master thesis luiss

How to write a thesis

Consult our recommendations and guidelines on how to design, organize and write the final thesis. 

1.1. Preliminary stages

Once the thesis topic has been agreed on and the stages of writing the thesis have been established with the supervisor, you should follow several preliminary steps prior to drafting the paper:

• Do some initial bibliographic research using catalogs, databases (in Italian), and specialized periodicals available in the Library;
• Plan out the organization and exposition of the thesis through the drafting of a preliminary outline that is supported by a brief description of each chapter, which will clarify the project plan for both the supervisor and the candidate.

The goals of a paper such as the thesis are as follows:

• Clarity: the candidate’s arguments should be expressed in linear phrases that are not redundant. Sentences should be kept as short as possible;
• Completeness: all the information needed to understand the points of view expressed should be carefully presented.

The thesis is divided into sections, which are ordered systematically.

2.1. The title page

The title page is the first page of the thesis and it contains essential information about the thesis, such as:

• the institution
• the department
• the thesis material
• the thesis title
• the candidate’s name
• the supervisor’s name (and the co-supervisor’s name, where applicable)
• the academic year

For the Luiss thesis, the  Student Office  has prepared Final Paper first page template to use:

• Bachelor’s degree programs
• Master’s degree programs
• Single-cycle master’s degree program in Law
• Four-year degree programs

2.2. Table of contents

The table of contents indicates the titles and page numbers at the beginning of the sections that make up the text of the thesis (chapters, sections, subsections, bibliography, etc.) and provides a snapshot of the content and structure of the paper. It has an organizational purpose with regard to the work being prepared and undergoes modification as the research on the thesis evolves and expands.

2.3. The introduction

The introduction, which is written after drafting the rest of the thesis, explains the choice of topic, the hypotheses that the candidate intends to prove and the tools used.

2.4. Chapters, sections and sub-sections

The body of the paper is subdivided into chapters, sections and subsections, numbered sequentially to facilitate internal references.

2.5. The conclusion

The last chapter of the thesis, it is presented as a response to the hypotheses presented in the introduction and comments on the results of the research.

2.6. Footnotes

Footnotes can be used for various purposes:

• to cite the sources of the topics discussed;
• to contain further information or digressions;
• to refer to other sections of the text.

Footnotes are at the bottom of the page and use a smaller font than the rest of the text. The numbers corresponding to the notes precede any punctuation marks, except in the case of quotes.

2.7. The bibliography

The bibliography lists and orders works consulted during the writing of the paper and the citations contained within it, and it contains the information needed to identify and find these documents. Given that there is no single citation style, several variations can be used, as long as the selected style is used consistently throughout the thesis.

Distinguishing different types of documents is essential:

• monographs;
• chapters of monographs;
• periodical articles;
• gray literature (material produced by an entity but not published by an editor);
• documents on the web.

Each of these is cited in a different way: for example, while the place of publication and the publisher must be indicated for monographs, this data can be omitted for periodicals because normally the name of the periodical is sufficient.

For further information on how to format bibliographic citations and use the Reference Management Systems, consult the guidelines in the dedicated guide: "How to prepare a bibliography".

3.1. Graphic standards

In order to reduce paper and ink consumption, in case of printing (however not required) it is recommended to follow the Guidelines for sustainable printing of theses and papers .

The same indications can, not necessarily, be used to format the PDF file sent to the Student Office via digital upload.  For administrative questions, contact the Student Office .

3.2. Foreign words and emphasis

The rules state that foreign words commonly used in Italian should be written normally; in other cases they should be italicized, except for proper names, official names of institutions, or laws, which are not considered to be foreign words. Latin terms are considered foreign and should be italicized. Italics are also used to draw attention to specific words or passages in the text, while double quotes are used for idiomatic expressions.

3.3. Figures and tables

The source and the date the information was updated must always be provided for graphs and tables.

3.4. Abbreviations

Abbreviations can be used in the body of the thesis, as well as in the notes and bibliography.

Abbreviations may be editorial:

• Article = art.
• Chapter = ch.
• Cited = cit.
• Compare = cf.
• Et cetera = etc.
• Edition = ed.
• Example = e.g.
• Figure = fig.
• Ibidem = ibid.
• Number = no.
• Work cited = op.cit.
• Pages = pp.
• And the following = et seq.
• No date = n.d.
• No place = n.p.
• Translated by/translation/translator = trans.
• Volume = vol.
• Volumes = vols.

