Common Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting IGNOU Synopsis to Your Guide

Submitting your IGNOU Approved Synopsis synopsis is a crucial step in your academic journey, but many students make errors that lead to delays. This detailed guide highlights the frequently occurring mistakes and how to prevent them when submitting your synopsis for approval.

1. Formatting Errors

These layout mistakes often lead to immediate rejection:

• 
  
• Incorrect Font Usage: Not using Times New Roman in 12pt size
• 
  
• Spacing Issues: Ignoring 1.5 line spacing requirements
• 
  
• Margin Problems: Using margins smaller than 2.5 cm
• 
  
• Page Limit Exceeded: Going beyond the prescribed limit
• 
  

2. Thematic Mistakes

Substantive errors in your synopsis content:

1. 
   
2. Vague Research Objectives: Unclear study goals that lack focus
3. 
   
4. Poor Literature Review: Incomplete references and citations
5. 
   
6. Methodology Flaws: Unrealistic research methods
7. 
   
8. Expected Outcomes: Unsubstantiated projected results
9. 
   

3. Guide Communication Errors

Mistakes in consulting your guide:

• 
  
• Late Submission: Sharing draft at last minute
• 
  
• Ignoring Feedback: Not addressing guide's suggestions
• 
  
• Missing Signatures: Submitting without proper approvals
• 
  
• Communication Gaps: Not discussing with your guide
• 
  

4. Technical Submission Mistakes

Errors in the submission process:

For Digital Submissions:

• 
  
• Uploading unreadable files
• 
  
• Exceeding page limit restrictions
• 
  
• Incorrect file labeling
• 
  

For Physical Submissions:

• 
  
• Unbound copies
• 
  
• Missing declaration
• 
  
• Submission to wrong office
• 
  

5. Citation Blunders

Common academic referencing mistakes:

• 
  
• Inconsistent Style: Mixing MLA formats randomly
• 
  
• Plagiarism: Copied content without attribution
• 
  
• Incomplete References: Missing publication dates
• 
  
• Over-reliance: Too many Wikipedia sources
• 
  

6. Scheduling Mistakes

Poor planning errors:

1. 
   
2. Starting synopsis at last moment
3. 
   
4. Not accounting for approval process
5. 
   
6. Missing submission dates
7. 
   
8. Underestimating correction period
9. 
   

7. Presentation Errors

Mistakes that diminish credibility:

• 
  
• Grammatical errors throughout text
• 
  
• Poor formatting across sections
• 
  
• Handwritten corrections on final copy
• 
  
• Missing page numbers
• 
  

8. Verification Before Submission

Essential verification steps:

9. Guide's Perspective

Understanding what evaluators typically reject:

• 
  
• Lack of originality in research idea
• 
  
• Overambitious research scope
• 
  
• Poor alignment with program objectives
• 
  
• Inadequate theoretical foundation
• 
  

10. Preventive Actions

How to avoid these mistakes:

1. 
   
2. Start early of deadlines
3. 
   
4. Create multiple drafts for review
5. 
   
6. Use IGNOU's templates
7. 
   
8. Seek colleague feedback
9. 
   
10. Verify all guidelines twice
11. 
    

11. After Rejection

Steps to take if your synopsis gets rejected:

• 
  
• Carefully review correction notes
• 
  
• Consult your guide
• 
  
• Make necessary improvements
• 
  
• Resubmit within given period
• 
  

12. Best Practices

Positive actions to impress evaluators:

• 
  
• Demonstrate depth of topic
• 
  
• Show feasible research methodology
• 
  
• Highlight academic significance
• 
  
• Present professional documentation
• 
  

Conclusion

Avoiding these frequent mistakes will significantly improve your chances of synopsis approval. Remember that your synopsis is the blueprint for your entire research project - investing time to get it right initially will save you from problems later. Always consult your guide and follow IGNOU guidelines meticulously for smooth approval.

Best wishes with your synopsis submission!