Style Manual for the Master Thesis

Elements
The reflective component of the Master exam (thesis) is only submitted digitally . Cfr “ Master Exam_Thesis_IZCDJ_2020-2021”

It contains :
Front cover with title
A flyleaf
The title page
Abstract in Dutch and English
(Preface)
Acknowledgments
Table of contents
Introduction
Body of the text
Conclusion
(Summary)
List of references
(List of Tables, Illustrations, Figures…)
Appendices
Blank page
Back cover with Dutch abstract

Covers - Front cover with title

A sample of a printed cover can be found on Toledo community ‘Opleiding Muziek\Bachelor-&Masterproef\ Masterproef’.

Flyleaf
Between the front cover and the title page there should be a sheet containing the following text :
Deze scriptie is een examendocument dat na de verdediging niet meer werd gecorrigeerd. Er naar verwijzen in publicaties kan enkel
mits schriftelijke toelating van de promotor, vermeld op de titelpagina.
This page is not numbered but does count for the total page numbering.

Title page
The title page should be identical to the title on the front cover. This page is not numbered either, but counts for the total page
numbering.

Abstract in Dutch and English

The writing of an abstract comes down to writing a summary of the thesis (about 400 words).
The abstract is written in Dutch and in English. The English abstract should contain the title of the thesis translated into English. Both
abstracts follow the title page. The Dutch abstract is repeated on the back cover.

If the thesis is written in English, The Dutch abstract should contain the title translated into Dutch. The English abstract is repeated
on the back cover.

The abstract is the first numbered page, p. 3.

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Preface [optional]
A preface does not deal with the contents of the text, it explains how the text was realized, often in a personal form. Like a prologue it
may tell why the text was written or what preceded writing it.

Acknowledgments
Here you can thank the people who greatly contributed to the creation of your work.

Table of Contents
The table of contents schematically renders the different parts of your text, starting with the preface. Furthest to the right write down
the number of the page (do not use the abbreviation p.) where the part concerned begins. Make use of a decimal classification to
structure your text (for instance: Chapter 1; further division: 1.1 and 1.1.1 Don’t use more than three levels). Start to number the
chapters beginning with Chapter 1. Abstract, preface, acknowledgments, table of contents, introduction and conclusion are not
numbered. The body of the text starts with the first chapter.

Introduction
The introduction is the first part of a text. It describes the purpose of the thesis and often looks ahead to the contents. The
introduction acts as a manual for the reader. You make clear how the text was constructed, why you dealt with the subject matter this
way, what the reader can expect and what he should not expect. You can explain the reason why you chose this topic.

Body of the text

In consultation with your thesis advisor you define the contents of the body.

Summary [optional]
The summary is in itself a smooth text, it comprises the most important elements of the body (about 4-5 pages).

List of references
We make use of the APA (American Psychological Association) reference system.

See f.e. http://www.apastyle.org/ .

A discography is part of the list of references, if need be.

Add all necessary references to your text: a quotation, a reference to a source you used, etc.

The APA reference system is easy to apply in Words.

Appendices
They may comprise (complete) scores, tables, pictures, indexes, maps, graphs, extensive quotations, extensive interviews, etc.
Give a (sub)title to each appendix and add them to your table of contents. The numbering of the pages is continued.

In certain cases, it is recommended to make a separate tome of the appendices, to be used next to the text (for instance to use a
score next to the text). In this case, this tome should have a front cover with title, a flyleaf, a title page and its own table of contents.
The front cover and the title page are identical to those of the text; the word ‘Appendix’ is added under the title.

A recording may be available online through a secure channel

The content of the CD should be added to the table of contents.

Additional arrangements
 Use size A4.
 Use a well-legible font.
 Use a font size of 11 points for the body of the text.
 A title may be set in bold, but may not be set in italics and may not be underlined.
 Use spacing of maximum 1,15.
 Margins: all margins (left, right, top and bottom) 2,5 cm.
 In principle, all parts of the thesis start at the left margin.
 New chapters or parts start at the top of a right-hand page.
 Quotations require “double quotation marks”. Quotations in another language should be translated in the language of the
thesis. The original quotation should be added in a footnote at the bottom of the page.

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  Words or concepts in foreign languages should be put in italics.
 Use single quotation marks for words with a personal, ironic or dismissive meaning.
 Use square brackets for omissions in quotations […], additions and explanations [vert. ….].
 Leave one blank line in between two paragraphs.
 Choose the same lay-out for the complete document.
 Chapters are numbered in the body of the text. Numbering to a maximum of 3 levels (1., 1.1, 1.1.1).
 Introduction and conclusion are not numbered.
 Page numbers should be placed at the right side of a right-hand page, they are uneven; and on the left side of a left-hand
page, they are even.
 The Abstract is the first page with a page number. It’s number is 3.
 Footnotes: because the APA reference system is used, the insertion of footnotes is restricted to (1) the translation of a
quotations and (2) the explanation of specific terminology, what should reduce the readability of the text. Footnotes should
be placed at the bottom of the page. The numbering of footnotes is continued.
 Use letters for note names, chords and keys etc.: C, D, F sharp, D flat, A minor, E major,…

Illustrations, figures and excerpts from scores

All illustrations, figures and excerpts from scores are subtitled as ‘example’ (Ex.). The numbering is continued, which comes in useful
if you refer to this example elsewhere in your thesis. All excerpts from scores must provide bar numbers.
An example: ‘Ex. 25: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony no. 5, part 1, m. 1-4, first theme’.
In the text, a reference to an example should be placed in brackets: (see Ex. 25).