GUIDELINES FOR THEPREPARATION AND
SUBMISSIONOF YOUR THESIS OR DISSERTATION
LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

Graduate School

Revised Edition

Fall 1997

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

As a graduate student, you have made a significant commitment to pursue a graduate degree at Louisiana Tech University. You have also embarked on a path which will lead you to a challenging career or an advanced degree program.

One of the milestones in your graduate career will be the completion of a research project and the production of a thesis or dissertation. Louisiana Tech University offers a diverse selection of post-baccalaureate graduate programs, and each program stipulates its admission, study, and completion guidelines. The Graduate School has produced this Guide to assist the graduate student in the preparation and submission of theses and dissertations which are required to complete a graduate program of study.

This Guide is provided to graduate students as an overview for the preparation and presentation of theses and dissertations. The information provided in the Guide does not replace or supercede the guidelines provided by the student's Advisory Committee or advisor, but the Guide does stipulate several basic principles of presentation and format that must be followed to ensure acceptance of the thesis or dissertation. If you have any questions about the preparation or presentation of your thesis or dissertation, we encourage you to contact the Graduate School and to consult your Advisory Committee early in your graduate program to ensure that you are within the guidelines established by the School and by your College for completion of your program.

Graduate School is a unique experience, and you will have many questions. You are engaged in a process of scholarly, creative, and scientific work which requires expression and dissemination. Use this Guide as a starting point, and contact the Graduate School if you need additional guidance. Remember to adhere to the procedures and deadlines set by the Graduate School and your College to ensure that your thesis or dissertation is completed satisfactorily.

Dr. Terry McConathy, Director

Research and the Graduate School -- Fall 1997--

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Message from the Director of the Graduate School

Introduction 1

Responsibilities of the Graduate Degree Candidate 2

Preliminary Considerations for Preparation of Manuscripts 4

Style 4

Journal Style 5

Collaborative Style 6

Objective of Writing a Thesis or Dissertation 6

Thesis/Dissertation Structure 7

Thesis/Dissertation Title 7

Thesis/Dissertation Introduction 7

Specifications for Preparation of Your Final Manuscript 9

Abstract 9

Paper 10

Margins 10

Line Spacing 11

Font Size and Style 12

Word Processing and Typing 12

Headings and Subheadings 13

Major Headings 13

First Level Subheading 13

Second Level Subheading 14

Third Level Subheading 15

Page Numbering 15

In-Text Numbers and Footnotes 16

Illustrations 17

Tables 18

Figures 18

Reproduction of Graphs, Charts, and Exhibits 19

Oversized and Supplemental Materials 19

Survey of the Literature 20

Appendixes 20

Vita 21

Order of Arrangement 21

Report Forms and Approval Sheets 22

Appendix A: Forms 23

Sample Forms 23

Thesis/Dissertation Prospectus Form 24

Uniform Approval Page 25

Approval for Scholarly Dissemination Form 26

Thesis Receipt Form 27

Thesis/Dissertation Edit Memorandum 28

Thesis/Dissertation Format Memorandum 29

Sample Title Page 30

Appendix B: Manuals 31

Style Manuals 31

Appendix C: Reference 32

Quick Reference 32

Time Table 34

Binding Fees 35

Common Mistakes 36

INTRODUCTION

This Guide is issued by the Graduate School Office in Wyly Tower, Room 1642, (318) 257-2924, to assist candidates in preparing their theses and dissertations in the proper format for final submission. It is intended to provide uniform standards for the preparatory requirements while allowing for differences among disciplines. Please read the material in this document carefully. All theses and dissertations must be approved by the Graduate School Office, as well as by the students' Advisory Committee and College. Any deviation from the form described in this Guide must be approved by the Director of the Graduate School prior to processing the final draft of the document.

All candidates for advanced degrees should confer with their majors' professors and graduate advisors in order to determine specific departmental requirements. In addition, questions not specifically addressed by departmental guidelines or by the information included in this Guide should be directed to the staff of the Graduate School Office.

Candidates are responsible for conforming to regulations governing format and pertinent deadlines. Along with this Guide, candidates may obtain the University's official student calendar, which is distributed every quarter in the Schedule of Classes, and graduation forms from the Graduate School Office, located in Wyly Tower, Room 1642. Samples of all the necessary forms to be completed prior to graduation are included in Appendix C of this Guide.

Prior to graduation, five individually enveloped, final copies of the manuscript must be presented in person to the Graduate School Office by the candidate or a designated representative who will assume all responsibility of handling any unexpected changes that might arise. The Graduate School does not encourage mailing of theses or dissertations during the submission process.

The regulations herein are periodically updated, so candidates must be sure to use the most recent version of the Guide. They must be aware that if they are leaving the University before submission of the final copy of their manuscript, they are encouraged to have their documents reviewed in advance by the Graduate School Office for possible formatting problems.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRADUATE

DEGREE CANDIDATE

You must take into consideration that your Advisory Committee members and Advisor must be allowed sufficient time to review properly and judge all matters referred to them. Therefore, you must keep in mind that the Committee, although vitally interested in and concerned with your thesis or dissertation, also must have enough time to be able to maintain all their ongoing academic responsibilities. As a degree candidate, you should be aware of the following:

