Getting started with your ETDR
As you begin to write your thesis, dissertation, or report, note these important points.
- Study the Graduate School guidelines. Requirements cover formatting, margins, page numbering, and more.
- Use Word effectively. Guidelines and tips for using Word to write your ETDR.
- Copyright. Make sure you understand copyright and your responsibilities in using copyrighted material.
- Prior publication. If portions of your ETDR will be published prior to submission, follow these guidelines.
- Supplemental files. Guidelines for creating and submitting supplemental files, such as audio, video, datasets, and tutorials, in addition to the text of your ETDR.
- Contact the IT Help Desk (785-532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu). ETDR consultants are available to meet, help you get started, and answer specific questions.
- Graduation deadlines. Deadlines for completing degree requirements.
Microsoft Word users
- Use the ETDR templates. Although not required, they have many benefits that save you time. Download the master's or doctoral template and use it with all current versions of Word for Mac and PC.
- Learn about Word styles. This powerful feature makes it much easier to work with long documents (see Word 2003, Mac 2004, Word 2007, and Mac 2008 styles instructions).
- Use K-State's Word instructions for ETDRs. These how-tos cover more than a dozen tasks, including adding new chapters, inserting captions, fixing page numbers, and converting to PDF.
LaTeX users
- A LaTeX template and brief instructions are available for download, although the template is not required.
- Each component of your ETDR (abstract, chapter 1, chapter 2, etc.) is handled as a separate file in LaTeX. However, many students prefer to write their ETDR as a single file.
- The LaTeX template compiles only with PDF LaTeX. It uses BibTeX to organize citations and references.