Graduate Manual for Theses and Dissertations
MANUAL FOR THE PREPARATION OF THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
by
ADDRAN COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
To be used by students in
AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Texas Christian University
as a guide for preparation of
theses and dissertations
for the degrees of
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
2003-2004
CENTER TITLE OF THESIS* HERE
SINGLE SPACED IF MORE THAN ONE LINE
Thesis approved:
__________________________________________________________
Major Professor
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
For AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Provide the exact number of lines needed for your committee's signatures and the AddRan signature. (e.g., committee = 3
AddRan = 1
4 lines)
*An example of the dissertation approval page appears later in this manual.
The page after the approval page is intentionally left blank, or it may contain the copyright statement shown here. In either case it is unnumbered.
Copyright by
Full Legal Name of Author
2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Procedures to follow for the final semester................................. 1
II. Submitting final copies of theses and dissertations................... 1
Procedures for copyright........................................................... 2
III. Manuals and formbooks................................................................ 3
IV. Parts and order of the manuscript.............................................. 3
V. Manuscript presentation ............................................................. 4
VI. Number of copies and binding .................................................. 4
VII. Margins and spacing .................................................................. 4
VIII. Pagination .................................................................................... 5
IX. Special pages .............................................................................. 5
Title Page .......................................................................... 5
Approval Page .................................................................. 6
Vita ..................................................................................... 6
Abstract .............................................................................. 6
X. Special problems ........................................................................... 6
Appendix .............................................................................................. 8
MANUAL FOR PREPARATION OF THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Section I: Procedures to follow for the final semester
a. File an "Intent to Graduate" (available in the AddRan office, Reed 111) during the first four weeks of the semester. NOTE: A graduation fee is charged when the "intent" is filed. If you postpone your graduation, you must cancel the intent. You will need to file a new intent the next semester and pay the graduation fee again.
b. The Registrar's office will send instructions, forms to complete, and information about payment of graduation fees. NOTE: There are deadlines for refunds of cap and gown rental and diploma fees.
c. Submit a completed draft of your thesis or dissertation to your committee for review.
All committee members must read the draft of a thesis.
At least three (but preferably all) committee members must read the draft of a dissertation.
d. Prepare a revised draft incorporating all changes required by your committee.
e. Ask your major professor to schedule the final thesis oral or dissertation defense with AddRan.
Section II: Submitting final copies of theses and dissertations
a. Bring the entire completed manuscript (including preliminary, vita, and abstract pages) to AddRan for checking at least two days before your final oral. This does not need to be on bond paper. NOTE: During peak times, the return of these to the student may take several days.
b. Make corrections called for by AddRan and your committee and have the final copies made. Have the approval pages signed by your committee members. Provide original signatures with at least the two library copies.
c. Complete the binding form, pay required fees at the Controller's Office, and include the form with the first library copy.
d. After your oral or defense, bring all copies to AddRan, each in a separate box or manila envelope labeled with your name. Be sure to clearly label the box or envelope containing the two library copies.
1. For Theses Only
Copies turned in must include two library copies. These copies should be on high quality (at least 25% cotton) bond paper. Turn in an additional copy for each extra binding fee. Include two signed copies of the TCU copyright form with the first copy.
2. For Dissertations Only
Copies turned in must include two library copies and one copy for microfilming. The library copies and the microfilm copy are to be on high quality (at least 25% cotton) bond paper. Turn in an additional copy for each extra binding fee paid.
a) Include with the first library copy:
1- an extra copy of the ABSTRACT and the TITLE PAGE (The library sends these to University Microfilms, Inc., for inclusion in Dissertation Abstracts.),
2- a completed University Microfilms Agreement Form (found in the booklet Publishing Your Dissertation included in your information packet),
3- a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates form (included in the information packet), and
4- the copyright protection fee (optional). See b)3 below.
b) If you decide that copyright protection is necessary or desirable:
1- insert a copyright notice in your dissertation in the proper place (see preliminary pages of this manual),
2- indicate on the agreement form that you wish to copyright your dissertation, and
3- include a certified check or money order made out to Bell & Howell, for $45 (subject to change) with the original.