• The accuracy and validity of the findings within the document are your sole responsibility.
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• You must be informed about, and follow the procedures of your discipline when selecting and appointing your research project's Advisor. For information on these procedures, make an appointment through the secretary of your particular discipline or College to consult with its Director of Graduate Studies.
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• A Thesis Prospectus (see sample in Appendix A, page 24) must be prepared and presented to each member of your Advisory Committee during the first quarter you are enrolled for Research and Thesis/Dissertation. Please note that you must register for the appropriate number of credits in Research and Thesis/Dissertation each quarter that you are using the personnel and/or physical facilities of the University until the project is finished or accepted.
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• Upon approval of the final form of the Thesis Prospectus, you are responsible for securing signatures from the members of your Advisory Committee and filing the form with your College.
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• You need to coordinate with your Advisory Committee members to schedule appointments concerning periodic progress reports, review of content, approval of manuscript drafts, and the final appointment for thesis examination or dissertation defense.
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• You must make all arrangements for the production of the final manuscript. You should be throughly acquainted with the requirements of the discipline's graduate program, Louisiana Tech's Guidelines and the approved, professionally published Style Manual.
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• After all corrections and the final committee review have been completed, you are responsible for securing the authorized signatures on the Approval Page (see sample in Appendix A, page 25), and producing five professional-caliber copies of the entire manuscript on twenty-pound permanent white bond paper of at least 25% cotton fiber content. Under no circumstances should you attempt to secure the signature of the Director of the Graduate School prior to getting the signature of the department's Director of Graduate Studies. Acquiring the first signature takes approximately two days.
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• Five completed copies of the manuscript must be placed in appropriately sized, individual manila envelopes along with seven signature pages, two extra title pages, and two extra abstracts. Bring the envelopes to the Office of the Director of the Graduate School in Wyly Tower for the final review and signature of the Director. Be sure to allow at least three days for this review and signature process. Also, do not forget to leave a telephone number where you can be reached during the day so that you can be notified of the thesis' or dissertation's signature completion.
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• After obtaining the five signed copies, you are responsible for depositing the documents (each copy in a separate, but not sealed, envelope) on the third floor of Prescott Memorial Library and paying the necessary binding fee (Appendix C, page 35).
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The distribution of these bound copies is as follows: one copy to the student, one to the academic College, one to the Committee Chair, one for storage in the non-circulating section of the Library, and one copy for the Library to have available for interlibrary and student loan. On sponsored research projects, additional copies may be required, as determined by yourself and the Chair of your Advisory Committee.

PLEASE NOTE:

The student is solely responsible for any infringements of copyright, patent, or other civil or criminal suits which may arise from his or her thesis/dissertation. Under these circumstances, the University reserves the right to review granting the degree for which the thesis/dissertation was a requirement.

PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS FOR

PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPTS

Style

The manuscript consists of three main parts: the preliminary pages, the text, and the reference section. In consultation with your Committee Chair, determine the internal arrangement of the text and reference sections. On matters of style, be guided by the Chair and members of your Advisory Committee. The following sections describe the styles and types of formats that must be selected from and adhered to when preparing the final copy of the thesis or dissertation.

When establishing a style for your thesis or dissertation, follow the guidelines in this manual, the practices of your department, and the advice of your major professor and Advisory Committee. Please note that the style may vary depending on your discipline.

Once a style has been selected, it is imperative that documentation and format be consistent throughout the thesis or dissertation. Also, if a conflict exists between a rule from these guidelines and a published style manual, the regulations set forth in these guidelines take precedence over those in style manuals and/or journal formats. The style manuals do, however, contain helpful details, especially concerning documentation, and scholarly journals in the your major field may be of benefit as models. When following the style of a scholarly journal, you and your Committee must keep in mind that completeness rather than brevity should characterize the thesis/dissertation. The following are suggested style manuals (use the latest editions):

• Campbell, William G. and S.V. Ballou. Form and Style, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Mass.
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• Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, University Of Chicago Press.
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• MLA Handbook for Writhers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
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• Tichy, H. J. Effective Writing for Engineers, Managers, and Scientists, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Additional professional style manuals, particular to a discipline, are given in Appendix B on page 31. Two particular styles, the Journal style and the Collaborative style are listed below.

Journal Style

Students in the scientific field who plan to organize their theses or dissertations as a series of papers for journal publication may choose to use the journal style. This style permits the inclusion, as chapters or sections of the thesis or dissertation, of manuscripts previously submitted or to be submitted to scholarly journals. If the journal style is used, you, as the Candidate, must be the principal author, indicated by your name appearing first in the list of authors on the to-be-published manuscript. All chapters in the manuscript to be prepared according to journal style must be in the style of a single appropriate scholarly journal. Some features peculiar to submission of manuscripts to journal editors (e.g., double spacing of block quotations) must be eliminated, and the guidelines herein must be followed. Additional ambiguous textual situations must be brought to the attention of the manuscript's reviewer, clarified, and resolved to his or her satisfaction.

Because the Graduate School's primary concern is the presentation of the thesis or dissertation as a clear, coherent, consistent, self-contained work, the manuscript must contain elements unifying the entire body of work. Primarily, it must have a single topic. Although each chapter may be complete within itself, the chapters must treat one aspect of the overall topic. In addition, the manuscript must have the following elements:

• A common Table of Contents covering the entire manuscript.
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• An abstract of the complete study located within the preliminary pages of the document.
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• All pages numbered in arabic numbers, in sequence from page 1 through the vita, except for preliminary pages, which are numbered with small (lower case) Roman numerals.
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• A common introduction.
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• A final chapter, written in narrative form, summarizing the overall results, conclusions, and recommendations for further research.
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• A common bibliography or literature cited section at the end of the text. When bibliographic entries must be placed at the end of each section or chapter -- the exception, not the rule -- consistency of format is required. When using the numbering system for references, they must be in strict numerical sequence throughout the entire text or coded to the chapter number (e.g., 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, etc.). Number 1 in Chapter 1, Number 1 in Chapter 2, etc. is not acceptable.
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The following practices are not acceptable in preparing manuscripts in the journal style:

• Omission of sufficient material which would tie all the components of the thesis/dissertation together (e.g., omission of the general introductory chapter or conclusion.)
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• Use of an abstract or summary at the beginning of each chapter.
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• Chapters paged individually, with page number 1 appearing on the first page of each new chapter or section.

