Final ETD Checklist

All pages are U.S. Letter Standard size (8.5" x 11"), and all page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.

My committee-signed approval form (GS7M or GS7D) is not included in the front matter or body of my paper.

1. My title page is formatted to match the Sample Title Page.
2. Recommended: There is no visible page number on my title page.
3. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
4. The text is centered horizontally and vertically on the page.
5. My title is in all caps (standard scientific nomenclature is observed for the names of organisms).
6. My name and my committee members’ names are spelled correctly.
7. The month and year on the page are the same as the month and year of my graduation (even if I’m not attending the ceremony).
8. The words “of,” “the” and “by” are lowercase (except where they appear in the title).
9. Each section of text is single-spaced, with a double space separated by a horizontal rule between sections.
10. The spacing between each block of text and around the horizontal section-divider rules is consistent.

1. All page margins are set to between 1” and 1.25” and are consistent.
2. There is a page number, either “ii” or “2,” centered at the bottom of this page.
3. The “Plain Language Abstract” heading is formatted to stand out. Whatever formatting I chose, I applied it consistently to all first-level headings (section or chapter titles).

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. There is a page number centered at the bottom of each page.
3. The heading “Abstract” is formatted the same way as my “Plain Language Abstract” heading.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. There is a page number centered at the bottom of each page.
3. I formatted the heading(s) “Dedication” and/or “Acknowledgments” the same way as my “Plain Language Abstract” heading.
4. The text is double-spaced.
5. I did not include extravagant praise, insincere thanks, or references to animals or inanimate objects.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. There is a page number centered at the bottom of each page.
3. I formatted the heading “Table of Contents” the same way as my “Plain Language Abstract” heading.
4. My list of page numbers is aligned near the right-hand margin.
5. I used properly made ellipses (leader dots) between each entry title and the corresponding page number; I consulted the Microsoft Word Ellipses Instructions.
6. All entries have page numbers.
7. I double-checked my page numbers in contents entries against the manuscript after I completed all text editing.
8. The alignment and spacing of entries is consistent within the Table of Contents and consistent with all lists in the manuscript.
9. All main headings (section/chapter titles and first-level subheadings) are included in my Table of Contents.
10. I did not list “Table of Contents” within my Table of Contents.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. There is a page number centered at the bottom of each page.
3. I formatted the heading “List of Tables” (etc.) the same way as my “Plain Language Abstract” heading.
4. I used ellipses (leader dots) between each entry title and the corresponding page number. I made these using tabs, not by typing rows of periods.
5. All entries have corresponding page numbers.
6. The alignment and spacing of entries are consistent with the Table of Contents and all lists in the manuscript.
7. All tables, figures, maps, etc. are included on the appropriate list.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. There is a page number centered at the bottom of each page.
3. If I chose to use lowercase Roman numerals for my front matter page numbering, the first page of my main text begins with Arabic-numbered page 1.
4. If I chose sequential Arabic page numbering for my entire manuscript, my body text page numbering continues from the front matter.
5. The main text is double-spaced.
6. I was consistent in labeling my tables, figures, maps and mathematical equations.
7. If I had to change the orientation of a page or pages from portrait to landscape, I kept the page numbers in the same place as all other pages.
8. If I have a figure or table on a page, I have at least four lines of text on the page or none at all.
9. All text content fits within the page margins.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. I included page numbers on these pages that continue from the body text of my manuscript, even if the appendix includes documents that have their own page numbers.
3. I named/numbered my appendices and included them in the Table of Contents.
4. I consistently labeled each appendix.

1. All page margins are set to between 1" and 1.25" and are consistent.
2. I formatted all headings the same way as my “Plain Language Abstract” and the other front-matter headings.
3. Recommended: I single-spaced within entries and double-spaced between entries (or I may follow my program’s writing style guidelines, as noted in the last item below, instead).
4. Recommended: I did not split any of my entries between pages.
5. All website and email addresses (URLs/hyperlinks) are either colored black without underlines, or are blue with underlines, and are styled consistently throughout my manuscript.
6. I consistently followed a discipline-approved format (MLA, APA, Chicago Style, etc.) if my committee recommended one.