University Microfilms, Inc. will act as your agent, filing the necessary application for copyright and depositing two copies of your dissertation on microfilm in the copyright office. TCU does not include this fee in its graduation billing.
Section III. Manuals and formbooks
AddRan College does not require all departments to use the same format. Because the thesis or dissertation should reflect the requirements of the discipline, documentation should be in accordance with professional stylebooks.
The latest editions of style manuals listed here are to be consulted.
English The MLA Style Manual
History Turabian, A Manual for Writers
Section IV. Parts and order of the manuscript
A manuscript generally has three main parts: the preliminaries, the text, and the reference material. The order of these may vary, but is usually as follows:
The Preliminaries
One blank page
Title page
Approval page (see samples in this manual)
One blank page or copyright notice if the dissertation is
to be copyrighted (see preliminary pages of this manual)
Preface, including acknowledgments (optional)
Table of contents, with page references
List of figures, with titles and page references (if there are
figures)
List of tables, with titles and page references (if there are tables)
The Text
Introduction
Main body, with the larger divisions and important minor divisions
indicated by suitable, consistent headings
Reference
Appendices
Bibliography (If the appendices are bound as a separate volume,
the bibliography is bound with the text in the first volume.)
Vita (See samples in this manual.)
Abstract (See samples for heading. The original of the dissertation
has an extra copy of the abstract and title page for use by
University Microfilms, Inc. in the preparation of theirpublication,
Dissertation Abstracts).
Section V. Manuscript presentation
The manuscript, as a demonstration of your ability in research, analysis, and effectiveness of expression, should have an appearance in keeping with such a document. Unsightly irregularities, such as strikeovers, insertions, and obvious use of correction fluids, or erasures are not permitted. Unacceptable manuscripts will be rejected by the college. Dissertations are microfilmed by University Microfilms, Inc. exactly as they are received.
You are responsible for final proofreading. This is to be done before bringing it to AddRan for checking (see II a). An indication that careful proofreading has not been done is cause for complete rejection of the manuscript and possible delay of graduation by at least one semester. Because it is difficult for proofreading to be done adequately by persons already familiar with the material, competent outside proofreaders are advisable, but you retain full responsibility for good proofreading and satisfactory correction, and you should wait until after your oral examination to make final corrections. In this way you will have a composite list of all corrections requested by your examination committee and the AddRan office.
Section VI. Number of copies and binding
a. Two copies must be placed in the TCU Library; these must be printed on at least 25% cotton bond paper. The Library has these copies bound in a standard binding at a current rate of $7.00 per volume for theses (subject to change). Binding costs for library copies of dissertations are included in the microfilming and binding fee.
If you are submitting a dissertation, you also need to provide one unbound copy on at least 25% cotton bond paper to be used for microfilming.
b. In addition to these Library copies, most students have two other copies made- one for themselves and one for their department or major professor. The Library is willing to have these extra copies bound for you at the current rate, but there is a delay of at least eight weeks between the conferring of the degree and the return of the bound manuscripts from the bindery. You may opt to arrange for the binding of the extra copies-those not required by the Library or for microfilming-at a local bindery. The local bindery charges a little more than the Library but can usually give delivery within two weeks. You may also order bound copies of dissertations from UMI, as described in Publishing Your Dissertation.
Section VII. Margins and spacing
a. The text of the manuscript is double-spaced. Footnotes are single-spaced. Indented quotations may be single or double-spaced. Consult the approved format for your discipline for additional guidance on spacing.
b. The left margin (binding side) should be no less than 1.25 inches, and the top margin not less than 1 inch. The right and bottom margins must have a clearance of not less than .75 inch from the typed material. Any of the approved formbooks will give rules for margins well within these limits. Charts, maps, and other illustrative material must meet these margin requirements also.
