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  • Formatting Requirements

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (ETDs)

  • Submission Checklist
  • Submission Deadlines

Required formatting for submission to be completed.

Elements of an Electronic Thesis or Dissertation

The most important page to get right.

  • What to include
  • How to format it

Download Example (PDF)

Front Matter

  • Table of contents, abstract, lists, etc
  • Guidelines for deciding what to include and in which order

General Formatting

  • Order of required content
  • Spacing and type
  • PDF/A export

“A thesis submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of [your Masters degree]”

“A dissertation submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of [your doctoral degree]”

(optional)

Annotated Title Page Example

annotated title page

Download Annotated Front Matter (PDF)

fonts that are commonly found on most computers are preferred for accessibility
, or the

PDF/A Export

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format (PDF) specialized for the digital preservation of electronic documents. You need to save your dissertation as a PDF/A file and upload it as your official submission. For more information, see the Wikpedia article on the format.

Note for Mac users: that while you can save a Word for Windows document as a PDF/A (see below for instructions) you cannot do so directly from Word for Mac. If you are a Mac user, consider saving your Word document as a PDF/A using a Windows computer, such as at the library, or use Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Notes about PDF/A format

  • you cannot include audio and video content; still images are fine
  • you cannot include JavaScript or executable files
  • fonts must be embedded

If you need to include audio, video, or other files, you can submit them as supplementary files. Contact us at [email protected] for more help with PDF/A or supplementary files.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

  • Select “PDF Standards” in the Tools menu
  • Select “Preflight” in the right hand column
  • Select “PDF/A Compliance”
  • Double-click “Convert to PDF/A-1b” then “Save”
  • Review your document to ensure it appears as you expect it to

Word for Windows

  • Select “File” then “Save as Adobe PDF”
  • Make sure file type is “pdf files”
  • Select “Options” and a box with “PDF Options” will open
  • Check the “Create PDF/A” box, then select “OK” and “Save”
  • Follow the instructions for using a LaTeX template
  • The Library does not provide support for LaTeX. Access a student-created template on GitHub

Contact ETD Office

Milton S. Eisenhower Library [email protected]

ETDs on JScholarship

Electronic theses and dissertations from JHU students. Go to ETDs

JScholarship Home

Open access publications from JHU faculty and students. Visit JScholarship

Please start by reviewing the formatting requirements and submission checklist .

If you have additional questions, email [email protected] for the fastest response.

If we are unable to resolve your inquiry via email, you may request an in-person meeting. Due to the volume of ETDs, we cannot meet on deadline days, or the two days before deadlines.

Please note we do not provide formatting reviews by email, only via the submission system .

Thesis & Dissertation Guidelines

These guidelines provide students at Vanderbilt University with essential information about how to prepare and submit theses and dissertations in a format acceptable to the Graduate School. You can either explore the guidelines by topic below or review the complete Format Guidelines document .

General Information

Manuscript preparation.

  • NEW: Dissertation Template
  • Approved LATEX Template for Dissertations

Submission Requirements

Students in foreign language departments may submit manuscripts in a language other than English. The abstract, however, must be in English.

You may use a multi-part presentation format for combining original research that has been conducted in two or more related or non-related areas, or for presentation of combined journal articles (published or submitted for publication). You should organize the parts or articles into chapters, with well-defined subheadings, including an introduction, methods, results and discussion. Each chapter may contain its own list of references and appendices, or you may list them all at the end, depending on the custom of your discipline.When using this format, the thesis or dissertation should nonetheless consist of an integrated argument that binds the chapters together. You should include the appropriate preliminary pages, an introduction presenting the general theme of the research, and a conclusion summarizing and integrating the major findings. Any additional appendices related to the dissertation as a whole or any general references from the introduction, conclusion or transitional sections should come at the end of the dissertation.

