Contents:
General Format
Standard Document Format refers to one thesis document that addresses a single theme. The Pretext Pages, Introduction, Conclusion, and Bibliography are mandatory. Your committee determines the additional chapters; you choose the chapter titles. The following parts comprise the Standard Document Format:- Pretext Pages (see model pages illustrated in Figures 2-11)
- Chapter 1 – Introduction
- Chapter 2 – Literature Review
- Chapter 3 – Materials and Methods
- Chapter 4 – Results
- Chapter 5 – Discussion
- Chapter 6 – Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Appendices (optional) – refer to specific departmental guidelines.
Manuscript Document Format is a single thesis document made up of one to several scholarly manuscripts or journal articles addressing a common theme. All manuscripts/articles must be related or address a single, common theme. You must be the primary author of each manuscript. Co-authors other than your major professor must be mentioned in a Contribution of Authors page (see Figure 7) in the pretext section of the document. The following parts comprise the Manuscript Document Format:
- Pretext Pages (see model pages illustrated in Figures 2-11)
- Chapter 1 – General Introduction (common introduction linking all manuscripts thematically)
- Chapter 2 – First Manuscript
- Chapter 3 – Second Manuscript
- Chapter 4 – General Conclusion (common conclusion linking all manuscripts thematically)
- Bibliography (common bibliography covering all manuscripts, although each manuscript may have its own reference section)
- Appendices – (optional)
Note: Within the larger Manuscript Format thesis document, Chapter Heading Pages (see Figure 1 below) precede individual manuscripts that have already been published. Manuscripts must uniformly conform to these thesis guidelines.
Figure 1. Chapter Heading Page for Manuscript Document Format
Page Layout and Text Requirements
Margin
The left margin must be at least 1.5 inches (recommend 1.7). All other margins must be at least 1 inch. Nothing may invade a margin. Every page must meet margin requirements.
Page Numbering
Page numbers must appear at the top right corner of pages, at least 1inch from the top edge of the page and at least 1 inch from the right edge of the page. Page numbers must not invade any margins. There should be at least one return between the page number and the first line of text.
- Pretext pages:The abstract, copyright page, title page, and signature page in the pretext section are not numbered. Beginning with the page after the signature page, pretext pages are numbered with lower case Roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv)
- Body: The body of the text, including Appendix/Appendices and Bibliography, are numbered consecutively with Arabic Numbers (e.g. 2, 3, etc.). Page one, although counted, is not numbered. Most software comes with the ability to suppress page one numbering. If your software does not have this ability, remove the page number from page one manually.
Title
Your document begins with its title repeated and centered on page one. Titles longer than one line should be single-spaced. The document’s title does not count as a heading level.
Text Spacing
Use either double or single spacing for the body of text. Do not mix the spacing. Single spacing is preferred. If you use double spacing use single spacing in the following situations:
- For headings longer than one line
- For figure titles/legends
- For bibliographical and reference citations
- For direct quoted material
- For items listed within the body of the text (optional)
- Where indicated in the pretext section
Text Format Requirements
Font
Use regular, unadorned print, 10- to 12-point size for text (headings may be 14-point only if all headings are 14-point). Use the same font style and font size throughout.Headings
Chapter names are Level 1 headings. Subheadings of a chapter are Level 2 headings. Subheadings of chapter subheadings are Level 3 headings, and so forth. Each level must look different from the other levels. Headings of the same level must look the same throughout the document. All headings, regardless of level, must be the same font size. Either number all headings or number none (See figures 9 and 10). Single space headings that are more than one line, and use adequate and consistent spacing between headings and the text. A minimum of two subheadings may be used within a given level. Each level 1 heading begins a new page.Appendix Heading Page
A numbered, counted page should be inserted in front of your document’s appendix/appendices. The word APPENDIX (or APPENDICES) should be centered about 1/3 down this page. This heading page and its page number should appear in the Table of Contents.Blocked Quotes
Use Blocked Quotes for quoted material longer than three lines. Use the same font size as within the text. Single-space the quotation, and indent it evenly on both sides. There is no need to justify quotations.References
Use the same font size as within the text. Choose a reference style with the guidance of your major professor and your committee and be consistent. Single-space each citation, and use adequate and consistent spacing between citations.Endnotes
Footnotes collected at the end of a chapter are called endnotes. Use the same font size as within the text. Single-space each endnote, and use adequate and consistent spacing between endnotes.Orphan Lines/Headers/Footnotes
No orphan lines may appear at the top or bottom of a page. No headers or footers may be used. Footnotes are acceptable.Figures
Figures may be located in one of two places in your document. You must choose one system, and use it consistently throughout your work.
