The document provides guidelines for formatting a thesis or project report at California State University, Long Beach. It discusses submitting the manuscript for formatting review, making corrections, and final steps to graduate. The Thesis and Dissertation Office is available to help with formatting the manuscript according to the University Guidelines Manual and approved style guide. Common mistakes like inconsistent formatting of tables and figures or incorrect placement of elements are highlighted.

1. Formatting Your Thesis or Project Report The University Guidelines Manual and Engineering Style

2. Thesis and Dissertation OfficeUniversity Library, Room 501(562) 985-4013email: lib-thesis@csulb.eduhttp://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through FridayFormat Evaluators:Vivian Reed and Laurie WelchAdministrative Assistant:Sue Joshee

3. We’re here to help you prepare your manuscript according to the University Guidelines Manual and the formatting style guide approved by your department.The Format Evaluation ProcessSubmit your manuscript to the Thesis and Dissertation Office before 5 p.m. of the submission deadline date. Be sure that: your manuscript is printed on standard printer paper, your signature page is complete with all signatures, your manuscript is in a manuscript (or thesis) box, and all three sections of the AUTHOR LOGIN are complete.

4. Formatters read through manuscripts on a first come first served basis. Pages are flagged and corrections are noted on the pages. It may take up to 4 weeks from when you submit your manuscript to when you receive an email to pick it up. Plan to submit as soon as possible if your official transcript with degree posting is required by a specific date for a graduate school application, a job, a raise, your leaving the country, or some other major change in your life.

5. Once you’ve made corrections, return the revised manuscript to the Thesis and Dissertation Office. We recommend setting a 2 week turnaround time for yourself to insure completing the process within the term deadline.Role of the Thesis and Dissertation Office

6. Role of the Thesis and Dissertation OfficeThe Format Evaluation Process (continued)Once the formatting is “cleared,” you take the manuscript to the Copy Center in the University Bookstore. You will be asked to fill out the UMI/Proquest Open Access Publishing Agreement Form and to pay fees for binding and reproduction of your manuscript in microfiche and online.

7. IMPORTANT LAST STEP: Email or call the Thesis and Dissertation Office and tell us your receipt number. We cannot send out the clearance letter to you, your thesis advisor, and Enrollment Services until we receive the receipt number. Until your clearance letter has been sent, your requirements for graduation will be incomplete.See your graduate advisor for the correct style manual used for your department (it could be IEEE, ASME, or guidelines created by another professional organization)

8. University Style and Format Guidelines for Theses, Project Reports, and Dissertations (2010—2011 will be available soon on the Thesis and Dissertation Office web pages)

9. The University Guidelines Manual takes precedence over departmental style manualsCurrent Edition Style Manuals

10. Thesis and Dissertation Office Web Pages

11. Thesis and Dissertation Office Web PagesBesides the official University Guidelines Manual, there is a mini-manuscript with examples of formatted pages as well as a formatting checklist that includes most of the points made in this slide show

12. Warning: Many of the pages of the mini-manuscript look redundant, but there are small variations on each page. Keep scrolling through until you find examples of the pages you’re looking forSubmit manuscripts printed on 20 lb. (standard weight) printer paper in a thesis box

13. Only these 4 font styles allowed: Times Roman, Times New Roman, Courier, or Courier New font in 12 pointfont size

14. Margins: 1 ½ INCH LEFT MARGIN IS USED THROUGHOUT THESIS; one inch margin on top, right, and bottom except on the first page of every major section where a two inch top margin is used

15. Use TWO SPACES AFTER PERIODS and other punctuation ending sentences and all colons

16. Center page numbers just ABOVE the one inch bottom margin (set footer to 1”) and match the font size and font style of page numbers with text

17. Use paragraph format with uniform double line-spacing(one empty line between two lines of text) with no additional line space between the text and chapter titles or subheads. Select text and set line spacing to “0 pt.” to eliminate wide blank spacesFormatting Essentials

18. Order of ElementsAbstract—If only one page, do not number, otherwise use Arabic numerals for page numbers; 2 inch top margin for first page

19. Guard Sheet

20. Title Page

21. Signature Page

22. Acknowledgements—Use lowercase Roman numerals (iii) for page numbers; 2 inch top margin for first page

23. Table of Contents—Use lowercase Roman numerals; 2 inch top margin for first page

24. List of Tables, then List of Figures, and so on—lowercase Roman numerals; 2 inch top margin for first page of each

25. Chapters—Use Arabic numerals for page numbers; 2 inch top margin for first page of each chapter

26. Appendices—Each begins with a half-sheet title page

27. Bibliography or Reference List begins with a half-sheet title page; 2 inch top margin for first page

28. Guard SheetPreliminary Pages

29. Check over your preliminary pages carefully. Refer to the University Guidelines Manual or check out the mini-manuscript online for visual examples of formatting for your title page (page 7 of the pdf) and signature page (page 10 of the pdf)

30. Use double line-spacing for the blocks of text, except use single-line spacing for the names of committee members on title page

31. The title of your manuscript on the abstract, title page, and signature page must match exactly in wording and line breaks and be formatted in an inverted pyramid (longest line first)

32. Your name must also match on those pages as it is listed in your official university recordsPreliminary Pages

33. Table of Contents

34. Table of ContentsExample on pages 15 and 16 of the mini-manuscript pdf