Academic Writing: Guide Sections
Dissertation Formats: Key Points to Consider
As it is known, writing a dissertation demands a lot of work. It includes long hours in the library, sleepless nights in front of the computer, and hard intellectual labor. But before all this, the important point is to choose a format for your dissertation.
Dissertation format is a way of organizing the paper. It includes the placing of a text on a page and its management throughout all the document. Today, when computers are available for anyone, you just need to choose a proper dissertation format and program the document to stick to it.
Dissertation formats: Useful advice
Follow the next points in order to save your time and efforts for dissertation format choice:
- Consult with your supervisor
- Choose a dissertation format BEFORE typing the paper
- Regulate the document format in accordance with the chosen dissertation format
Dissertation formats: Chose one!
There is a multitude of dissertation formats that can be used for your work. Below is the list of the most often used formats and their requirements.
APA
- This format is based on the Times New Roman font, with the size 10 or 12 pt
- The dissertation in APA format needs to have a compulsory abstract
- While citing the sources, give the last name of the author and the year of publication
MLA
- This format is also based on the Times New Roman font, with the size 12 pt
- The margins should be 1 inch from all sides
- While citing the sources, give the last name of the author and the page of the work where the idea or quotation mentioned can be found
Chicago
- This format is based on the Courier New font, with the size 10 pt
- While citing the sources, use the footnotes at the bottom of the page
Harvard
- This format is based on the Arial font, with the size 10 or 12 pt
- The citations in Harvard format need to be use twice: in text and in the reference list
- While citing the sources, give the last name of the author, year of publication, and page of the work where the idea or quotation mentioned can be found


