IGNOU Dissertation Structure Guidelines: Key Sections

Proper formatting is essential for your IGNOU synopsis project submission. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the official format requirements to make certain your project meets all required standards.

1. Basic Formatting Requirements

Document Layout

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• Paper size: A4 (210×297 mm)
  
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides or 25 mm on all sides
  
• Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point
  
• Line spacing: 1.5 or double-spaced for main text
  
• Alignment: Justified / left-aligned
  

Printing Specifications

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• Print: Single-sided or double-sided (as per your course requirements)
  
• Paper quality: 70-80 GSM white bond paper
  
• Binding: Spiral binding or soft cover binding
  

2. Essential Sections to Include

Your IGNOU project must contain the following parts in the given order:

3. Detailed Section Requirements

Title Page Layout

The title page must include:

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• Full title of the project (centered, bold, slightly bigger font)
  
• Your full name as registered with IGNOU
  
• Enrollment number
  
• Program name (e.g., "Master of Arts in Sociology")
  
• Course code (if applicable)
  
• Name of guide
  
• Month and year of submission
  
• IGNOU logo (optional)
  

Certificate Section

This must be endorsed by your supervisor and include:

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• Statement that the work is your own
  
• Supervisor's name, designation, and signature
  
• Date of approval
  
• Official seal (if required by your regional center)
  

Main Text Organization

The core content should be organized into chapters:

1. 
   
2. Introduction (10-15% of total length)
   
   • 
     
   • Background and context
     
   • Problem statement
     
   • Objectives
     
   • Research questions/hypothesis
     
   • Significance of study
     
   
   
   
3. Literature Review (20-25%)
   
   • 
     
   • Theoretical framework
     
   • Review of existing studies
     
   • Identification of research gap
     
   
   
   
4. Methodology (15-20%)
   
   • 
     
   • Research design
     
   • Data collection methods
     
   • Sampling technique
     
   • Tools used
     
   • Analysis methods
     
   
   
   
5. Findings and Analysis (25-30%)
   
   • 
     
   • Presentation of data
     
   • Interpretation of results
     
   • Tables/figures with proper captions
     
   
   
   
6. Conclusion and Recommendations (10-15%)
   
   • 
     
   • Summary of key findings
     
   • Conclusions drawn
     
   • Recommendations for future research/practice
     
   • Limitations of study
     
   
   
   

4. Citation Style

IGNOU usually requires either of these citation styles:

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• APA (American Psychological Association) - Frequently used for humanities
  
• MLA (Modern Language Association) - Often for language studies
  
• Chicago Style - Sometimes for history
  
• Harvard Style - Common in management programs
  

5. Supplementary Elements

Tables and Figures

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• Number in order (Table 1, Table 2 or Figure 1, Figure 2)
  
• Include clear titles/captions
  
• Mention sources if adapted
  
• Place near where they're discussed
  

Appendices

Include if necessary:

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• Questionnaires/survey forms
  
• Interview transcripts
  
• Additional data tables
  
• Permission letters
  
• Any other supplementary material
  

6. Final Checklist

Before submitting your project, verify that you have:

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• Included all mandatory sections
  
• Checked page numbering (i,ii,iii for prelims, 1,2,3 for main text)
  
• Ensured uniform formatting throughout
  
• Proofread for spelling/grammar errors
  
• Attached the signed certificate page
  
• Made the specified number of copies
  
• Followed your study center's specific binding requirements
  

Final Thoughts

Correct formatting of your IGNOU project is not just about appearance - it demonstrates your attention to detail and consideration for university requirements. By following these guidelines, you guarantee that your research efforts are displayed in the appropriate manner possible.

Remember to start early, as hasty formatting can lead to errors. If uncertain, always consult your supervisor or the latest IGNOU guidelines for confirmation.

Applying these structural guidelines will help you create a project that not just fulfills IGNOU's standards, but also leaves a positive impression on your evaluators.