Preparing your Final I.A. Manuscript

Rules for Manuscript Form

 

1. General guidelines/type of paper. Type or word-process your report. Use high-quality white, unlined 8 ½” x 11” paper. Do not use colored paper, transparent paper, onionskin paper, or odd typefaces, such as script. You must use Times New Roman, 11 point font. For information on using word-processing programs for research reports, please visit our library. It is recommended you use Microsoft Word, which is available on all Sturgis computers.

2. Margins. Use one-inch margins at the top, sides, and bottom of the page.

3. Name and page numbers. Include a page number at the bottom middle of each page of the report, except for the title page. Number the pages of the report and the Works Cited list continuously, using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, and so on). Do not precede the page numbers with the word page or any abbreviation of it, such as p. or pg.

4. Spacing. Double-space the entire report, including headings, titles, quotations, text paragraphs. Do not double space the footnotes or the works cited. However, leave a one space in between entries. (see examples.)

5. Title Page. First, make sure your font is set at TNR 11 points. From the top margin, drop down 10 single-spaced lines. Using 16 point Times New Roman, type the research question. (Double space question if more than 1 line.) Drop down another 30 single-spaced lines, using 14 point Times New Roman, type your name preceded by “by”. On the next line, using 14 point Times New Roman, type your candidate number. (Sophomores: use 1512-xx since you haven’t been assigned a number yet.) Drop down 3 single-spaced lines, using 14 point Times New Roman, type the word count in the following format: Word Count: xxxx.  See sample paper for example.

6. Table of Contents Page. First, make sure your font is set at TNR 11 points. From the top margin, drop down 12 single-spaced lines. Using Times New Roman 16 point font, type TABLE OF CONTENTS in all capital letters and underline and center it. At the end of the Table of Contents reset your font size to 11 points. Drop down 3 single-spaced lines. Using Times New Roman 11 point font, type Plan of Investigation, then hit tab 9 times and enter the page number your plan of investigation begins on. DO NOT CENTER. Using the same format, type in the rest of your sections. See sample paper for example.

7. Sections. On the first line, using BOLD 14 point Times New Roman, type your research question. At the end of the title, reset your font size to NON-BOLD 11 point Times New Roman. Drop down 3 single-spaced lines. Using BOLD and all CAPS Times New Roman 11 point font, type the first section header. Drop down 2 single spaced lines. Once you’ve typed in your text, double space it, and indent the paragraphs five spaces. Do not double-double space between paragraphs.

For the next section header, drop down five single-spaced lines from the last line of the previous section’s text and follow instruction above for the first section header. Continue this process until you get to your WORKS CITED section.

8. Works Cited. On a new page and on the first Works Cited page, using 11 point Times New Roman center the title, WORKS CITED. Do not underline the title or enclose it in quotation marks; make sure it is written in capital letters. (If you need a second page, DO NOT put a title on it. Just begin with your next entry.)

9. Placement and spacing of Works Cited entries. Drop down two single-spaced lines from the title and begin the first Works Cited entry. Alphabetize all the Works Cited entries and leave a single space between each entry. Entries should be alphabetized by their first words, whether the words are parts of titles or of persons’ names. If an entry begins with a title, skip any initial article (a, an, or the) when alphabetizing. Begin the first line of each Works Cited entry at the left margin. Indent additional lines five spaces.

10. Indentions. Indent the first line of each text paragraph five spaces from the left margin.

11. Quotations. See the guidelines for quotations.

12. Paragraphing. Do not leave a single line of a paragraph at the bottom or the top of a page.

13. Binding and presentation.

Paper Version: All pages are to be stapled together in their upper left hand corner. Do not place in a folder or report cover.

Electronic Version: The e-version is due on the same day of the paper version. You must e-mail it to Mr. Hyer as an ATTACHMENT. Do not copy and paste in the body of the e-mail. It will not be accepted. In the subject line of the e-mail type, Period X Internal Assessment. In the body of the e-mail type your name and the research question.

14. Affirmation of Originality. Once everything is complete you then must submit it to Turnitin.com. Please see the separate instructions given to you on how to do this.