Computer Engineering Department
Bogaziçi University
1995
The procedures and rules set forth in the following pages are for the guidance of graduate students preparing CmpE 540 Term Papers and Projects at the Department of Computer Engineering, Boğaziçi University.
The requirements for some matters of form such as the weight of paper used, the title page, the table of contents, and the like are stated in Section II, "Specific Instructions".
Every report must show correctness and clarity of expression.
1. An example of the Title Page for the Project Report is presented here. Follow the example carefully as to form and spacing. At the bottom of the example page where year is shown, write the semester date (year only, viz. 1994) in which the document was prepared
2. An example of the heading and spacing for the report abstract is given here. While no specific form needs to be followed, it is suggested that the abstract cover the following points: statement of the problem; procedure or method; results; conclusions. It is suggested also that headings, tabular material, chemical formulas, and footnotes be excluded. Primarily, the abstract should give the information that will enable a scholar to tell whether he/she wishes to read the complete work. Abstracts longer than 450 words will not be accepted.
3. Papers and project reports submitted for review must be spiral bound.
4. The Foreword, Preface or Acknowledgements. The Foreword or Preface, if any, must immediately precede the Abstract and must be brief, one page or less in length. This is the proper place for acknowledgements to individuals or organizations. Such acknowledgements must be made simply.
5. Tables, Graphs, Charts and Illustrations. In general all of these are special matters usually of a technical sort, and the proper form must be understood and followed after a candidate has received instructions from his/her advisor. To ensure satisfactory reproduction on microfilm, drawings, graphs, etc., should be prepared in black ink, since colored ink appears as varying shades of grey. Only contrasting and clear photocopies of inked drawings are acceptable.
6. Some Suggestions
Please note the spelling of Foreword.
Periods and commas go inside quotation marks; semicolons and colons go outside.
The word data is plural and requires a plural verb.
Numbers from one to nine, inclusive, should be spelled out, for number 10 and above, use numerals. Numbers should be spelled out when they begin a sentence.
Spell out per cent; do not use %, and write per cent as two words without a period. Don't say "due to" for "because of", "over" for "more than", "secure" for "obtain," etc. Be sure tenses throughout are consistent, likewise that all verbs and subjects agree in number; that the antecedent of each pronoun is clear.
Do not use the pronoun "I", always use "We", better use passive voice.
Listings of the developed computer software should be given in an appendix. However, if the code is longer than 300 lines the listing should be given in a separate diskette. The format and contents of this diskette is explained here.
Use MS Word 2.0 or greater for the report.
1. Title Page. A model for the title page of the report will be found here
2. Table of Contents. A model for the table of contents will be found here.
3. Grade of Paper.The original copy shall be typed on 75 or 80 gr./m2 white paper. All photocopies shall be run on the same grade of paper. Size of paper shall be 210 x 297 mm, i.e. A4.
4. Hard Copy Devices.Only Near Letter Quality or sharper dot matrix printer or Laser printer and Ink Jet printer should be used for hardcopy. In case of dot matrix printers, black ribbon must be used and replenished as frequently as necessary to maintain clear and high contrast constant density copy throughout the report.
5. Character Fonts.As a character font, use Times,Times Roman, Courier, Geneva, Helvetica or equivalent which are available in most word processors. The font size must be 12 point in the text and at least 8 point in the figures; main headings should be in 14 point and bold typeface.
6. Centering. Whenever titles and headings are to be centered the centering shall be such that 112 mm. from the left edge of the paper or 98 mm. for the right edge of the paper is the center point of the title or heading.
7. Margins.Margins of pages shall conform to the following specifications.
a) Left margin - 3 1/2 cm. from edge of paper.
b) Right margin - 2 cm. from edge of paper.
c) Top margin - 3 1/2. from edge of paper.
d) Bottom margin - 2 cm. from edge of paper.
8. The above margins shall be observed on charts, graphs, tables, and drawings. Folded papers will not be accepted unless there is absolutely no other way for the material to be presented.
9. Spacing of the text material shall be 1 1/2 with the following exceptions:
a) Footnotes - single spacing
b) Long biographical quotes - single spacing
c) Extensive quotations - single spacing and indented eight (8) spaces relative to the text material.
10. Headings used in the report shall conform to the following rules:
a. Main Headings - Arabic (1,2,3 etc.) numerals .
(1) Must begin a new page and be centered according to instruction No.6. Omit period at the end of the heading.
(2) Main headings are to be titled names that reflect content of the text that follows. Main headings are not to be identified as chapters.
(3) The number of the headings shall be followed by a period and two spaces.
(4) Must precede the following text material by second heading by three spaces.
b. Second Headings - 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, etc.