When you have previously published portions of your thesis or dissertation as an article or book chapter, you must ensure the work may also be published as part of the dissertation or thesis. The  standard provisions of copyright law  regarding quoted and previously published material under copyright apply to the publication of theses and dissertations. Many publishers provide exceptions to work published as part of graduation requirements and this is often clearly outlined as part of the publication agreement signed by the author.In order to include your own previously published or co-authored material in your thesis or dissertation, you must comply with the following:

  • You must be the first author, or obtain permission from your committee, to be uploaded as an Administrative file in Vireo.
  • The article must be based on research completed while you were enrolled at Vanderbilt University.
  • You must have permission from the publisher to reuse the work, which should be uploaded to VIREO as an Administrative file. The record of permission may take the form of the publishing agreement, a copy of the publisher’s webpage describing reuse rights, or an email approval from the publisher. You should also identify which chapters are associated with which articles when prompted within VIREO.
  • If there are co-authors, you must obtain the permission of all co-authors to include the work in the thesis or dissertation as a matter of both copyright law and professional courtesy. Include these permissions (email approval is acceptable) as an Administrative file in VIREO.
  • You must properly acknowledge previously published material and any co-authors within the text of your manuscript. This would typically take the form of a footnote, or, alternately, an italicized statement beneath the relevant chapter heading. The rubric should be: “This chapter is adapted from [Title] published in [Journal] and has been reproduced with the permission of the publisher and my co-authors [List co-authors]” and include the full citation required by the publisher, if any, or appropriate to your discipline.

If the work is submitted to the ProQuest database, ProQuest will scan the document to ensure it contains no copyrighted material without consent and proper citation.

Inclusion of Third-Party Content

If you are including content in your dissertation not authored or created by you, consider copyright issues. If your use of the content would exceed fair use under the Copyright Act, then you will need to seek the copyright holder’s permission in order to use the material. Obtaining copyright permissions often takes time and should not be left until the last minute.You should discuss questions about copyrighted material with your dissertation advisor or contact the VU Librarian for Copyright and Scholarly Communications at  [email protected]  for help evaluating fair use or obtaining permissions.

Your thesis or dissertation is automatically protected by copyright as soon as it is fixed in a tangible form, such as being saved as an electronic file.  Although not required, it is good practice to include the copyright symbol, your name, and the year on the title page of your work (© 2017 by [your name]).You also may choose to register your copyright, which will gain you additional protections in case of litigation for copyright infringement. You can file a copyright registration online directly with the  U.S. Copyright Office  for a fee of $45.00.

You will be asked to agree to the license to deposit your submission to the Vanderbilt Institutional Repository.  The Library, with the Vanderbilt Institutional Repository, enhances the metadata provided with your dissertation and adds your record to discovery tools like the Library Catalog and WorldCat, making it easily findable for scholars worldwide. The library also maintains the technical infrastructure of the repository.  If you plan to make your dissertation open access, we can assist you in understanding the options for licensing. If your dissertation makes use of copyrighted content, you will want to think early on about whether you may rely on fair use or need to acquire licenses. We will be glad to meet with you to discuss the requirements of your particular project.PhD students also have the option to request deposit of your submission with ProQuest, at no additional cost to you. If you elect to deposit your submission with ProQuest, you must also agree to the ProQuest license. This agreement is entirely between you and ProQuest.  Vanderbilt’s sole responsibility is to pass on the license agreement and your work to ProQuest.  Please contact ProQuest Dissertation Publishing, at 1(800) 521-0600 or  [email protected]  with any questions.

The expectation of the Graduate School is that all theses and dissertations will be made publicly available absent these limited circumstances.  You have the option to make your submission available immediately or to temporarily embargo its release for a limited period of time. Students may elect to embargo their work if they anticipate publication, are making a patent application, have restrictions imposed by sponsors, or privacy concerns.  Metadata, including the abstract, about your submission will still be visible in the Vanderbilt Institutional Repository, thereby indicating that your submission was accepted.  You should discuss any anticipated hold on publication with your advisor. If selecting the ProQuest publishing option, be sure that you make the same embargo selection under the Vanderbilt options. Once your submission has been released to ProQuest, we have no ability to retract it.If, after consultation with your advisor, you would like to request a temporary embargo, you can elect from the following:

  • No embargo and release immediately for worldwide access
  • Six (6) month embargo
  • Twelve (12) month embargo
  • Twenty-four (24) month embargo

If you, after consultation with your advisor, determine that you need to extend your embargo beyond your initial selection, you can only do so with permission from the Graduate School. If you have questions about your embargo, you may email  [email protected]

The Graduate School recommends Campus Copy for procuring bound copies of theses and dissertations. You may contact them directly at 615-936-4544, or online at  Printing Services .

