THESIS/DISSERTATION FORMAT

PAPER AND PRINTING SPECIFICATIONS

Print the final copy by using a laser printer on only one side of a standard-sized PUPGS
stationery (8.5 x 11 inches).

FONT SPECIFICATIONS

Use a 12-point, Arial font throughout the thesis or dissertation, except to compress a large
table (see Tables and Figures).

SPACING

Double-space the text; single-space long quotations, table and figure captions, and similar
special materials (e.g., table legend). Type double-spaced from the top margin, centered,
and IN ALL CAPS all preliminary headings and chapter titles.

MARGINS

The left margin is 1.5 inches to allow for binding and trimming, but the top, bottom, and right
margins are all 1 inch.

PAGE NUMBERING

Paginate the preliminaries by using lower case Roman numerals, centered, flush bottom
margin. The preliminaries include the title page, abstract, certificate of originality,
certification-and-approval sheet, acknowledgments, table of contents, list of tables, and list
of figures.

Use Arabic numerals to paginate the text, bibliography (i.e., reference list for APA Style and
works cited for MLA Style), and appendices. Number all the pages consecutively starting
with No. 2 on the second page of the first chapter. The first page of each chapter, though
counted, is not numbered.

Type the page number in the upper right-hand corner, even on landscaped pages with
visuals (i.e., tables and figures).

NUMBER OF COPIES

Submit six copies to the Office of the Dean. The copies will be distributed to the following:
CHED, Graduate School Office, National Library, Graduate School Library, PUP NALRC
(main library), and the college library.

ASSEMBLING THE THESIS/DISSERTATION

The sequence in which the sections of the thesis/dissertation should be arranged and
bound is as follows:
A. Preliminaries

 TITLE PAGE
 CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL SHEET
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY
 ABSTRACT
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 LIST OF TABLES
 LIST OF FIGURES

B. Text

Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

 Introduction
 Background of the Study
 Theoretical Framework
 Conceptual Framework
 Statement of the Problem
 Hypothesis (if any)
 Scope and Limitations
 Significance of the Study
 Definition of Terms

Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

 Foreign Literature
 Local Literature
 Foreign Studies
 Local Studies
 Synthesis and Relevance of the Reviewed Literature and Studies

Chapter 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 Method of Research
 Population and Sample Size
 Description of Respondents
 Research Instrument
 Data-Gathering Procedure
 Statistical Treatment of Data

Chapter 4 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

 (Subtitles of findings/answers to problems in Chapter 1)

Chapter 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

  Summary (Gist of the statement of the problems, hypothesis (if any),
research method and sampling designs, instrument/s and statistical tools
used, and findings of the study)
 Findings
 Conclusions
 Recommendations

C. Bibliography

 Books
 Journals and Monographs (research publications)
 Unpublished Theses/Dissertations
 Periodicals
 Electronic Sources
 Other Print Sources
 Non-Print Sources

D. Appendices

 A. Questionnaire (with cover letter)

 B. Request letter to conduct survey
 C. Documents, legislations, memoranda, data/figures (if any)
 D. Sample statistical computations or print-outs
 E. Curriculum Vitae

COVER AND TITLE PAGES

Follow the instructions in the attached sample form pages. Note which items are IN
ALL CAPS and which are not. Note the approximate size of print.

CERTIFICATION-AND-APPROVAL SHEET

Each of the six copies submitted to the Graduate School must have a Certification-
and-Approval Sheet that bears not only the signatures of the graduate dean, adviser, and
evaluators but also the date of passing the comprehensive examinations. Refer to the
attached sample for the wording and format that must be followed faithfully.

The Certification is an attestation by the Thesis/Dissertation Committee (called

Evaluation Committee) that the paper has been examined and recommended for oral
examination.

The Approval contains the official approval or commendation by the Panel on Oral
Examination (composed of three members for a thesis or five members for a dissertation,
headed by a chair).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Type double-spaced from the top margin, centered, and IN All CAPS the heading
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Double-space the text that begins two double spaces from the
heading.

CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY

Type two double spaces from the top margin, centered, and IN All CAPS the heading
CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY. Double-space the text that begins three single spaces
from the heading.

All copies to be submitted must contain an original Certificate of Originality bearing the
actual (not photocopied) signature of the researcher. Refer to the attached sample.

ABSTRACT

The abstract, an indispensable part of each copy to be submitted, is a brief descriptive

summary of the thesis or dissertation. It contains a statement of the problem or objectives
of the study, a brief description of the research method, major findings, conclusions or main
arguments, and recommendations.

Type the heading ABSTRACT double-spaced from the top margin, centered, and IN All
CAPS. Triple-spaced from the heading are the following data: thesis/dissertation title,
researcher’s name, degree, name of granting institution, year of completion, and adviser’s
name. Refer to the attached sample for the format.