• Use of double-spaced references and any other practices obviously based on journal specifications for pagination which are not authorized by this Guide or by the Graduate School Office reviewer of the manuscript.
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• Figures and tables grouped at the end of a chapter or section for the convenience of the editors and typesetters instead of integrated into the text.

PLEASE NOTE:

If a dispute occurs, all the requirements for margins, consistency of format for main headings and subheadings, as well as all the other mechanics as specified in this Guide must be adhered to and supercede those of the journal style manual.

Collaborative Style

Where thesis or doctoral research efforts are part of a larger collaborative project, the Candidate must be able to identify one aspect of that project as his or her very own, and to demonstrate his or her original contribution. It is the responsibility of your committee, moreover, to ensure that the end product represents your original and individual efforts.

Objectives of Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

Several objectives should be considered when beginning your thesis or dissertation research.

• Identify a need. You will need to be able to demonstrate a grasp of the problem.
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• Identify what is needed to solve the problem.
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• Identify problems in solving the need. Give solutions to these problems.
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• List alternative paths which can be taken, and sort through them.
• Reach the logical conclusion, and suggest your selected approach.
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• State and itemize general goals.
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• Present your expected results.

Thesis/Dissertation Structure

Several items should be addressed in your thesis or dissertation. These include

• stating the problem that you have solved,
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• recounting prior research, showing that no one had solved the problem when you began working on it,
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• stating your method of solving the problem,
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• discussing your data throughly, telling how you worked out your solution to the problem,
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• restating your solution in the Conclusion, giving any applications of your solution and/or research techniques to other as yet unsolved problems.
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Thesis/Dissertation Title

With the advent of computer listings of thesis/dissertation titles, the choice of an appropriate title is crucial. It should be complete and concise, eliminating unnecessary words and phrases. Many disciplines publish standard lists of key words which are primarily nouns and are descriptive of the thesis/dissertation. Eliminate words from the title that do not add to the understanding of the content (e.g.,"A Study of. . ." and "The Origin and Development of ...").

Introduction

The Introduction provides readers with the background information for your thesis/dissertation, and should establish the framework for the research, i.e., how it is related to other research. The Introduction usually includes at least the following parts:

1. derivation and statement of the problem and discussion of the nature of the problem
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3. discussion of the background of the problem
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5. derivation and statement of the research question or objective(s) of the research
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7. statement of hypotheses
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9. statement of practical importance
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11. outline of the document.
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Structure the development of the problem so that the argument leads logically and inevitably to the question or objective. Draw upon the literature and provide other background as is required (this step may include accepted general knowledge related to the problem or principles well-known in the discipline or related disciplines.) The structure of the introduction should be as follows:

1. a general research problem is identified,
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3. within this problem, a particular research question(s) is isolated to be addressed in the research,
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5. out of the broad literature, the material is selected that provides the background of the research question(s),
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7. the answering of the research question constitutes the objective of the research,
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9. in considering the literature and the problem, the researcher decides how to look at the problem, thereby establishing the theoretical framework which may be explicit or implicit,
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11. the theoretical framework leads to some expectations, hypotheses, and a methodology.
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SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRODUCTION

OF YOUR FINAL MANUSCRIPT

Abstract

Because an abstract will be used by researchers and others to determine whether to access the complete thesis or dissertation, it should provide a succinct, descriptive account of your work.

An abstract should include

1. Research objective - they are necessary to characterize the research
2. Methods - they are the basis for validating the results
3. Results - they are the ultimate objective of the research
4. Conclusions - they are the final inferences

When writing your abstract, keep the following in mind:

• The thesis abstract must be no more than 250 words and the dissertation abstract no more than 350 words, counting enumerations, numerals, articles, and components of hyphenated compounds as one word each.
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• Make the abstract informative (not descriptive). An abstract should be a mini-proposal which outlines a problem which your project solves.
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• A need or problem should be covered in the abstract, along with your proposed solution to the problem.
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• Describe your evaluation methods of the need or the problem which you will use in your thesis/dissertation.
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• List/describe the projected benefits in solving the need or problem.
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• Each abstract's text must be double spaced.
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• In addition to a copy of the abstract for each manuscript, two copies of the abstract must be filed with the Director of the Graduate School and another copy with the Director of Graduate Studies, totaling seven copies. An additional copy of the abstract is required for a dissertation. This eighth copy is to be given to the Library for microfilming.
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Paper

• Use one brand of paper throughout your thesis/dissertation.
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• Only twenty-pound permanent white bond paper of at least 25% cotton fiber content is acceptable. All of the five final copies of the manuscript must be produced on this paper. They must appear as sharp black type on a clean white page; use of opaque, ivory, or light grey colored paper is unacceptable.
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• The type clarity must be uniform and free of variations in darkness/density. Gray tones on the paper or on the borders of the page are not acceptable. Neither are noticeable erasures, smudges, use of liquid paper, or improperly aligned corrections. Sheets with holes in the margins, folded or creased pages, dog-eared or soiled manuscripts are not acceptable.
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• The candidate is advised to get the printing of the manuscript done at Louisiana Tech's facilities in the Office Services Department located adjacent to the campus Post Office. There is a fee for this service which is the student's responsibility.

