Formatting
FORMATTING MANUAL
The Dissertation & Thesis MANUAL (DTM) link is always accessible from the left-side
navigation bar while in the Dissertation & Thesis Review web site.
DTM Updates: For information about current and past updates to formatting guidelines, see the
DTM UPDATES link on the left side of this page.
Formatters: You may employ professionals to format your manuscript or assist with editing. See the
Formatters and Other Professionals link on the left side of this page.
TEMPLATES
The Word template, associated ReadMe File, and related
BATS Workshops Handout information--as well as the LaTeX template--are always
accessible from the left-side navigation bar while in the Dissertation & Thesis Review web site; see
TEMPLATES.
CHECK YOUR FORMATTING
Okay. You've read the DTM (and if you used one of the templates, you've read its associated instructional file).
But you're still not sure you're interpreting the instructions correctly and doing everything right.
What can you do? Use the following 3 resources--carefully, and with attention to detail. If your formatting isn't perfect after
that, it should be good enough to get into the expedited queue for review (see
the Intake Screening form for details).
Read and follow the recommendations on the Top 10 Formatting Problems page. The most common pitfalls in dissertation and thesis formatting are covered here.
Check your thesis against these SAMPLE THESES, one for each of the text styles: Chapter Style, Section Style, Technical Style. Each thesis presents different formatting scenarios common to theses in general. Therefore, you should look at all 3 samples regardless of the text style you will be using (see Sec. 4.6 of the DTM for more information about the 3 text styles). Keep in mind that you will be following only 1 of the 3 text styles in your own thesis, so ignore the numbering or chapter/section title formatting that would not apply to you.
The Revisions List worksheet (pdf file) is used by the Dissertation & Thesis Reviewer to note the types of errors present in a manuscript. Use this as a checklist to make sure you are addressing all of the formatting that will be evaluated. Note that the numbers in parentheses next to each item indicate the relevant section of the DTM for that item. This will take a bit of work on your part, but if you methodically read the DTM text for each area then check your thesis to see if you have complied with those instructions, you should be able to make sure your thesis is in good shape.
HANDOUTS AND OTHER RESOURCES
Appendix C from Slade's Form and Style, 11th ed.
(updated 1-31-08) This pdf file is for students in departments using the current (12th ed.)
of Slade's Form and Style as the departmental style and reference guide, and who are using the author/number system
for their references. This important information was omitted from the 12th edition; therefore, a modified version for SDSU is
made available here with permission from Houghton Mifflin, the publisher.
Guidelines for Citing Internet Sources in SDSU Theses and Dissertations.
How-To Handout
for adding space around titles, headings, tables, figures, and lists (pdf file). This instruction is also included in the
Technical Support handout but is used so often, it deserves to stand alone.
MS Word Technical Support
This technical support page provides technical support for those problem areas students have identified during the past year
while trying to format their manuscripts without the SDSU (Word) Template. It does not repeat instruction already provided in
the Template's ReadMe File.
Top 10 Formatting Problems (updated 1-09-07)
All students formatting their theses by themselves should take a look at this web page that covers the most common pitfalls
in dissertation and thesis formatting. The information provided here also answers the most often-asked questions about
formatting. The best time to read this is before you even start your research!
Montezuma Publishing Thesis Processing. This pdf file details the
publishing costs (for which the student is responsible) for microfiche, copying, binding, processing, etc. See Table 2.3 in
the SDSU Dissertation & Thesis Manual for departmental requirements. Both university and departmental publishing
requirements must be met in order to graduate.
