Transcript The Graduate School Purdue University

The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
Thesis/Dissertation Office
Mark D. Jaeger, Manager
Anita Park, Specialist
Room 170, Ernest C. Young Hall
(765)494-2600
[email protected]
http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/thesis.cfm
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
MS Word Thesis 2007 Template
• Updated version of our original MS Word 2003 template
– Works best with Windows/PC
– Works with Macs, but performance may be more limited
• Features & Reminders
– More user friendly than previous version
• You can change “styles”
• If you want to change fonts/font sizes, it’s best to do this before copying & pasting
text
– Title page has been updated with drop-down menus
• MAC USERS: Delete the drop-down boxes and manually type in
your information and text
– Major heading pages now have built-in 2” top margins
– Does not automatically correct errors
– We have included additional “tips” on template pages to
help you
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
MS Word Thesis Template
• Features, Cont’d.
– “Mini-headers” in Table of Contents, List of Figures, etc.
must be manually added if these sections have multiple
pages
– Important note on “cover pages”
• These are deliberately placed in the back
• This allows you to “drag and drop” them after you convert your
document to PDF
• Use left-hand “thumbnail view” in PDF to do this
• You must still delete redundant pages (e.g., unnecessary cover
pages)
• If you have a “blank page” at the end, delete this after PDF
conversion to avoid “implosion”
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
MS Word Thesis Template
• Table of Contents Problems
– Some candidates have reported problems while trying to update their
tables of contents
– These issues are sometimes Mac-related
– Table of Contents is created to allow addition and deletion of
information from the list.
– The following procedure should help you in case you encounter any
problems….
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
MS Word Thesis Template
– Do not actually work on your Table of Contents until you finish the last
page of your thesis.
– If any pages before your List of Tables or Figures are included,
manually delete them from the list.
– For future updates, select “Update Page Numbers Only” option.
Selecting a different option will bring back all the deleted headings.
– If you wish to make your own Table of Contents, delete the template
page and create your own
• The Word 2007 template allows users to make any formatting changes
they desire. It shows the formatting requirements in each part of your
document. Therefore to allow maximum flexibility, the template does not
automatically correct or prevent formatting errors.
• Questions? Contact Anita, Thesis/Dissertation Specialist, at 4-2600 or
[email protected] 
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
LaTeX
• If you have the time and wherewithal, we strongly suggest
you use LaTeX
– LaTeX is especially useful to ENG and SCI candidates
– Some LIB candidates have also used LaTeX with good results
• Software system for typesetting documents. Very good for
technical documents containing lots of mathematics.
• LaTeX is free and is available for a wide range of computers
and operating systems.
– LaTeX is linked on our website
– Significantly reduces potential errors
– Most LaTeX electronic thesis submissions are quickly accepted
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
LaTeX
• Be careful: LaTeX isn’t totally “error-proof”
• Keep these in mind:
– Please switch your “Appendix” section so it always FOLLOWS your
reference section
• The appendix and references sometimes get switched to the wrong locations in the
current LaTeX template
– Please capitalize your chapter headings
• This helps the document meet Purdue style guidelines
– Eliminate “blank pages” whenever possible (especially after your
abstract or in between individual appendices)
• LaTeX sometimes incorrectly treats individual appendices as chapters instead!
– Watch little things like dates, degrees, names, etc.
• These can still be stated erroneously
• Make sure you know the actual title of the degree you’re receiving as well as your
actual graduation date
– For example, an ECE master’s candidate could be awarded a M.S., a M.S.E., or a
M.S.E.C.E. depending on how he or she “came up the chain”
The Graduate School
Advancing to a Higher Degree
LaTeX Software
LaTeX Contact: Mark Senn, ECN
MSEE 130A
4-5450
[email protected]
https://engineering.purdue.edu/%7Emark/puthesis/