• Dissertation Guide (FALL 2012)


• Introduction
• Instructions for Graduate Students Applying for Graduation, FALL 2012
• Checklist of Steps
• Common Dissertation/Thesis Format Errors
• Policy Issues: Prior to Conducting the Research
  • Use of Copyrighted Material
  • Use of Human Subjects in Research
  • Use of Animals in Research
• General Format Requirements & Manuscript Mechanics
  • General
  • Contents of the Thesis/Dissertation
  • Paper
  • Style
  • Spacing
  • Margins
  • Arrangement and Pagination
  • Elements of the Thesis/Dissertation
    • Signature Page
    • Copyright
    • Title Page
    • Preface/Acknowledgements
    • Abstract
    • Table of Contents
    • Appendices
    • Bibliography
    • Vita
  • Tables, Figures, Illustrative Materials
  • Documentation of Sources
  • Plagiarism
  • Non-Print Theses/Dissertations
  • Style Manuals
• Printing and Processing
  • Methods of Duplication
  • Multiple Volumes
  • Submission of Required Copies
  • Microfilming
• Manuscript Format Requirements
  • Single and Multiple Research Projects in a Dissertation
• Examples
  • Signature Page
  • Copyright Page
  • Title Page
  • Abstract Page
  • Table of Contents (a)
  • Table of Contents (b)
  • Vita
  • Permission to include previously published material
• Policy On Procedures for Completing a Graduate Degree
• How to grade a dissertation
• Latex Help Topics
  • Page Layout in Latex
  • User Manual
  • Sizing in Latex
  • Converting Latex to PDF
  • Latex FAQ
• From the U.S. Copyright Office
  • Copyright Basics

Dissertation and Thesis Guide

Last revised August 2012
Last web update August 2012
dgLatex2PDF.htm was last modified February 01, 2007

This guide was prepared by the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Questions concerning these guidelines or any aspect of manuscript preparation for the thesis, dissertation, or report should be directed to the Assistant Graduate Dean in the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies, FA3.104, 972-883-2234.

Converting LaTeX documents to PDF

In order to convert LaTeX documents you will need to connect to the UTD Unix server. The best way to do so is to use putty (download here).

When you download putty, type in apache.utdallas.edu for hostname, and select SSH for protocol. (The port should automatically set to 20 if you choose SSH as your protocol.) Click the open button to connect to the server.

You will be prompted for your username and password. Login with your NetID and your password.

Save a copy of your LaTeX document (with the .dvi extension) to your H:\ drive. When you login to the server, you will be given a command prompt.

By default, you should be logged in to your home directory. Type

ls (followed by the enter key)

for a listing of files, and make sure your document is there. If it is not, check again to make sure that a copy is saved to your H:\ drive. If you still do not see it after typing ls, you might not be in your home directory. To get to your home directory, type in

cd ~ (followed by the enter key)

Type

dvipdf sample.dvi

to convert your LaTeX document into PDF format, substituting your own filename for sample.dvi. The resulting PDF is saved in the same directory from which the program was run, which in this example was H:\

Note: When submitting your dissertation on CD, the dissertation must be the only file on the CD, and must be in the following format: Name TitleOfDissertation.pdf