Theses at HNU utilize style formatting established by the American Psychological Association (APA). Being well acquainted with this particular writing style will greatly assist you in creating a well composed and structured thesis.
Reputable resources for understanding APA citation and formatting include:
This APA formatted thesis is an example for your use. The text in this document are instructions for proper formatting and includes a variety of in-text and parenthetical citation exam.
Per APA rules, font type used for a thesis is Times New Roman, at size 12 point with all text in black.
In Word, you can make font adjustments here:
Margins
Every page of your thesis must have a 1" margin that contains a header title, in all capital letters, and a page number listed within that 1" margin.
Example:
Pagination
To add page numbers into your thesis document, in Word go to the second tab "Insert" and click on the Page Number icon. From here you can also format and/or remove page numbers in your thesis as well:
Spacing
All content is double spaced in your thesis and can be adjusted from the "Home" tab in Word:
Table of Contents
Table of contents style preference varies from department and discipline. Any questions you may have about your programs preferences should be addressed to the lead faculty advisor.
The first two pages of your thesis are your Title page and Signature/Approval of your thesis page.
Title Page
The key elements of a Title page are:
Signature/Approval of Thesis Page
Key elements in a signature page include:
For further instruction on establishing a first page header vs. subsequent page header, please view the appropriate video for your computer:
Abstract
Key elements of an abstract in a thesis are:
Acknowledgment Page
An acknowledgment page is an optional section of a thesis. Many students wish to express appreciation to family, faculty, etc and the only requirements are:
The sequence of a thesis follows the following order:
Starting a thesis project begins on the first day of your capstone course. Here are some suggested tips to ensuring that you are on target in addressing the various elements of your thesis research:
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If a questionnaire is part of your research, get acquainted with Qualtrics, HNU's surveying software, available to you for free. Additionally, depending on your participants, you may need to seek out Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval with your faculty advisors support. Workshops on Qualtrics are offered every semester at the library on top of drop in/appointment requests for one on one overview on this powerful software. |
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Create a RefWorks account. This software is useful in keeping your sources organized and accessible. RefWorks is available to you at no cost during your academic career at HNU. One on one overviews of this software are available on drop in and by scheduling an appointment |
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Take advantage of peer review and set up an appointment with the Writing Studio, located in the library, for an extra set of eyes to help you with any writing issues you may encounter as your draft your thesis.
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Librarians are available to partner up with you on your search for high quality resources in our many databases and collections that you may find essential for your thesis. You may reach any of our librarians on our contact page. |