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Tag: ETDR

Grad students: ETDR Word template saves time, stress

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Graduate students can save up to 50 percent of their time formatting theses and dissertations by using the ETDR template, according to previous graduates who started using the template in the early stages of writing. The ETDR template is a customized Word document styled to meet the Graduate School’s formatting requirements, but it’s also a good tool to use when writing reports, term papers, and even journal articles (just strip out the template sections not needed).

Beyond that, all students and faculty can benefit from related, free resources: Continue reading “Grad students: ETDR Word template saves time, stress” →

4-minute video shows ETDR website and resources

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

A four-minute video provides a fast tour of resources available on K-State’s ETDR website and in iTAC for students creating their electronic theses, dissertations, and reports (ETDRs). Created by Marty Courtois, an ETDR consultant in iTAC, the video highlights essential aspects of the ETDR website including:

  • Graduate School requirements, including fonts and formatting
  • Word document templates that meet the Graduate School requirements
  • ETDR submission checklist
  • “Using Word” online documentation with Word settings, navigation tips, styles, and more

Continue reading “4-minute video shows ETDR website and resources” →

Major professors: Encourage grad students to start writing in the ETDR template

Posted on by Martin Courtois

More than 40 percent of graduate students come to iTAC for individual help in formatting their electronic theses, dissertations, and reports (ETDRs). Many of these students visit us when they’ve completed their writing, and say their major professor told them they most now put their completed paper into the ETDR template. If you want to help your students focus on their research and the content of their paper, steer them toward using the ETDR template from the very beginning.

Continue reading “Major professors: Encourage grad students to start writing in the ETDR template” →

Grad students: Start writing your thesis in the ETDR template

Posted on by Martin Courtois

If you’re starting to work on your thesis or dissertation this semester, you’ll save a lot of time and avoid frustration by using the ETDR Word template. Graduate students are required to submit their theses and dissertations electronically, and the template contains all the formatting required by the Graduate School.

In addition, the template contains several time-saving features, such as automatically creating the table of contents and caption numbers. The template makes use of the “styles” feature in Word. If “styles” is new to you, read about it on the ETDR website or make an appointment with an ETDR consultant at the IT Help Desk to review “styles” and use of the ETDR template.

An overview session may also be scheduled for groups of students in individual departments. Contact Marty Courtois (courtois@k-state.edu, 785-532-4428) for details.

Continue reading “Grad students: Start writing your thesis in the ETDR template” →

Microsoft Word templates, troubleshooting, how-tos for grad students and others

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

A web space named Using Word went live this spring to provide training and troubleshooting resources for graduate students using Microsoft Word to write their ETDRs (electronic theses, dissertations, and reports). The site may also be helpful to other Word users at K-State.

The documentation covers the four latest versions of Microsoft Word — 2003, 2007, Mac 2004, and Mac 2008. It includes how to download and use the ETDR Word templates, plus instructions and tips on 14 topics, including:

K-State student wins innovation award for electronic thesis

Posted on by Martin Courtois
Designed format used by K-State student Lara Fackrell in her 2008 thesis
Designed format used by K-State student Lara Fackrell in her 2008 thesis

An electronic thesis submitted by K-State student Lara Fackrell has won an Innovative ETD (Electronic Theses and Dissertations) award from the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). The NDLTD is an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations.

Fackrell, a graduate student in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional and Community Planning, completed her Master of Landscape Architecture degree in May 2008. Her thesis, Equestrian communities: Design Features and Development Process (PDF), was submitted electronically and can be viewed in the K-State Research Exchange, a service that provides permanent access to scholarly materials created by K-State faculty and students.

In her thesis, Fackrell employed color, multi-column layouts, visual motifs, maps, photographs, and illustrations to create a dramatic and engaging research paper. Continue reading “K-State student wins innovation award for electronic thesis” →