The body of the document consists of several sections called chapters. The number of chapters and their titles will vary by discipline or topic of the dissertation or thesis. Consult with your mentor or program director to determine the chapter designations (if any) that have been adopted by your program. For most dissertations and theses, CHAPTER ONE will be entitled "Introduction". For scientific or experimental theses, the following sequence is often appropriate: CHAPTER TWO, "Materials and Methods", CHAPTER THREE, "Results", CHAPTER FOUR, "Discussion and Conclusions". (Introductions and Conclusions are always labeled as chapters.)

The chapter designation, such as CHAPTER ONE, is a first-level heading; it is centered, in all uppercase letters, and is placed at approximately 1.5 inches from the top of the page. Based on single spacing (see below), after a double-space, type the chapter title as a second level heading (centered, in uppercase and lowercase letters). After a triple-space, indent and begin typing the text. For instance:

There will only be one level-one heading and one level-two heading in any chapter. If a level-three heading is required immediately after the chapter title, leave a triple-space above it, but a double-space following. Thus, the heading that immediately precedes text is followed by a double-space. For instance:

*An explanation of the meaning of double and triple spacing: For easy observation, when typing, have the paragraph symbol (¶) turned on in the options menu on the computer. Based on single spacing, for a double space, return once, leaving a blank line with one paragraph symbol, typing on the second return. For a triple space, again based on single spacing, leave two blank paragraph symbols between lines of text, typing on the third return.

The page number for the first page of each chapter (and all other pages) is located at the bottom of the page, centered between the left and right margins and placed 0.75 inches from the bottom edge of the paper.

Tables and Captions

Numerous acceptable styles are available for production of tables and their captions (Turabian, Ch. 8, p.82 gives general specifications, and Ch.26, p. 359 offers formatting help). Select one style from the style guide adopted by your department or institute, and follow that style consistently throughout your dissertation or thesis; Turabian (26.2, pp. 362-368) presents examples of several styles. Also, adhere to the Guidelines below.

All tables are referenced by number within the text, and ideally each table should come as close as possible after the first reference to it.

Tables and their captions should be embedded within the text if the table and caption occupies less than approximately three-quarters of a page. The intent is to avoid blank space and, thereby, to produce a more finished product. The caption is single-spaced and is centered. Leave a triple-space between the preceding text and the caption, a double-space between the caption and the body of the table, and a triple-space below the table before resuming text. If the table and caption is greater than about three-quarters of a page, then allocate an entire page to that table; in such cases, center the table so that equal amounts of blank space occur above and below the table.

Tables are numbered sequentially throughout the text. Pages with tables are paginated in sequence with text pages. Pages with tables placed broadside (i.e., landscape; binding edge to top of table) bear page numbers oriented and positioned normally, not at the binding edge. Pages with tables placed broadside do not include text other than the caption to the table. Tables within an appendix are numbered with the letter of the appendix plus the number, sequentially beginning with number one in each appendix (i.e., A.1, B.1, etc.).

The typeface and font size used within a table should match the typeface used in the caption and in the text. If necessary, to enable a table to fit onto one page rather than to continue onto a second page, then font size may be decreased to 10 point, but not smaller.

Borders which "box" individual elements in a table are not permitted. Typically, three horizontal lines are all that are allowed in formatting tables: one line above and one line below the column headings, and an ending line at the very bottom of the table. Generally, no vertical lines are used. Consult your departmental style guide and the Graduate School for instruction in creating tables.

Please note that if tables are created in a program different to the one in which the entire document is formatted, it is best to condense any extra space and eliminate borders and extraneous information before moving the table into the text document, thereby reducing the need for extra, and sometimes difficult, formatting issues.

Figures and Legends

Numerous acceptable styles are available for production of figures and their legends (Turabian, Ch. 8, p. 82 gives general specifications, and Chapter 26, p.359 offers formatting help). Though there are provisions for properly handling oversized figures, figures and their legends should fit within the margins described elsewhere in these Guidelines. The advent of optical scanners and imagery software has made the process for inclusion of photographic prints and other such materials straightforward.

All figures are referenced by number within the text, and ideally each figure should come as close as possible after the first reference to it. Figures and their legends should be embedded within the text if the figure and legend occupy less than approximately three-quarters of a page. The intent is to avoid blank space and, thereby, to produce a more finished product. The legend is single-spaced and left-justified, except for short legends which may be centered. Leave a triple-space between the preceding text and the top of the figure, a double-space between the figure and the legend, and a triple-space below the legend before resuming text. If the figure and legend are greater than about three-quarters of a page, then allocate an entire page to that figure; in such cases, center the figure and legend so that equal amounts of blank space occur above and below the figure.

Figures are numbered sequentially throughout the text. Pages with figures are paginated in sequence with text pages. Pages with figures placed broadside (i.e., landscape; binding edge to top of figure) bear page numbers oriented normally, not at the binding edge. Pages with figures placed broadside do not include text other than the legend to the figure. For figures too large to allow inclusion of the legend within the margins on the same page as the image, the legend is placed on the reverse of the preceding page; use of such facing-page legends enables the reader to view the figure and legend simultaneously. The front side of a page that carries a facing-page legend on the reverse bears only a page number; the page number is not typed on the reverse side of this page. Figures within an appendix are numbered with the letter of the appendix plus the number, sequentially beginning with number one in each appendix (i.e., A.1, B.1, etc.).

Black-and-white or color images are permissible. If the original of a figure is in color, then the figure should be reproduced in color. UMI Dissertation Services offers several recommendations regarding figures. Among them are that lines on graphs should be identified by labels or symbols rather than by colors. Also, use of different patterns (e.g., cross-hatching, stippling) offers more contrast than does use of different colors which photocopy as various shades of gray.

Ideally, the typeface used within a figure should match the typeface used in the text. Be consistent in use of the same typeface for all figures. Font size should not be smaller than 10 point. Generally, borders are not used around figures.

Please note that if figures are created in a program different to the one in which the entire document is formatted, it is best to condense any extra space and eliminate borders and extraneous information before moving the figure into the text document, thereby reducing the need for extra, and sometimes difficult, formatting issues.