1. TEMPLATE FOR SYDE 462 CONFERENCE SUMMARIES
Peter H. Roe, David A. Clausi
Department of Systems Design Engineering
Abstract: This sheet gives the general instructions for preparation of the extended summaries for the
Systems Design 4B workshops. No deviation from the instructions is allowed. The summaries must occupy at
most two pages, in two-column format, using 10-point Helvetica type. The title, authors, and supervisors must
appear centred at the top of the first page. Where there is more than one author, or more than one supervisor,
they must be listed centred in two- or three-column format. This is to be followed by an abstract of no more than
150 words, left and right justified. The body of the summary then follows, using the format of this sheet.
Diagrams and figures may be spread across the columns, but formulae should be in the column of their
surrounding text.
1. INTRODUCTION
Each year the fourth-year Systems Design
Engineering students complete two-term workshop
projects, under the courses SYDE 461 and SYDE
462. The workshop projects are normally
performed by from one to three students under the
supervision of a faculty member, not necessarily
from the department. Sometimes the workshops
are related to off-campus industrial projects, in
which case there may be an off-campus advisor, in
addition to the faculty workshop supervisor.
There is a wide variety in the projects. They
are chosen by the students themselves, with
approval by the faculty workshop co-ordinator.
One of the requirements of the course is an oral
presentation of the results of the workshop project,
in a setting similar to a technical conference or
symposium. The students prepare extended
summaries of their projects, and the summaries
together create a record of the year’s workshop.
The summaries are available for faculty, future
students, accreditation visitors, and any other
interested individuals to read. Because of this, a
consistent format is required. This sheet provides
both the instructions and an example of the
required format.
2. PAGE SET-UP
The general page set-up allows for two areas:
the front matter and the body.
The front matter is a single column, 17.6 cm.
wide, with 2 cm. margins on each side.
The body is in two-column format, each
column is 8 cm. wide, and the column spacing is
1.58 cm. There is a 2 cm. margin on each side of
the sheet.
The top and bottom margins on each page are
2 cm.
Do NOT number the pages.
3. FONTS AND SIZES
The required font is Helvetica . In some
versions of Microsoft Word, this is called Arial.
The font size is 10 point throughout, except for
the title, and major section headings.
The title of the paper should be in 14-point
type. Major section headings should be in 12-point
type. Note that the title and major headings are in
‘small capitals’, as on this sheet.
Paragraphs should be single-spaced. There
should be a 6-point space between them.
4. FRONT MATTER
The front matter has three parts: the title, the
authors and the abstract.
4.1 Title
The title is centred on the first line of the first
page, in 14 point Helvetica Bold, small capitals
format.
4.2 Authors
The authors’ names and affiliations appear
after a 6-point space below the title. They should
be in 12-point Helvetica Bold as on this sheet. If
there is one author, the name should be centred on
the sheet, if there are two authors, their names
should be centred on the columns below. If there
are three, one should be centred on the sheet, etc.
Directly below the names follows the departmental
affiliation.
The supervisor and advisor names follow
below the author names, after a 6-point space.
Their affiliation is listed below their names. These
are arranged in the same way and in the same font
sizes as the authors.
In the case where all the authors and
supervisor have the same affiliation, then it should
appear only once, centred on the page.
4.3 Abstract
The maximum number of words in the
abstract is 150. The abstract should be left and
right justified on the sheet, starting 6 points below
the supervisors’ names and affiliations. It is to be
written in 10-point type. It is introduced on the first
line by the word ‘Abstract:’ in bold-faced type.

2. The abstract should give a reader insight into
the complete content of the paper. You should not
include references to other works in the abstract.
You should include major conclusions and results.
The abstract is the ‘bait’ that attracts readers to the
main part of your work. You should make sure that
it is attractive.
5. SECTIONS AND HEADINGS
In general, use the style of headings in this
sheet. Major section headings are numbered,
centred in the column, in bold face, and use small
capitals. Subheadings are left justified, 10 point,
bold, lower case type. Number sections and
subsections as in this summary.
A third level of subheadings should be
avoided. However, they may be used if absolutely
necessary. A third level of subheadings should be
indented but not enumerated.
6. MATHEMATICS
Mathematical formulae should be set as in the
following example:
2
mce = (1)
Make sure that there is a 6-point space
between formulae, and that the = signs are
vertically aligned. Equation numbers should be
flush with the right margin of the column.
If the equations are long, use multiple lines for
the right hand side, splitting at an operator symbol
(+, -, etc.).
7. FIGURES
It is preferable to keep figures, diagrams,
pictures and graphs within the column in which
they would naturally fall through their context.
However, exceptions can be made if readability
would be diminished by reduction in size to
accommodate the column width.
Each figure, etc. must have a caption, as
shown in the example below. Follow the Style
Guide for formatting figure and table captions.
Figure 1: A Microsoft clip-art server.
8. STYLE FOR REFERENCES
References and bibliography should appear in
a numbered list in a section at the end. Arrange in
a manner deemed acceptable by the Style Guide.
When you refer to an item in the text, enclose its
number in square brackets at the reference point.
Conference papers usually have a limited number
of references; three to five is common.
9. CONCLUSIONS AND WARNING
The summary must fit on two pages. Anything
additional will be removed. If you follow this style
sheet, the final result will be a booklet of which we
can all be proud.
Good luck!
REFERENCES
[1] Roe, P.H.O’N., Networks and Systems,
Reading, Massachusetts, Addison Wesley,
1966.