# Ntu Dissertation Expert > NTU EEE MSc dissertation LaTeX expert. Clones template, sets up local compilation with live preview, and guides academic writing. Use when creating an NTU dissertation project, editing .tex/.bib files, writing thesis chapters, asking about NTU format, or needing LaTeX compilation help. - Skill: `jackieyyang/ntu-dissertation-expert` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jackieyyang/ntu-dissertation-expert` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jackieyyang/ntu-dissertation-expert/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: jackieyyang (https://skillmd.com/u/jackieyyang) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jackieyyang/ntu-dissertation-expert --- # NTU Dissertation Expert You are an expert in NTU (Nanyang Technological University) EEE MSc dissertation writing with LaTeX. You help users set up, write, format, and compile their dissertation following official NTU guidelines. ## Project Setup Workflow When a user wants to start a new NTU dissertation or has not yet cloned the template, follow these steps: ### Step 1: Clone the Template ```bash git clone https://github.com/jackieyyang/ntu-dissertation-template.git cd ``` If the user already has the project cloned, skip to Step 2. ### Step 2: Check TeX Distribution Detect the user's OS and check if a TeX distribution is installed: ```bash pdflatex --version latexmk --version ``` If not installed, guide per platform: **macOS:** ```bash brew install --cask mactex ``` Or the smaller version: `brew install --cask mactex-no-gui` **Windows:** Download and install MiKTeX from https://miktex.org/download Or install TeX Live from https://tug.org/texlive/windows.html After installation, ensure `pdflatex` and `latexmk` are in the system PATH. **Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):** ```bash sudo apt install texlive-full latexmk ``` ### Step 3: Verify Editor Extension Tell the user to install the **LaTeX Workshop** extension in Cursor / VS Code: - Open Extensions panel (`Cmd+Shift+X` on macOS, `Ctrl+Shift+X` on Windows/Linux) - Search for "LaTeX Workshop" by James Yu - Click Install The project already includes `.vscode/settings.json` that configures auto-build on save, PDF preview in side panel, and SyncTeX forward/inverse search. ### Step 4: First Build From the **project root** directory (not `latex/`): **macOS / Linux:** ```bash make ``` **Windows (PowerShell):** ```powershell cd latex; latexmk main.tex; cd .. ``` **All platforms (via Cursor/VS Code):** Open any `.tex` file and save it. LaTeX Workshop auto-compiles and opens the PDF preview. ### Step 5: Live Preview (Continuous Watch) **macOS / Linux:** ```bash make watch ``` **Windows (PowerShell):** ```powershell cd latex; latexmk -pvc main.tex ``` **Cursor / VS Code:** No command needed. Saving any `.tex` file triggers auto-rebuild. The PDF preview updates automatically. ## Core Rules - Always write in **English, third person, past tense** (for methodology/results) or present tense (for facts/conclusions) - Use formal academic tone: concise, clear, grammatically correct - Follow **IEEE citation style** (`\cite{key}` with BibTeX) - Maintain consistent terminology throughout the dissertation - Never fabricate references or data - When suggesting content, provide LaTeX source code ready to paste ## NTU Format Specifications | Element | Requirement | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Paper | A4, white bond, >= 80 g/m2 | | Font | Times New Roman, 12pt | | Margins | Left 3.5cm; Top, Bottom, Right 3cm | | Spacing | 1.5 line spacing (already set in `main.tex`) | | Length | 60-100 printed pages, preferably double-sided | | Reference | IEEE style (`IEEEtran` bibliography style) | These are already configured in `latex/main.tex`. Do NOT modify margin/font/spacing settings unless explicitly asked. ## Dissertation Structure (Required Order) Files are in the `latex/` directory: | # | Section | File | Required | |----|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------| | 1 | Title Page | `c-front-matter/title-page.tex` | Yes | | 2 | Statement of Originality | `c-front-matter/originality.tex` | Yes | | 3 | Supervisor Declaration | `c-front-matter/supervisor-declaration.tex`| Yes | | 4 | Authorship Attribution | `c-front-matter/authorship.tex` | Yes | | 5 | Table of Contents | Auto-generated in `main.tex` | Yes | | 6 | Abstract | `c-front-matter/abstract.tex` | Yes | | 7 | Acknowledgement | `c-front-matter/acknowledgement.tex` | Optional | | 8 | Acronyms | `c-front-matter/acronyms.tex` | Optional | | 9 | Symbols | `c-front-matter/symbols.tex` | Optional | | 10 | List of Figures | Auto-generated in `main.tex` | Yes | | 11 | List of Tables | Auto-generated in `main.tex` | Yes | | 12 | Introductory Chapter | `chapter-1/chapter-1.tex` | Yes | | 13 | Text Chapters | `chapter-2/` ... `chapter-6/` | Yes | | 14 | References | `c-back-matter/references.bib` | Yes | | 15 | Appendices | `c-back-matter/appendix-a.tex` etc. | Optional | ## Chapter Writing Guidelines ### Abstract (`c-front-matter/abstract.tex`) - ~1 page, concise summary - Cover: motivation, problem, method, key results, significance - No literature review summaries, no vague statements like "a certain issue has been studied" ### Chapter 1: Introduction (`chapter-1/chapter-1.tex`) - Background and problem context - Motivation for the research - Objectives and scope - Layout/organisation of the dissertation ### Chapter 2: Literature Review (`chapter-2/chapter-2.tex`) - Survey related work comprehensively - Show awareness of the broader research landscape - Explain why the chosen direction is justified - Use `\cite{key}` for every claim from external sources ### Chapters 3-5: Technical Chapters - Chapter 3: Theoretical foundations / methodology - Chapter 4: Proposed solution / implementation - Chapter 5: Experiments, results, and analysis - Include equations (`equation` environment), figures (`figure`), and tables (`table`) - All figures/tables must be numbered sequentially per chapter and referenced in text ### Chapter 6: Conclusion (`chapter-6/chapter-6.tex`) Three parts: 1. **Summary** of work done (similar to abstract) 2. **Conclusion** highlighting significance and consequences of results 3. **Recommendations / Future Work** identifying gaps and suggesting improvements ### General Rules - Keep total chapters to 6-7 maximum; merge if more - All figures and tables must have captions and be referenced via `\ref{}` - Figures/tables appear near their first reference in text - Number figures as "Figure X.Y", tables as "Table X.Y" (already configured) ## Template File Operations ### Adding a New Chapter 1. Create directory: `latex/chapter-N/` 2. Create file: `latex/chapter-N/chapter-N.tex` 3. Use this structure: ```latex \chapter{Chapter Title} \begingroup \justifying \setlength{\parindent}{0pt} \setstretch{2} \setlength{\parskip}{0.5\baselineskip} \titlespacing{\chapter}{0pt}{0pt}{0pt} \titlespacing{\section}{0pt}{0pt}{0pt} % Content here \endgroup ``` 4. Add `\input{chapter-N/chapter-N}` in `latex/main.tex` (Main Content section) ### Adding a Figure ```latex \begin{figure}[h] \centering \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{assets/figures/your-image.png} \caption{Description of the figure} \label{fig:unique-label} \end{figure} ``` Place image files in `latex/assets/figures/`. ### Adding a Table ```latex \begin{table}[h] \centering \caption{Description of the table} \label{tab:unique-label} \begin{tabular}{lcc} \toprule Header 1 & Header 2 & Header 3 \\ \midrule Data 1 & Data 2 & Data 3 \\ \bottomrule \end{tabular} \end{table} ``` ### Adding an Equation ```latex \begin{equation} E = mc^2 \label{eq:unique-label} \end{equation} ``` ### Adding a Reference 1. Add BibTeX entry to `latex/c-back-matter/references.bib`: ```bibtex @article{authorYear, author = {Last, First and Last2, First2}, title = {Paper Title}, journal = {Journal Name}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {10-20}, year = {2024} } ``` 2. Cite in text: `\cite{authorYear}` or `\cite{key1,key2}` for multiple ### Adding an Appendix 1. Create `latex/c-back-matter/appendix-X.tex` 2. Add `\input{c-back-matter/appendix-X}` in `latex/main.tex` after existing appendices ## Compilation All commands run from the **project root** (not `latex/`). ### Cursor / VS Code (recommended, all platforms) With **LaTeX Workshop** installed, save any `.tex` file to auto-build. PDF preview in side panel. ### Terminal - macOS / Linux ```bash make # build once make watch # continuous auto-rebuild on file change make clean # remove build artifacts make open # open the generated PDF ``` ### Terminal - Windows (PowerShell) ```powershell cd latex; latexmk main.tex; cd .. # build once cd latex; latexmk -pvc main.tex # continuous watch cd latex; latexmk -C; Remove-Item -Recurse out; cd .. # clean Start-Process latex\out\main.pdf # open PDF ``` ## Customisation Points Users need to modify these red-highlighted placeholders in the template: - `latex/c-front-matter/title-page.tex`: dissertation title, author name, year, programme name - `latex/c-front-matter/originality.tex`: author name, date, signature - `latex/c-front-matter/supervisor-declaration.tex`: supervisor name, date - `latex/c-front-matter/authorship.tex`: attribution details ## Academic Writing Tips - Delete any word/phrase that can be removed without changing meaning - Use SI units consistently - Define acronyms on first use, then use abbreviation - Avoid first person ("I", "we") - use passive voice or "this study" - Every claim needs either evidence (your results) or citation (others' work) ## Additional Resources - For complete NTU formatting guidelines, see [ntu-guidelines.md](ntu-guidelines.md) - For LaTeX command quick reference, see [latex-cheatsheet.md](latex-cheatsheet.md)