MSU Graduate School Final Thesis/Major Paper Checklist APA APA Manual (6 th edition unless otherwise specified) Guide to Thesis Format, Fall 2010 Y/N Requirement Source(s) / Reference(s) General Format Margins at least 1 ; 1.5 acceptable; on all sides (chapter 4, page 24) APA (section 8.03, p. 229) Acceptable typeface (font type and size) (chapter 4, page 28), Use Times New Roman 12 pt, Arial 12 pt, or Courier 10 pt Text is left-justified Graduate School requirement (standard) Text is double-spaced only; exceptions are consistently (chapter 4, page 28) APA (section 8.03, p. 229) applied Proper format for each level of headings Page numbers Placed in correct location on the page (upper right) Omitted from Title Page Omitted from first page of each chapter Omitted from Appendices heading page Lowercase Roman numerals for preliminary pages Arabic numerals used after preliminaries General Style Past tense used where required Present tense used where required Conventions Standard abbreviations used where required (chapter 4, page 27), Five levels of headings are defined by APA (section 3.03, p. 62-63) (chapter 4, pages 24+) (chapter 4, page 32), APA (section 3.06, p. 65-66; section 3.18, page 78) APA (section 3.06, p. 65-66; section 3.18, page 78) APA (sections 4.22-4.30, p. 106-111) Non-standard abbreviations APA (sections 4.22-4.30, p. 106-111) are defined Numbers < 10 spelled out APA (sections 4.31-4.34, p. 111-113) (some exceptions) Leading zero used except APA (section 4.35, p. 113-114) where required/standard Comma(s) used for numbers APA (section 4.37, p. 114) > 1,000 (some exceptions) Metric units are used APA (section 4.39, p. 114-115) Numbers and their unit(s) are APA (section 4.40, p. 115) separated by a space Correct standard symbols APA (section 4.27, p. 108-109; section 4.4, p. 115; section 4.45, p. used 117-123) Non-standard symbols are APA (section 4.27, p. 108-109; section 4.40, p. 115; section 4.45, defined p. 117-123)
In-line equations have proper APA (sections 4.46-4.47, p. 118-123) form and spacing Displayed equations APA (section 4.48, p. 123-124) referenced in text are numbered Correct format used for years, dates, and times APA (section 4.27, p. 108-109 Preliminary Materials Presented in proper order (chapter 3, page 26) Title Page has correct (chapter 3; page 10; also Figure A1) information and format Copyright or blank page (chapter 3, page 2-3; also Figure A2) inserted, not counted Approval Page has correct (chapter 3, page 11; also Figure A3) information and format Abstract Page has correct (chapter 3, page 11; also Figure A4) heading Abstract is single paragraph in block form (chapter 3, page 11; also Figure A4) APA (section 2.04, page 27; section 8.03, p. 229) Acknowledgments Page has (chapter 3, page 13; also figure A5) correct heading (level-1) Table of Contents Has correct heading (chapter 3, page 13+; also Figure A6) Each level of heading indented appropriately Page numbers right-justified Dotted leader connect heading with page number List of Tables (if needed) Has the correct heading (chapter 3 page 14; also Figure A7) Correct headings for Table and Page Table number and complete title shown for each table Dotted leader connect table titles to page numbers List of Figures (if needed) Has the correct heading (chapter 3, page 14; also Figure A8) Correct headings for Figure and Page Figure number and description shown for each figure Dotted leaders connect descriptions to page numbers
List of Plates (if needed) Has the correct heading (chapter 3, page 15; also Figure A9) Correct heading for Plate Plate number and description shown for each plate Note following list states location of plates Citations and References ( Chapter 5) Citations written in proper APA (sections 6.11-6.21, p. 174-179; see Table 6.1, p. 177, for a format concise summary of formats) References presented in APA (section 6.25, p. 181-183); (section 3.21, p. 17-18) proper order References written in proper APA (sections 6.27-6.32, p. 184-192; Chapter 7) format Multi-line references use APA (section 2.11, p. 37); (Figure B9, p. 53) hanging indent Quotations Short quotations (<40 words) are in-line Short quotations enclosed in double quotation marks Long quotations are in block form, indented ½ inch Long quotations not enclosed in quotation marks Each citation for a quotation includes page number Para. Number given for nonpaginated sources Modifications to quotations are properly noted Footnotes Designated sequentially with Arabic numerals Placed at bottom of appropriate page(s) Separated from running text by short horizontal rule Multi-line footnotes are double-spaced Citation footnotes in proper form, with proper information Tables ( Chapter 6) Properly, sequentially labeled (Table 1, Table 2, etc) Placed properly within the thesis (after first reference) Proper spacing between running text and small tables APA (section 6.05, p. 171-172) APA (section 6.08, p. 172-173) Standard word-processing format APA (section 5.05, p. 127) APA (5 th edition, section 6.03, p. 325)
Large tables placed along on APA (5 th edition, section 6.03, p. 325); Figure B4 a page (no running text) Multi-page tables placed on APA (5 th edition, section 6/03, p. 325); Figure B6 their own pages Table titles placed correctly APA (Table 5.1, p.129) Proper format for table APA (Table 5.1, p. 129) number and title Multi-line table titles are APA (Table 5.1, p. 129); Figure B5 single-spaced Line spacing within body of table is appropriate Correct form and order used APA (section 5.16, p. 138-141) for table notes Proper format on specific APA (section 5.16, p. 138-141) note designations No vertical rules (lines) are APA (section 5.17, p. 141) used Horizontal rules (lines) are used sparingly and correctly APA (section 5.17, p. 141) Figures ( Chapter 7) Properly, sequentially APA (section 5.05, p. 127) labeled (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) Placed properly within the thesis (after first reference) Figures presented alone on APA (5 th edition, section 6.03, p. 325 a page (no running text) Figure captions placed APA (examples, p. 152-166); B7 correctly Proper format for figure APA (examples, p. 152-166); B7 captions Multi-line figure captions are double-spaced Text within figures is legible APA (section 5.25, p. 161 (not <8 pt; not >14 pt. Plates ( Chapter 7) Plates are appropriately, sequentially labeled Placed in a pocket Each plate has a caption Text within plates is legible (not < 8 pt) Appendices Placed in the order in which APA (section 2.13, p. 39) they are referenced Multiple appendices: labeled APA (section 2.13, p. 39) in order, Appendix A, Preceded by page titled Graduate School requirement (standard); (Figure C1) Appendices or Appendix Single appendix has a title APA (section 2.13, p. 39) (heading)
Multiple appendices: APA (section 2.13, p. 39) heading includes Appendix A Tables / figures labeled as A1, A2, A3 (e.g., Table A1) APA (section 5.05, p. 127) Graduate School Editing Comments: Approved Approved with Minor Corrections Request changes, resubmit Reviewer Initials Date of Review