Using Microsoft Word for Your Dissertation A University of Michigan Library Instructional Technology Workshop The Faculty Exploratory and Knowledge Navigation Center are located on the 2nd floor of the Graduate Library.  Introduction Microsoft Word is a tool used by many to write and format dissertations, and has many features that are very useful for this process. However, to meet Rackham requirements – as well as any set by your school or department – you will need to make some modifications from the standard Word document. This document is intended to show you the tools to make the necessary modifications. While we do use some examples from Rackham to demonstrate the various tools, you should verify your exact specifications with the appropriate office. Before you start typing your dissertation, you should decide on a format for your table of contents, labeling of figures, etc. Much of this is dictated by the Rackham requirements, which is covered in the Dissertation Handbook.