Topic

Formatting for a Plan B (Research Paper)

Title Page

Abstract

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction

  • Background about why you chose this topic (optional)
  • Statement of problem
  • Purpose (what is the need and the research questions to be addressed for a study or practical issue to be addressed by the capstone)
  • Limitations of the study or project

Chapter 2 – Literature Review

  • Introduction (overview of topic areas)
  • Review of previous research
  • Summary and critique
  • Conclusions (summarize the major findings of the literature review)

Chapter 3 – Methodology/Methods

  • Overview (who, what, where, when, how, etc.)
  • Research questions
  • Arrangements for conducting the project (how did you set it up?)
  • Description of participants (who and why you selected them)
  • Data collection (what you did and how you kept records, i.e. journals, student work, questionnaires, interviews, observations of participants, etc.)
  • Analysis of data (how did you analyze your data?)

Chapter 4 – Findings

  • What were the major things you found out?
  • Were there foreseen as well as unforeseen outcomes?
  • Discussion of findings (what do the findings mean to you?
  • How do your findings connect to the research literature?)

Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Recommendations

The brief concluding chapter will summarize the major findings of the research study/project, discuss implications and/or lessons learned for you as a professional. Also you may include recommendations for the field.

References

Cite all works you referred to and other important sources using APA style.

Appendices

Assign titles to each appendix entry by beginning with: Appendix A followed by a description of the entry, e.g. Appendix A: Student Interview Questionnaire, Appendix B: Student Observation Instrument, and so on depending on the number of entries in the appendix of your paper.