185 Final Project185 Final Project

Project Proposal: Due Project Proposal: Due February 21February 21

What is your paper going to be about?What is your paper going to be about? What is its purpose?What is its purpose? What is its intended audience?What is its intended audience?

(Note: you may change your paper (Note: you may change your paper topic after submitting a project topic after submitting a project proposal, but you must submit a new proposal, but you must submit a new Project Proposal.)Project Proposal.)

Document Specification: Document Specification: Due March 4 or 6Due March 4 or 6

Purpose:Purpose: Economy of effortEconomy of effort

Input from instructors and peers can focus Input from instructors and peers can focus your efforts before you do unnecessary workyour efforts before you do unnecessary work

Work planningWork planning Helps in establishing a clear writing scheduleHelps in establishing a clear writing schedule You’ll know what you need to research before You’ll know what you need to research before

it’s too late to research itit’s too late to research it Improved OrganizationImproved Organization

Document Specification: Document Specification: RequirementsRequirements

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction State the topic of your Final ProjectState the topic of your Final Project State the purpose and intended State the purpose and intended

audience of your final project.audience of your final project. Note: Not just your CMPE 185 instructor.Note: Not just your CMPE 185 instructor.

Does not need to be the full Does not need to be the full introduction of your Final Project.introduction of your Final Project.

But this can help focus your research.But this can help focus your research.

Document Specification: Document Specification: Requirements (cont.)Requirements (cont.)

2.2. Technical Discussion OutlineTechnical Discussion Outline Should address major pointsShould address major points Organize your points of interestOrganize your points of interest

3.3. Proposed ResearchProposed Research List research sourcesList research sources

Exact sources, when possibleExact sources, when possible Otherwise, general sources you plan to investigateOtherwise, general sources you plan to investigate

4.4. Indicate your chosen style guide.Indicate your chosen style guide. (Length: typically 2-3 pages, much of (Length: typically 2-3 pages, much of

this in outline form)this in outline form)

Final Project: Final Project: What sort of article is this?What sort of article is this?

Thesis chapter?Thesis chapter? If so, present it with enough information to be If so, present it with enough information to be

an independent paper.an independent paper. Journal article for publication?Journal article for publication?

Consider what journalConsider what journal Tailor style to journalTailor style to journal

Project report?Project report? Who are you reporting to?Who are you reporting to? Are you recording information or drawing Are you recording information or drawing

specific conclusions?specific conclusions? Tutorial?Tutorial?

What level is the audience?What level is the audience?

Past Final Projects:Past Final Projects:

Single Cycle CPU Simulator.Single Cycle CPU Simulator. The Complete Guide to the Polymerase The Complete Guide to the Polymerase

Chain Reaction.Chain Reaction. Graphic User Interface Design for Graphic User Interface Design for

Beginners.Beginners. Collision Detection for Gaming Collision Detection for Gaming

Applications.Applications. Networked Application Frameworks.Networked Application Frameworks. Reconfigurable Reverse Telemetry System Reconfigurable Reverse Telemetry System

for Retinal Prosthesis.for Retinal Prosthesis.

Key elements:Key elements:

Abstract (sometimes optional)Abstract (sometimes optional) IntroductionIntroduction Materials and Methods (sometimes Materials and Methods (sometimes

optional)optional) Results (sometimes optional)Results (sometimes optional) DiscussionDiscussion ConclusionConclusion

Other elementsOther elements

Visual aids (recommended)Visual aids (recommended) Table of contents (optional)Table of contents (optional) Index (optional)Index (optional) Glossary (optional)Glossary (optional) Appendices (optional)Appendices (optional)

Supportive, but nonessential Supportive, but nonessential information.information.

Citations (required)Citations (required)

In short…In short… Front MatterFront Matter

IntroductionIntroduction Abstract (if necessary)Abstract (if necessary) Materials and Methods (if necessary)Materials and Methods (if necessary) Table of Contents (if necessary)Table of Contents (if necessary)

Middle PartMiddle Part DiscussionDiscussion

Results (if necessary)Results (if necessary) Visual Aids (if necessary)Visual Aids (if necessary)

The EndThe End ConclusionConclusion

Glossary (if necessary)Glossary (if necessary) Index (if necessary)Index (if necessary)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Foregrounding – major Foregrounding – major findingsfindings

Can be present in your:Can be present in your: TitleTitle AbstractAbstract Purpose statementPurpose statement (in introduction, (in introduction,

typically)typically) Key visual aidsKey visual aids Informative section headingsInformative section headings

AbstractAbstract

Used as screening deviceUsed as screening device Is this the article the reader is looking for?Is this the article the reader is looking for?

Used as stand-alone textUsed as stand-alone text Provides simple, high level informationProvides simple, high level information Reader may or may not return laterReader may or may not return later

Provides preview of articleProvides preview of article Facilitates indexingFacilitates indexing

Advises librarians, record-keepersAdvises librarians, record-keepers Should have keywords for automated Should have keywords for automated

retrievalretrieval

IntroductionIntroduction

Identifies audienceIdentifies audience Provides backgroundProvides background Explains problem/thesisExplains problem/thesis Sets style or toneSets style or tone

Materials and MethodsMaterials and Methods

Describes methodologyDescribes methodology Identifies special conditionsIdentifies special conditions Identifies special criteria used to Identifies special criteria used to

select materialsselect materials Justifies choices for each elementJustifies choices for each element Demonstrates the validity of your Demonstrates the validity of your

researchresearch Also gives your reader opportunity to Also gives your reader opportunity to

question or improve on your researchquestion or improve on your research

ResultsResults

Major findings from your project or Major findings from your project or researchresearch

Short description of your supporting Short description of your supporting datadata Depends on quantity of dataDepends on quantity of data

You may be able to present all your data.You may be able to present all your data. You may want to summarize.You may want to summarize. You may want to include lengthy, verbatim You may want to include lengthy, verbatim

results in an Appendix.results in an Appendix.

DiscussionDiscussion

Typically, the bulk of the writing.Typically, the bulk of the writing. What are the implications of your What are the implications of your

results?results? Do they confirm or refute others’ Do they confirm or refute others’

observations?observations? What are the contributions to your field?What are the contributions to your field?

New hypotheses?New hypotheses? Proposed future research?Proposed future research? Practical applications?Practical applications?

ConclusionConclusion

Mirrors introduction, but key Mirrors introduction, but key differences:differences: Can assume a higher level understanding.Can assume a higher level understanding. Not the place for background information.Not the place for background information. Can build on the data/results already Can build on the data/results already

presented.presented.

Can ask parting questions, or suggest Can ask parting questions, or suggest further research.further research.

Any questions?Any questions?