(1) Must be centered according to instruction number 6 and be typed in capital and lower case letters; i.e., the first letter of each word except conjunctions, prepositions, and articles must be a capital letter. Omit period at the end of heading.
(2) The letter designation of the heading shall be followed by a period and two spaces.
(3) Must be four spaces below preceding text and three spaces ahead of succeeding text.
c. First sub-headings - 2.2.1, 2.2.2 , etc.
(1) Must be typed on separate lines beginning at the left margin line of the text, but need not begin a new page.
(2) Must be typed in capital and lower case letters except conjunctions, prepositions, and articles.
(3) The number designation of the heading shall be followed by a period and two spaces. Omit period at the end of the heading.
(4) Must be separated from the succeeding text by three spaces.
d. Second sub-headings- 2.2.1.1, 2.2.1.2 etc.. (second sub-headings should be avoided if possible)
(1) Must be typed on the same line as the text it introduces beginning at the left margin line of the text.
(2) Must be typed in capital and lower case letters except conjunctions, prepositions, and articles.
(3) Must be followed by a period at the end of the heading and must be underscored by a line.
(4) The letter designation shall be followed by a period and two spaces.
11. Footnotes, Bibliographical Material and Specially Designated Expressions.
a. Footnotes (Footnotes should be used only if absolutely necessary)
(1) Footnote references shall be indicated in the text by an arabic number placed superior to the of the text and immediately following the word phrase or sentence which the footnote concerns.
(2) Footnotes shall be sequential for each page and for the entire report.
(3) Footnotes shall be placed at the bottom of the page on which they are indicated. They shall be indented from the margin line of the text by eight spaces and placed under a broken line made of 15 dashes.
(4) Footnotes shall be single spaced typing.
b. Bibliographical References. The numerical reference of bibliographical material shall be indicated in the text by an arabic numeral in square brackets (e.g. [12]) placed in the text immediately following the name, word, phrase, or sentence which the reference concerns (in most cases this will be the author's name). The number in parenthesis should indicate the order of appearance of the reference in the text. The listing of references in the bibliography shall be in the order in which they are used in the text and shall bear the same number as was used in the reference in the text. See here for examples. For references not cited in the text see here.
c. Specially Designated Expressions
(1) Specially designated expressions usually mean equations, formulas, etc.
(2) Specially designated expressions shall be centered on the page according to instruction number 6 and shall be set below the preceding text and before the succeeding text by three line spaces.
(3) The expressions shall be identified by an arabic number in parenthesis placed opposite the expression and in line with the right margin of the text. They should be numbered in each chapter in the order of their appearance together with the chapter number, e.g. (6.14)
13. Pagination. Each page in the report or paper is expected to bear a number. Only one side of the paper may be used. The following plan should be used exclusively:
a. The preliminary section, including the title page; copyright page, if any; foreword, preface, or acknowledgements; table of contents; etc., should be numbered, using lower case Roman Numerals, e.g., i, ii, iii, etc. The title page counts as Page i, but the number does not appear. The sequence of the preliminary section is as follows:
Title Page ......................................................... Page i - number does not appear
Foreword, Preface or Acknowledgements Page ii, iii, as necessary
Abstract ........................................................... Page iii, iv, as necessary
Table of Contents .......................................... Page v, vi, as necessary
List of Symbols .............................................. Page viii, ix, as necessary
b. For the remainder of the report or paper. Arabic numbers are used. Each page must be numbered. Page numbers are to be placed two centimeters from the top and right hand margins on the pages. Include all pages for illustrations, tables, appendices, bibliography, etc. Use of suffixes, such as 25a, 25b, etc., will not be approved. The numbering in the main body of the report or paper should begin with Page 1 and run consecutively to the last page. No punctuation, such as dash or a period, should accompany the page number.
c. Paragraphs. Paragraph indentations must be uniformly eight letter spaces long. Series of paragraph items which are to be listed without headings under any of the regular headings may, for clarity be designated as follows: (A), (B), (C), No period is necessary between the parenthesis and the first sentence. Series of items listed in the interior of a paragraph may be designated as follows: (a), (b), (c). A period must not follow the parenthesis. Each item must begin with a lower case letter and must end with a semi-colon, unless it is a complete sentence. A new paragraph must not begin at the bottom of a page if there is not sufficient space for at least two lines.
14. Figures. Figures shall be centered in the page. The caption shall be placed under the figure. The figures shall be identified by an arabic number. They should be numbered in each chapter in the order of their appearance together with the chapter number, e.g. (2.2). See here for an example.
15. Tables Tables shall be centered in the page. The caption shall be placed above the table. The tables shall be identified by an arabic number. They should be numbered in each chapter in the order of their appearance together with the chapter number, e.g. (9.12). See here for an example.