Columbia GSAPP’s vibrant research community makes it one of the finest research institutions around the globe. This is because of the distinct learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students in the scholarly field. They are well facilitated in data analysis and writing Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertations to advance knowledge at a higher level of scholarly excellence.
Columbia University research scholars must complete their thesis to prepare for their research-based careers. This is how they may develop novel ideas that advance their field of study. The guide below is meant to help such scholars formulate their research write-ups successfully. However, if the rising competition in academia causes stress about writing excellent papers, in that case, seek help with your PhD dissertations from experts to stay ahead of the competition.
Now, let’s discuss the topic so that crafting a structured thesis document should not be a challenge afterwards. Before learning about formatting, we need to define the key term Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertations.
Contents
What Is Columbia GSAPP PhD Dissertation?
The Columbia GSAPP PHD dissertation involves deep study, data analysis, and clear presentation of findings. It allows students to contribute to a specific field of study by undertaking a unique research framework and then presenting findings to a large audience.
How To Format Columbia GSAPP PHD Dissertation?
Writing a PhD dissertation demonstrates mastery of a subject. It involves research, writing, and defending the main stance, which is a major step in earning a degree. Although the process is strenuous, starting it on the right foot can help in its effective completion.
Here are the crucial steps that break the complex process into achievable goals.
- All the margins should be one inch.
- The whole content will be double-spaced except for footnotes, endnotes, bibliography, etc.
- Page number for abstract, perforatory and main body needs to be different.
- The preferred font is 10-point Arial or 12-point Times New Roman.
- The title page should be well-defined.
- All the copyright pages should be centred at the bottom with legal information on them.
- An abstract will be written without any page number.
- All footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page.
It is not enough to understand all the formatting details as given by the university. Hence, going through the details can help you write a document that fulfils the conventions.
1. Margins
The margins of the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation are the space between the main content and the edges of the pages. It defines the beginning and ending of your write-up.
Below is the guideline to place margins in PhD dissertation Columbia GSAPP.
- The left and right margins should be equal and at least one inch.
- All the infographics must appear within the manuscript margins.
- Place page number three-quarters of an inch (3/4”) from the edge.
- You can place charts and graphs horizontally to fit them into the margins.
2. Spacing
The main components of the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation document, such as the main content, acknowledgement, dedication, table of contents, etc., need to be double-spaced. However, long quotations that exceed eight lines are single-spaced and indented.
Similarly, the footnotes, endnotes and bibliography will also be single-spaced. You just need to put double space between each entry.
3. Order And Page Numbering
All Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertations need to be structured according to the guidelines below. Remember that the three main sections of the text, such as the cover, perforator, and main body, will be numbered differently. So, you need to pay attention to the specific notes given below.
Cover Pages And Abstract:
This section includes the title, copyright page and abstract. You are not supposed to place any page number here.
Perforator Pages:
These pages of the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation cover tables of content, infographics, acknowledgements and dedication. To number these sections, begin with Roman numerals and place it at the bottom of each page. Remember, other content will be numbered differently, so placing Roman counting here makes it unique.
Main Body and Other pages:
The main body includes all other components of the document such as the preface, main body, references and appendices. Number it with the Arabic numerals that begin with 1 and place it at the bottom of each page. Moreover, if the formatting details of various sections are difficult to comprehend, then get the services of a professional dissertation writer to create a professionally organised paper. It will better your chances of receiving exceptional grades.
4. Font
For writing any Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation, the preferred font is 10-point Arial or 12-point Times New Roman. However, the sans-serif standard can also be used if its size is equal to the main text. Remember that the font must be uniform throughout the text, while spacing can vary depending on the part of your paper. Moreover, the footnotes, graphics, table of contents and abstract font size should be smaller.
In this regard, it is better to learn the font details by looking at examples from the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation. Students submit several dissertations every year at the University. One of the dissertation’s introductory parts, as given by Columbia University Libraries, is displayed below.
5. Title Page
In writing the title of your Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation, use the proper names of organisms, places or people. For instance, you will write Clemens Samuel in full form instead of writing C. Samuel. You are not referencing the author’s name in the in-text citation.
Instead, the title of the paper needs to be clear so that it does not confuse the reader. Do not use formulas, Greek characters, or symbols; instead, write them in full form. For example, if you write “carbon dioxide” in the title, it will be written in full form rather than “CO2.”
6. Copyright Pages
The copyright pages will come right after the title pages. All of such legal write-ups will be centred at the bottom of the page, referring to your legal name and related details. This information in Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation needs to be completed in three lines. The year mentioned on the copyright pages should be the calendar year in which the degree was completed.
In many cases, the year mentioned on your cover page differs from the year it was submitted in the department. For instance, if you submit your dissertation in November or December, the degree will be credited in February of the following year. The legal name printed on your dissertation needs to match the name on your diploma.
7. Abstract
The Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation abstract will follow up the copyright pages. Make a header at the top of the page that displays your name and the title of the thesis. Some general guidelines in this regard are given below.
- It needs to be double-spaced.
- There is no word limit but it is recommended to complete it within 250 word count. It is the summary of the paper, not a detailed discussion.
- Don’t make the mistake of including infographics, abbreviations or formulas in this section.
- It should not have any page number.
- It is not counted in the number of perforators on the page.
8. Footnotes
The footnotes are small notations to provide additional information to the reader or cite the sources. These reference notes in the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation can be placed at the bottom of the page or at the end of the thesis before the bibliography. These footnotes play a crucial role in enhancing the comprehension of the text.
For instance, in the field of natural sciences and social sciences, place the additional material in parentheses and write a list of all references in the later part. It is advisable to verify the desired footnote style to the relevant department.
Format of Dissertations Other Than English Language
According to the Graduate Schools of Arts and Sciences, any PhD dissertation written in a language other than English should only be accepted by the departments that have made special requests to the Executive Committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Such permission is only granted if language is recognised by the faculty program.
All the formatting details will be similar to what has been discussed so far with a little change. For instance, it must accompany an additional abstract written in the English language. The length of the abstract needs to be comprehensive enough to provide an account of the principal argument.
Columbia GSAPP PHD Dissertation Research Questions
A research question is the core question that provides direction to the researcher. Without having a clear target, you can’t concentrate on your focus and efforts. Consider it a guiding light that defines every choice you make on the way. Let’s look at some of the research questions that you can help in brainstorming Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertation ideas.
- What is the role of socio-economic factors in commercial arbitration?
- What is the role of surface sensing in manipulating the bacterial cell fate?
- How we can promote the cyclic utilisation of cyclodextrins in biotransformation?
- Which style of leadership and management is suitable for globalisation?
Conclusion
Columbia University is renowned for its exceptional research contributions to the field. Many of the Columbia GSAPP PhD dissertations have added valuable knowledge in the scholarly field. The importance of data analysis can’t be overstated, but the way you write your thesis document matters the most. It covers all writing aspects, such as style, tone, formatting, etc. In the above guide, we had a detailed discussion on how you can properly format your thesis so that it fulfils the academic conventions given by the institution.
For many researchers working on an extensive research project, managing research activities along with the writing process can be strenuous. It can compromise the quality of any component. Therefore, it is recommended that UK-based dissertation writing services be hired to maintain the quality. These professionals can provide you with original content that can take you ahead of the curve.