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Final Project Guidelines

Research and Citation

• After doing your research and before beginning to organize your paper, first send your bibliography to your faculty advisor to be sure that your sources are inclusive (include the major works on the topic) and up to date. Don't limit your research to websites.
   
• Cite to the source every time you use someone else's idea -- not just when you quote the exact language. Citation avoids unintentional plagiarism and gives your work credibility.
   
• Be sure every source referred to in your paper is listed in your bibliography.
   
• Use the Skidmore Guide to Writing for correct format for both bibliography and internal citations

Methodology

• Be sure you understand the methodology you will be using. Discuss your proposed methodology with your faculty advisor. For example:

• If you are doing a business plan, find out from your faculty advisor what needs to be included -- get a template.
   
• If you are doing educational assessment or testing, discuss with your faculty advisor how you plan to go about doing this. What is your instrument? How is your instrument used? Are there norms associated with your instrument? How will you compare "before" and "after"?

Writing

• Before you write, it is helpful to work out a plan of organization, whether through outline or some other form.
   
  • Divide your paper into sections (or chapters), for example: Introduction or Statement of the Problem, Literature Review, Introduction to Lesson Plans, Lesson Plans, Teacher's Reflections and Conclusion, Bibliography.
     
  • Organize each section according to the points you will be making.
     
• Your introduction should give us a roadmap for the paper, telling us the topic, what you intend to show, and what will be included in the paper.
   
• A literature review (if you have one) discusses the ideas presented in the literature on your topic and should be organized by those ideas.
   
• Include a Title-page and Table of Contents.
   
• Refer to the Skidmore Guide to Writing for help with any of the above and a refresher course in writing, editing and grammar.