A-manual-for-writers-of-research-papers-theses-and-dissertations

title, which can then appear on the same line, separated by a colon or a tab space. Do notuse this format, however, if your paper has parts as well as chapters, if it does not havechapter titles, or if there is any possibility of confusing a new chapter with any other divisionof the paper.SECTIONS AND SUBSECTIONS. Long chapters in theses, dissertations, and long class papersmay be further divided into sections, which in turn may be divided into subsections, and soon. If your paper, or a chapter within it, has only a few sections, you may signal the divisionbetween sections informally by leaving an extra blank line between paragraphs.If you create formal sections in a paper or in its chapters, you may give each one its owntitle, also called a subheading or subhead. You may have multiple levels of subheads, whichare designated first-level, second-level, and so on. Unless you are writing a very long andcomplex paper, think carefully before using more than two or three levels of subheads. Ratherthan being helpful, they can become distracting. You should have at least two subheads at anylevel; if you do not, your divisions might not be logically structured.Unless your local guidelines have rules for subheads, you may devise your own typographyand format for them. Each level of subhead should be consistent and different from all otherlevels, and higher-level subheads should be more visually prominent than lower-level ones. Ingeneral, subheads are more prominent when centered, in boldface or italic type, or capitalizedheadline style than when flush left, in regular type, or capitalized sentence style. Put an extrablank line before and after subheads; do not end them with a period.Here is one plan for five levels of subheads.First level: centered, boldface or italic type, headline-style capitalizationContemporary ArtSecond level: centered, regular type, headline-style capitalizationWhat Are the Major Styles?Third level: flush left, boldface or italic type, headline-style capitalizationAbstract ExpressionismFourth level: flush left, roman type, sentence-style capitalizationMajor painters and practitionersFifth level: run in at beginning of paragraph (no blank line after), boldface or italic type,sentence-style capitalization, terminal periodPollock as the leader. The role of leading Abstract Expressionist painter was filled by Jackson Pollock. . . .Never end a page with a subhead. Set your word processor to keep all headings attached to theensuing paragraph, or if necessary, add an extra blank line or two so that the subhead appearsat the top of the next page. Add an extra blank line between two subheads of different levelswww.itpub.net