GUIDE FOR WRITERS OF DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

GRADUATE SCHOOL

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

2006

THE DISSERTATION

THE THESIS

PREPARATION OF THE RESEARCH DOCUMENT

  • Format
    • Style
    • Standard Format
      • Preliminaries
      • Text
      • Reference Topics
    • Abstract
  • Paper
  • Equipment
  • Mechanics
    • Spacing and Margins
    • Charts, Figures, Tables, and Exhibits
    • Photographs and Illustrative Materials
    • Folded Pages and Computer Paper
    • Corrections
  • Copyright
  • Permissions
  • Order of Elements and Page Numbers
  • Copies
  • University Microfilms

CHECK LIST

SAMPLE PAGES

  • Proposal Approval
  • Title Page
  • Acknowledgments Page
  • Abstract
  • Contents
  • List of Tables and Figures Page
  • Text Page
  • Approval to Place in the Library

TEMPLATE FOR MARGINS

 

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

GUIDE FOR WRITERS OF DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

The Dissertation

A dissertation is required for all doctoral students. Completion of the dissertation demonstrates the ability to address a major intellectual problem and the results constitute a contribution to knowledge in the field.

Prior to beginning research on the dissertation topic, a student must submit a proposal for approval by the dissertation advisory committee. 

The Thesis

A thesis, when required or chosen, must include the results of original and significant investigation.

Prior to beginning research on the thesis topic, a student must submit a thesis proposal for approval by the thesis advisory committee. 

The term research document will be used throughout this guide to refer to both the dissertation and the thesis.

Preparation of the Research Document

A checklist for completion of the thesis is included on page 7 of the hardcopy of the guide. Deadlines are established each semester for submission of the dissertation or thesis to the Graduate School. Follow the checklist and consult the Graduate School for the deadlines.

Format, style, and method of presenting text, bibliographies, etc., vary from discipline to discipline. Each department offering graduate degrees will choose the research manual that is accepted for published research in that discipline. In spite of the style differences, general uniformity is expected in all research documents submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for advanced degrees. The following include requirements for completion of the research document and suggestions which should be followed unless the advisory committee directs otherwise.

Format

Style

Students not given special directions by their departments regarding style are referred to the most recent editions of the following publications:

Campbell, William Giles, Stephen Vaughn Ballou and Carole Slade. Form and Style--Theses, Reports, Term Papers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

Consistency is required no matter what style manual is followed. The same paper, spacing, margins, and page numbering must be used throughout the research document.

Standard Format

A research document is usually composed of three main parts--preliminaries, text, and references--and should be presented in the following order:

Preliminaries

  • Title Page
  • Acknowledgments Page*
  • Abstract
  • Contents Page
  • List of Tables Page
  • List of Figures Page

Text

  • Introduction
  • Main Body, with divisions indicated by suitable headings

Reference Topics

  • Literature Cited
  • Appendices

[*Inclusion of this page will depend on the contents of the research document and on the wish of the student. For convenience in binding the dissertation or thesis, the student must include two blank sheets of the paper used for each copy to be bound.]

Abstract

The major purpose of the abstract is to provide information which will enable the reader to decide whether to read the complete work. It should not exceed 300 words and must be double-spaced. Abstract pages are not numbered. Abstracts should include the following:

  1. A brief description of the problem
  2. A description of methods, techniques, and data used
  3. The major finding of the study

Paper

Because the research document will be placed in the university's archives, it must be typed, error-free, on archival quality paper. Minimum requirements are that the paper must be:
1. white
2. 8.5" x 11"
3. unlined
4. at least 25 percent rag or cotton content
5. at least 20 pound weight.
Use of erasable paper is unacceptable. Use of Arkansas State University stationery is prohibited.

Equipment

The research document may be prepared on a typewriter or personal computer. Before beginning preparation of the final draft, determine that the hardware and software are capable of meeting and formatted to meet the requirements for margins, pagination and spacing.

If a typewriter is used in preparing the research document, an electric typewriter is superior to a manual, and it is inadvisable to type the final copy on a portable typewriter.

Research documents, when done on a computer, must be printed on a letter quality or laser printer. Printers that use daisywheel, thimble, or print disk technology generally present no problems, assuming that care is taken to use fresh ribbons. Dot matrix print is unacceptable. The type must be no smaller than 10-point (9-point might be used for an unusually large table) and easily readable. Use of larger type for titles and headings is acceptable.

Mechanics

Spacing and Margins

Because the research documents are bound and filed in the university library, margins must allow for ease of binding and reading of the bound work. The left margin must be 1.5 inches. The Graduate School recommends that you set the left margin to 1.6 to ensure an adequate binding edge. The top, right, and bottom margins must be 1.0 inch, except on first pages of major sections (title page, abstract, introduction, chapter, bibliography, etc.), where the top margin should be 1.5 or 2 inches. In setting up any centered headings, titles or numbers, the extra 0.5 inch of the left margin should be disregarded; i.e., centering should take place on the remaining 6.0 inch-long typed line. If word-processing is used, the right margin may be justified or not as you wish, but be consistent.

The document must be typed or printed on one side of the paper. Standard double spacing is required. The Graduate School does not specify styles other than the margins indicated. Whatever style you follow should be followed consistently.

Charts, Figures, Tables and Exhibits

Lettering and drawing for charts, figures, tables and charts must be done in black, permanent ink. Computer-generated text from plotters is preferred for lettering and drawing. Each should be placed on a separate page immediately following where it is first cited.

