Length

There is no absolute minimum or maximum, although in general the thesis should be between 40 and 70 pages. These limits refer to the main text of the thesis, including footnotes, but not bibliographies, glossaries, or appendices.

Style & Format

Paper should be 8 x 11 inch acid-free bond paper and should say "acid-free," "acid-neutral" (pH 7.0-8.5) or "buffered". Common types are: Xerox XXV Archival Bond and Howard Permalife. Hammermill's acid-free recycled paper is also acceptable; it is the least expensive.  Please note: Only the copy for Archives must be on acid-free paper. Leave 1.5" on left edge (binding edge) and 1" on all other sides. Pages should be numbered. Font size should be 12 point. Manuscripts should be double-spaced, except for long quotations, footnotes and references. Notes, bibliography, and other matters of style should consistently follow the guidelines in one of the following style manuals: MLA Handbook, A Manual of Style (University of Chicago Press), A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations by Kate Turabian, or Form and Style In Thesis Writing by William Campbell. The choice of which manual to follow should be discussed with one's adviser.

Illustrations

Black and white is preferred since color is not permanent. Dry mounting is acceptable for photographs. Use a good quality, acid neutral paste (Uhu). Do NOT use rubber cement, cellophane or gummed tapes.

Copies

Three copies must be submitted, an acid-free original for Archives and two clear photocopies for readers. Students should also have a fourth copy for their personal use.

Binding

Do NOT use a binder for the Archives' copy. Also, do NOT staple, do NOT punch holes in paper, and do NOT use rubber bands, they can tear the paper. Simply put a large clip in the corner and put into a manila folder. Binders may be used for readers' copies if desired.