Or related to the publications cited:

• J. = Journal
• Rev. = Revue, Review
• Riv. = Rivista
• Z., Zeit. = Zeitschrift Zh.
• Zhur. = Zhurnal
• Bull. = Bulletin
• Proc. = Proceedings
• Ann. = Annals,Annual 
• Hist. = History, Historical 
• Soc. = Society, Social
• Am., Amer. = America, American 
• Can., Canad. = Canada, Canadian 
• Brit. = British
• It., Ital. = Italy, Italian

A summary table of all abbreviations used in the paper should be included if they are used throughout the thesis.

4.1. How do I get started?

The Library staff provides general bibliographical information and guidance, as well as help with document retrieval and in consulting catalogs and databases.

In addition, you can use the online ask a librarian service for questions related to: writing a bibliography, getting information and material on a specific topic, information on research strategies and sources to consult, access to other libraries, information on the Library’s services and its print and electronic resources.

4.2. How do I find a book?

You can use  Luiss Discovery  that allows you to do a single integrated search of the majority of bibliographical and full text resources available in the Luiss Library and of other relevant, open source resources, as well as of the institutional archive  LuissThesis .

The list of results shows the location and the shelf-list of printed books or the link to access e-books.

If you do not find the book you are looking for in the catalog you can:

• consult other national catalogs such as  SBN , to see if other libraries in Rome have them, where you can go in person (for information  [email protected] );
• use the interlibrary loan service for books that are not in Rome (average wait time 10 days);
• send an acquisition recommendation   (average wait time 30 days).

Students can borrow up to 10 books for 40 days.

Remember that loans can be renewed up to their due date as long as other users have not reserved them.

Renewals can be done:

• through Luiss app;
• by logging into  Discovery  My Account section;
• by phone (06.8522.5600);
• by email ( [email protected] );

4.4. How can I find a periodical?

Consult the  Journal Search , which publishes all of the titles in print and/or electronic format available at the Library.

• The following information is included for printed periodicals: the name of the periodical, ISSN, room location, what the Library has and what it is missing;
• The following information is included for periodicals in electronic format: the title, with a direct link to the resource, ISSN, the full text of the cover, the database it belongs to and how to access it.

Remember that with the remote access service you can consult most of the Library’s electronic periodicals from home.

If the Library does not have the periodical that you are looking for, you can:

• Consult other national catalogs such as  ACNP  or   SBN   to see if other libraries   in Rome have them, where you can go in person (for information, please contact  [email protected] );
• Use the document delivery service for periodicals that are not found in Rome (average wait time: 7 days).

4.5. How to identify periodical articles?

If you already have the bibliographical data for the article, consult the Journal Search, which has the complete list of periodicals in print and/or electronic format available at the Library.

If the Library does not have the periodical you are looking for, you can:

• Consult other national catalogs such as  ACNP  or   SBN   to see if other libraries   in Rome have them, where you can go in person;
• Use the  document delivery  service for periodicals that are not found in Rome (average wait time: 7 days).

If you do not have the article’s bibliographical data or if you are looking for articles on a specific topic:

• Consult the  ESSPER  catalog (in Italian), which is freely accessible online;
• Consult the database of periodicals in electronic format, which can be searched by author, title or keyword.

Remember that with the remote access service you can consult most of the Library’s databases even from home.

The Library has a number of electronic resources that can be accessed from the thematic rooms, from the University’s network, or remotely; the main advantages of these with respect to the free information available on the web are:

• A guarantee of reliability and scientific quality;
• Increased time coverage: the availability of historical series;
• The possibility of processing the data available in spreadsheets or using graphs;
• The possibility of comparisons and analysis according to variables that you can choose.
• Graduate School | Master’s Thesis Guidance
• Department of Law | Guidance document for writing your Master Thesis

General Purpose Guides

Related content, best practices for avoiding plagiarism, how to prepare a bibliography, introduction to dewey decimal classification, luiss library guides, reference management systems: zotero.

School of Government Luiss Guido Carli

Joint Master in Global Economic Governance and Public Affairs

Live in Rome, Berlin and Nice while learning how governance is changing the global economy.

Become a member of a distinguished group of young students from a wide range of national and cultural horizons who strive to broaden their professional opportunities.

