Thesis checklist
Seiteninhalt
Formal structure
Scope:
- approx. 9,000 to 11,000 words unless specified differently by your First supervisor
Font and font size:
- Arial or Times New Roman, font size 11 or 12;
- The font must be the same throughout the thesis – this also applies for footnotes;
- Headings are to be formatted in a uniform manner
Line spacing:
- 1.5 lines
Layout template:
Alignment:
- Justified or left-aligned with automatic hyphenation of syllables in body text;
- The right and left edge of tables and figures must be aligned with the text
- Left-aligned list of references
Paragraphs:
- Individual paragraphs should be of an appropriate length and separated from each other by a blank line
- If a paragraph runs over two pages, at least two lines of it must be contained on the first or subsequent page
Other formalities:
- Distinguish between hyphen and dash
- Consistent spacing between numbers and units
- Use non-breaking spaces (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACE BAR) and non-breaking hyphens (CTRL+HYPHEN)
References:
- Harvard style (author-year referencing system) – also for Internet references
- No Internet links in the text or footnotes
- No plagiarism
Structure
Page numbers:
- Table of contents and lists of abbreviations, illustrations and tables are provided before the main text, numbered with Roman numerals (I, II, III)
- In the main text use Arabic numerals (1,2,3)
- The list of references and appendices do not have page numbers
Numbering:
- Chapter numbering: ".1" must be followed by ".2"
- All illustrations and tables in the text must be numbered and listed in the respective lists
Table of contents:
- Begins with the introduction (page 1)
- Lists of abbreviations, illustrations and tables and acknowledgements (optional) are not included, the list of references and any appendices are listed without page numbers
List of references:
- Only contains sources you have cited
Number of chapters:
- Appropriate, text is not fragmented
Statutory declaration:
Insert this text as the last page of your thesis:
"I herewith formally declare that I have written the submitted thesis independently. I did not use any outside support except for the quoted literature and other sources mentioned in the paper.
I clearly marked and separately listed all of the literature and all of the other sources which I employed when producing this academic work, either literally or in content.
I am aware that the violation of this regulation will lead to failure of the thesis."
Name Signature
Student ID number: Berlin, date
Contents
Language:
- Academic style
- Do not use "I", "We" or "the authors"
- Numbers from "one" to "twelve" in words
- Correct spelling and grammar
Preface (optional):
- No topic-specific content
List of abbreviations
- Only explain abbreviations if necessary; do not list abbreviations that are commonly known
Introduction:
- Research questions on which the thesis is based
Main part:
- Addresses the research question(s)
Conclusion:
- Answers the research question(s)
- Summarises the different methods, processes and facts