Thesis Checklist
This checklist is what the Thesis Reviewers in the Graduate College will use to review a thesis after it has been submitted to ProQuest/UMI. To download this checklist, click here. For more tips on the items below, browse the Thesis Writing Suggestions.
Remember, Signature Pages are no longer included in your thesis or dissertation. (Formerly located on page ii.)
Title Page
___ Matches Iowa State's web samples
___ No page number displayed on this page
___ Title should display about 1.25 inches from the top of page
___ Capitalize only the first word of the title and any other words that are always capitalized
___ No period after the title
___ No minor displayed on the title page
___ Do not use Dr., Esq., PhD, AIA, or other titles or affiliations before or after names
___ Copyright statement (optional in thesis) must list the year of actual graduation
Page Numbering
___ No page number displayed on title page (actually p. i)
___ All pages, except the title page, must show a page number in exactly the same font, size, and
location including landscape (sideways) pages (Centered Example)
___ All page numbers must be located either at the top right-hand corner or at the top center of the page
___ No blank pages allowed
___ Preliminary pages (except title page) must display in small Roman numerals, starting with ii
___ Text pages start with 1 for the first chapter page and continue in Arabic numbers, with no marks,
such as hyphens or dashes, before or after the number
___ Page numbers must fall within the 1.25-inch top margin. At least a one-half-inch (preferably
.75 inch) margin should remain between the top of the page number and the top edge of the page
Margins (minimum)
___ Top: 1.25"; left: 1.25-1.50"; bottom: 1"; right: 1"; page numbers (in headers) set at .75"
___ Consistent margins throughout the thesis
Line Spacing
___ Space-and one-half or double space line spacing
___ References, tables, appendices, footnotes, endnotes, and block quotes may be single-spaced
Fonts
___ 10-12 pt size; tables, figures, footnotes, endnotes, and appendices may be smaller font, if viewable
___ Standard proportional fonts, such as Times New Roman or Arial
___ Same font used throughout thesis text (tables and figures may differ)
___ Must be "embedded" (MSWord) (LaTeX must use the ISU thesis style files); check that embedding
is correct
Table of Contents and Lists (not required for Creative Writing, if no chapter titles)
___ Headings text and page numbers match respective headings and page numbers within the thesis
text
___ Every Top-Level heading (Preliminary, Chapter, Reference/Bibliography, and Appendix) that occurs
after the ToC must be listed (this is the minimum required)
___ Page numbers must be right justified, and no text running into the column(s) with the page number
Top Level Headings
___ All Top Level (Preminary, Chapter, Reference/Bibliography, and Appendix) headings must have
exactly the same size, font, capitalization, and location at the top of the page
___ Top Level headings may be no larger than 14-point
Thesis Text
___ All primary text should be black
___ No blank pages
___ No excessive white space in text
___ Each Chapter, List and Appendix starts on a new page
Abstract (optional in thesis)
___ Is always the last preliminary page; just before page 1
Journal Paper Format
___ Follows ISU requirements for Journal Paper (example)
Tables and Figures
___ Captions for all tables and figures formatted in a consistent manner (numbering, punctuation, etc.)
___ Must fit within the margins of thesis
___ For Tables and Figures that continue onto next page, carry over titles and headings to the following
pages (example)
___ Landscape tables must follow ISU specifications (centered example)
Citations and References/Bibliography
___ Consistent academic style of the discipline
Appendices
___ Each appendix must have a Top Level heading, in the same location as, and formatted like, all the
other Top Level headings in the text
___ Must be displayed as Top Level headings in your Table of Contents
___ All pages are numbered in the same font and location as text pages
___ Do not put an A or I or 1 after Appendix, if there is only one appendix
Biographical Sketch or Vita (optional in thesis)
___ Follows ISU requirements for Biographical Sketch or Vita (example)
