This is a run-down of the sections of a project report you can expect to need to include. Your particular project might need something different - check the module guide and with your supervisor.
Title: this is a concise statement of what the research is about.
Abstract / summary: the reader will usually look at this first to find out if the text is likely to include information that is of interest. Therefore it must be a concise summary of what you did, what you found out and the context of your conclusions. Generally it is 200- 300 words long.
Introduction: in this section you explain the background and importance of the study and state the purpose of your investigation and an overview of the content. It should include the aims and allow a moderate specialist to understand the nature of the project.
Literature review: this is not only a record of all the important contributions to your field of research, but an evaluation and critical comment of the work to date.
Materials and methods: it should be possible for a worker in your field to repeat your results, so sufficient information on how you carried out your investigation must be recorded.
This may mean including details such as sources of materials, preparation procedures, apparatus, assays, and statistical analysis. Methods are generally written in the past passive tense e.g. "it was decided to observe..." unless your School requests a different tense.
Results: these are your findings which relate to your hypothesis or aim. They need to be comprehensive and presented in a suitable form such as tables, charts, statistics and illustrations. Construct tables and charts so that they can be understood in isolation, and don't fall into the trap of describing in words what you have already presented graphically.
Raw data is generally relegated to an appendix where it can be consulted by anyone wanting the original details. Illustrative data , composed of raw data which you have analysed, is included in the text.
Discussion / conclusions and recommendations: this is a major section in which you evaluate your findings, and comment on their significance and relation to previous work on the same topic. Here you have the chance to answer any criticisms which might be raised by someone with a different view point. The discussion can be broadly framed around these questions:
Appendices: the purpose of appendices is to stop the text from appearing cluttered and broken up by supplementary and minor materials. They are positioned immediately after the body of the text.
Tables of extensive data, legal decisions or laws, lengthy quotations, copies of sample questionnaires are examples of materials located in appendices. Each appendix begins on a separate page and is designated A, B, C etc in the order in which it is first mentioned in the text.
References: it is essential that you reference every time you use someone else's words - as precise quotes or paraphrased into your own words - or and every time you use someone else's ideas. You should have references in the text and include all the works you have used in a references section at the end of the project.
Write the references in the text and add to the references section while you are writing. Do not leave it till the last minute.