Photographs and Illustrative Materials

Mounting of photographs, drawings or other illustrative materials onto pages of the research document must be accomplished to assure permanent adherence. Materials should be mounted with heat-fixed adhesive paper or with permanent bonding spray adhesive.

Each submitted copy of the research document should contain identical original mounted materials, not photocopies.

Folded Pages and Computer Printouts

Pages larger than 8.5" x 11" are not acceptable because of binding. Oversized pages may be reduced and copied onto archival quality paper so that the material fits within the margins, or placed in a pocket on the inside back cover. Color illustrations are permissible.

Corrections

A few clean erasures or ink removal are permitted. Correction fluids, correction tapes, and correction strips are not acceptable means of correction.

Copyright

Copyright is the legal right of an owner of created material to control copying and ownership of that material. Authors of research documents who wish to copyright may do so, either through University Microfilms International or through the United States Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 12540. A statement that a copyright has been applied for may be included at the bottom of the abstract page.

Permissions

When the writer of a research document quotes substantially from the work of another person or of other people, written permission should be obtained from whomever owns the copyright to the matter quoted. Writers may quote passages from copyrighted works when such quoting is for educational purposes and involves no profit, and when the material quoted is considerably less than the whole work.

ORDER OF ELEMENTS AND PAGE NUMBERS

The research document must be assembled in the following order:

Numbering System
Preliminary pages
(Use small Roman numerals beginning with page number ii. The first page on which the number is printed is the preface and/or acknowledgement.)

Body of Text
(Use Arabic page numerals.)

Every page of the research document is numbered except the abstract (which is still listed in the Table of Contents) and the title/approval page. Numbers appear without periods, hyphens or other punctuation.

The number of each page with a major heading (i.e., introduction, chapter, and references) should be centered between the margins 1" from the bottom of the page. The text should be no closer than one double space above the page number. Other page numbers should be placed in the upper right corner 1" from the top, double spaced above the text, and flush with right margin.

Copies

The original research document is to be typed or printed on archival quality paper and one copy of the thesis or three copies of the dissertation, to be prepared by photographic or photocopy means on the same archival quality paper, are to be turned in to the Graduate School. The original is for the library, and one copy is for the department. Additional copies of the dissertation are for the Center for Excellence and the adviser. Additional copies for the student and dissertation/thesis committee members are at the discretion of the student.

Approval

The original research document is to be presented to the committee in advance of the oral defense. After successful defense before the committee, the original and one unbound copy (thesis) or three unbound copies (dissertation) are to be presented to the committee for approval. Original signatures for approval are required on all copies. The original, the approved copies, the oral defense form, an approval form to place the bound dissertation or thesis in the library, and a binding fee receipt are to be presented to the Graduate School prior to the announced deadline.

University Microfilms

Doctoral students must submit one copy of the title page and of the abstract along with the microfilming agreement for submission to University Microfilms. The necessary forms and instructions for submission are available in the Graduate Office.

 
Dissertation and Thesis Check List:

14 Steps to Complete Your Research Document Successfully

  1. After consultation with the faculty adviser and the chair of the department where the student is completing the major, the student secures the agreement of a member of the graduate faculty to serve as the dissertation or thesis adviser.*

  2. In the case of a doctoral dissertation, the student and the dissertation adviser will select committee members for approval by the chair and the dean of the Graduate School. The committee will consist of at least five members including the dissertation adviser, two additional graduate faculty from the department, one graduate faculty member from the same college, and one graduate faculty at large. The dissertation adviser will chair the committee.

    In the case of the master's thesis, the  thesis adviser will select at least two additional graduate faculty to serve on a thesis committee for the student. One member of the committee may be from outside the department. The thesis adviser will chair the Thesis Committee.

  3. A Committee Approval Form obtained from the Graduate School must be completed and submitted for approval to the department chair and the dean of the Graduate School.

  4. Following study and consultation with the dissertation or thesis adviser and the committee members, the student will select a research problem or topic.

  5. The student prepares a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal form (see sample).

  6. The proposal is submitted to the Dissertation or Thesis Committee for approval.

  7. The student studies the Guide for Writers of Dissertations and Theses and reviews any questions with the graduate dean.

  8. The student completes the research and study outlined in the proposal.

  9. The student prepares the research document in accordance with the Guide for Writers of Dissertations and Theses.

  10. Upon the student's successful completion of the work, the dissertation/thesis adviser must complete an Oral Defense Announcement form and forward it to the Graduate School.

  11. The Graduate School announces the date, time, and place for the student's defense of the dissertation or thesis.

  12. The student successfully defends the dissertation or thesis and submits a final copy of the research document to the Graduate School for approval before original and copies for binding are submitted.

  13. The student presents to the dissertation or thesis adviser an unsigned Results of the Oral Examination form and the original and one (thesis) or three (dissertation) unbound, identical, signed copies of the whole work (including Abstract) for approval, before the deadline for graduation (announced for each semester or term).

  14. Upon approval of the dissertation or thesis by the adviser and the members of the committee, the original and one copy (thesis) or three copies (dissertation) of the research document (with two blank pages for each), the Oral Defense Form, a signed form for permission to place the bound document in the library (see sample), and a binding fee receipt are presented to the Graduate School. Doctoral students must also present one additional copy of the title page and of the abstract, along with the microfilming agreement for University Microfilms.

* In the event that the dissertation or thesis adviser leaves ASU, it is understood that it is the responsibility of the department chair, in consultation with the remaining committee members and the student, either to appoint another adviser or to assume that position.

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This page is maintained by: The Graduate School
Last revised on: 27 March 2007
 gradsch@astate.edu