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Print Formats

Paper | Reproduction | Unacceptable | Spacing & Margins | Pagination | Non-Conforming | Illustrations and Charts | Photographs | Supplementary Materials | Patent | Submission Process | Signature Page | Binding

Beginning Fall Semester 2001 Marshall University requires the electronic submission of all theses and dissertations (ETDs).

This section focuses on formats generally applicable to paper (printed) documents.  The paper format requirements in this section are listed for use with printed and bound documents, and applies only to individuals granted an ETD exemption, (granted only in rare instances) or to bound copies which may be required by many departments and/or committee members and desirable for personal use.  For electronic format information, go to Electronic Formats page.

Paper

• White, acid free, 20 pound paper (most paper manufactured today has acid free content).
• White bond paper with 25% or higher rag content is recommended.
• 8 ½ inches x 11 inches in size.
• Erasable bond, recycled, or perforated paper are unacceptable.

Reproduction

• Copies of theses and dissertations must be printed on only one side of the paper, except when the facing-page format is used (see Illustrations and Charts section for pagination details).
• Either two original copies or the original and first copy must be presented to the University Libraries.
• Paper and electronic copies presented must be clean, clear, and uniform, with high contrast print resolution.
• You should use a computer and applicable software to produce theses and dissertations where possible.
• Keep in mind that because of duplicating and microfilming needs, the print must be letter quality with dark black characters that are consistently clear and dense.
• The preferred typeface includes 10 to 12 characters per horizontal inch.
• The preferred number of lines is 6 (single-spaced) or 3 (double-spaced) text lines per vertical inch.
• If necessary, different typefaces may be used within tables, figures, and appendices. Non-standard typefaces, such as script, are generally not acceptable except for commonly accepted symbols.

Unacceptable

• Dot matrix print, unless prior approval is obtained from the University Libraries.
• Overstrikes, interlineations, cross outs, defective lines from paste-ups, dots and shading in the background, smudges and smears, careless erasures, and white-out.
• Use of photo-mounting corners, staples, or transparent tape, or other non-archival material.

Spacing and Margins

• All straight text is to be double spaced, but single-space long tables, long quotations, footnotes, multi-line captions, computer programming, and bibliographical entries.
• All pages must have a minimum margin of 1 inch on all sides of the page.
• A left margin of 1.5 inches (binding offset) is also acceptable, if you and your committee desire.
• The placement of the footnotes at the bottom of the page or at the end of the manuscript is optional but must be consistent throughout. A form acceptable for publications in the discipline is recommended.
• All footnotes must conform to the margin requirements.
• All tables and figures should conform to the margin requirements. Photographic reduction may be necessary. Not more than 3 to 5% reduction is suggested to prevent indistinct print quality.
• A subheading at the bottom of the page must have at least two full lines of type below it. Otherwise, the subheading should begin on the next page.
• The last word on any page should not be hyphenated. The line should be short of the margin and the whole word typed on the following page.

Page Numbering Format

• Each and every page in a thesis or dissertation, including all blank pages, must be assigned a number with no duplications in the numbering system.
• The preliminaries (table of contents, list of tables, etc.) must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals (iii, iv, v, etc.). The numbers should appear in the upper right-hand corner or as indicated by your style manual, 0.75 inches from the edge of the page.
• The title page counts as page i, but the number should not appear.
• The abstract page counts as page ii, but the number should not appear.
• The remainder of the text (body) must be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, starting with Chapter One or the Introduction. Numbering must begin with page "1" centered at the top or bottom of the page, or as indicated by your style manual, within the 1 inch margin (0.75 inches from the edge of the page).
• Avoid the use of letter suffixes as 10a, 10b, etc.
• For multi-volume theses or dissertations, the maximum advisable size for a binding unit is 2.5 inches in thickness (approximately 550 pages). Beyond this size, you must separate the manuscript into volumes.
• Multiple volumes should be identified as Volume I, II, or Volume 1, 2, etc.
• Page numbering may either follow consecutively or begin again with Arabic 1.
• Multiple volumes should each contain a title page.
• All preliminary pages should remain in the first volume.

Non-Conforming Theses and Dissertations

• Marshall University may not accept theses or dissertations that are musical compositions, artistic works, etc., which require printed pages that exceed the previously designated size limits or electronic formats as with multimedia, etc. applications. Any proposed non-conforming thesis or dissertation must be approved by your college/school or department and then by the Dean of Graduate College before final production.
  

Illustrations and Charts

• All illustrations and charts must be drawn in dark, opaque ink and be of sufficient size to be readable. Remember that microfilming and duplicating are black and white photographic processes and colors will appear in varying shades of gray. Thus, cross-hatching and labels are essential.
• If a title or description of an illustration or graph is too long to be placed on the same page, it should be placed on the previous page.
• Photocopies, computer scans and reduced text must be readable when reproduced.
• Wide tables or figures may be placed broadside, (landscape orientation). The table should be placed so that the top of the table is nearest the binding side (left margin). The placement of the table or figure, vertical or horizontal, does not alter the position of the page numbering requirements set forth in this guide.
• Some disciplines prefer the title or description to face the illustration or graph, which is called the facing- page format. If this is done, be sure to number the blank side of the page, but do not number the description side of the page.

• Oversize pages complicate duplicating procedures and should be avoided. Often a different layout or the use of photographic reduction will resolve the problem.
• If oversized maps or charts are used, they should be folded as few times as possible, but in such a way as to give 0.25 inches minimum clearance on the front right-hand edge of book.
• Maps or charts inserted in a pocket of the inside back cover must be folded to a size not larger than 6.5 inches x 10.5 inches.
• A binding pocket should be included before the manuscript is presented to the binder.

Photographs

• Photographs in a thesis or dissertation may be in black and white or color. Keep in mind that maximum clarity for microfilming and duplicating is attained when there is good black and white contrast.
• Color photographs should be used when they are essential for understanding the methods or results of the research.
• If color photographs are used, appropriate labels must be provided to assist the readers of reproduced copies.
• Digital reproductions (computer scan) or other color photo-duplication methods often produce more desirable results than mounted photographs.
• Photographs smaller than 8 ½ inches x 11 inches must be firmly affixed to pages with Kodak (or equivalent) Dry Mounting Tissue, rubber cement, or professional spray mounting, to ensure permanent adhesion. Photographs which are 8 ½ inches x 11 inches in dimension may be inserted and numbered like a regular page.
• Dissertations:  If color must be used, it is suggested that you submit one copy in color (for library patron use), and one copy in black and white (for microfilming and archives).

Supplementary Materials

• Software (i.e., floppy disk, CD-ROM, etc.) or other unbound materials (i.e., maps, realia, etc.) must be clearly labeled with author and title information.
• The material should be placed in an envelope or other appropriate pocket, no larger than 6.5 inches x 9.5 inches, one per copy.
• The pocket should be firmly affixed to the inside back cover of the bound copies.

Patent Pending

        If a U.S. patent is pending on a thesis or dissertation manuscript, consult the Patent and Invention Policy of Marshall University.

Submission Process

        If an ETD exemption has been granted,  you must present your thesis or dissertation, required forms, and payment of fees to the Graduate College Office; Exemptions are granted only in rare instances.

Signature Page

Binding

        ETD Exempt Thesis Submissions and Complimentary Copies of Theses or Dissertations:

• Three copies of theses that have been approved for ETD Exemption are submitted to the Graduate College Office unbound. The University Library will bind the copies of the thesis. One will be placed in the University Archives, the second will be placed in the MUGC Library in Charleston, and the third will be sent to the student's department.


• It is the responsibilty of the student to bind personal copies.