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Writing a Written Component for an Artistic Doctoral Degree: Technical Layout

This guide provides instructions for preparing the written component of an artistic doctorate at the Sibelius Academy.

Technical Layout, general remarks

  • line spacing 1,5
  • font size 12 (Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria)
  • one blank line space between each paragraph (without indentation).

Paper

  • white paper, A4 sheet size
  • single-sided printing

Positioning

  • top and bottom marginals: minimum space 2 cm 
  • word processing applications come with a predefined positioning; you need to check if it is correct – if not, the default settings should be changed for the document in question

Page numbering

  • pages from the abstracts up to the table of contents are numbered in Roman numerals
  • text pages are numbered in Arabic numerals (appendix pages are also numbered)
  • The page number is placed inside the text area, not in the margin

Headings

  • headings can be formatted differently from the body text (capital letters, bold, or the like), but it is advisable to use discretion and restraint
  • headings start from the left and are not concluded with a full stop
  • main chapters each start on a new page

Tables, notated examples, pictures, etc. 

All images, patterns, musical notations, etc. are to be directly linked to the argumentation of the work. Their content or meaning must therefore be explained in words. In this context, the examples do not "speak for themselves", and the thesis does not include mere "illustrations". The figures are numbered in Arabic numerals, each in its own series. The series are written as follows:

  • TABLE 1. Table caption. Possible source information.
  • FIGURE 1. Figure caption. Possible source information.
  • NOTATION EXAMPLE 1. Title of musical work, section, or the like. Possible source information.
  • IMAGE 1. Caption. Possible source information.

​Sources and/or copyright owners of these may also be listed separately. Copyright is to be respected by ensuring that publication rights are obtained without exception and each author is acknowledged (e.g. always mention either the name of the photographer or the place/archive where the original image is located). Tables, figures, musical scores, and illustrations may be placed on separate pages in cases where references to them are close to this page.

Italicizing

  • italics are used in the names of works and, for example, newspapers and magazines (The Washington Post, Pride and Prejudice, Eroica)
  • italics can also be used when a term central to your work is mentioned for the first time in the text and you want to make it more salient to the reader
  • personal names are not emphasised by using italics