The abstract, which should not exceed ten pages, is double-spaced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Table of Contents comes after the abstract. It should list all elements of the
preliminaries, the chapter titles, the main headings, the references, and the appendices.
The beginning page number for each section is indicated along the right-hand margin. The
numbering of the chapters and the wording, capitalization, and punctuation of titles and
headings should be exactly the same as they are in the text. See the attached sample.

LIST OF FIGURES

The format of the List of Figures is the same as that of the Table of Contents.

THE TEXT OR BODY OF THE PAPER

1. Chapter and Subheadings

1.1 Each chapter begins on a new page.

 1.2 Only the first letter of the heading ‘Chapter’ should be capitalized, but the title of the
chapter must be IN ALL CAPS and centered.

1.3 Use Arabic numerals for the chapter numbers.

1.4 Type the centered chapter heading one double space from the top margin.

1.5 Double-space below the chapter title to the subheading or the first line of the text (if
there is no subheading).

1.6 Type subheadings of a chapter in a bold face at the left-hand margin, capitalizing
only the first letter of major words (e.g., Background of the Study). Subheadings do
not have any end punctuation unless they end with a question mark or an
exclamation point.

1.7 Start another subheading with one triple space after the last line of the immediately
preceding paragraph.

2. Definition of Terms

2.1 Only the variables or key terms included in the study should be defined.

2.2 Acronyms need not be defined if their meanings have been mentioned in the text.

2.3 A term may be defined operationally (i.e., how it is used or measured in the study),
or theoretically/technically (i.e., how it is defined in published sources).

2.4 Definitions taken from a published source must bear an appropriate in-text citation
and have a corresponding entry in the reference list/works cited.

2.5 The terms must be sequenced in alphabetical order.

2.6 If the term consists of more than one word, capitalize the first letter of every major
word.

2.7 Indent the term to be defined, type it in a bold face, and punctuate it with a period.
Leave two spaces between the period and the definition.

2.8 Each definition must be expressed in a complete sentence, NOT a phrase.

3. Review of Related Literature and Studies

3.1 The Review of Related Literature and Studies should have five subheadings,
namely, Foreign Literature, Local Literature, Foreign Studies, Local Studies, and
Synthesis and Relevance of the Reviewed Literature and Studies.

3.2 Except for classical theories and other relevant literature, all the literature and
studies included in the review must have been published or written (if unpublished,
 such as theses and dissertations) at least ten years prior to the conduct of the
current study.
3.3 Except for exploratory studies, the minimum number of literature and studies to be
reviewed is pegged at ten each for foreign literature, local literature, foreign studies,
and local studies.

4. Tables and Figures

4.1 The number and title of every table must be typed above the table.

4.2 Type the table number in a bold font, centered, and triple-spaced from the last line
of the immediately preceding paragraph.

4.3 Type the title of the table in a bold font, centered, double-spaced from the table
number, and triple-spaced to the table.

4.4 If the title is long, consisting of more than one line, type it single-spaced in an
inverted pyramid form.

4.5 The number and title of every figure must be typed below the figure.

4.6 Capitalize only the first letter of major words in all titles.

4.7 Landscape large tables.

4.8 If the landscaped table is still large to fit a single page, reduce the Arial font to a
minimum of 8 points.

4.9 If the table does not fit the page even after the font-size reduction, the rest of its part
may be continued to the next page, but the cut part should bear the subtitle
‘Continuation’ flush left margin (e.g., Continuation of Table 14). The cut part/s should
also show the column titles and the legend (if any) as in the first part of the table.

5. Drawings

5.1 Any materials (e.g., graphs, maps, etc) that can not be typed nor computer-
generated should be drawn with permanent black ink in neat and workmanlike
manner in heavy lines to allow for reduction in microfilming. Photographs of
drawings are acceptable.

5.2 Photocopied reproductions of drawings are acceptable if they are reproduced on

the right paper and if they are of high contrast. No pressed-on letters may be
used.

6. Photographs

6.1 Photographs to be included as part of the text should be labeled as figures.

6.2 Photographs must be properly scanned and NOT just mounted using any dry
mounting tissue (e.g., Elmer’s glue).
 6.3 Full-page photographs on 8.5 x 11 heavy photography stock are acceptable;
and high-clarity photocopies of photographs are also acceptable with permission of
the Graduate Office.

6.4 All copies must contain originally scanned photographs and not clear photocopies.

6.5 Large-size figures and photographs should be reduced to the appropriate size
before insertion.

7. Italics

Filipino and other foreign terms in the text should be in italics. When
analyzing items from tables or figures, the statement or phrase should be quoted,
NOT in italics.

Example:

The item “Establish a risk-based plan to determine the priorities of the

internal audit activities” obtained a weighted mean of 3.51 which indicates a very

satisfactory rating by the respondents.