1

1.0 INTRODUCTION –WHY THE FORMATS?

These formats are prepared sequel to observation made by lecturers

that many of the students have consistently been making mistakes in

the write – up and presentation of their reports, projects and these. This

eventually results in non-uniform appearance/presentation of copies for

a class of students each time. Though students are told to use the shelve

copies for previous students as guides in addition to lecturers’

instructions, the students still commit errors.

These formats, carefully edited will thereby constitute standards

which the students must meticulously follow. They also provide guides

for lecturers in assessing the students’ write-up. The following areas

have been identified as common pitfalls in writing and presentation of

students’ reports and theses:

1. Cover page (Back)

a. Colour

b. Texture-soft or hard

c. Contents

d. Lettering

e. Options of binding- regular, spiral, spacing, clipping and

stapling
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f. Lettering on the spine

2. Sequence of contents e.g Abstract, approval or certification,

dedication, Acknowledgement, table of contents, list of figures,

introduction, etc.

3. Page presentation

a. Size of paper – A4, F4 Quarto

b. Size of margin- top, sides and bottom

c. Line spacing

d. lettering

e. Paragraph

f. Headings and sub-heading- numbering, use of capital and small

letters

g. style of presenting tables and figures/plates

4. volume of contents

a. Length of introduction

b. Maximum number of page

5. Referencing- citing and listing sentences (including style of listing)

6. submission of theses after oral examination

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2.0 GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. The norm for printed write-ups is to use A4 size paper.

2. Margins at the top, bottom and right side should be 2. 5cm

and left side 3.5cm. These margins allow for trimming and

binding.

3. For paging, use the middle bottom. All pages should be

numbered in except the title page. Prehistory pages

preceding introduction should be numbered in small case

Roman figures – ii, iii, iv, etc. All other pages should be in

Arabic figures – 1, 2, 3.

4. Regular lettering using Times New Romans should be

done with 12pt font size on only one side of the sheet of

paper. No page should be bordered.

5. Italics must not be used indiscriminately at will. Italics can

only be used for scientific names, terminologies, signs or

languages other than English e.g. et al,ab initio, ad libitum

alma mater.etc

6. Double line spacing is the norm.

7. Reports, projects and theses titles must be as short as

possible, preferably maximum of 21 words.

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8. Avoid sentences that are too long. Break a sentence longer

then five lines into two or three.

9. Before using an acronym ensure you have earlier defined

it, e.g. the body weight gain (BWG) was high in bird fed

ad libitum. Do not start a sentence with an acronym e.g.

BWG was measured for each lamb fed.

10.Avoid one sentence paragraph, especially when the

sentence is short (2 or 3 lines). Similarly, avoid too long

paragraphs. There should be at least two paragraphs on a

page.

11.Every chapter must start on a new page.

12.Every table must be on a separate page with its title written

above the table e.g. Table 1: breeds of poultry. No Table

should spill to the next page, except the footnotes

13.every Figure must be on a separate page with its title

written below the figure e.g. Fig 1: kinding rates of rabbits

14.It can be many plates on the same page if they are jointly

explaining a point or set of points; if not, a plate, like

figure should be on a separate page

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15.Every Table or figure presented must be referred to in the

write-up.

16.Every heading, sub-heading, title of table or figure that is

listed in the table of contents must correspond with that in

the write-up word for word, and on the page listed.

17.Every author cited in the write-up must be listed under

References. Similarly, every listed reference must be cited.

18.There should be no full stop (.) after any heading, sub-

heading of title of table/figure. The tile of table or figure

should be in sentence case (i.e. the first letter of the word

alone is in capital) and bold

19.Numbering of heading and sub-headings should be

sequential and as simple as possible. Avoid complicated

numbering e.g. 2.1.1.3.5, rather reduce complex

numbering by listing with letters and Roman figures within

the number, e.g. a, b, and i, ii, iii.

20. Introduction Chapter should be short, maximum of 6

pages Ph.D thesis, 4 pages for M. Tech. 3 pages for PGD

and B. Tech. introduction normally concludes with Aims

and or objectives of the study. The objectives can be

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classified into General or Board objectives and specific

objectives

21.Abstract should be short, maximum of five pages for

elaborate doctorial thesis. A one or two pages Abstract is

adequate for others.

22.Avoid repetitions especially within introduction, Literature

review and Discussion.

23.After oral examination, thesis must be carefully corrected

to the satisfaction of the examines and promptly submitted

within the following stipulated periods:

B. Tech – 2 weeks

PGD - 2 weeks

M. - 2 weeks

Ph.D. - 8 weeks
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3.0 B. TECH

3.1.0 (A) GUIDELINES

1. Cover page

a. Colour – Dark navy blue (follow correct sample on the shelf)

b. Texture – Hard cover

2. Volume – 50 pages maximum, excluding the preliminary pages

before introduction, which are in roman numerals and the

Appendices.

