FORMAT GUIDELINES FOR

MASTERS DEGREE DISSERTATIONS

UNIVERSITY OF BISKRA
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND LANGUAGES
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
SECTION OF ENGLISH

2011/2012

FORMAT GUIDELINES FOR MASTERS DEGREE DISSERTATIONS

1. Page Format and Layout
a. Font: font 12 must be used throughout the dissertation, the only exceptions being in tables,
graphs and long quotations (font 11).
b. Margins/ Page Numbers
All dissertations must be consistent with margins of 2,5 at the top, bottom, right but 3 at the left
edge.
Page numbers must be centred at the bottom of the page.
c. Spacing
The dissertation must be 1, 5 spaced. Single spacing must be used only in tables, graphs, long
quotations and appendices.
Quotations over three lines long should in block quote, single-space (1) and indented on the left and
on the right like this:
A pedagogical task is a piece of work that involves learners in
comprehending, manipulating, producing or interacting in the target
language while their attention is focused on mobilizing their grammatical
knowledge in order to express meaning, and in which the intention is to
convey meaning rather to manipulate form. The task should also have a
sense of completeness, being able to stand alone as a communicative act in
its own right.

The first paragraph under a title or sub-title should be single spaced.

Double space between the different subtitles.
Every new paragraph must be indented.
d. The Numbering of Pages
All preliminary pages preceding the introduction should be numbered in Roman
numerals ( title page (I) though the number is not used, dedication (II),
acknowledgement (III), abstract (IV), list of abbreviation (V), list of figures (VI), list of
tables ( depending on the preceding pages ), contents ( depending on the preceding
pages).
The first page of the introduction must be numbered in Arabic numerals (1). All the
following pages of the dissertation must contain an Arabic numeral bottom centred. The
first page of every section (chapters, bibliography, appendices) must begin on a new
page)
e. Tables and Figures
All tables and figures should be referenced (if they are not yours) and numbered for identification
like the example below:
Perceptions
A gift
A skill that can be developed through
practice
A gift that can be developed through
practice

Percentage
2%
78%
20%

Table 4.19: Students Perceptions of Writing

They should also contain a brief title centred.
f. Titles and Sub-titles

The content words (verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs) in titles and sub-titles should be
capitalized. Font 12 and bold type (gras) should be used.
2. Contents
a. Table of Contents
The table of contents consists of chapter titles and as many or few chapters as the author feels
necessary.
b. Bibliography
The bibliography must include all the references used in the dissertation.
You can use the APA or MLA style with your supervisors approval. The style chosen must be
followed consistently.
c. Number of Pages/ Number of copies Required
Number of pages required: from 60 to 100 pages
Three hard copies are required before the viva.
One final hard copy is submitted to the administration in addition to a PDF version of the
dissertation (CD).
d. Cover page: similar to the one suggested in the research proposal. You just add the board of
examiners in the final copy.