Margins

• For binding purposes, every page of the manuscript must be kept within the following margins:
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-- Top: 1 inch

2 inches for a major heading

-- Right: 1 inch

-- Left: 1½ inches (binding edge)

-- Bottom: 1 inch

• Margins set by word processors should be carefully checked; it is recommended that the left margin be set at 1.6" to ensure that the 1.5" left margin be maintained throughout the printing process. All text must fit within these margin requirements (including tables, headers and footers, figures, graphs, and graphics).
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• The page number can be positioned outside of these margins, but no less than 3/4" from the page edge.

• An exception will be made on the pages with major headings (e.g., ABSTRACT, CHAPTER, etc.) where the top margin will be 2 inches.
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• When full-page prints of photographs are desired, the image area of the print must conform to the same margins as the text. Tables and figures may be photographically reduced to meet these requirements, provided all information is legible. Table titles and figure legends should not be reduced and must be the same font and size as the text.
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Line Spacing

• Since computer software is written to different specifications, the candidate is cautioned to use a program with enough flexibility to meet Graduate School requirements. The inability to make certain adjustments to the program does not relieve the student from meeting format requirements.
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• Double spacing is required for the text. Add one extra space/line above subheadings and maintain double space below it. Single spacing must be used for the following: block quotations, multiple chapter titles, subheadings in the text, in table and figure captions, bibliographic entries, notes, footnotes, and subheadings listed in the Table of Contents. Double spacing must be used between bibliographic entries, end notes, entries in lists, and descriptive narratives of tables and figures.
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• Use only one side of the paper; no left-hand pages are acceptable. It is not permissible to leave a single line of a paragraph or other subdivision at either the bottom or the top of a page (called a "widow or orphan"). Sometimes it is necessary to create one or two space lines at the bottom of the page to correct a one-line "widow." Although the margin at the bottom of the page is considered to be one inch, it may vary to prevent widow/orphans. No other extra space in the text is acceptable. Text must go to the bottom of each page, except at the end of a chapter. Subheadings near the bottom of a page must be accompanied by at least two lines of the following paragraph. The last word on a page cannot be hyphenated.
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• The final version of the body of the text in the manuscript must fully justified within the prescribed margins.
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Font Size and Style

• The same font must be used throughout the narrative, including page numbers and table and figure legends. All table titles and figure legends (title or descriptive information) must have identical typeface and type size, and be in the same font as the text. All main headings (e.g., Table of Contents, List of Tables, Abstract, Chapter Title, Appendix) must have identical font, value, size, and position/location in the page.
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• Possible exceptions are legends, labels, charts, graphs, figures, and computer printouts.
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• Standard fonts are required, and script fonts may not be used; italics may be used only for scientific terms, foreign words, special emphasis, and in citing titles of published works, but are not acceptable for subheadings or other textual elements. Decorative borders are not acceptable. Do not use unusual or novelty fonts.
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• Standard fonts are as follows:
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-- Headings: 14 point

-- Body: 12 point

-- Footnotes: 8-10 point

Do not use fonts larger than 14 or smaller than 8 anywhere in your thesis/dissertation.

• For the final version of the document, the print quality must be high-quality, laser printer preferably. Single dot-matrix print is not acceptable. The Graduate School Office reserves the right to make the final decision on the legibility of type used in the documents. Each page must be free of corrections or extraneous marks. Liquid paper, typing correction tape, gray overcast, etc. are not acceptable on submitted final copies.

Word Processing and Typing

• Although any competent word processor or typist may process the manuscript, an experienced thesis and dissertation typist can often be more helpful to an author than someone who is simply a good typist. Preferably, the processor should be thoroughly familiar with the requirements of the Graduate School of Louisiana Tech as well as with the approved style manual. It is very important to give the processor/typist precise instructions, including any special departmental requirements.

Headings and Subheadings

Be certain that headings and subheadings in each chapter are formatted identically, from the first level subheading to the succeeding levels. A single, consistent format must be maintained. If more than three levels of subheadings are needed, consult the suggested style manual or one accepted by your discipline.

Major Heading

• All major divisions, including chapter or main section titles, should begin on a new page. Major headings including titles such as Introduction, Chapter (Number and Title), Appendix (Number and Title), should be typed in all capital letters and be centered two inches from the top of the page. On the third line below the chapter number, enter the chapter heading. On the following third line, begin entering the first line of text. These headings must be identical throughout the document in font/typeface, size, placement, upper/lower case (capitalization), bolding, and underlining.
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• IF A MAJOR HEADING IS MORE THAN FOUR

INCHES LONG, USE A DOUBLE-SPACED

INVERTED-PYRAMID FORMAT

• Example of a major heading:
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CHAPTER 1

1^st line

2^nd line

3^rd line CHAPTER HEADING/ NAME

1^st line

2^nd line

3^rd line Begin typing the first line of the text here.

First Level Subheading

• Create a triple-space above centered headings, and double-space before the first line of the text. Capitalize the first letter of each word except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. Underline this heading, but do not use end punctuation. If a sub-heading is more than four inches long, use a single-spaced inverted pyramid format.
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• If a First Level Subheading is More

than Four Inches Long, Use an

Underlined Single-Spaced

Inverted-Pyramid Format

• Example of a first level subheading:

1^st line

2^nd line

3^rd line Centered Heading

1^st line

2^nd line Being typing the first line of text here.