3. Numbering of copies for submission

a. Pre-oral examination – Four copies (one with soft binding

with light blue color and others in files) which will be

distributed as follows:

i. Internal examiner (Supervisor) – 1 copy

ii. External examiner - 1 copy

iii. Head of Department - 1 copy

iv. Student - 1 copy

The four pre-oral copies must be signed by the supervisor on the

page titled: ‘PROVISIONAL APPROVAL’

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b. Post-oral examination – Six copies (Hard cover binding with

dark navy blue color) which will be distributed as follows:

i. Department - 1 copy

ii. SET Library - 1 copy

iii. Main Library - 2 copies

iv. Supervisor - 1 copy

v. Student - 1 copy

The post-oral copies must be signed appropriately on the page titled:

‘CERTIFICATION’

4. Sequence of arrangement

Front page (cover)

Blank page (free sheet)

i. Title page

ii. Certification (or PROVISIONAL APPROVAL for pre-oral

copies

iii. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

iv. DEDICATION (OPTIONAL)

v. ABSTRACT

vi. TABLE OF CONTENTS

vii. LIST OF TABLE

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viii. LIST OF FIGURES (if any)

ix. LIST OF PLATES (if any)

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPTER 3 – MATERIALS AND METHODS

CHAPTER 4 – RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER5–CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDICES (if any)

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3.1.1 SAMPLE OF PROJECT COVER PAGE

EFFECT OF LIGHTING ON BUILDINGS

MUHAMMED ADAMU
ARC/03/1520

April, 2009
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3.1.2 SAMPLE OF PROJECT TITLE PAGE

EFFECT OF LIGHTING ON BUILDINGS

MUHAMMED ADAMU
ARC/03/1520

A PROJECT

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AT

THE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE AWARD OF B. TECH ARCHITECTURE
OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE,
ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

April, 2009
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3.1.3 SAMPLE OF CERTIFICATION PAGE

The certification page will follow the recent format of the school of post-

graduate studies with little modification (Approval by HOD) as presented

below:

CERTIFICATION

BY THE STUDENT

I certify that this work has been presented elsewhere for the award of a

degree of any other purpose.

………………… ……………………. …………………..

Student’s Name Signature Date

BY SUPERVISOR

I certify that this work has been carried out by Mr. Muhammed Adamu

Department of Architecture Federal University of Technology, Akure.

…………………… ………………… ………………

Supervisor’s name Signature Date

APPROVED BY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (HOD)

………………… ……………………. …………………..

HOD’s name Signature Date
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3.1.4 SAMPLE OF TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i.

CERTIFICATION ii.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

DEDICATION iv

ABSTRACT v

TABLES OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES viii

LIST OF PLATES ix

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER TWO 4

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Effect of lighting on the buildings 4

2.2 Effect of light on the rooms 6

2.3 Factors affecting the lighting system 7

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CHAPTER THREE 12

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 12

3.1 Materials 12

3.2 Methods 13

CHAPTER FOUR 16

4.0 RESULT & DISCUSSION 16

4.1 16

4.2 20

4.3 25

CHAPTER FIVE 28

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 28

5.1 Conclusion 28

5.2 Recommendations 30

REFERENCES 31

APPENDICES 37
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4.0 M. TECH. AND PH.D

4.1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL SEMINAR, PROGRESS REPORT,

END OF PROJECT SEMINAR AND THESIS

4.1.1 Research proposal seminar

Before research work commences on any given topic by M. Tech

and Ph.D candidates, an open seminar must be presented before staff

and other students (undergraduates and postgraduates) available.

This enables Departmental staff to join the supervisors in making

inputs on the proposal.

4.1.2 Progress report seminar

In the course of the research work, each student is expected to give

at least one progress report annually during a seminar. Such seminar

may not have formal write-ups.

4.1.3 End of Project seminar

After completing the research work, before the title of the thesis is

registered, the student must present an end of project seminar to

access the work done. Both seminars and progress report are open

for staff and student to freely attend. It is however mandatory for the

department lecturers to attend

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4.1.4 Format for the research proposal

Cover page

Provisional Approval (To be signed by supervisors)

Table of contents

Introduction (with brief literature review) which will end with

objectives of the research and the justification

Materials and Methods

References

4.1.5 Format for the end of project seminar

Cover page

Provisional Approval (To be signed by supervisors)

Table of contents

Abstract

Introduction (with brief literature review) which will end with

objectives of the research and the justification)

Materials and Methods

Table and Figures (Representing Results and Discussions)

Conclusion and Recommendations

References (only first page of the References)

Samples of the cover pages are given in next two pages

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4.1.6 SAMPLE OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

EFFECT OF LIGHTING ON BUILDINGS

MUHAMMED ADAMU
PGD (FUTA, ) M.TECH (FUTA)
ARC/03/1520

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

PRESENTED AS PART OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMENCING THE PH.D
RESEARCH

AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE,
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY,
AKURE, ONDO STATE

