Graduate Students

Title Page
The title page is mandatory and must be prepared according to the template at the end of this writing guide. Use the template attached as a printed guide to placement of each element on the page. Insert the same number of blank lines as indicated on the template. Text and decorative lines must be centered between the top, bottom and left and right margins. (Top and bottom margins must be at least 1 1/4". Left margin must be 1 1/2" and right margin must be 1".) Hold your typed title page along with the printed template up to the light to align all text. Make adjustments as necessary.


Notes:

o The title of your thesis must not exceed 85 spaces (including the spaces between words and punctuation).

o Decorative lines must be 1 1/2" long.

o Check the University Catalog list of "Graduate Degrees" for the official name of your degree (i.e., "M.S. in Biological Science," rather than "M.S. in Biology"). Do not use the name of the degree Option.

o The date on the title page should be the month and year the degree will be awarded (the last month of the quarter you are graduating). For example, summer quarter 2006 ends September 3, so your thesis should be dated "September 2006".

o The title page is counted as page "i" but do not type this number on the page.

o Alignment of the elements on your title page will vary depending upon the font, word-processing program and printer you are using. For this reason, if you copy and paste the online title page template into a word-processing program, the results may not match the template.
 

Copyright Page
The inclusion of a copyright page is optional, but highly recommended. The U.S. Copyright Office has information for completing the copyright process at http://www.copyright.gov/register/literary.html. An additional handout is available from the Academic Programs and Graduate Studies Student Services office. To format your copyright page, choose one of the two following options. In the middle of the blank copyright page center (vertically and horizontally) your name and the year of the publication as follows:


Option 1
John Doe © 2006

Option 2
Copyright © 2006 by John Doe

If you do not have a font that includes the copyright symbol, e.g., "Symbol" font, you should type the "c" and draw a circle around it in permanent black ink.

If included, this page is numbered with a lower case Roman numeral "ii" centered between the margins at the bottom of the page.

Abstract
Inclusion of an abstract is optional. An abstract is a definitive statement of the problem, a brief description of research method and major findings, and conclusions. It is limited to one or two pages. Check with your department and/or Thesis Committee Chair to determine whether your thesis should have an abstract.

If included, double-space the text and use the same margins as the body of your thesis. These pages must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals, centered between the margins at the bottom of the page.

Approval (Signature) Page
The approval page is mandatory and must be prepared according to the template at the end of this writing guide.

Use the template attached as a printed guide to placement of each element on the page. Insert the same number of blank lines as indicated on the template. Left margin must be 1 1/2" and right margin must be 1". Hold your typed approval page along with the printed template up to the light to align all text. Make adjustments as necessary.

The signature lines must be 2 1/2" in length and the date lines 2" in length as on the template. Also, the name of each committee member must be typed immediately beneath his or her respective signature line. As with your title page, the alignment of the elements on your approval page will vary depending upon the font, word-processing program and printer you are using.

This page must be numbered with a lower case Roman numeral, centered between the margins at the bottom of the page.

Preface
Inclusion of a preface is optional. In general, a preface is written to explain the motivation for making the study, the background for the project, scope of the research, and purpose of the paper.

The preface should be double-spaced and have the same margins as the body of your thesis. It may also include some acknowledgments if the "Acknowledgments" section has been omitted.

If included, this page must be numbered with a lower case Roman numeral centered between the margins at the bottom of the page.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments are not required, but a brief statement may be included to thank mentors, colleagues, individuals or institutions that supported research, or to give credit to works cited in the text for which permission to reproduce has been granted. Students are cautioned to prevent their statement from being overly long or personal in nature. An appropriate acknowledgment includes thanking an institution which sponsored an internship.

The acknowledgments should be double-spaced and have the same margins as the body of your thesis. If included, this page must be numbered with a lower case Roman numeral centered between the margins at the bottom of the page.

Table of Contents
The table of contents is mandatory and should have the same margins as the body of your thesis. Center the title "Table of Contents" at the top of the page and list all parts of the thesis except the blank pages, title page, and approval page. For the remainder of the table, follow the requirements of the stylebook of your professional field.

Note: You should double-space between all the major section headings (i.e., Lists of Tables, Chapters, Bibliography, etc.). You may, if you wish single-space between subheads that are listed under the main headings. All columns must align neatly—ragged columns are not acceptable.