These guidelines provide students at Vanderbilt University with essential information about how to prepare and submit theses and dissertations in a format acceptable to the Graduate School. The topics range from writing style to the completion of required forms. There are instructions and sample pages on the Graduate School website for guidance through this process.

There is a distinct difference between submitting a manuscript to a publisher and providing a completed thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School. A manuscript represents a pre-publication format; a thesis or dissertation is a final, completely edited, published document. Students should use these guidelines, not other style manuals, as the final authority on issues of format and style. Areas not covered in this document or deviation from any of the specifications should be discussed with a Graduate School format editor. Do not use previously accepted theses and dissertations as definite models for style.

Manuscripts consist of four major sections and must be placed in the order listed:

  • Title Page (required)
  • Copyright (optional)
  • Dedication (optional)
  • Acknowledgments/Acknowledgment of Support (optional)
  • Table of Contents (required)
  • List of Tables (required, if tables are in the body of the manuscript)
  • List of Figures (required, if figures are in the body of the manuscript)
  • List of Abbreviations/Nomenclature/Symbols (optional)
  • Introduction (may be referred to as Chapter 1)

Body of Manuscript

  • References  (required)
  • Appendices  (optional)

The dedication is an optional portion of the academic manuscript. It is a personal message from the author in tribute to a person, group, or cause. Most dedications are brief statements beginning with “To…” or “For…” such as “To my family” or “For my daughter, Samantha.” The dedication, if any, is considered to be the sole work of the author and does not reflect endorsement of the views and opinions expressed therein by Vanderbilt University, the Graduate School, or the members of the faculty committee.

The acknowledgment is another optional portion of the academic manuscript. It is appropriately used to thank those people and organizations that have helped or encouraged the author in the process of obtaining the degree or otherwise making the graduate degree possible: advisers, the committee, labmates or members of one’s cohort, family, friends, etc. Typically, an acknowledgment is no more than 1 page in length.Acknowledgment of grant/contract or other financial support may be included on the acknowledgment page. Similarly, permission to reprint copyrighted material may be included here.The acknowledgment, if any, is considered to be the sole work of the author and does not reflect endorsement of the views and opinions expressed therein by Vanderbilt University, the Graduate School, or the members of the faculty committee.

The abstract is a separate document from the manuscript; it is not bound with the thesis or dissertation. Abstracts must be printed on white, 8 ½ x 11-inch paper. No page numbers are printed on the abstract. One copy is required. Abstracts must have the original signature(s) of the faculty advisor(s). The maximum length of the thesis abstract is 250 words. The maximum length of the dissertation abstract is 350 words, including the dissertation title. Majors are listed on the last pages of these guidelines. NEW: Abstract sample

The title page must be printed on white, 8 ½ x 11-inch paper. Committee member signatures on the title page must be originals. Spacing on the title page will vary according to the length of the title. The five lines following your name must be formatted exactly as found on the sample title page. The title page is considered page ‘i’ but the page number is not printed on the page.  The month, day, and year representing the conferral date must be listed on the title page.

  • NEW: ETD Title Page sample
  • NEW: Title Page With Signatures sample

Use a standard font consistently throughout the manuscript. Font size should be 10 to 12-point for all text, including titles and headings. It is permissible to change point size in tables, figures, captions, footnotes, and appendix material. Retain the same font, where possible. When charts, graphs, or spreadsheets are “imported,” it is permissible to use alternate fonts. Italics are appropriate for book and journal titles, foreign terms, and scientific terminology.  Boldface  may be used within the text for emphasis and/or for headings and subheadings. Use both in moderation.

Measure the top margin from the edge of the page to the top of the first line of text. Measure the bottom page margin from the bottom of the last line of text to the bottom edge of the page. Page margins should be a minimum of one-half inch from top, bottom, left, and right and a maximum of one inch from top, bottom, left, and right. Right margins may be justified or ragged, depending upon departmental requirements or student preference.