- Insert the figure within the text, as close as possible after the first reference is made to it.
- Place your figures at the end of the chapter in which it is first discussed or referenced.
Figure Labels and Captions
The definition of a figure is quite broad. “Figures” include charts, diagrams, drawings, examples, graphs, illustrations, maps, photographs, etc. In the majority of cases, if it’s not a table, it is a figure. A figure’s labels denote the type of figure and its number, and a figure’s caption is its title and description. Every figure must have a label and caption unless there is only one figure of its type in the document. Use consecutive label numbers by order of appearance within the text. Each figure must have a unique number. Illustrations that take up more than one page should have the label followed by “(Continued)” on the second page. Label and caption font size is the same as body text size. Use adequate (at least one return) and consistent spacing between and figure and its label and caption and between the figure and text. A figure’s label and caption should be placed outside its boundaries, commonly above a table and below an illustration. If both a figure and its label and caption do not fit on one page, place only the label on the page with the figure, and place the label and caption on a separate page that precedes the figure (called a legend page). Single-space the label and caption and center it 1/3 of the way down the page. Include no other text on this page. All figures must be listed in the pretext pages’ List of Figures. List the page number of the legend page in the pretext list.Tables
A table is broadly defined as a compact, systematic list of data (facts, figures, values, etc.), generally arranged in columns and/or rows. All tables must be listed in the pretext pages’ List of Tables.
Table Captions
Are located above the table, on the same page as the table. Table captions should contain the illustration number, i.e., Table 1 and its title. You may number tables consecutively throughout the text or within the chapter, i.e., Table 1.1 for the first table in Chapter 1 and Table 2.1 for the first title in Chapter 2. As always, pick one method and use it consistently throughout your document.Landscaping
Because of their shape, some figures may need to be placed crosswise on a page. If so, the top of the figure should be at the left margin as viewed normally (i.e. portrait orientation), and the caption should be parallel to the right margin. The page number keeps the same location and orientation as all other page numbers in the text. Margin requirements apply.Mounting
Figures should be photocopied directly onto the cotton bond paper whenever possible. If it is necessary to use original figures, they must be mounted onto the cotton bond paper with a spray adhesive. Rubber cement should not be used, because it yellows and deteriorates over time. To test if your figure is correctly mounted, put your fingernail under an edge and try to lift it away from the cotton bond paper—if it lifts even slightly at any edge, you must fasten it again.Color
Color used to differentiate lines, bars, or segments will reproduce as shades of gray on microfilm and in photocopies. Choose high-contrast colors that will remain distinct in the black-and-white process, or use symbols with or without the color. Photocopy the image directly onto cotton bond paper or use a laser printer. Do not print with water-based ink.Oversized Figures
There are 3 ways of managing the inclusion of oversized figures:- Reduction: Photographically reduce the size of figures to meet margin requirements. Page numbers and figure captions must remain the same font size as the text.
- Accordion Fold: The final, folded page must be 11 inches in height and no more than 8 inches wide. Fold the page from right to left, making the final folded width 8 inches. Fold the page a second time from left to right so the page number appears in the same position as all other pages in the text.
- Pocket Addition: The Library will attach a pocket to the back binding and fold the figure to fit it.
Document Parts
Presented in order of appearance
Regardless of general format, the thesis includes particular parts in an established order as listed below. Model pages are provided for most pretext pages. In all cases, margin requirements apply (see above) and the same font style/size must be used in the body of the text and elsewhere. All titles of pretext pages should be formatted identically with respect to font size and style.
- Pretext Pages
- Flyleaf—a blank page
- Abstract (see Figures 2, 3). An abstract is a summary of the document’s purpose, methods, major findings, and conclusions. All library copy abstracts must include the major professor’s original signature. Your name (designated “Student Name”) must appear exactly the same throughout the document. In all cases, use the official name of the major. Underline where indicated.
Figure 2. Abstract. - C. Copyright Page (see Figure 3)—optional but recommended. Print your name exactly as you did in the Abstract. Wording should begin 10 returns from the first line.