Section VIII. Pagination
a. Except the blank pages preceding the title page and following the approval page, the abstract pages, and the vita page, each page in the manuscript should be assigned a number. Header and footer margins for page numbers are ½ inch; i.e., there is ½ inch margin between the page number and the top or bottom of the page.
b. For the preliminary pages, small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.) are used. The numbering should begin with ii; the title page counts as page i, but the number does not appear. The approval page will be numbered as ii. The blank page or copyright page is not counted or numbered. These page numbers are at the bottom of the page, centered or at the right margin. Preliminary pages of this manual illustrate this.
c. For the remainder of the manuscript including the text, illustrations, appendices, and bibliography, Arabic numerals are used. All pages are numbered, except the vita and abstract pages. Do not use letter suffixes such as 10a, 10b, etc. The numbering should begin with "1", and run consecutively to the end of the manuscript. Page numbers should be placed at the right margin , consistently either above or below the text. If page numbers are above the text and the page carries a major heading, such as the first page of a chapter or of the bibliography, the page number may be placed at the center bottom. If the description of an illustration is too long to be placed on the same page, it should be placed on the preceding page, not on an unnumbered page.
d. When the appendices are bound as a separate volume, this volume should contain a title page duplicating the title page of the textual volume, with the addition of the word "Appendices," or similar descriptive words, just below the title. The pages of this volume are numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals, counting the title as page "1" (although this number does not actually appear on this title page.)
Section IX. Special pages
a. Title Page: The title page contains: (1) the title, in capitals, double-spaced if longer than one line, (2) the full name of the student, (3) the degree or degrees held, (4) sources and dates of the degree or degrees, (5) the "partial fulfillment" statement, (6) the degree sought, the date the degree is to be conferred. These details are shown on the sample pages (thesis, page 8; dissertation, page 9). Proper spacing is assured if the sample page is used as a guide.
b. Approval Page: The approval page contains: (1) the title of the manuscript, and (2) a line for each committee member's signature plus one line for the AddRan signature. The first line should be labeled "Major Professor," and the last line "For AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences." These details are shown on the sample pages (thesis, page ii; dissertation, page 10). Proper spacing is assured if the sample page is used as a guide. The approval page should be numbered ii at the bottom.
c. Vita: The vita page should be written in the third person, and should include: (1) personal data, (2) education, and (3) professional experience. The last line of the vita should contain the name of the typist, if the manuscript was prepared by someone other than the author. The vita may be written in either paragraph form or in an outline form as are professional résumés (see samples in the appendix of this manual). The vita does not bear a page number, and must not be more than one page in length.
d. Abstract: The purpose of the abstract is to give a succinct account of the manuscript so that the reader will be able to determine whether it is advisable to read the complete manuscript. The abstract does not bear a page number, and must not be longer than 350 words.
Section X. Special problems
All special problems encountered in preparing your manuscript should be discussed with the Associate Dean prior to preparation of the final copy. Several recurring problems are listed here, with suggested solutions.
a. Picture Mounting: Pictures should be avoided in doctoral dissertations because microfilm reproduction is limited. Black and white photographs that do not have too much contrast reproduce satisfactorily on the film but will not be clear when reproduced by xerography.
For theses, especially those in some of the sciences, glossy prints should be mounted on sheets of paper of the standard size and weight used in the rest of the thesis. Special photographic drymounting film is the most permanent, but satisfactory results are obtained with ordinary white glue. Rubber cement frequently does not provide a permanent bond. Do not use cellophane tape.
b. Illustrations, Charts, Graphs, Figures, and Tables: Illustrative material drawn in ink will reproduce satisfactorily on microfilm if the ink is opaque and dark in color. Because microfilming is a photographic process, all colors appear in varying shades of gray. Identification of lines on a graph is better made with line symbols than by variation in color. Large colored areas, such as countries on a map, will show on the film as shades of gray; crosshatching will give greater contrast.
Black line reproduction of maps is permitted. Because these maps are usually oversize, it is recommended that they be folded and placed in a clasp envelope at the back of the thesis. Samples are available in the Library.
Tables are generally captioned at the top, while figures are captioned below. Consult style manuals for your discipline for appropriate captioning.
c. Oversized Pages: Pages larger than 8 ½ x 11 should be avoided. Usually, large charts can be divided into sections and arranged on continuing pages of standard size. Sometimes these charts can be arranged on a regular page by using a small print font. Photographic reproduction is another method of arranging oversized material on regular size paper. If none of these techniques will work, and an oversized paper must be used, consult a good formbook, such as Turabian, for information on folding the sheets.
d. Computer Data: Computer data printouts usually belong in an appendix. The material should be run so that all required margins are observed. Sheets measuring 8½ x 11 from the tear lines can usually be used, because the binding edge is hidden, and the other three edges are trimmed at the bindery. Occasionally, it is desirable to use a larger sheet and trim to the 8 ½ x 11 size. Standard computer paper is permitted as a substitute for the bond thesis paper for these appendices.