The title page is considered to be page ‘i’ but the page number should not be printed on this page. All other pages should have a page number centered about ½ inch from the bottom of the page. Number the preliminary pages in lowercase Roman numerals. Arabic numerals begin on the first page of text. Pages are numbered consecutively throughout the remainder of the manuscript. The Introduction may be placed before the first page of Chapter 1, if it is not considered a chapter. The use of Arabic numbers may begin on the first page of the Introduction.

The entire text may be single-spaced, one and one-half spaced, or double-spaced. Block quotations, footnotes, endnotes, table and figure captions, titles longer than one line, and individual reference entries may be single-spaced. With spacing set, the following guidelines should be applied: Two enters after chapter numbers, chapter titles and major section titles (Dedication, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, List of Abbreviations, Appendices, and References). Two enters before each first- level and second-level heading. Two enters before and after tables and figures embedded in the text. One enter after sub-level headings.

Chapters may be identified with uppercase Roman numerals or Arabic numbers. Styles used on the Table of Contents should be consistent within the text. Tables, figures, footnotes, and equations should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript with Arabic numerals. These may also be numbered consecutively by each chapter. Equation numbers should be placed to the right of the equation and contained within parentheses or brackets. Use uppercase letters to designate appendices.

Departments will determine acceptable standards for organizing master’s theses into chapters, sections, or parts.  Usually, if a thesis has headings, a Table of Contents should be included. The dissertation must be divided into chapters. The use of parts, in addition to chapters, is acceptable.

Words and Sentences

Take care to divide words correctly. Do not divide words from one page to the next. Word processing software provides for “widow and orphan” protection. Utilize this feature to help in the proper division of sentences from one page to another. In general, a single line of text should not be left at the bottom or top of a page. Blank space may be left at the bottom of a page, where necessary.

Headings and Subheadings

Use headings and subheadings to describe briefly the material in the section that follows. Be consistent with your choice of “levels” and refer to the instructions on spacing for proper spacing between headings, subheadings, and text. First-level headings must be listed on the Table of Contents. Second-level and subsequent subheadings may be included.

Acronyms/Abbreviations/Capitalization

Abbreviations on the title page should appear as they do in the body of the thesis or dissertation. (Examples:  Xenopus laevis , Ca, Mg, Pb, Zn; TGF-β, p53.) Capitalize only the first letter of words of importance, distinction, or emphasis in titles and headings. Do not alter the all-cap style used for acronyms (Example: AIDS) and organizational names (Example: IBM). Use the conventional style for Latin words (Examples:  in vitro, in vivo, in situ ). Genus and species should be italicized. Capitalize the first letter of the genus, but not that of the species name (Example:  Streptococcus aureus ).

Figures commonly refer to photographs, images, maps, charts, graphs, and drawings. Tables generally list tabulated numerical data. These items should appear as close as possible to their first mention in the text. Tables and figures may be placed in appendices, if this is a departmental requirement or standard in the field. Tables and figures should be numbered with Arabic numerals, either consecutively or by chapter. Be consistent in the style used in the placement of tables and figure captions. Tables and figures may be embedded within the text or placed on a page alone. When placed on its own page, a figure or table may be centered on the page. When included with text, a table or figure should be set apart from the text. Tables and figures, including captions, may be oriented in landscape. Make sure to use landscape page positioning on landscape-oriented pages. Table data and figure data must be kept together, if the information fits on one page.

The submission process for theses and dissertations begins at the Graduate School. Forms must be digitally submitted to the Graduate School. View the Checklist for Graduation

The Vanderbilt Libraries have recently implemented  VIREO , an Electronic Thesis & Dissertation review and submission system for the Graduate School. The Graduate School requires electronic submission of all theses and dissertations through this new platform. Format reviews now occur within the VIREO submission process. If you have questions or would like an in-person format review,  contact administrators .Students will use their VUnet ID and password to log in and begin completing the appropriate information, as outlined below.

