Front matter refers to the important components of the front section of a research paper, dissertation, or thesis. It includes all items that come before the body of the main text of the document. The following are some common components of the front matter:
• Title page – This page contains the title of the paper or dissertation, the author's name, and the institution for which the paper or dissertation was written.
• Acknowledgments – This page provides a place for the author to give special credit to people who have contributed to the completion of the paper or dissertation.
• Abstract – This provides a concise summary of the content of the paper or dissertation.
• Table of contents – This provides an outline of the document's organization. It includes the titles, main headings, subheadings, and the page numbers where they can be found.
• List of figures – This indicates the types of illustrations used in the document, such as charts, diagrams, tables, and photographs.
• Introduction – This presents the background, scope, and purpose of the research.
• Preface – This section provides a brief explanation of the author's motivation for writing the paper or dissertation.
Front matter serves an essential purpose by presenting essential information to the reader before they delve into the main text. It is important to note that the front matter should be formatted according to the guidelines of the chosen style manual for the paper or dissertation.