06TH April, 2009

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4.1.7 SAMPLE OF END OF PROJECT COVER PAGE

EFFECT OF LIGHTING ON BUILDINGS

MUHAMMED ADAMU
PGD (FUTA, ) M.TECH (FUTA)
ARC/03/1520

END OF PROJECT SEMINAR

PRESENTED AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS

PRECEEDING THE PH.D ORAL EXAMINATION

AT THE

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE,
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY,
AKURE, ONDO STATE

06TH August, 2009

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4.2.0 EXTRACTS FROM THE 44TH STATUTORY MEETING OF THE

BOARD OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES ON FORMAT FOR

PRESENTATION OF THESES

The following are extracts sent to Departments from the Secretary to the

Board of Postgraduate Studies. They are on formats to be followed by

postgraduate students in presenting uniform thesis for submission to the

postgraduate school.

A. THE COVER OF THE THESIS:

i. The color shall remain deep purple for both Masters and Ph.D thesis.

ii. The titles of thesis shall be written in capital letters, including

biological or scientific names, but these (biological names e.g

Gallus domesticus) shall be italicized

iii. The names of the candidate shall be written in full: surname first,

followed by other names

iv. The year of defence shall be written at the bottom right corner on the

cover
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v. The spine shall bear the surname and initials of the candidate the

programme and year of research (year of oral defence)

B. APPROVAL PAGE

There shall be a blank page, which be stamped, signed and dated by

the secretary of school of postgraduate Studies after a thesis has

been approved by senate, before distribution to appropriate places.

C. (i) TITLE PAGE

The title of thesis and names of candidates shall be written as on the

cover.

The candidates’ previous degree(s) and matriculation number shall

come under the names.

On the same page, under the name, the following shall also be

written: ‘A thesis in the Department of ……………………………

Submitted to the school of postgraduate studies, in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the award of …………….. in

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………………………. Of the Federal University of Technology,

Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria (as earlier presented in preceding pages)

(ii) CERTIFICATION

a. (By the student)

This work has not been presented elsewhere for the award of a

degree, or any other purpose.

Candidates

Name…………………………….Signature……………….Date ………….

b. By the supervisor(s)

(I) We certify that this work has be carried out by

Mr/Mrs/Miss………………

In the Department of …………………………….of the Federal

University of Technology, Akure.

Supervisor’s name:……………Signature:……………..Date:

……………

(a)
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(b)

(c)

(iii) AKNOWLEDGEMENT

(iv) DEDICATION

(v) ABSTRACT

(vi) LIST OF CONTENTS

(vii) LIST OF TABLES

(viii) LIST OF FIGURES

(ix) LIST OF PLATES

D. BODY OF THESES

The board decided that the body of theses could be presented in either

of these two ways:

(i) the first model, which would have General introduction, General

literature Review, followed by presentation of experiments in article

form, followed by General Discussion, conclusion, recommendations,

references and appendices.

(ii) In the second model, there would be

a) introduction

b) Literature review

c) Research methodology
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d) Results and or Discussion

e) Conclusion and Recommendation

E. WRITING OF REFERENCES

References within the body of a thesis shall follow chronological

order, in cases where there is more than one reference.

At the end of the thesis, references shall be written in alphabetical

order, in case where there is more than one reference.

Titles of journals shall be written in full. Order of presentation of

article references shall be:

(a) Name of author and year of publication

(b) Title of the article

(c) Name of the journal to be written in full to be followed by

volume, then colon (:) and then the pages use for the research.

For edited books, the order shall be as follows:

(a) Name of author and year of publication

(b) Title of book

(c) Edition

(d) Publisher of the book

(e) Major town of the publisher.

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(e) Pages of chapter(s) cited or pages of the book

For edited books or proceedings the order shall be as follows:

(a) Name of author and year of publication

(b) Title of the article (pages used)

(c) Proceedings of…………………….. Edited by ………………

(d) Name of publisher and

(e) Major town of publisher

Referencing shall be double-spaced and indentation shall be four (4)

letters from the name of the author.

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5.0 CONCLUSION:

This term paper has treated a lot of areas of students /lecturers interest,

which will assist in preparation and final submission of any kind of theses

within the university.

The paper went further to attached relevant samples and the approved

extract from the 44th statutory meeting of the board of postgraduate studies

on format for presentation of theses.

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6.0 REFERENCES:

1. Prof. Ogunsote, O.O (2009). Research method in Architecture

M. Tech I Lecture note.

2. Osuala, E.C. (1987).Introduction to Research methodology.

Second Edition. African – FEP publishers Limited, Onitsha,

Nigeria.

3. Prof E.A.O Laseinde (2005). Format for writing reports,

projects and theses in the department of Agriculture

(undergraduates and postgraduates)