Verify Your Information

  • Orcid ID (can obtain in VIREO)
  • Department/Program, Degree, Major
  • Phone & Address

 License & Publication Agreements

  • Vanderbilt License Agreement (required)
  • ProQuest Publication (optional)

 Document Information

  • Title, degree month/year, defense date, abstract, keywords, subjects, language
  • Your committee, Chair email
  • Previously published material (optional)
  • Embargo options

Upload Your Files

  • Primary document: thesis/dissertation
  • Additional files: supplemental, source, administrative (CV, Survey of Earned Doctorates (additional SED information is in the Ph.D. Dissertation Requirements accordion below))

Confirm and Submit

  • Students will receive a confirmation email once submitted

Any documents you will be uploading into VIREO as administrative files should be saved as a PDF, and named with your last name, first name-file-conferral month and year. Examples:

  • King, Amanda-IntraTermApp-032021.pdf
  • King, Amanda-CV-052021.pdf
  • King, Amanda-SED-052021.pdf
  • King, Amanda-Title Page-052021.pdf
  • King, Amanda-Permissions-052021.pdf
  • King, Amanda-DGS Approval-052021.pdf

Intent to Graduate

Students planning to graduate at the end of the fall, spring, or summer term should submit the Intent to Graduate form through YES by clicking on Graduation – Intent. Note that all masters students should submit this form , even if they are receiving a master’s in passing to the PhD.

Format Review

A format review is required before thesis or dissertation approval. Review will take place through VIREO when you first upload your document. Allow time before the deadline for review and revisions. For questions contact  [email protected] .

Submit one copy of the title page, with original signatures of the advisor and a second reader (either a member of the committee or DGS of the program). The date on the title page will reflect the month, day, year of degree conferral.

Submit one copy of the abstract with the signature of the advisor.

Intent to Graduate 

Students planning to graduate at the end of the fall, spring, or summer term should submit the Intent to Graduate form through YES by clicking on Graduation – Intent.

Defense Results

Students must schedule the Defense Exam with the Graduate School two weeks prior to the exam. Students will bring the Defense Results Form (along with the Title Page & Abstract) to obtain committee signatures. Upload the signed title page and abstract as one administrative file (title page first followed by abstract) to VIREO as an administrative file, and have your department submit the defense results to the graduate school submissions portal.

Upload your signed title page as an administrative file in VIREO. The date on the title page will reflect the month, day, year of degree conferral. Be sure it is the date of conferral and not the date of your defense.

Upload your signed abstract as an administrative file in VIREO.

Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

Students finishing a doctorate degree are required to complete the  SED survey . Information provided to the National Opinion Research Council remains confidential and will be used for research or statistical purposes. Submit the Certificate of Completion with your VIREO submission as an administrative file.

Curriculum Vitae

Submit your CV through your VIREO submission as an administrative file. Directions on preparing a curriculum vitae are available here.

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What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

  • PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
  • DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
  • Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

DOI link for A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

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A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation provides clear, succinct, and intentional guidelines about organizing and writing a thesis or dissertation. Part I provides an overview for writing a thesis or dissertation. It describes the big picture of planning and formatting a research study, from identifying a topic to focusing on writing quality. Part II describes the framework and substance of a research study. It models the pattern generally found in a formal, five-chapter research study.

Each chapter of a thesis or dissertation has a specific purpose, and this book focuses on each in an easy-to-follow structure. Chapter One reviews the headings and contents expected in the introduction of a study. Chapter Two provides advice for writing a literature review. Chapter Three discusses what to include when describing the methodology. These first three chapters form the proposal section of a study. Two additional chapters present results (Chapter Four) and provide discussion and conclusions (Chapter Five).

Appendices offer resources for instructors and students, including a rubric for evaluating writing, exercises to strengthen skills in APA format, sample purpose statements, a research planning organizer, and a guide for scholarly writing. The book is designed overall to be a practical guide and resource for students for their thesis or dissertation process.

Note to readers: Due to publishing limitations, some of the titles within the book do not accurately conform with APA format. For precise APA format, please see the APA manual (2010, pp. 62-63), or refer to Table 1.1, (p. 8) or Table D.1 (p. 107) in this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part i | 12  pages, the big picture, part ii | 72  pages, framework and substance of chapters, chapter chapter 1 | 17  pages, introduction, chapter chapter 2 | 12  pages, review of the literature, chapter chapter 3 | 22  pages, methodology, chapter chapter 4 | 13  pages, findings and analysis, chapter chapter 5 | 4  pages, summary, discussion of findings and conclusions, and recommendations.

