Presentation and Formatting
Presentation
The Department has no rules about how assessments should be presented and formatted. What is important is to ensure that your writing is clearly readable on a screen, which makes it easier for markers to focus on the merits of your argument and writing rather than be distracted by poor presentation. Please check with your tutor in case there are specific requirements for a particular module. If you aren鈥檛 sure where to begin, the following are suggested guidelines for how you might format and present your assessments:
- Font
- Your font should usually be font size 12 in a standard font (e.g., Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman).
- Your font should usually be font size 12 in a standard font (e.g., Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman).
- Margins
- There should be standard margins (e.g., the default for Microsoft Word is 2.54cm) on all sides of the page.
- There should be standard margins (e.g., the default for Microsoft Word is 2.54cm) on all sides of the page.
- Line Spacing
- The line spacing for the text of your essay should be double-spaced.
- The line spacing for the footnotes should, however, be single-spaced.
- Alignment
- Work should be left aligned or justified, rather than centred or right aligned.
- Work should be left aligned or justified, rather than centred or right aligned.
- Pagination
- Number each page of your essay.
- Number each page of your essay.
- Title Pages / Coversheets
- Title pages and / or coversheets are not required, but you should include the title or question at the beginning of the assessment.
- Title pages and / or coversheets are not required, but you should include the title or question at the beginning of the assessment.
- Numbers
- Numbers up to one hundred, when occurring in normal writing, should be written out in words rather than numerals.
- When there are many figures, it is better to use words only for numbers up to nine.
- Spell out 'per cent' rather than using the % sign in your text.
- Dates
- Instead of (for example) '22nd of June 1941', the correct format for dates would be '22 June 1941'.
Word Counts
The word limits for assignments are strict upper limits, and marks will be deducted if the assessment is over-length.
The following are included in the word count:
- Main text of the assignment, including quotations
- Subtitles or chapter titles in the text (these are optional).
The following are not included in the word count:
- Assignment title
- Footnotes
- Captions for images
- Bibliography
- A brief glossary of terms or note on translation (this is optional).
The following are not normally expected in an assignment, but if you do use them (e.g. in your dissertation):
- Abstract is included in the word count
- Contents list is included in the word count
- Lists of abbreviations or appendices is not included in the word count
- Appendices are not included in the word count
- Brief acknowledgements are not included in the word count.