Arrangement of Contents

Organization of Document

Proper arrangement and construction of the parts of a thesis or dissertation manuscript will likely vary according to the styles adopted by different disciplines. The following are suggestions concerning the organization of the manuscript. They should be taken as a norm from which deviations may be made under the guidance of your advisor or committee.

Document Divisions

The document is divided into front matter, body matter, and back matter. For an illustration, see ETD document division (jpeg).

A thesis or dissertation manuscript should consist of the following parts:

Front Matter

Title Page

Committee Members listing should appear on the title page.
Keywords listing should appear on the title page.
Notice of Copyright, if applicable, should appear on the title page (copyright is optional, but recommended).

Abstract
Dedication (optional)
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Symbols, Abbreviations, or Nomenclature
List of Multimedia Objects or Files

Body

Introduction
Review of Literature
Text of Investigation
Summary and Conclusions
Recommendations

Back Matter

Bibliography
Appendix
Curriculum Vitae (Resume)

At the beginning of each chapter, place the word "Chapter," the chapter number, and the chapter title in large type.
A Signature page should not be included in the ETD. The ETD title page format includes a citation of your committee members. Signature pages should only appear in printed complementary copies. The actual signatures will be provided via the ETD Submission Signature Form.

Title

Because library retrieval systems use words in the title to locate manuscripts, it is essential that a title provide a brief description of the contents of the work. Words should be substituted for formulas, symbols, Greek letters, and so on.

Title Page

The title page should include the following:

Title
Author
Type of Manuscript (thesis or dissertation)
College/School
Degree Conferred (Ph.D., M.A., M.S., etc.)
Degree Program (as listed in the WVU Graduate Catalog or latest update)
Department
Committee Members Listing
Place of Publication
Year of Publication (year submitted for graduation)
Keywords Listing (from your discipline)
Copyright Notice

For a pdf version of the title page, see sample title page.

The institution of record (West Virginia University) must be cited on the title page of all thesis or dissertation submissions. In the event of joint programs (inter-university), both institutions may be cited; however, the secondary institution credit should be placed in the Department line and the Place of Publication line (as illustrated the above).

Abstract

The purpose of the abstract is to give a concise presentation so that the reader will be able to determine whether it is advisable to read the complete manuscript.
The maximum suggested length of the abstract should be 350 words for dissertations, 150 words for theses. You may exceed the word limit in the electronic document itself, but keep in mind that the printed copy for ProQuest (formerly UMI) will need to shortened.
The abstract must have centered at the top of the first page the word ABSTRACT, the exact full title of the thesis or dissertation as it appears on the title page, followed on the next line by the full name of the candidate as it appears on the title page (see the illustration below).
The following parts are found in an abstract, although not identified with subheadings:

Statement of Problem
Procedures or Methods
Results
Conclusions

abstract page sample

For a pdf version of the abstract page, see sample abstract page.

Vita

Center your name (as it appears on the title page). Include autobiographical information based on your academic and professional experience in paragraph or resume form.

Revised 11-Jan-2008