Instructions for the Preparation of the Master’s Thesis 1 Style Manual The thesis must conform to the style and form as found in Form and Style: Thesis, Reports, Term Papers, by Slade, Campbell and Ballou, 9th edition. Other style manuals may be followed by permission from the graduate program head. The thesis in Speech Language Pathology, Communication Studies, and Nursing must conform to the style of the American Psychological Association Manual. The thesis format for students in the Masters of Social Sciences must conform to Chicago Manual of Style or Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers. Because of the Edinboro/Clarion Nursing consortium agreement, Nursing theses are only accepted in electronic form via ProQuest. There is no charge for the basic service and instructions for posting of electronic thesis can be found here: http://www.clarion.edu/academics/registrars‐office/documents‐and‐forms/electronic‐thesis‐
process.pdf Students, other than MSN students, may also consider using Islandora, an open source digital repository system, which is also a stable option for storing and accessing electronic theses. Access would be through the library catalogue and archive website. Catalogue materials are also discoverable through Google Scholar in which the student author maintains the copyright which provides authority to specify loading and access locations. The thesis should be contained within one file, a searchable PDF. There should be no images, charts or videos embedded in the document if they do not conform to PDF format. If these are integral to the document, submit separate files for each item in order that links can be created in the appropriate location. A link to Edinboro University’s Keystone Library Network Islandora Repository follows: https://da.klnpa.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A-edinboro.
1 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research 2 Organization of Materials Detailed organization of the thesis is left to the student and her/his thesis advisor. However, each master’s thesis must contain: A Blank Sheet of Paper A Title Page Acknowledgements (where applicable) Table of Contents List of Tables (where applicable) List of Illustrations (where applicable) Body of the Thesis *Appendix (where applicable) *Bibliography A Blank Sheet of Paper *The order of these may be reversed. 3 Title Page The title page of the thesis shall follow the format of the attached example. The title page for each copy of the thesis must contain original signatures. 4 Margins The margins on the left side of all pages must be at least 1 ½ inches. Top, bottom, and right‐hand margins must be at least 1 ¼ inches. These requirements apply to all pages, including fold‐outs, thus assuming that when the thesis is trimmed for binding no print will be lost. The first fold of a fold‐out must follow the right‐hand 1 ¼ inch margin. 5 Spacing The text should be double‐spaced. Quotations of three lines or more, itemized or tabulated material, footnotes, and bibliography should be single‐spaced and indented. Footnotes, when used, should be separated from the text by an underline across the page. The first line of a footnote should be indented as for paragraphs. Double space between footnotes. 6 Paper A good grade of bond paper of 20‐poud weight and at least 25% rag content is recommended for copies of the thesis as well as for the original copy. All paper must be alike by shade of white, weight and rag content. These requirements apply to all paper used in the thesis, including figures, appendices and fold‐outs. 2 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research 7 Corrections and Erasures No interlineations, crossing out of letters or words, strike‐overs, or extensive erasures are permissible (this includes chalk and liquid erasures.) 8 Font The same font style must be used throughout the thesis. It is expected that 10 or 12 point standard fonts will be used. 9 Title If the title of the research project and the last name of the author exceed 75 spaces, a shortened title not to exceed 75 spaces must be submitted for use on the spine of the bound volume. 10 Pagination All pages must be numbered or accounted for consecutively beginning with the title page of text, including figures, tables, facing caption tables, bibliography, and appendices to ensure that no pages are missing. Only pages with major headings or chapter titles in conformance with the table of contents should be documented. All other pages must have the page number. Preliminary pages are paginated using small Roman numerals. Page numbers must be in an exact consistent location on the page, at least 5/8 of an inch from the top of the page and at least one inch from the right‐hand edge of the page. It is permissible to place the page number at the bottom of the page on pages ordinarily documented. 11 Number of Copies Required Four copies are required: 1.
Two Copies for the Library – two copies will be placed in the Baron‐Forness Library. Photocopies will be accepted if they have been done on the same paper as the original and are a quality reproduction. 2. Copy for the Academic Department – the second copy will be placed in the office of the department chair. 3. Copy for the Student – a copy will be returned to the student. 12 Additional Copies of the Thesis Individuals requiring additional copies of the thesis bound may do so by paying the binding fee. Additional copies must be identical to the original copy, however, a less expensive grade of paper may be used. 13 Binding Fees The student will be required to pay the $17.00 binding fee for any additional copies requested (fee is subject to change). The thesis will be bound in hard copy only. Information on the cost of the 3 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research binding fees may be obtained at the Baron‐Forness Library. The binding fee must be paid at the time the copies are submitted to the Library. 14 Approval of Format The two library copies, the departmental copy, and the student copy of the thesis and any additional copies must be submitted to the library in final form before the close of the semester or session in which the student is to be graduated. These copies shall have the title page for each copy of the thesis signed by all members of the student’s committee. Copies of the thesis which fail to meet the established format will not be accepted and graduation may be delayed. 15 Abstract Two copies of a 100 to 150 word abstract of the thesis shall be submitted to the library at the same time the required copies are submitted. 16 Ownership of Thesis A thesis becomes wholly the property of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and may not be published in whole or in part by any agency or person without the permission of the author. 17 Publication of Thesis The publication of the thesis is encouraged. The author retains the right to publish all or any part of the manuscript. 18 Copyright Official information concerning procedures to be followed in securing copyrights in the United States and necessary forms may be secured from the register of Copyrights, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20840. For more information visit this URL: www.copyright.gov/help/faq. 19 Inclusion of Copyrighted Material The law provides that “extracts and quotations may be used to a limited extent for the purposes of illustration and criticism.” This provision would cover most quotations in thesis. If an author wishes to quote a passage of any length (200 or more consecutive words) or if the author wishes to use a number of short quotations from a copyrighted book, permission must first be obtained from the publisher. In most instances it is not necessary for candidates preparing thesis to obtain permission to quote from professional magazines in their fields, proceedings of professional societies, and similar publications. Copyrighted items such as photographic copies of pictures and charts, tests, forms and questionnaires, no matter how short, should never be reproduced without permission. Publication of a thesis subjects the author to the provisions of the copyright law with regard to the quoting in the thesis of copyrighted materials. 4 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Master of X in X
Approved by:
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Chairperson, Thesis Committee
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
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Date
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Committee Member
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Date
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Committee Member
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5 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research BINDING OF THESIS FORM STUDENT INFORMATION: Banner ID: @_________________________________Phone Number:__________________________ First Name:__________________________________ Last Name:______________________________ Address where student copy of thesis will be delivered*: ____________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Email Address:________________________________________________________________________ Master’s Degree in:____________________________________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS: 1.
Deliver four copies of the thesis to the Technical Services Department in the Baron‐Forness Library. It is recommended that the copies be separated by colored paper and organized either in file folders or a box. Please place this form securely on top of the copies. a. Two copies are for the University Library (one is shelved in the Special Collections and one is shelved in the stacks), one for the academic department and one copy for the student. There is no fee for the binding of these four copies. b. Additional copies for the student may be bound for a fee of $17.00 (fee is subject to change) payable by check or money order to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and should be submitted with the additional thesis copies. 2. Be certain to include with this form two copies of a 100‐150 word abstract of the thesis and four original signature pages. 3. Further information about thesis preparation see “Instructions for the Preparation of the Master’s Thesis.” * Theses take a minimum of 30 days for binding and delivery. 6 – Updated March 2016 – School of Graduate Studies and Research