Module 4: Formatting in Detail

Formatting in Detail

In the last module, you explored licensing options and how you might go about sharing your work using creator-friendly methods such as Creative Commons. Now you will have an opportunity to put those licenses to use as you format your ETD for submission.

Other than the first three pages of your thesis or dissertation, which much follow very specific templates, neither the Graduate School nor the Libraries have an official position on formatting. Other formatting and style issue are governed by any rules that each individual department decides to set.

The metadata describing your ETD, including the citation and abstract, is openly available immediately - regardless of the embargo or restriction status. This information is searchable by Google, Bing and other search engines, so take care that neither the descriptive information nor the text contain confidential or sensitive information.

Three Standard Pages

The only real formatting requirements for your Thesis or Dissertations are for the first three pages: the title page, the copyright page, and the abstract. These pages must be formatted according to the Grad School’s strict guidelines. Templates for these sections are provided below.

• Master’s Thesis Title Page Template
• Doctoral Dissertation Title Page Template
• Copyright Page Template
• Abstract Template

Also remember that the title, copyright and abstract pages must be three separate, individual pages. 

Different Options for the Copyright Page

The second section of all theses and dissertations is required to be a Copyright Page Links to an external site. that follows the Graduate School's formatting requirements. If you have transferred copyright to any part of your thesis or dissertation - for example, as part of an author's agreement - you need to identify the correct rights holder on this page. Identify each section's rights holder individually, then state that you retain copyright to 'All other materials', such as the following:

Chapter 1 © Copyright 2016

Springer Nature

Chapter 2 © Copyright 2017

American Historical Review

All other materials © Copyright 2018

Jane Student

If you want to use a CC license for your work, this will be added to the metadata. However, it’s also good to put it on the copyright page, under the appropriate section noting the copyright. High-quality copies of the Creative Commons license symbols are available on the CC Downloads Links to an external site. website.

© Copyright 2020

Jane Student

Formatting for the rest of the document

While the first three pages must follow very specific formatting requirements, you should know that neither the Libraries nor the Grad School have guidelines for the rest of your ETD. Other formatting and style issues, including citation styles, are governed by rules that each individual department decides to set. Unfortunately, most of the departments at UW haven’t actually set formal guidelines. Some departments, like the School of Social Work, do have guidelines and may have resources such as a dedicated website or even some available templates.

Your next step will be to check with your grad advisor to make sure that such a document does not exist. If not, the good news is that however you’ve chosen to format things is just fine – you just need to make sure you’re consistent throughout the document.

If you want to follow disciplinary norms, one idea is to check out other theses from your program and see what standards they used; another is to look in the specific journal you wish to publish in the future and read through publisher’s style guide to save yourself time down the road.

Whatever path you choose, remember that neither the Grad School nor the UW Libraries will have an opinion about the formatting of the body of your document. But weʻre still here to help you! You can check out the UW Libraries citation guides, look through ETDs organized by program Links to an external site., or check out a formatting guide for authors Links to an external site. from a popular journal for ideas.

Accessibility

We strongly encourage you to make sure that your PDFs are accessible to those using screen readers and other assistive technology. UW's Accessible Technology Office has excellent instructions on how to make your documents are accessible Links to an external site..

 Resources from this module

• Website: ETD Formatting Guidelines (Grad School)
• Template: Master’s Thesis Title Page Template
• Template: Doctoral Dissertation Title Page Template
• Template: Copyright Page Template
• Template: Abstract Template
• Images: Creative Commons icons Links to an external site.
• Website: School of Social Work ETD guidelines
• Template: School of Social Work ETD template
• Guide: UW Libraries citation guides
• Website: ResearchWorks Archive Links to an external site.
• Website: Natureʻs Formatting Guide for Authors Links to an external site.
• Guide: Creating Accessible Documents Links to an external site.

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