10.3: Term Project – Submitting Your Final Project Report

Guidelines for completing your term project paper (repeated from Lesson 9):

You have quite a bit of flexibility in terms of the final product--your format and tone should match your individual case. The report can read like a white paper, an academic paper, or a consultant's report. However, as you're all likely concerned with some basic guidelines, please consider the following broad requirements (which can be amended with reason):

• Make sure you include these key elements:
  1. Cover page with title, course, your name, date.
  2. Executive summary or abstract (this should be succinct--one or two paragraphs).
  3. Background on the case/question (enough detail so it makes sense to the reader).
  4. Data/methods/steps.
  5. Your findings/conclusion/proposed solution (short and to the point).
  6. Perhaps a look forward to next steps or items you couldn't complete.
• 5-7 pages of text, non-inclusive of maps/charts/reports--In rare circumstances, your paper might be shorter. Please, as always, make sure you convey your information as clearly and concisely as possible, which is part of your grade. Also make sure you Write AND Proofread.
• Paper Title - make sure your title is descriptive of your research including reference to the general data being used, geographic location, and time interval.
• Delivered as Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF.
• Maps must be legible, titled, and have a key.
• Reports may be included as appendices and referenced as such in your text, or you may export/capture portions of reports for inclusion. (Appendices do not count towards your suggested page count.)
• Make sure you consider how an image will fit into your document when you screen capture or export an image.
• Use simple APA citation guidelines (unless you are more comfortable with MLS or something else). While I will not grade citation formats, I do expect any outside sources (and data!) to be cited, at the very least in a short bibliography.

Above all else...