EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR THESIS

On this page, you will find helpful links, sample documents and tips that could help you write, edit and submit your thesis.

INFORMATION SEARCH FOR THESES

1. Library catalogs

FAMU Library web catalog

UKAŽ catalog, or Charles University from A to Ž: search simultaneously in all libraries and all Charles University databases (to help you find out what books and articles on the topic generally exist)

Union Catalog of the Czech Republic, a combined library catalog describing the collections of several libraries. Books from other libraries can also be borrowed through the interlibrary loan service.

If you look for a specific title and don't find it in the FAMU library, you can request a purchase through the online form.

2. Online databases

• Cinema and Media Studies – Oxford Bibliographies: A unique online encyclopedia to help you explore a topic. It offers a list of books, journals and articles on each subject. Includes citations only, not full texts.
   
• Screen Studies Collection (ProQuest): for searching film studies literature and detailed information about films and creators.
   
• Film & television literature index (EBSCO): for searching scholarly articles and book chapters.
   
• JSTOR Arts & Sciences: for searching journals, books and images.
   
• Platforms for all scientific disciplines, not only film studies: Google Scholar, academia.edu, JSTOR, ResearchGate, project MUSE.

Databases offer:

• Convenient access to both old and recent articles and books.
• Inspiration for the thesis topic.
• A broad overview of the film studies
• FAMU students and teachers have free access to the databases
• Find an overview of the available databases in online sources

HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM

"Plagiarism is presenting work or ideas from another source as your own, with or without consent of the original author, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. [...] Plagiarism can also include re-using your own work without citation. Under the regulations for examinations, intentional or reckless plagiarism is a disciplinary offence." (Oxford Students)

In practice, this means that all textual or non-textual sources must be acknowledged and cited correctly in your written work. Read a few points that will help you understand when plagiarism can happen and how it can be easily prevented. What is good to remember?

1. How plagiarism occurs

Plagiarism occurs when you quote someone else's idea or work without referencing the source you are quoting. However, plagiarism can also occur when you reference a source incorrectly. So plagiarism can also occur unintentionally.

2. What needs to be cited

It is necessary to cite the source not only for the text or idea taken but also for a picture, photograph, graph, etc.

3. How should the citation look like

The citation identifies the source and includes basic information such as the author's name, the title, ISBN etc. There are many citation styles, e.g. MLA, Chicago, Harvard or Vancouver. AMU Rector's Decree requires using the standard ISO 690 (010197).

4. Tools that can help

Use library catalogs and applications ("citation managers") that automatically create the citation: Citation Pro, Zotero etc. They ensure that all your citations are in the correct form.

5. How to paraphrase someone else's idea

Sometimes you don't quote word for word but use your own formulation. It means you paraphrase someone else's thoughts. Still, it is obligatory to reference the source to clarify which idea is whose. A direct quotation is reproduced word for word and with quotation marks around the quote. The paraphrase is written without quotation marks.

6. Beware of so-called self-plagiarism
If you have already submitted a text in another course or an article, you cannot reuse it in its entirety. In general, you can use part of your own work (published or unpublished), but you must reference it.

7. When working in a team

If your colleagues have worked on your text (article, study), you must list them as co-authors.

8. Plagiarism is usually detected

So-called "anti-plagiarism programs" are used to detect plagiarism. AMU uses the Theses.cz system, which collects theses from 61 colleges and universities in the Czech Republic. If plagiarism is detected, the degree may be revoked, even retroactively, within three years of graduation.

9. Follow the library's website

Use the information on the library's website to find and use resources correctly. We also provide training for working with electronic resources (online databases).

10. Useful links

Guides on avoiding plagiarism

• Handbook for students
• Handbook for academic staff