Thesis Writing Tips
Below is a detailed list of suggestions that may assist you with creating your thesis. For official requirements, review the Graduate College Thesis Checklist.
Abstract (optional inside the thesis but a separate abstract is required for publication online, at ProQuest submission)
There is no maximum length for an abstract to be published on-line by ProQuest. The abstract submitted at the time of thesis submission should be the same as the abstract inside the thesis (if there is one). An abstract inside the thesis is optional and may be any length. The abstracts that are published in paper volumes such as "Dissertation Abstracts International" and "Masters Abstracts International" still have maximum abstract lengths of 150 words for Masters and 350 words for PhDs and abstracts will be truncated after that, so it may be better to try to work within those word limits in most cases.
The abstract is expected to give a concise account of the student's work so that a reader can quickly learn the essential contents and results. A typical abstract includes a statement of the problem, an account of procedures or methods followed, and an account of main results and conclusions.
Note: When you are asked to enter your abstract as part of your background data at the time of submission of your PDF file, you may want to add html code in the abstract that you paste on-line to make the abstract easier to read after processing. You must indicate in the drop-down box that you are adding html code, if you choose this option, however. There is help for this on the submission website.
Binding Your Thesis or Dissertation (Optional)
If you wish to make bound copies for yourself or others, ISU Printing and Copy Services (http://www.print.iastate.edu/about.shtml) on campus has reasonably priced, library-quality (hardbound or softbound) binding services. Their phone number is: (515) 294-3601. We recommend that you consider printing on both sides of the paper (except for the preliminary pages). Local copy service should be able to show you their samples and prices for binding, also. Other binderies include the Houchen Bindery in Utica, NE; Campbell-Logan Bindery in Minneapolis, MN; and Heckman Bindery in No. Manchester, Indiana. These binderies all have websites with binding information.
Biographical Sketch or Vita
An optional brief vita or biographical sketch in narrative form may be included as the last page of the thesis. Format the main heading like other main headings and limit the length to one page. The text on this page should contain only limited personal information (name, date, and place of birth), in addition to professional details: degree(s) awarded (degree, year, institution), honors and awards, professional experience, and professional publications. The spacing of text should match the rest of the thesis text. If it is in outline form, the information may be single spaced with extra space left between categories.
Citations and References/Bibliography
References must be cited within the text of your thesis accurately, completely, and in a consistent style;
The style for references in your bibliography section(s) needs to be what is used for major journals or the manual of style in your field of study. The style should be consistent within each chapter. Website urls must contain complete descriptions of what you took from the webpage(s) and the date that information was published (if on the website) and the "date retrieved" or "accessed" (when you found the information on the website), for each page accessed.
Copyright Notice
To protect the right of authorship by copyright, it is only necessary under current law to put a notice of copyright on the title page. The copyright notice should give the full legal name of the author. The under the title, and is centered at the bottom of the title page, see examples on the title pages.
If the thesis has a notice of copyright and also has been registered with the copyright office, legal damages may be awarded and may include attorney's fees for prosecuting the lawsuit. Registration of the thesis or dissertation with the copyright office can be done at the ProQuest/UMI submission website for an additional $65 fee.
Journal Paper Format
If including journal manuscripts or papers: a General Introduction chapter (which has a "Thesis Organization" or "Dissertation Organization" section) and a General Conclusion(s) chapter are required. Titles of individual manuscripts/papers must be formatted like other main headings in the thesis. The paper's submission status, (possible) journal title, and all authors' names must be beneath each paper's title.
Landscape ("Sideways") Tables and Figures
If a table or figure is placed in landscape orientation, the page must have captions in the landscape position, but the page number and any Top Level (Chapter, Preliminary, and Appendix page) heading must be in the exactly the same place and direction as on the other pages. Each landscape figure and table must face toward the right (unbound) edge of the document. (Centered Example, Right Corner Example) (For help with this in Microsoft Word, review our Word Help page or view the ISU video online.
Sequence of Pages
Title page (see samples)
Dedication (optional)
Table of Contents (see samples)
List of Tables (optional) - Lists may not be combined;
List of Figures (optional) - Lists may not be combined; each starts on a new page
List of Nomenclature or other lists needed (optional)
Acknowledgments (optional) May also be placed at the very end of thesis
Abstract (optional in thesis)
Body of manuscript (must start with and show the Arabic number, 1)
Appendix(ices) (optional) - very large appendices may be placed after the bibliography
Notes (optional)
Bibliography (optional)
Note: The title page, table of contents (except in some cases of creative writing), and a separate abstract are required. It is recommended that students include a copyright notice on the title page of their thesis/dissertation even if they do not pay the additional $65 fee to have the thesis/dissertation registered with the federal copyright office.
Style of the Thesis/Dissertation
You should ask your program for the preferred style manual or journal for the text and figure style, including the style of direct quotation, footnotes/endnotes, and how references should be cited. If there is no departmental preference, the Graduate College recommends using the style of the most prestigious journal in your discipline, while following the Thesis Checklist.
Tables and Figures
Oversized tables can be reduced and included in the thesis or broken to continue over several pages. For broken/split tables, you need to put: Table X. (continued), on each page after the first page, as shown in the example.
Text
The thesis text should be organized in a coherent and consistent manner, without extra white space on the pages within chapters. Excess white space must be removed so your thesis looks like a professional book. You may wish to move some text below a figure or table (i.e. break up a paragraph) to keep the next section of a chapter located after the figure/table. If your committee agrees, you may place all of your figures and tables at the end of a chapter, as a section with a second level heading. Justifying the text in a thesis at the right margin is optional.
NOTE: If you have specific Microsoft Word or LaTeX problems, click on our Resources and Writing Tips page for more information