If computer printout charts or tables are to be incorporated in the text of the thesis, they should be mounted on regular paper, if smaller than page size. If a full page illustration of this type is to be used, insertion of an occasional sheet of standard computer paper is permitted, but you should discuss this problem with the Associate Dean.
Appendix: Additional Sample Pages
Sample thesis title page
TITLE OF THESIS IN CAPITAL LETTERS
DOUBLE-SPACED IF MORE THAN
ONE LINE
by
MARY BROWN DOE
Bachelor of Arts, 1991
Rice University
Houston, Texas
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of
AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Texas Christian University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Arts
August*, 2001
*This date can only be May, August, or December
Sample dissertation title page
TITLE OF DISSERTATION IN CAPITAL LETTERS
DOUBLE-SPACED IF MORE THAN
ONE LINE
by
MARY BROWN DOE
Bachelor of Arts, 1988
Rice University
Houston, Texas
Master of Arts, 1990
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of
AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Texas Christian University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
May*, 2001
*This date can only be May, August, or December
Sample dissertation approval page
TITLE OF DISSERTATION
SINGLE SPACED IF MORE THAN ONE LINE
Dissertation approved:
__________________________________________________________
Major Professor
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
For AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Provide the exact number of lines for your committee and the AddRan signature. (e.g., committee = 4
AddRan = 1
5 lines)
Sample vita, paragraph form
VITA*
Mary Brown Doe was born November 21, 1966, in Dallas, Texas. She is the daughter of Clarence Phillips and Alice Bradley Brown. A 1984 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English from Rice University, Houston, in 1988.
After receiving her Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1981, she joined Markham Industries, Inc., Dallas, as a technical writer.
In September, 1991, she enrolled in graduate study at Texas Christian University. While working on her doctorate in English, she held a University Fellowship during the years 1991-93 and a Teaching Assistantship in 1994-95. Since September, 1995, she has been an assistant professor in the English department at Midwestern University, Wichita Falls. She is a member of the Modern Language Association and the Conference on College Composition and Communication.
She is married to John Butler Doe of Dallas. They have two children.
|
This dissertation was typed by Ms Jean Stanley.
(Use this line only if the author is not the typist).
*The vita is limited to one page.
Sample vita, outline form
VITA*
Personal
Background
|
Mary Brown Doe
Born November 21, 1966, Dallas, Texas
|
| |
Daughter of Clarence Philip and Alice Bradley Brown
Married John Butler Doe October 6, 1979
Two children |
| |
|
Education |
Diploma, Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, 1984 |
| |
Bachelor of Arts, English, Rice University, Houston, 1988
Master of Arts, English, University of Texas, Austin, 1990
Doctor of Philosophy, English, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, 1995
Experience Technical writer, EDS, 1990-91
TCU Fellow, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, 1991-93
Teaching Assistantship, Texas Christian University, 1994-95
Assistant Professor of English, Midwestern University, Wichita Falls,
September 1995-present |
| |
|
| Professional |
Modern Language Association |
| Memberships |
Conference on College Composition and Communication |
This dissertation was typed by Ms Jean Stanley.
(Use this line only if the author is not the typist).
*The vita is limited to one page.
Sample abstract
ABSTRACT
TITLE OF THESIS OR DISSERTATION IN CAPITAL LETTERS
SINGLE SPACED IF MORE THAN ONE LINE
by Mary Brown Doe, Ph.D., 2000
Department of English
Texas Christian University
Thesis or Dissertation Advisor: Name of Professor, Rank
examples: Ray L. Smith, Assistant Professor of Biology
Barbara C. Thomas, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ernest Powell, Professor of Psychology
James Kennedy, Professor of History and Chair of the
Department
Ellen Kessler, Professor and Jones Chair of English
The double spaced text of the abstract goes here. The abstract may have multiple pages, but cannot be longer than 350 words.
|
