Acknowledgements and Dedication Pages: A Guide for Capstone Writers
My post today applies specifically to capstone writers –
more specifically, to capstone writers who are finishing their dissertations
and doctoral studies. Today, I address the Dedication and Acknowledgements
pages of the capstone document.
The Dedications and Acknowledgements pages are optional
pages, which appear in the preliminary section of the capstone document before
the text. They are inserted after the title page and before the Table of
Contents. They provide a space for capstone writers to personally thank family
members, friends, committee members, mentors, and others who have contributed,
in some way, to a student’s research and academic development.
Today, I want to offer my editor’s perspective on how
students might approach composing these pages should they wish to include them
in their studies. As someone who edits capstone studies on a daily basis for form
and style, I hope I can offer helpful insight about how to ensure that these
pages are correctly formatted and convey appropriate scholarly voice.
Formatting
To ensure that these pages are correctly formatted, you will
want to use the template for your program. It is very important that you work
from the most up-to-date template. These can be accessed by clicking on the
Programs page of the Doctoral Capstone Form and Style website. Here, you can
also watch a quick Template Demonstration Video for a quick overview of how to
work with your program template.
The templates include ready-made pages for the Dedication
and Acknowledgements, which are correctly formatted per template formatting
specifications. You can either copy your text to these pages or compose your
text in the space provided. You will notice that the Dedication and
Acknowledgements headings are formatted as APA Level 0 (i.e., they are
centered, in upper and lowercase, and in regular not bold typeface).
Also, the text is formatted as a paragraph (i.e., the first
line of each paragraph is indented five spaces) and should look the same as
those in the rest of your document. Lines should be double-spaced, and the font
and font size should be consistent with what is used within your document. (APA
recommends use of 12 point type in Times New Roman typeface.) These pages are
not paginated.
Content
Regarding content, when reviewing these pages, I do line
edit them for grammar and APA style. I recognize, however, that these pages are
intended to provide a personal space for students to convey very individual
information. There are no program guidelines, for instance, for this content.
I do encourage students to be precise, concise,
professional, and respectful in writing these pages. While the content is more
personal and intimate than that in the text, it should still be in accord with
APA values (namely, scholarly voice and economy of expression), in my opinion.
I think it is as important to avoid biased language in the Acknowledgements
page as it is in the text. Similarly, I encourage students to be as precise as
possible and avoid unnecessary words just as they do in the text.
Composing the Dedication and Acknowledgements in this way
will help ensure that the overall document has consistency in terms of content
and appearance. It will also help to reinforce a polished, professional image
for its author. An Acknowledgements section that is rambling or unfocused or
which includes what might be seen as personal attacks will likely detract from
the desired professional and scholarly image that most students want to
cultivate. Remember that these pages will be accessible to anyone who downloads
your study, perhaps years from now.
When composing these pages, take care not to compromise the
confidentiality of your study site and research participants or violate a
signed confidentiality agreement. Walden strongly recommends that students not
name their study sites, even if they have written permission to do so, in their
capstone studies. This recommendation is rooted in a concern for protecting
participants’ privacy. To avoid this issue, consider using a general descriptor
if you wish to acknowledge your participants and its personnel – for example,
“I wish to thank my interviewees and staff members at my research setting for their participation and
assistance.” See the Doctoral Capstone Form and Style website for more
information on confidentiality in the capstone document.
Hopefully, my thoughts are helpful to students as they write
or revise these pages of their studies. Keep up the good work!
Tara Kachgal is a dissertation editor in the Walden University Writing Center. She has a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and teaches for the School of Government's online MPA@UNC program. She resides in Chapel Hill and, in her spare time, serves as a mentor for her local running store's training program.
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