Second Level Subheading

• When a subheading is too long, use a double-spaced, hanging indent format.
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• Create a triple space above and a double space below this heading. If this heading is more than 2 ½" long, single-space with double space hanging indentation.
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• Capitalize the first letter of each word except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. Underline the heading, but do not end punctuate.
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• Subheadings may be numbered by chapter (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2). However, within each level of subheading, a single, consistent format must be maintained. Do not use end punctuation. We do not recommend using more than three levels of subheadings. Be certain that subheadings in each chapter are formatted identically, from first-level subheading to succeeding levels.
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Second Level Subheading, Too

Long to Put on One Line

• Example of a second level subheading:

1^st line

2^nd line

3^rd line Left Justified Heading

1^st line

2^nd line Being typing the first line of text here.

Third Level Subheadings

• Create the equivalent of three line spaces, then indent and underline the heading. Capitalize the first word, proper nouns, and modifiers only; end with a period, and start the text on the same line as the heading.
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• Example of a third level subheading:
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1^st line

2^nd line

3^rd line Paragraph Heading. Begin text on the same line.

PLEASE NOTE:

It is not necessary to include all subheading levels in the Table of Contents. (See Turabian's Manual for Writers for more information on Subheading levels.)

Page Numbering

• Every page of the manuscript must be numbered, except the Title page, Signature page, Approval page, and the Appendix cover page. However, the Appendix cover page in the Table of Contents must display the appropriate sequential number.
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• All prefatory pages of the manuscript (pages preceding the first page of Chapter One) must be numbered using lower case Roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv). The exceptions are the following: Title page, Signature page, and Approval page which must not be numbered and must not be shown in the Table of Contents.
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• All lower case Roman numerals are to be centered between the left and right margins between ½" and 1" from the bottom edge of the page.
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• After the Title, Signature, and Approval pages, the remaining prefatory pages must be numbered sequentially beginning with the lower case Roman numeral "i." These pages may include, but are not limited to, dedications, abstract, tables of contents, list of figures, list of tables, glossary, illustrations, prefaces, introductions, and acknowledgments.
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• The first page of every chapter and the Bibliography (pages with major headings) are to have the number centered between the left and right margins between ½ " and 1" from the bottom edge of the page.

• All other numbered pages, including pages contained in the Appendix, are to have the page number located at the top right corner, 1" from the top edge of the page and 1" from the right edge of the page.
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• Starting with the first page of Chapter One, all subsequent pages must be numbered sequentially using Arabic numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4)
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• If it becomes necessary to add material to the manuscript, the new pages must be identified using the page number preceding the location where the new pages are inserted and a lower case letter as follows: if four pages are to be added between page 20 and 21, they must be designated as 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d.
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• If it becomes necessary to remove material from the manuscript, blank pages containing the original page numbers must be inserted to replace the pages that have been removed.
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In-Text Numbers and Footnotes

• Spell out numbers less than ten.
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• Exceptions:
• if used in a series
• when used as page numbers and dates
• when used in a comparison with two-digit numerals in the same sentence
• when numbers express scores or percentages
• when used before a unit of measure
• when an exact number of more than one digit is used (e.g., 6.25)

• Numbers should be avoided when beginning a sentence. However, if it is necessary to do so, the number is written as a word and all following numbers within the sentence are entered as numerals.
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• Numbers which are used as footnotes in the body of the text to reference numbered external documents, (i.e., Bibliography or References) must be enclosed in square brackets [ ] to distinguish them from any other parenthesized numbers or formulas within the body of the text. When traditional footnotes are used, they can be placed at the bottom of each page in the traditional fashion or grouped at the end of each chapter as endnotes. They should be numbered consecutively throughout the document, or may begin with 1 within each chapter, or be listed, along with the page number, within the brackets at the site of reference. (Candidates are directed to Turabian's Manual for Writers for guidance on composition, content, numbering of or need for footnotes or notes.)
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Illustrations

• Illustrations are used as complementary elements of the thesis/dissertation.
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• Illustrations are usually found in sections that present new information.
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• Tables and figures may be reduced. However, titles and captions must be in the same font and size as the text and used consistently throughout the document. Multi-lined titles and captions must be single-spaced, with a triple space created between text and table to set the illustration off from the text. Place the caption in the inverted-pyramid, paragraph-indented, or block-style.
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• When necessary for textual cross-reference, the List of Tables and List of Figures must be included in the preliminary pages of the document. When such lists are used, captions and/or legends must agree word for word with the captions in the body of the work, and page numbers must be those on which the tables or figures begin.
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Use illustrations for the following reasons:

1. to provide economy of communication and contribute to achieving a clear, concise, coherent presentation
2. to illustrate natural objects, structures, or phenomena
3. to present observations or measurements graphically
4. to illustrate interrelationships
5. to illuminate and clarify concepts
6. to condense information and save space
7. to record new scientific data.
8. 
   
   

PLEASE NOTE:

By their graphic character, tables and figures must stand outside the text. They are independent of it physically, and they must be self-contained for readers. They provide the evidence and examples for developing the text argument, but they DO NOT constitute the argument. They are only the means, and so must be integrated into written text.

The text should highlight, summarize, or interpret details in the illustrations, so that the reader can understand them.

Illustrations must be numbered, given a title, and list any additional information required to explain them.

