Format and Style for Theses and Dissertations

When choosing a topic for a thesis or dissertation, the student should take into consideration the number of resource materials available on the topic. Also, the student should narrow the topic down so that it may be more easily handled and more thoroughly examined. There is no pre-set length for a thesis or a dissertation, but the paper should be long enough to provide a detailed analysis of the subject matter and to fully develop the thesis and ideas of the student. Guideline lengths for such papers at Cranmer Memorial are: twenty-five to fifty thousand words, for Bachelors and Masters.

As in any research paper, thorough documentation is needed in order to bolster the thesis of the student. Resource materials, when quoted or utilised in any way, must be documented through either footnotes or end notes. A complete bibliography, glossary, appendices, index, and if required, footnotes must be included.

The work will be type written either on a Word Processor or a typewriter with lines double-spaced and uniform margins (not exceeding 1.5" in width). Completed theses and dissertations are worth fifteen semester hours, five for the research and documentation and ten for the paper itself.

All scriptural references are to be made from the “Authorised Version” and must be made in full, no abbreviations are accepted, the name of the book is to be written in full, i.e. Galatians 2:5. Scripture references and text will not be included in the overall word count.

A Dissertation:

Cranmer Memorial Dissertations are expected to reflect the student’s comprehension of the subject being treated. The paper is to show clarity of thought, argument and composition, this is not a thesis, but rather a detailed discourse on the subject.

A Thesis:

A Cranmer Memorial Thesis, differs from a Dissertation in that a thesis is required to show not only the student’s understanding of the subject, but also his analytical skills, ability to conduct in a scholarly manner independent research into what may be an unfamiliar subject and the ability to formulate the data into a conclusion or hypothesis.

The student seeking to obtain a Masters degree or above may be expected to defend his thesis or dissertation before members of the teaching faculty.

A fuller description of the work and quality required for the format, style and presentation of the final articles, is available from the College office.