Guidelines for Dissertation Report

Report contents
Cover page
Title page
Declaration
Certificate of the Institution
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents of the report
List of tables
List of figures
List of photos
List of maps
Abbreviations
Main Report (chapter wise -Introduction, Data collection, Analysis & Conclusion)
Bibliography
Annexure ( Survey forms, case-study informations etc )

General instructions for the report

Report Size & Type

• The report should of A4 (210 X 290 mm)Size and hard-binded.

Page Size & paper quality

• The entire document should be in A4 (210 x 290 mm) size and in “portrait“ posi-
tion.
• Pages may be set in “landscape” position (290 x 210 mm) for figures and tables
that do not fit optimally in “portrait” position.
• The report shall be printed/xeroxed on white bond paper, whiteness 95% or
above, weight 70 gram or more per square meter.

Margins
• If binding, a left margin of 1.5” is recommended.
• All writing (text, tables, figures, Appendixes, etc.) must be placed within the mar-
gins-with the exception of the page numbers.
• Preferred margin for all four sides are given below
Left- 1.5 “ Right -0.8” Top -1.2” Bottom-0.8”
 1.2 inches

1.5 inches 0.8 inch

0.8 inch

• In case of Landscaped Pages - The left side of any landscape page (top side while
reading ) must have minimum margin of 2 inches.

Font Size and Style

• Use the same size and style font throughout the entire document, including page
numbers.
• Within long tables, you may use no smaller than 8 point font. Keep the table
number, title, and figure number and captions the same size as the rest of the
dissertation.
• Use bold and italicized font sparingly within the body of the dissertation mainly
for headings.
Font Style : Times New Roman
Font size Body : 12 pt
Chapter heading : 17 pt
Section heading : 15 pt
Third heading : 13 pt

Vertical spacing
• The text of the dissertation must be space and-a-half spacing (1.5 times ie 18 pt) .
• Block quotations, lists in text, and table and figure titles can be single-spaced.
Spacing may also can vary in appendix material.
• Subheadings more than one line in length must have the same vertical spacing as
text between the lines (not single-spaced).
• Footnotes and Endnotes must be single-spaced .
• Figure and Table Titles should be single-spaced to help differentiate them from
text.
Chapter and Section Format
• The report shall be presented in a number of chapters, ensure that all the chap-
ters shall have a precise title reflecting the contents of the chapter.
• Each chapter shall begin on a fresh page (odd number page in case of double
sided printing).
• Each chapter shall be divided into Sections and Sub-Sections to present differ-
ent concepts separately. Sections and sub-sections can be numbered
using decimal points, e.g. 2.2 for the second section in Chapter 2 and 2.3.4

Literature citation
• Use the author–date citation system to cite references in the text.

Parenthetical vs Narrative In-Text Citations

Both parenthetical and narrative citations are a type of in-text citation.
Similarity
• They are used in the text of a paper.
• A full reference to the source mentioned in the in-text citation is included in
the reference list at the end of a paper.
• Usually, both include the author’s last name and the year the source was pub-
lished.
Differences
Parenthetical Citation (APA Format)
All information is placed in parentheses at the end of a sentence.
Example
“Undeaf” is a word coined by Shakespeare in Richard II (Crystal, 2011).
Structure
(Author Last Name, Year Published)
Narrative Citation
Some of the source information is included within the sentence text.
Example
According to Crystal (2011), “undeaf” is a word that was invented by Shakespeare.
Structure
Author Last Name (Year Published)
• If you are citing a direct quotation from the work, page numbers should be added
in citation.

Header and Footer

• Header Shall contain only the title of the dissertation and a continuous line at the
bottom of the title and only in pages have Arabic numerals ie from first chapter
onwards.
 • Footer hall include Name of the institution and a continuous line at the top

Page numbering
• Every page in the thesis (except the Title Page) must be numbered. The Title Page
is considered to be page , but no page number is shown on this page.
• Preliminary pages are numbered with lower case Roman numerals, beginning
with the Declaration.
• Declaration
• Certificate of the Institution
• Acknowledgement
• Abstract
• Table of contents of the report
• List of tables
• List of figures
• List of photos
• List of maps
• Abbreviations
• Text pages are numbered with Arabic numerals, beginning with the first page of
first chapter (numbered 1). Every page following will have a page number.
• Main Report (All chapters)
• Bibliography/Reference
• Annexures

Figures & Tables

• All figures and Table should be titled along with number and they must be in-
cluded in the List of Figures and List of Tables.
• Source of all Figures and Tables should be mentioned below it.
• Placement of titles on tables and figures must be consistent throughout the re-
port and it should be always kept above the above the figure.

Maps / plans
• All maps/plans shall be of maximum A3 size for the convenience of the report
compilation.
• All maps / plan shall have a legend with title of the map, scale and other details as
title of the dissertation, students name, institution name, dissertation year.

Bibliography
• A reference list or bibliography presents all of the sources cited in the document.
It may also include works consulted.
• The style used in the list of references should be consistent through out the doc-
 ument.
• APA (American Psychological Association) style format is preferred .
• A single reference list for the entire document should be included in the report.

Authored Print book is given below

Structure
Author last Name, First Intial, Middle Initial (Year Published). Titte in sentance
case, City, Sate :Publisher name

Example s
Turabin, K. L. (2013). A maual for writers of research paper, Theses, and disseratation.
London: University of Chicago Press

Groat, L., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural Research Methods. New Jersey: John Wiley
& Sons.

Journal
Structure
Last Name, First initial. Middle initial., & Last Name, First initial. Middle initial.
(Year Published). Article title. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page(s). doi:number

Example
Wallace, R. (1997). Monitor: Molecules and profiles. Drug Discovery Today, 2(10), 445-
448. doi: 10.1016/S1359-6446(97)01095-

Website
Structure
Last, F. M. (Year, Month Date Published). Webpage title. Retrieved from URL

Example
Friedland, L. (2008, September 22). Top 10 natural and wildlife adventure travel trips.
Retrieved from http://adventuretravel.about.com

For more structure and exapmples please visit https://apastyle.apa.org/