be accepted as the
final step for your graduation.
1.
2.
Use the following checklist or the links in Organizing Your Thesis to carefully check the formatting of your
thesis/dissertation. Carefully checking these items will speed up the acceptance process for your thesis.
After all the items have been checked, use the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the checklist to go to the
next step for submitting your thesis/dissertation.
Are the parts of your thesis in the correct order? Organizing Your Thesis/Dissertation chart
Title Page
Match Iowa State's online samples
Title should display about 1.25 inches from the top of page
Capitalize only the first word of the title unless it is a proper noun or the first word following a colon
Do not use Dr., Esq., PhD, AIA, or other titles or affiliations before or after faculty names
Faculty name, Major Professor or Co-Major Professor. If Co-Major Professors, then there is no Major
Professor
Your name should be in BOLD in the top portion of the Title Page. Single space the committee member
names.
OPTIONAL: Copyright statement - List the year of actual graduation. Your name should be listed
exactly as it is written earlier on the Title Page
Table of Contents
In preliminary pages, numbers are lower case Roman numerals, top center
Page number columns in Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables are aligned to the right
digit
Titles have all the same capitalization, size, and same font
Include the word Chapter and number before each chapter title. (Ex. CHAPTER 1. XXXXXXX)
Page Numbering
All page numbers are at the top center of the page, in the same size font
Each page has a page number and all page numbers are in sequence
Landscape page numbers should be in the same location and orientation as all other pages (example)
Line Spacing
Fonts
12 point size for text of thesis; tables, figures, footnotes and endnotes and Appendices may be 10 point
Standard proportional fonts, such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria, or a similar
proportional font
Same font used throughout thesis text (tables and figures may differ)
LIST OF FIGURES or LIST OF TABLES is in all caps and centered like chapter titles
Page number columns in Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables are aligned to the right
Table or Figure titles do not run into the page number column
Titles have all the same capitalization, size, and same font
Abstract
Abstract should be double-spaced or 1.5 spaces like the text of the thesis
Indent the first paragraph of your Abstract like other paragraphs in your thesis
All Top Level (Preliminary Pages, Chapter Title, Reference/Bibliography, and Appendix) headings must
be in all caps, the same size font, and location at the top of the page
Top Level headings may be no larger than 16 point
Body of Manuscript
No blank pages
Organized in a coherent and consistent manner, same size, location, font, etc.
All Top Level (Preliminary Pages, Chapter Title, Reference/Bibliography, and Appendix) headings must
be in all caps, the same size font, and location at the top of the page
Headings are used in a consistent manner, same size, location, font, etc.
Table and Figures can be included in the text near their reference or they can be grouped at the end of
each chapter. A consistent style should be used for all chapters
Margins on the pages with tables or figures should be the same as your manuscript pages
Table captions are located at the top of the table, figure captions are located at the bottom of the figure
Captions longer than one line: use consistent line spacing and indention (single space is OK)
Table/figure too large to fit on one page: use Table/Figure X continued" at the top of each subsequent
page
Landscape tables and figures should be turned so that the top of the table/figure is to the left
Page numbers on landscape pages should not turn with the table/figure. They should be located on the
8.5" end of the page in the same position and orientation as all the other page numbers (example)
Beneath paper's title, indicate the publishing status and the name(s) of the author(s)
Include an explanation of your role and/or the co-authors' roles in the research/preparation of the paper
Begin the text of the paper on the same page as the title
Appendices
Each appendix must have a Top Level heading, in the same location as, and formatted like, all the
other Chapter titles
All pages are numbered in the same font and location as text pages
If there is only one appendix, do not put an A or I or 1 after Appendix. If multiple Appendices use letters
or numbers such as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.
Letters and documents should not contain signatures
Within chapters, the bibliography should not start on a new page unless there is no space on the
previous page
If bibliography is at the end of a paper, it is a major heading and starts on a new page
Website URLs must contain complete descriptions and dates of the information used and dates of
access of that information
Single space references, double-space between
Follows ISU requirements for Biographical Sketch or Vita (example). Do not include personal or contact
information
It is important that you have met all the formatting requirements so that your thesis can be promptly approved for your
graduation.
I verify that I have checked all the formatting guidelines listed in the Thesis Checklist or in all the links in
Organizing Your Thesis. You must check this box in order to submit below.
Click on the Submit Your Thesis button below to go to the next step.