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Tribhuvan University, Faculty of Management has published Masters Degree Dissertation (Thesis) Writing Guideline (Format) 2019. About Dissertation Guidelines These dissertation guidelines have been created as a guide to help Master?s level students establish minimum requirements, academic standards, the physical format and appearance of dissertation. The purpose is to provideacademic requirements and structural guidelines required for dissertation writing to the studentsunder the Faculty of Management (FOM), Tribhuvan University(TU). The FOM encourages the preparation of documents to be consistent with the specialized requirements prior to the submission. Submission of this document is the final step in a program leading to conferral of a Master?s degree. DOWNLOADS 1. Masters Degree Dissertation Writing Guideline 2019  [ DOWNLOAD ] READ ALSO:

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IMAGES

  1. University Thesis Guidelines Office of Graduate Studies

    thesis guidelines 2019

  2. Guidelines for Thesis Writing and Defense Presentation

    thesis guidelines 2019

  3. Muhs Thesis Guidelines 2019

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  4. (PDF) Guidelines for Writing Bachelor or Master Thesis

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  1. MBS Thesis

  2. PUP RMO THESIS AND DISSERTATION GRANTS 2019

  3. Thesis submission guidelines: How to prepare a fool proof plan before submission

  4. DPSRU Student Guidelines for uploading Thesis/Dissertation

  5. MBS Thesis

  6. Thesis/ Dissertation Formatting and Guidelines Workshop

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Master s Degree Dissertation Guidelines- 2019

    Master's Degree Dissertation Guidelines- 2019 of Faculty of Management, Tribhuvan University 7 CHAPTER III: Requirements Requirements for Master's Dissertation A master‟s thesis is a substantial document presenting independent research that makes a contribution to the current body of knowledge in a scholarly field. The author may conduct an

  2. PDF Senior Thesis Guidelines

    GUIDELINES (& SOME ADVICE) FOR SENIOR THESIS WRITERS AND ADVISORS 2019-2020 1. IMPORTANT DATES 2. FORMAT AND CITATIONS 3. ADVICE FOR WRITERS AND ADVISORS 4. STANDARDS FOR EVALUATION 5. ORAL EXAMS, DEPARTMENTAL AND COLLEGE HONORS This is a document for senior thesis writers and their allies. The first three parts should help thesis

  3. PDF Thesis & Dissertation Format Guidelines

    These guidelines set forth the format requirements for all masters' theses and doctoral dissertations at Cleveland State University. (For purposes of brevity and clarity, the terms "thesis" or "theses" may be used to discuss both the master's thesis and the doctoral dissertation, except in cases where the requirements differ for the ...

  4. PDF Master'S Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines

    Further questions about archival standards or approval of your thesis/dissertation format may be directed to the Reference Desk at 510-649-2501 or [email protected]. The Reference Desk is open Monday-Friday 8:30 - 4 pm for these reviews, though special closures may occur.

  5. PDF UD-Thesis-Manual-19

    The University of Delaware regards your thesis or dissertation as a professional document that conforms to the standards of scholarly writing and follows the guidelines set forth in this manual. Doctoral papers are expected to reflect the results of original and significant research written in a scholarly and literate manner worthy of publication.

  6. PDF THESIS AND DISSERTATION MANUAL Academic Year: 2019-2020

    INTRODUCTION. This manual sets requirements for thesis/dissertation format established by Graduate Studies at the University of Central Florida and its use ensures consistency in format and appearance for all theses/dissertations completed at the university.

  7. PDF Master of Public Health (MPH) Thesis Guide

    2 DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL HEALTH - MPH THESIS GUIDE - MAY 2019 I. OVERVIEW This manual presents thesis guidelines for students and faculty in the Department of Global Health (DGH). The outline presented here incorporates departmental and Graduate School requirements, and includes discussion

  8. PDF Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines

    and Thesis Guidelines 2018-2019 ... Thesis Guidelines, the requirements of the Guidelines should be followed. If you need assistance citing references or choosing the right style manual for your field, visit ualr.libguides.com. On that site, you will find online style manuals as

  9. PDF GUIDELINES FOR MASTER DISSERTATION

    GUIDELINES FOR MASTER DISSERTATION | 2019-21 students 28 February 2020 This document presents the guidelines of the Master (MA) dissertation for students enrolled in ... thesis, describe the methods used, and highlight the main findings and/or conclusions. ... The Research Ethics Guidelines define the Graduate Institute's position towards ...

