TITLE
Author’s name
University of Tampere
School of Information Sciences
(SIS)
Information Studies and
Interactive Media
Master's Thesis
May 2011
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPERE, School of Information Sciences (SIS)
Information Studies and Interactive Media
AUTHOR, ANNIE: Thesis title
Master's thesis, 79 pages + 4 pages of appendices
May 2011
Insert a 150–200-word abstract here. The abstract must fit on one page.
Please use single spacing for the abstract.
Keywords: insert five keywords here please
Preface
In the preface, you can freely express your thoughts, thank people, or comment on
something. Bachelor’s theses do not include a preface, and it is not necessary in a
Master’s thesis, either.
This template was adapted from the template used at the University of Eastern Finland.
Tampere, 2 May 2011
Annie Author
Table of Contents
1
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 5
2
CHAPTER STRUCTURE........................................................................................ 6
2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Level 2 Subheading .......................................................................................... 6
2.2.1
Level 3 Subheading .......................................................................... 6
2.2.2
Level 3 Subheading .......................................................................... 6
3
LAYOUT .................................................................................................................. 7
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
Highlighting ...................................................................................................... 7
Tables ............................................................................................................... 7
Lists .................................................................................................................. 8
References ........................................................................................................ 9
Quotations......................................................................................................... 9
Mathematical Formulas and Mark-ups ........................................................... 10
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 11
APPENDICES
1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the introduction is to introduce the topic to the reader and to give an
overview of the contents of the thesis. Do not use subheadings in the introduction.
5
2 CHAPTER STRUCTURE
2.1 Introduction
The chapter introduction introduces the reader to the topic of the chapter. In addition, it
should introduce possible sections.
2.2 Level 2 Subheading
Subheadings should be used if there are at least two sections in one chapter. The
individual sections must also be introduced in the chapter introduction: for example,
section 2.1.1 discusses… and section 2.1.2 discusses…
2.2.1 Level 3 Subheading
Do not number Level 4 subheadings.
2.2.2 Level 3 Subheading
The contents of this section go here.
The description and contents of this particular section go here.
6
3 LAYOUT
This chapter explains how tables and figures should be presented.
3.1 Highlighting
Italicise terms when you first introduce them and use italics for highlighting terms;
boldface should be sparingly, as it 'jumps out' of the text.
3.2 Tables
Please make sure your tables fit inside the margins. Table 1 below is an example table.
Table 1. Table title.
Feature
Value
Readable
Yes
After the table, it is customary to explain how the reader should interpret the table and
what is essential in it.
7
Figures
Figure 1 presents a student working on his/her Master's thesis.
Figure 1. Ditch digger.
As with tables, explain the key contents of a figure below it. For example, 'In Figure 1, a
student is working on his/her Master’s thesis.'
Figure 2. Reaching for the stars?
Set realistic goals for your thesis.
3.3 Lists
You can arrange parts of the text into lists. Use 1.5 line spacing between bullets.
To start a numbered list:
1. First click on ‘Lists and Numbering’.
2. Then click on ‘Numbering’.
To start a bulleted list:

First click on ‘Lists and Numbering’.

Then click on ‘Bullets’.
Never end a chapter with a list.
8
3.4 References
There are many possible ways to use references; consistency is more important than the
style you choose. The theses written in information studies and interactive media should
follow the conventions of social sciences and favour in-text citations. Information
history theses make an exception: in them, footnotes and endnotes are common. For
examples on how to use references, please see the Bachelor’s Thesis Guide.
3.5 Quotations
You can cite previous research results and other literature. Direct quotes are cited
differently depending on their length but always exactly as they are written in the
source.
Short quotations – no more than three lines long – are placed inside quotation marks:
“This way, the reader can easily tell the quotation from the rest of text. Remember to
clearly indicate the source of the quotation” (Andersson 2005, 56). Long quotations –
anything over two lines – are indented from both sides. Moreover, these block quotes
are separated from the rest of the text with a paragraph break. Use single spacing in
block quotations.
This way, the reader can easily tell the quotation from the rest of text.
Remember to clearly indicate the source of the quotation. Copy the
quotation from the original source to the letter. (Andersson 2005, 56)
Continue with your normal 1.5 line spacing after the block quote. If you are quoting an
interview, always indent the quote on both sides, no matter how long it is.
9
3.6 Mathematical Formulas and Mark-ups
Separate mathematical formulas, definitions, theorems, propositions, algorithms and
proofs from text. See Formula 1 below for an example.
n
X  W y
y 0
(1)
Number formulas consecutively and place the numbers on the right. You can include
mathematical mark-ups in the text, but never start a sentence with a mathematical
symbol.
10
REFERENCES
Only include publications that you cite in the thesis in your list of references, but be
sure to include all of them. Include the details of respondents (name and date of the
interview) at the end of the list of references.
Convay, J. 1989. Online information retrieval. An introductory manual to principles and
practice. Third, revised edition. London: Clive Bingley.
Harter, S. P. 1986. Online information retrieval. Orlando: Academic Press.
11
APPENDIX 1. CHECKLIST
Before you submit your thesis or a thesis draft to your supervisor, please check that
your thesis meets the following criteria.
Layout

The font is Times New Roman and font size is 12.

Side margins are the same width, at least 2 cm.

Line spacing is 1.5.

The titles of main chapters are written in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Main chapters always begin on a new page.

There is text after a subheading and before a page break.

There are no full stops after headings (i.e. NOT 2.2 Process diagrams.).

There are no full stops after the numbers that precede headings (i.e. NOT 2.2.
Process diagrams).

There are no orphan lines across pages.

Page numbering starts on the first page with actual text, i.e. from the
introduction (usually page 3).
Structure

If there are subheadings, there are at least two of them in each chapter.

There is at least one paragraph between headings.

There are at least two sentences in a paragraph.

The thesis contains a title page, a summary, a preface, a table of contents, text
pages, a list of references and appendices.

Headings correspond to the contents.
Terms

Terms are defined.

Terms and concepts are italicised the first time they are mentioned.
Spelling and punctuation
1

Sentences end in a full stop (.), question mark (?) or exclamation mark (!).

There is no space between a comma, full stop or colon and the preceding word.

There is no space between parentheses and what goes inside. ( DON’T do this. )

Check your dictionary if you are unsure of whether to use a hyphen.

Use commas to separate items in a list.
References

Each cited publication has an entry in the list of references.

Each publication listed in references is cited in the thesis.

The list of references follows SIS’s instructions.

Publications are listed in the correct order in the list of references.
Tables and figures

All the tables and figures are necessary.

Each table or figure clarifies the text.

All abbreviations are defined.

Each figure has a caption below it.

Each table has a heading above it.

All borrowed figures have appropriate citations.
Please also check the following before submitting your thesis to your supervisor:

Be consistent with how you write dates and always spell out the month. In
British English, the correct format is 1 May 2011. Please note that English does
not use a full stop after the number.
2