Presentation of an Honours Project

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Presentation of an Honours Project

Written Honours Projects should be word processed using black ink on A4 paper and comb-bound. The Copy Shop can provide facilities for covers and binding. The following format should be observed:-

  • font Calibri or Arial 12
  • line spacing: for the main text use 1.5 or 2 spacing
  • margins: left-hand 30mm; right-hand 20mm; top 20mm; bottom 20mm
  • use a new page for each new chapter (where appropriate and as agreed with the supervisor)
  • number all pages appropriately-Roman numerals for every page before Chapter 1-table of contents, glossary of terms, statement of originality, acknowledgements etc. For the main body of the text use the numbering system 1,2,3 etc.
  • The numbers can be inserted on either the centre, or the right of the page, but not the left as they would not be visible once the document is bound.

The following order should be observed:-

Title page/front page – the dissertation title, name of the student, the title of the award and the year should all appear on the title page/front page. See the example below.

(NB if your front cover has a window, only the dissertation title should be visible through the window of the front cover.

  • table of contents
  • lists of figures, tables, plates (photographs) (if any)
  • glossary of terms used (if appropriate)
  • author’s statement of originality-this should contain the following text:-

I confirm that I have fully acknowledged all sources of information and help received, and that where such acknowledgement is not made, the work is my own.

Signed………………………

Dated……………………….

  • acknowledgements
  • abstract – for undergraduate dissertations this should be a 200 word summary of the whole dissertation – aims, methodologies, key findings and conclusions.

[All of the above must be single sided printed]

  • text (divided into chapters / sections)
  • reference list
  • bibliography (if appropriate)
  • numbered appendices (if appropriate)

[The text, reference list, bibliography, appendices may be single or double sided printed]

An example of the inside cover page which needs to contain the following information and be set out accordingly. Remember to put the full title of your course and the correct year. [You do not need the University of St Mark & St John logo on this page.][The title needs to be in the correct position on the page to enable it to be visible throught the outside cover.]

The University of St Mark & St John

Title

Name

Dissertation submitted in part-fulfilment of the requirements for

Insert full course information e.g. BSc Hons Speech and Language Therapy

Year

Formatting a Major Document

Writing a long document requires more care and greater preparation than writing short ones. Usually these are formal documents for assessment or publication, often with strict formatting requirements and layout instructions. Investing time and effort at the beginning before starting to write will mean than the formatting requirements can be met and will avoid last minute format changes when you should be concentrating on finalising your content. Good initial design will lead to straightforward and trouble free generation of table of contents and an index.

What is Formatting

Formatting refers to the appearance or presentation of your essay. Another word for formatting is layout. Most essays contain at least four different kinds of text: headings, ordinary paragraphs, quotations and bibliographic references. You also have to consider the fonts, page numbering and margins that you use.

Why is formatting important?

Formatting is important for the following reasons:-

  • It makes your essay look like an essay (rather than a letter or a note to a friend).
  • It helps to make your essay more readable.
  • It allows you to navigate more easily within a large document, making it easier to format and amend.

Lecturers do not usually give extra marks for the formatting of an essay. They are more interested in the content. But all readers are influenced by the presentation of a text. If your essay looks like an essay and is easy to read, the reader will be more likely to have a favourable attitude to what you have written.

This link takes you to an easy to follow document which will show you how to format a sample document using Microsoft Word.