Wrangling Long Documents
with Microsoft Word
Preparing a document longer than ten pages, such as a thesis or report, usually requires Microsoft Word’s advanced features. Long documents demand automatic page numbering, caption numbering, cross-references, and tables of figures and contents. Formatting many pages of text is best done with a customised style sheet. We will go through Word’s long-document tools and apply them to actual writing examples; participants are encouraged to bring laptops and work in progress.
Session 1: Using the outlining tool, a crash course in text basics, and creating a table of contents
Session 2: Using, editing, and defining styles
Session 3: Master documents, sections, page numbers
Session 4: Cross-references, captions, and general troubleshooting
Tutor: Mike Dickison
Dates and times
- Monday - Thursday, 14-17 November from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm: passed
- Mondays, 5 March - 26 March 2012, from 10.00 am to 10.50 am: enrolment and venue>>
- Thursdays, 8 March - 29 March 2012, from 2.10 pm to 3.00 pm: enrolment and venue>>
Even if this workshop is fully booked, it is likely there will be space on the day, so feel free to turn up. If you would like to be notified when this workshop is next scheduled, request it at a different time or day, or just find out more, email Mike.
Exercise
Formatting exercise materials: document (.doc), table (.xls), figure (.tif). Download all three and follow the instructions in the document. Email the finished document to me for assessment, if you like.
Resources
Handout: Wrangling Long Documents
Books:
Kiernan, Vincent. Writing your dissertation with Microsoft Word. Mattily, Alexandria VA. (In LSC library)
Benn, Ken and Cheryl Benn. Professional thesis presentation. Pearson Education NZ, Albany.
(Neither of these are actually very good, in my opinion, but they are the best books out there.)
For the self-directed:
Online training in Word 2007, from Microsoft.
An online ebook guide to Word 2007, via ProQuest (UC only).
How to create numbered or outline headings in Word.
A list of good tricks for Word (2003, but applicable to 2010).
Another list, even older, but worth skimming.
Don’t forget the UC Library’s thesis guide (though the thesis formatting guidelines and templates are under discussion and may change soon) and the EndNote Wiki.