Physical standards for honors papers

Once accepted for honors by your department, these papers are bound and cataloged by the Library and kept permanently in the University's Archives. Through library networks, your work is made known and available to scholars throughout the academic world as well as to people here at Duke. Finally, the paper itself is a enduring record of your accomplishment. For all these reasons, honors theses should be printed on good quality paper. The University Archives developed these standards in cooperation with the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Papers that do not meet the standards will not be preserved in the Archives.

• Use only acid-free thesis paper, or paper of at least 25% rag bond. The Bryan Center carries quality paper stock. The paper in the ePrint stations is not acceptable. Do not use photocopy stock, coated or other treated paper; we will not accept the work. 
  
  
• Use a quality printer that produces dark and legible characters in an appropriate font. Submit the original print to us, not a photocopy.
  
  
• Leave a left margin of at least one and one-quarter inches (1¼") on all pages, including charts, inserts, and appendices. This space is needed for binding. Don't assume that your word processor's print settings are accurate; print out a test page and check it.
  
  
• Do not have your paper bound, just bring the pages to us. (You can use the box the paper came in). Do not have the paper bound yourself, punch holes in it or otherwise weaken your paper in any way.
  
  
• The title page should include at a minimum the following information: title, author, type of paper (e.g., A thesis submitted to the Department of Economics for honors), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, and the year. It is customary to acknowledge those people who have assisted and guided you in your work. An "acknowledgements" page at least should include your advisor's name.
  
  
• Foldout charts and the like present special problems for the binders. It's hard to be specific about these; come talk to us. For photographs, a photocopy done on rag or thesis paper is preferable to an original mounted print.
  
  
• Naturally, there should be as few cross-outs or corrections as possible.

Questions? Call 660-5820 or e-mail uarchives@notes.duke.edu