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MID Thesis Guide

The DI Library's guide to completing the MID Thesis

General Information

MID candidates will submit a print-ready PDF file.

  • Recommended resolution: 1200 DPI
  • Maximum number of sheets: 60 (i.e., up to 120 pages for double-sided printing)
  • One PDF page = one printed page (i.e., no "two-page spreads")

Thesis books will be printed double-sided. Include a blank page after any page that is intended to be single-sided.

Thesis books should follow the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines for citations, formatting, grammar and style.

Thesis Outline

The outline is provided through Canvas.

The thesis should include a title page and sign-off page as shown in this sample:

Document Formatting

Page Layout

Pages should be 8.5" x 11" (letter size), landscape orientation.

The typical page will have two columns of body text, with figures and illustrations occurring within the columns.

  • Tip: To convert from one column (the default in Word) to two columns, highlight the text you want to change and select from the ribbon Layout > Columns icon, then use the drop-down.

Page numbers

Page numbers must be centered at the bottom of the page.

Margins

Use 1/2-inch margins on every side of the page. This margin will accommodate the printer’s requirement for a “lay-flat” spine. There should be no border or decorative elements within this margin.

Line spacing

In general, double-space all parts of the thesis, including the abstract, text, block quotations, table and figure numbers, and reference list (including between and within entries). Exceptions to double line spacing are as follows:

  • Title page: Follow the spacing provided in the example(s) in Canvas.
  • Footnotes: When inserting footnotes with the Microsoft Word footnotes function, use the default font settings (single-spaced and slightly smaller than the body text).

Paragraph alignment

Align the text of each paragraph to the left (left justification). Paragraphs may either:

  • be right-justified in addition to left-justified (full justification), or
  • have an uneven right-margin (“ragged”).

Indentation

The first line of every paragraph may be indented or not in accordance with the writer’s preference. Indentation must be consistent throughout the document.

Text Formatting

Font

A variety of fonts are permitted in the body text. Font options include the following:

  • sans serif fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Aptos
  • serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Georgia

The font size may range from 10 – 12 pt. Note that actual size varies by font; Times New Roman works well at 12 points but Century Gothic at 12 points is too large.