SAMPLE FORMAT:

(* Note: The column of page numbers is aligned on the right.)

The table of contents must be numbered with a lower case Roman numeral centered between the margins at the bottom of the page(s).

Lists of Figures, Graphs, Photos, Plates, Maps or Tables
If your thesis includes figures, graphs, photos, plates, maps or tables, you must include these lists. Do not include any items that you have placed in an appendix in your Lists of Figures, Graphs, Photos, Plates, Maps or Tables. Place each list on a separate page and use the same margins as the body of your thesis. Center the title (i.e., "List of Tables" or "List of Figures") at the top of the page and list tables or figures with page numbers in aligned columns. In general, follow the requirements of the stylebook for your professional field.

You may choose to use the same format as the "Table of Contents" sample in the previous section. You should, however, double-space between each item—i.e., figure or table heading. (You may single-space between the lines of the heading.) Note: columns must align neatly—ragged columns are not acceptable.

These lists must be numbered with a lower case Roman numeral centered between the margins at the bottom of the page(s).

Text
The main body of the thesis is usually separated into well-defined divisions, such as chapters, and may begin with a brief chapter entitled "Introduction," or simply start with Chapter One. Follow the requirements of the stylebook for your professional field. Note: text must be double-spaced and printed on one side of the paper only.

Begin numbering with Arabic numerals (starting with page 1) at the upper right corner of the page and continue numbering each page to the end of the thesis. See # 7, "Pagination Requirements" under General Format Requirements.

Endnotes
Include this section only if notes were not in the text or at the end of chapters. Also see # 10, "Footnote Requirements" under General Format Requirements for additional information on endnotes. Center the title "Notes" or "Endnotes" at the top of the page. In general, follow the requirements of the stylebook for your professional field. Text within individual citations/notes should be single-spaced, with double-spacing between each citation/note. Students should refer to the stylebook of their profession for specifics. Endnotes must use the same font, font size and margins as the text of the thesis.

Bibliography
This section may be mandatory, depending upon requirements of the stylebook for your professional field. Center the title "Bibliography," "References," or “Works cited” at the top of the page and format the bibliography accordingly. Text within individual citations should be single-spaced, but double-space between each citation/note. Students should refer to the stylebook of their profession for specifics. The bibliography must use the same font and font size as the text of the thesis.

Appendix/Appendices
Inclusion of appendices is optional. Items properly relegated to an appendix are explanations and elaborations not essential to the work of the thesis, but helpful to a reader seeking further clarification. Some examples might include: texts of documents or laws, long lists, questionnaires and sometimes even charts or tables. If charts or tables are placed in an appendix, they would not be included in your List of Tables or List of Figures at the beginning of your thesis.

Do not place figures, tables, charts, graphs, photos or other work that is needed and directly supports the work of your thesis in an appendix.

Materials of separate categories should be placed in separate appendices. If there is more than one appendix, each should be given a number or letter: Appendix 1, Appendix 2, etc., or Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. Center the title of each appendix at the top of the page. Another option is to center the title on a separate sheet (in the middle of the page or at the top) immediately preceding the appendix.

Items placed in an appendix should be named and numbered separately from similar items in the body of your thesis. In general, format the appendices according to the requirements of the stylebook for your professional field.

Note: All items (i.e., text, charts, graphs, tables, etc.) in the appendices must use the same font and font size as the text of the thesis. Text should be double-spaced. Exceptions to this rule may be made as indicated under the appropriate section in the University Thesis Writing Guide. For example, see "Requirements for Charts, Figures, Graphs, Tables, etc." for exceptions allowed in presenting tables. In addition, sample surveys, letters, questionnaires, etc. can be used in their original form.

If the appendix includes charts/graphs or other illustrations, they must be generally consistent with each other in style and presentation.

All pages of the Appendices must have the same margins as the body of the thesis and all pages must be numbered with Arabic numerals in the upper right corner using the same font and font size as in the body of the thesis. Photocopies should be clean and sharp.

Begin numbering the appendices with the number which follows the last page of the previous section. If you are using items in their original form, these must be reduced to fit within the prescribed margins. You may choose to have a copy center reduce these for you. Also if you are using items in their original form, white-out old page numbers and recopy the item.
 

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