Figure 3. Optional Copyright Page. - Title Page (see Figure 4)
- Approval Page (see Figure 5). On the Approval Page, the Major Professor represents the major. The Approval Page considers your advisor as your major professor, regardless of his/her official rank or tenure home. Official major names and department names can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Some majors and departments have the same name while others differ. The major name used on the Approval Page should exactly match the one on the Abstract. All signatures collected on the library copies’ approval pages must be original. Your signature constitutes consent to have your document available for public reference in Lamson Library.
Figure 5. Standard Approval Page - Acknowledgments (see Figure 6)—optional but recommended. The exact content of this page is up to you. Use same text spacing either 1.5 or double space.
Figure 6. Acknowledgement Page. - Contribution of Authors (see Figure 7)—manuscript document format only
Figure 7. Contribution of Authors (manuscript format only) - Table of Contents (see figures 8 and 9). Ensure that the page numbers accurately reflect where the headings appear in the text. Listing the chapter headings in the Table of Contents is required; listing the subheadings is optional, and you may list some levels but not others. Levels are denoted by indention in the Table of Contents. Wording, spelling, and capitalization of headings in the Table of Contents must match the heading in the body of the text exactly. If headings are numbered in the Table of Contents, they must be numbered correspondingly in the text.
List appendix or appendices (if applicable) in the Table of Contents or in a separate List of Appendices. In either case, list the Appendices Heading Page (see page 3) in the Table of Contents. When listing an individual appendix, include its title.
If the Table of Contents is more than one page, subsequent pages should be headed “TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued).”
Return twice between the TABLE OF CONTENTS heading and the first item in the table.
Do not underline, bold, or italicize in the Table of Contents (unless the heading is a scientific species name)
Figure 8. Table of Contents with Numbering
Figure 9. Table of Contents without Numbering - List of Figures (see figures 10 and 11). Lists are required if two or more figures appear within the text.
- List of Tables (see figures 10 and 11). Lists are required if two or more tables appear within the text.
Choose one of the two methods of numbering in the model pages illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 and use it for both Lists of Figures and Lists of Tables. If a list is longer than one page, subsequent pages should be headed “LIST OF FIGURES (Continued)” or “LIST OF TABLES (Continued).” The first sentence of the figure or table caption must be listed, and the wording must match the text exactly. List only one page number per figure or table. When there is a legend page in front of a figure (see information on FIGURES below), list the legend page only.
Figures in the appendices are listed on a separate List of Appendix Figures list.Return twice between the LIST OF FIGURES/TABLES heading and the first listing.
Single-space listings with a single return if double spacing is used in the text, or 2 returns if 1.5 spacing is used.
Figure 10. List of Figures/Tables with Consecutive Numbering
Figure 11. List of Figures/Tables with Numbering by Chapter - List of Appendices (optional). If list of appendices is short, it may be attached to the Table of Contents. For more than 5 appendices, or list different heading levels are listed in the appendices, a separate List of Appendices is required. If two or more figures appear in the appendices, a List of Appendix Figures and/or a List of Appendix Tables are required.
- List of Appendix Figures. For two or more figures in the appendices.
- List of Appendix Tables. For two or more tables in the appendices.
- Other Lists. If you are including other lists, such as lists of abbreviations, nomenclature, symbols, and so forth, each list must have its own page. The elements of these lists do not need numbering or page numbers.
- Dedication (optional) If desired, you may dedicate your document to the honor of someone. Dedications are usually short. Margin requirements apply. Use the same font/font size as text body. Arrangement of page is at your discretion.
- Preface (optional)
- Body of Text (follow standard or manuscript document format)
- Bibliography
- Appendix/Appendices (optional)
- Biography (optional)
A biography of the candidate is optional and may be included in the thesis. It should be written in the third person and include the following information: place of birth, place of high school graduation, place and date of college graduation with degree(s) and major(s), professional or employment experience, scholarly publications, memberships in professional or honorary societies, and future plans or employment. The last sentence must state, “S/He is a candidate for the———degree in ——- from Plymouth State University in Month, Year.”. - Flyleaf (a blank page not numbered)
Printing and Packaging
Cotton Bond Paper: Cotton bond paper contains a minimum of 25% cotton bond fiber and has a weight of at least 16 lbs. (Standard cotton bond is usually 20 lbs.) Each sheet has a watermark with the cotton content noted. Cotton bond paper should be white for all documents and should not have texture or design lines. Purchase enough to use the same paper throughout the document and for any pages that are corrected after submission. Flyleaf pages are also the same paper.