Tables

• Tables are visual displays consisting of sets of numerical or verbal elements arranged in one or more lists or in a grid of columns and rows.
• 
  
  
• Tables, charts, and graphs may be presented horizontally or vertically, and they must fit within the required margins with placement of page numbers consistent throughout the entire manuscript.
• 
  
  
• Tables are numbered consecutively (including tables in the appendices).
• 
  
  
• The titles of all tables must be placed at the top of the table. Titles should be clear and concise.
• 
  
  
• All information/data should be clearly and concisely balanced - visually accessible. Use consistent format (lines, etc.) throughout all tables.
• 
  
  
• Place footnotes double-spaced below the bottom rule. Single-space the footnotes, and identify them in the table by a, b, c, etc.
• 
  
  
• Lines on a graph should be identified by labels or symbols rather than colors, for colors will not reproduce easily. Shaded areas, such as countries on a map, will have better contrast for reproducing if crosshatching is used instead of color.
• 
  
  
  
  

Figures

• Figures consist of pictorial elements.

• Figures are numbered consecutively (including in the appendices).
• 
  
  
• The titles of all figures must be placed at the bottom of the figure. Titles should be clear and concise.
• 
  
  
• Place footnotes two spaces below the title. Single-space the footnotes, and identify them in the table by a, b, c, etc.
• 
  
  

Reproduction of Graphs, Charts

and Exhibits

• Photocopies or reduced photocopies and computer copies are acceptable if they are reproduced on the same quality paper as the text. They must be clearly legible and must adhere to margin requirements as stipulated in this Guide (see Margins, page 10). Color photocopies made on a laser copier or the equivalent are acceptable. When submitting the final version of the manuscript to the Graduate School Office, the original of all theses and dissertations is preferred. However, a photocopy of the manuscript is acceptable as long as it is as legible as the original. Inconsistency of the letter/font quality or color is not acceptable, as is a copy that has a gray or dark cast to the background. If the copy can be smudged or erased, the copy machine was not set correctly, and the copy will have to be redone from the original.
• 
  
  

• Photographs create a special problem which is best solved by electronically scanning and importing them into the document. The use of some paste-in photos in individual cases is acceptable, but each must be approved by the Director of the Graduate School and/or the Committee Chair. Captions, legends, and page numbering for small photos can be typed on a mounting sheet. Those for full-page originals can be incorporated by being photographed with the picture, placed on a separate page, or printed onto the photograph with waterproof ink.
• 
  
  
  
  

Oversized and Supplemental Materials

• Large fold-out maps and other charts must be permanently attached (not stapled) to a numbered, blank page of the thesis and must be folded so as to conform to the margin's limitations. If a large fold-out is included, two copies are required. One map is to be permanently attached to the thesis and the other placed in an envelope facing the back flyleaf of the thesis.
• 
  
  
• Nonprint media, such as computer diskettes, compact discs, videotapes, or audiotapes can be included with the thesis or dissertation only if they are clarified by the information contained on these diskettes or tapes. The diskette or tape should be clearly marked with the student's name, major, thesis or dissertation title, a reference to the information on the diskette or tape, and the location of the information in the manuscript. The diskette should be "read only," and, if possible, the information on the diskette should be printed out. Only one copy of the diskette or tape needs to be filed with the manuscript.
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Oversized materials should be reduced to 8½" x 11" when legibility can be maintained. If this is not possible, do not crease oversized material. Either roll such materials and place them in a mailing tube or loosely fold them into a manila envelope. Clearly label the tube or envelope with your name and location of the material in the manuscript. A page should be placed in the manuscript indicating the location. Wide-carriage computer printouts should be reduced.
• 
  
  

Survey of the Literature

A Survey of the Literature section can be included in either the Introduction or as a section (chapter) in the body of your thesis/dissertation.

• A paragraph should be written to outline the organization of the Survey.
• 
  
  
• Place the literature citations in order of their importance.
• 
  
  
• Show the relation of your proposed study to past and current research in summary paragraphs.
• 
  
  
• Describe what is distinctive or different about the proposed research compared with previous research clearly in the first few paragraphs of the Survey.
• 
  
  
• List the most relevant articles that bear on this research.
• 
  
  
• Do not over-cite articles.
• 
  
  
• State the evaluation of key articles succinctly in terms of both procedures and interpretation of results.
• 
  
  
  
  

Appendixes

• Appendixes are optional. They must contain extra, relevant material such as questionnaires, surveys, tables, figures, computer data, and letters of permission to reprint copyrighted material. These optional appendixes must be included in the Table of Contents, conforming to the format used there. They must also be formatted in the document in such a way that they are consistent with the other main divisions.
• 
  
  
• All material in appendixes must be numbered consecutively, within the required margins and on the same paper used throughout the document.
• 
  
  

• If there is only one appendix, do not enumerate its title page as APPENDIX A.
• The subsequent appendix title pages are marked as Appendix B -- the first Appendix page has on it the word "Appendix" with an informative title independently located in the center of the page.

Vita

• The vita is the last item of the document and must appear in the Table of Contents. It is a brief, double-spaced, biographical sketch of the author, written by the author in paragraph form and in the third person. It is neither a curriculum vita nor a resume. Since the Vita is a major heading page, it must be numbered on the bottom center of the page and formatted as all the other in-text pages.

Order of Arrangement

• Assemble the thesis or dissertation in the following order:
• 
  
  
• A. Preliminary pages. Use Roman numerals beginning with i.
• Title Page
• Signature Page
• Abstract
• Approval for Scholarly Dissemination (theses only)
• Dedication or Epigraph (if included)
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• Acknowledgments (if included)
• Preface (if included)
• 
  
  
• B. Body of thesis/dissertation. Use Arabic page numbers beginning with 1.
•  

11. Introduction/Literature Review

12. Text (divided into chapters or sections)

13. Conclusion/Summary (may be incorporated in final chapter)

• C. Final Items. Arabic page numbers continue.
•  

14. Appendix(s)

15. Bibliography or References

16. Vita (if required)

Report Forms and Approval Sheets

• The approval sheets are the responsibility of the Department; these forms record the acceptance of the candidate's final thesis or dissertation. The student must carefully check to ensure that these forms reflect the correct final title, major field, and author's name as they will appear on the title page and extra abstract. No visible corrections are acceptable on these sheets, and they are not to be numbered or included in the Table of Contents.
• 
  
  

APPENDIX A

Sample Forms

1. Thesis/Dissertation Prospectus Form (GS Form 10) -- page 24
2. 
   
   
3. Uniform Approval Page (GS Form 13)* -- page 25

Seven copies of this page are required for a thesis, eight for a dissertation.

