative discussion of the
results and should only be used to enhance the
presentation of the data. The same set of data must
not be presented in both figure and table forms,
instead one format should be preferentially used.
Figures and tables must be cited in the text. All
figures and tables should be labeled properly. Figure

captions and table titles should be written in Times
New Roman, 12 pt, single-spaced, and may be
centered or left justified. Table titles should be found
on top for tables, while figure captions should be
placed below the graphics. Tables and figures should
be numbered sequentially throughout the manuscript.
For formulas especially when found in superscripts,
an en dash (–) should be used instead of an ordinary
dash (-), e.g., correct SO42– vs. incorrect SO42-.
Guidelines for the proposal hearing
Students should submit to the Chem 191 professor
three copies of the final draft of the manuscript at
least one week before the scheduled proposal
hearing. The professor is responsible for distributing
the manuscripts to the adviser and panelists, and for
scheduling the proposal hearing.
The faculty adviser must ensure that the manuscript
is properly edited and can withstand examination on
its own merits, without the benefit of the oral
presentation. The adviser is also responsible for
rehearsing with the student the flow of the
presentation. If the student is working within a
research group, it is advisable that the student’s co-
researchers be present during the rehearsal and actual
proposal hearing.
Students should prepare PowerPoint slides and
present within 20 min the rationale, research problem
and specific objectives, and proposed methodology of
the study, along with the budgetary requirement and
schedule of activities. Panelists will ask questions
primarily on the problem and methodology, but may
inquire about chemical principles in general. The
adviser must desist from answering questions as
much as possible. The entire proposal hearing should
be completed within one hour.
Proposal hearings may be open to a department or
inter-department audience, as applicable.
Guidelines for the oral defense and thesis submission
The oral defense is intended to examine the student’s
preparedness in presenting scientific results to an
expert panel, and not necessarily to examine the
results of the study; the latter can be conducted on the
basis of the manuscript itself.
The student should submit the final manuscript to the
faculty adviser at least one week prior to the
scheduled defense. The student must prepare a 20–25
min PowerPoint presentation covering a summary of
the rationale and the research problem, along with the
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results obtained from the study and pertinent
discussion of the results, supported by an appropriate
literature review. A brief summary of the findings, a
conclusion outlining the answers to the problem, and
recommendations complete the presentation.
The faculty adviser is responsible for editing the draft
and final manuscripts, and should distribute to the
panel members copies of the manuscript to be
defended. The adviser should also rehearse with the
student the presentation of the results, and should
suggest strategies to improve the flow and content of
the oral delivery.
Panel members will query the student on the results
and interpretation of data. They will examine the
results whether or not these have provided sufficient
answers to the problem of the study. The examination
may include areas not necessarily discussed in the
oral presentation but is otherwise covered in the
written manuscript. The chair of the panel will collate
the major points in the deliberations and summarize
the necessary revisions that the student must make
before the manuscript is accepted.
In consultation with the adviser, the student revises
the manuscript as recommended by the panel. In
cases where the researcher believes his or her own
interpretation is correct, he or she may refute the
panel’s recommendation with a comprehensive
discussion substantiated by literature reports. The
adviser is responsible for copyediting the student’s
work.
Upon acceptance by the panel, both members and the
adviser should affix their signatures on an approval
page (Annex 2), prior to signing by the Chair of the
Department and the Dean of the College. The student
submits three hard-bound copies of the thesis (one
each for the Science library, the Department of
Chemistry library, and the adviser) before the final
grade for Chem 194 is released and clearance for
graduation is signed. The student may choose to bind
a fourth copy (or more) for personal use. Binding
must be book-type, with navy blue front and back
covers and gold-colored lettering (refer to appropriate
examples in the department library). The front cover
reflects the title page of the thesis, while the spine of
the book should carry the student’s family name and
initials, the name of the University, and the month
and year submitted.
ANNEX 1. Sample of title page

SYNTHESIS OF L–ARABINOSE-BASED COORDINATION POLYMERS FOR THE

REMOVAL OF LEAD FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

___________________________________________

An Undergraduate Thesis

Presented to the College of Arts and Sciences

of the University of San Carlos

___________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

___________________________________________

ALNALD C. JAVIER

March 2005
 Page 6

ANNEX 2. Sample of approval page

APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled “CLASTOGENICITY AND ANTIMUTAGENICITY

POTENTIAL OF Arachis pintoi Krap. & Greg.” prepared and submitted by MICHAEL
C. GUINITA, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY has been reviewed by the Panel of Examiners and is
recommended for acceptance and approval.

RAMON S. DEL FIERRO, Ph.D.

Adviser

JOCELYN R. LOCAYLOCAY, Ph.D. ANGEL LYN KRISTIN TAN, M.S.

Examiner Examiner

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY.

EUGENE T. BACOLOD, Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Chemistry

DELIA E. BELLEZA, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
 Page 7

ANNEX 3. Sample of headings and subheadings

Instrumentation

A fabricated flow injection analyzer was used in this study. This was equipped

with two five-channel peristaltic pumps, six-port-two-way injection valve, and a dual-

beam multi-wavelength detector based on light emitting diodes and photodiodes. The set-

up includes a number of accessories such as the reaction manifold, tank of compressed

air, recorder, and a computer.

Peristaltic pumps. The peristaltic pumps were equipped with snap-in tube

cassettes which facilitate convenient change of pump tidings and thus flow rates. Pump

tubes with three color coded stoppers were used in conjunction with these tube cassettes

which was a convenient way of doubling the tube service life by using the same tube

twice. Each pump operation can be changed, independent of the others during pump

operation, or changed over a set to a different delivery rate. The stoppers act as tube

retainer without changing the diameter of the tubes while ensuring constant elongation.