The Joint Master in Global Economic Governance and Public Affairs (GEGPA) is the result of a partnership between the School of Government of Luiss Guido Carli and the Centre International de Formation Européenne (CIFE).

The Master programme is focused on how to assess, manage and enhance private and public institutions’ governance with a wide range of economic and digital intelligence tools. The Master is taught in Rome , Berlin and Nice by renowned researchers and experienced professionals who combine second to none practical expertise and academic credentials. It combines on-site teaching, case studies, consulting missions, research thesis.

The one-year Joint Master Programme will be taught in English and will include terms in Rome, Berlin and Nice with 60 ECTS.

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Gain access to exclusive exhibitions, events, and behind-the-scenes tours.

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Closing Reception: 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition

• Closing Reception: 2024 M...

Meet this year's MFA students and glimpse the future of visual art!

Join the University of Arizona Museum of Art and School of Art in celebrating the 2024 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition . The reception is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

This exhibition is the culmination of the Master of Fine Arts Studio Degree and is presented during a graduate student’s final semester in the program. During the last year of their coursework, graduates work closely with faculty to develop a body of original art to present to the public in lieu of a written thesis.

The end result offers visitors the opportunity to see new, cutting-edge art in a variety of mediums and styles.

With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations at this event — such as ASL interpreting, closed-captioning, wheelchair access, or electronic text, etc. — please contact Visitor & Member Services Lead Myriam Sandoval , 520-626-2087.

Related Exhibition

April 13, 2024 through May 11, 2024

2024 MFA Thesis

Join UAMA and gain access to exclusive exhibitions, events, behind-the-scenes tours, and other exclusive benefits.

Support exhibitions, educational programs, acquisitions, archives, public art and enhancement of the Museum’s general operations.

Master of Architecture Thesis Presentations

Please join us on Wednesday May 1st for final thesis presentations by our Master of Architecture and dual degree candidates.

DB Commons (101) A

10:00-10:45 am Colleen Tully, MArch/MDes Home as the Nexus of Care: Cogenerational Communities for Aging in Place

10:50-11:35am Ashik Mubarak, MArch Urban Prison Link

11:40-12:25pm Jamie Jang, MArch Informal Regeneration

12:25-1:25 pm Lunch, Gallery / Commons

1:25-2:10 pm Tyler Young, MArch Regenerating the Urban Void: Design Strategies for Sustainable & Inclusive Communities

2:15-3:00 pm Palmer Berry, MArch Identifying Cultural and Spatial Intersections: The Experience of the In-Between

3:05-3:50 pm Olivia McCafferty, MArch The Evolution of Senior Living Design

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DB Commons (101) B

10:00-10:45 am Zander Auerbach, MArch Embodied Carbon: The Hidden Costs of the Modern “Green” Home

10:50-11:35am Emmit Varitimos, MArch 3D Printed Houses: Addressing America’s Housing Challenges

11:40-12:25pm Kayleigh Jackman, MArch Redefining 21st Century Schools: Exploring Innovative Design Solutions for Post-war Era Schools

1:25-2:10 pm Lauren Gonsalves, MArch/MDes After Renewal: An Approach to Architectural Reclamation

2:15-3:00 pm Alexander McNally, MArch Pavilion Park: Sustainability in Temporary Design

3:05-3:50 pm Anita Ghorbani, MArch Invisible In Borders

9:00-9:45 am (room 221) Sophie Kramer, MArch/MDes Examining Ecovillages: The Design and Implementation of Equitable and Accessible Sustainable Communities

10:00-10:45 am Leahna Agustin, MArch/MRP Adaptive Design Strategies

10:50-11:35am Chandana Palika, MLA Rooted Resurgence: Rejuvenating New Bedford’s Urban Core and Water edge

11:40-12:25pm Mikal Malkovich, MArch/MLA Re-Imagining Low-Density Residential Landscapes

1:25-2:10 pm Jacqueline Berlin, MArch/MLA Ethical Memorialization

2:15-3:00 pm Michael Riccio, MLA NPDES Stormwater Rule Compliance: Green Infrastructure Retrofits in the Tan Brook Watershed

3:05-3:50 pm Victoria Gitto, MArch/MLA Preserving Farm Connections

210 Design Building 551 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 577-0943 [email protected]