  10. PDF The EPS Senior Thesis Guide

    as of the 2019/20 academic year, introduce the student at the final oral presentation. ... aspects of the senior thesis program, establishes guidelines for funding, and assigns final thesis grades. The UCC members also support the senior thesis students by attending both the mid-year (December) and final (May) oral presentations and providing ...

  11. PDF Microsoft Word

    ABSTRACT: Every thesis must contain a one-page abstract (two or three paragraphs, single-spaced). See sample at the end of this document. TABLE OF CONTENTS: The table of contents should identify the principal parts of the thesis, with appropriate page numbers. The table of contents is not a highly detailed outline.

  12. PDF A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing

    Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith. A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing. By Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith. This book first published 2019. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

  13. PDF DISSERTATION GUIDELINES

    SSERTATION GUIDELINES dissertation expands understand. ng of a social problem. It demonstrates the candidate's ability to conduct independent research and to make an original co. tribution to the field. In consultation with their dissertation chair, candidates should choose to organize their dissertation manuscript as either a book (see ...

  14. Formatting Requirements

    Required Formatting. Abstract. Required. Must directly follow the title page. Double-spaced. Not more than 350 words. Includes a statement of the problem or theory, the procedure or methods, summary of results, and conclusions. Include name (s) of readers and/or advisors after body text. Must be in English, even if the thesis or dissertation is ...

  15. PDF Guidelines for The

    The purpose of this book is to provide general guidelines for the completion of the culminating activity with a specific focus on the thesis. THESIS The master's thesis is a demonstration of a graduate student's ability to explore, develop, and organize materials relating to a certain topic or problem in a field of study. The goal of the thesis

  16. Thesis & Dissertation Guidelines

    These guidelines provide students at Vanderbilt University with essential information about how to prepare and submit theses and dissertations in a format acceptable to the Graduate School. You can either explore the guidelines by topic below or review the complete Format Guidelines document. Thesis & Dissertation Guidelines General Information Manuscript Preparation NEW: Dissertation ...

  17. Research Guides: Write and Cite: Theses and Dissertations

    A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have. The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed.

  18. PDF THESIS AND PROJECT GUIDE

    thesis or a project is the prerogative of the student's faculty committee, based on the guidelines developed by the Graduate Council and specified in this manual. It must be further emphasized that any creative project is not sufficient in itself to meet the requirement of a project and must be accompanied by a scholarly document.

  19. PDF Microsoft Word

    Guidelines for Initiating and Completing Senior Thesis (FANR 4990R) Effective Fall 2018 Summary (1) Students may use a combination of up to 3 credit hours of Directed Research (FANR 4970R or 4980R) before their final semester with a minimum of 1 credit hour of Senior Thesis (FANR 4990R) in their final semester, or students can complete 4 credit hours of Senior

  20. PDF Guidelines for Master Dissertation

    GUIDELINES FOR MASTER DISSERTATION . 18 January 2019 . This document presents the guidelines of the Master (MA) dissertation for students enrolled in the Master in International Affairs and the Master in Development Studies. Together with the general . Guidelines for Master Dissertations, students will find here the pedagogical objectives

  21. A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

    A Concise Guide to Writing a Thesis or Dissertation provides clear, succinct, and intentional guidelines about organizing and writing a thesis or dissertation. Part I provides an overview for writing a thesis or dissertation. It describes the big picture of planning and formatting a research study, from identifying a topic to focusing on writing quality.

  22. Guidelines of Proposal Thesis and Viva Presentation For MBS TU ...

    This document provides guidelines for writing thesis reports and proposals for the MBS 4th semester at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. It outlines general formatting guidelines for thesis reports such as page numbers, fonts, margins, spacing, alignment, and other structural aspects. It also describes the required sections and components of the thesis report such as the preliminary pages, body ...

  23. TU Masters Degree Dissertation Writing Guideline

    Tribhuvan University, Faculty of Management has published Masters Degree Dissertation (Thesis) Writing Guideline (Format) 2019. These dissertation guidelines have been created as a guide to help Master?s level students establish minimum requirements, academic standards, the physical format and appearance of dissertation.