1. Approval for Scholarly Dissemination Form (GS Form 14)* -- page 26

Five copies of this page are required.

1. Thesis Receipt Form (GS Form 15) -- page 27
2. 
   
   
3. Thesis/Dissertation Edit Memorandum (GS Form 17) -- page 28

This form will be provided by whoever edits your thesis/dissertation upon completion of editing.

1. Thesis/Dissertation Format Memorandum (GS Form 18) -- page 29

This form will be provided by the Graduate School upon completion of format review.

1. Sample Title Page -- page 30
2. 
   
   

* Official copies of these forms are available in the Graduate School Office, Wyly Tower, Room 1642. These official copies are already printed on the approved bond paper.

Proposal For _______ Thesis _______ Dissertation

The Graduate School

Louisiana Tech University

Instructions: An approved copy of this form and the attached pages outlining the proposal should be filed with each advisory committee member, the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies, the appropriate College Dean, and the Director of the Graduate School.

Name _________________________________________________________________ Date filed________________________

College of _____________________________________________ Degree program ________________________________

Tentative thesis or dissertation title ____________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Expected completion date ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________

Signature of Student Date

Advisory Committee Approval:

________________________________________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

Chairman Date Committee Member Date

________________________________________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

Committee Member Date Department Head Date

________________________________________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

Committee Member Date Director of Graduate Studies Date

________________________________________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

Committee Member Date Dean of the College Date

________________________________________ ________

Director of the Graduate School Date

On attached pages, provide concise statements of the following:

I. Tentative Title IV. Research Need

II. Objectives V. Methodology

III. Related ResearchGS Form 10

(10/97)

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

_________________________________

Date

We hereby recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by_____________________________________________________________________________________ entitled_________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________

Supervisor of Thesis Research

______________________________________________

Head of Department

______________________________________________

Department

Recommendation concurred in:

__________________________________

__________________________________

Advisory Committee

__________________________________

__________________________________

Approved: Approved:

__________________________________ ______________________________________

Director of Graduate Studies Dean of Graduate School

__________________________________

Dean of the College

GS Form 13

2/97

APPROVAL FOR SCHOLARLY DISSEMINATION

The author grants to the Prescott Memorial Library of Louisiana Tech University the right to reproduce, by appropriate methods, upon request, any or all portions of this Thesis. It is understood that "proper request" consists of the agreement, on the part of the requesting party, that said reproduction is for his personal use and that subsequent reproduction will not occur without written approval of the author of this Thesis. Further, any portions of the Thesis used in books, papers, and other works must be appropriately referenced to this Thesis.

Finally, the author of this Thesis reserves the right to publish freely, in the literature, at any time, any or all portions of this Thesis.

Author _____________________________

Date _____________________________

GS Form 14

2/97

To: ______________________________________________________

Director of Graduate Studies

College of: ________________________________________________

This is to certify that _________________________________________________ has deposited with us an acceptable Thesis/Dissertation, properly signed, and has paid the required Bindery Fee.

Signed: __________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________

Date & Time: __________________________________________________

Instructions: The student must hand carry this to the library, have this properly completed and personally return this form, without delay, to the Director of Graduate Studies for his College. Failure to do so before three days prior to his/her expected graduation will not allow sufficient time to ensure that the student will graduate.

GS Form 15

(10/97)

Memo To: Dr. Terry M. McConathy

From: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Subject: Thesis/Dissertation Edit Status

I have examined the thesis/dissertation of ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________ for grammar, syntax, and organizational error. I have suggested corrections, which he / she has incorporated into the later draft of the paper.

GS Form 17

(10/97)

Memo To: Dr. Terry M. McConathy

From: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Subject: Thesis/Dissertation Format

To the best of my knowledge, the thesis/dissertation of __________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

contains no formatting errors.

GS Form 18

(10/97)

Sample Title Page

(Center all typing between margins and fill in the appropriate material)

(line 7) APPROVED TITLE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION

IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

by

Full Name of Student, Previous Degrees

(line 26-28) A Thesis/Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Master (Doctor) of _________

(line 39-43) COLLEGE OF _______________________

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

(line 45-46) Month Year

(Date degree will be awarded)

APPENDIX B

Style Manuals

The various academic Colleges of Louisiana Tech University have designated certain style manuals or alternatives generally allowable of their students. The student must, however, follow his/her Committee's judgement in this matter. Remember that if a conflict exists between a rule from this Guide distributed by the Graduate School and a published style manual, the regulations set forth in this Guide take precedence over those in style manuals and/or journal formats.

College of Administration and Business

Turabian or Campbell and Ballou.

College of Applied and Natural Sciences

School of Human Ecology

Individual College manual.

School of Life Sciences

Individual College manual; Council of Biology Editors Style Manual, current edition; or the style of a leading scholarly journal in the student's discipline acceptable by the student's committee.

College of Education

Turabian, Campbell and Ballou, or American Psychological Association Manual.

College of Engineering and Science

Turabian, Campbell and Ballou, or the style of a leading scholarly journal in the student's discipline.

College of Liberal Arts

Turabian or Campbell and Ballou.

APPENDIX C

Quick Reference

1. Abstract

Length - thesis 250, dissertation 350

Line Spacing - double

1. Copies

For thesis:

5 copies of thesis

2 extra copies of the title page

2 extra copies of the abstract

For dissertation:

5 copies of dissertation

3 extra copies of the title page

3 extra copies of the abstract

1. Fonts

Headings - 14 point

Body - 12 point

Footnotes - 8-10 point

1. Headings

MAJOR HEADING

First Level Subheading

Second Level Subheading

Third Level Subheading.

1. Justification

Fully justified

1. Line Spacing

Double space in text

Triple space above headings

1. Margins

Top - 1 inch for regular pages

2 inches for pages with major headings

Bottom - 1 inch

Left - 1½ inch

Right - 1 inch

1. Order of Arrangement

A. Preliminary pages. Use Roman numerals beginning with i.

1. Title Page

1. 1. 1. 1. Signature Page
         2. Abstract
         3. Approval for Scholarly Dissemination (theses only)
         4. Dedication or Epigraph (if included)
         5. Table of Contents
         6. List of Tables
         7. List of Figures
         8. Acknowledgments (if included)
         9. Preface (if included)
         10. 
             
             

B. Body of thesis/dissertation. Use Arabic page numbers beginning with 1.

1. 1. 1. 1. Introduction/Literature Review
         2. Text (divided into chapters or sections)
         3. Conclusion/Summary (may be incorporated in final chapter)
         4. 
            
            

C. Final Items. Arabic page numbers continue.

1. 1. 1. 1. Appendix(s)
         2. Bibliography or References
         3. Vita (if required)

1. Page Numbering

Prefatory Pages:

Lower case roman numerals

Centered, ½ to 1 inch from the bottom of the page

First Page of Each Chapter:

Arabic Numbers

Centered, ½ to 1 inch from the bottom of the page

All Other Pages:

Arabic Numbers

1" from the top of the page, 1" from the right edge of the page

1. Paper

Twenty-pound permanent white bond paper of at least 25% cotton fiber content

Time Table

The following time table is offered as a guide to the student. Items which are mandatory are indicated by an asterisk(*). The student should check with his/her individual College for deadlines as well as observing the deadlines stated below. Failure to comply with items 6 - 10 will remove the student from the graduation list for that quarter.

Binding Fees

After obtaining all signatures, the student is responsible for personally delivering five copies of his/her thesis/dissertation, each in a separate envelope, to the Serials Department (3^rd Floor), Prescott Library.

• Extra copies can be bound for an additional charge.
• 
  
  
• For dissertations, one extra copy of the title page and abstract is need to be turned in for microfilming.
• 
  
  
• Students pay all binding fees when copies are turned in to the Library.
• 
  
  

The following are the binding fees for theses and dissertations.

One of the 5 copies is for the student's personal use. In order to ensure proper delivery of the student's bound copy, you must provide the Library with a current mailing address.

• If the thesis/dissertation is to be mailed out of the United States, there is an additional $20.00 charge for postage.
• 
  
  

Students wishing to copyright their dissertation may request that UMI do it for them.

• If this choice is made, a charge of $35.00 is imposed by UMI, and a check for that amount should be made out to UMI.
• 
  
  
  
  

Common Mistakes

The following is a list of mistakes which are commonly made in writing a thesis or dissertation. Care should be given avoiding these.

1. The manuscript's final draft should be carefully proofread and corrected before it is submitted to the Graduate School Office for the Director's signature. Every page should be checked for correct margins, formatting, and numbering; all copies need to be checked for omitted pages and blatant in-text errors. Identifying errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, terms and vocabulary are your sole responsibility.

2. The manuscript should be thoroughly checked for consistency. All titles and headings in the Table of Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures must agree exactly with their wording in the text. Subheadings, if included in the Table of Contents, must appear in descending order of value. Throughout the manuscript, consistency in the positioning of all headings of the same value is imperative.

3. Table of Contents must match internal headings and subheadings exactly.

4. Page numbers must match front matter (Table of Contents, List of Figures, List of Tables, etc.)

5. Titles of figures and tables must match the List of Figures and List of Tables exactly.

6. Bibliographic references must be consistent between the narrative and the Bibliography/References section at the end of the thesis. If you cite a secondary source in the narrative, you must document the source in the bibliographic section.

7. Tables and figures must be referenced and appear after their reference in the narrative.

8. Presentation of titles of tables and figures must be consistent in capitalization. Capitalize the first letter of the first word only, or use initial capitals throughout (except for prepositions and articles.)

9. Indent lists consisting of words or short phrases, and text of numbered lines.

10. Align tabular numbers on decimals.

11. Present words consistently. Ex:

Equation -or- Eq.

Figure -or- Fig.

crossection -or- cross-section

Note: if you decide to use Eq. and/or Fig. as your designation, you must use the whole word at the beginning of a sentance.

12. Most commonly misspelled words:

• cannot
• gauges
• et al.
• there/their
• its/it's

13. Use correct punctuation when introducing equations. Ex:

• Substituting Eq. (23) into Eq. (25) gives ...
• Applying Poisson's ratio, ...
• The elasticity modulus is calculated as follows: ...

14. Adhere to spacing requirements of the Graduate School's Guide.

15. Appendices must have informative titles.

16. When using qualifiers (such as, including ...), do not insert (etc.) at the end of the list.

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