Research Skills

Producing a Project #3 - Finishing Off

Once you've finished writing up your project and you're on your final version, ready for handing in, you need to make sure you have gathered everything together, in the correct order, ready for deadline day. This stage should be at least a week before the deadline, just in case there are any last minute elements you need to add or changes to be made.

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Make a checklist of project items, either using the original research project brief, or using one provided by your teacher/mentor, and tick each item off as you complete it. Ask in advance if there is anything on that checklist you're not sure about, and if you are compiling your own list, double check in advance with your teacher/mentor that you have covered everything. You can also ask to see exemplar o past student work to get an idea of what a final research project should look like.

You may be asked to include any of the following elements to complete your research project:

• A front cover, including your student details and project details.
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• A thesis or hypothesis.
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• An abstract - this is a bit like the section on the back or inside cover of a text book, giving you an idea of what to expect from the book, and might need to include:
  - what the project is about,
  - what sort of research you used and how you gathered it, and
  - what your final conclusion is.
  An abstract is usually about 250 words at most, but check the word count you have been given, especially if it is part of your overall word count.
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• The main part of the research project, including your introduction, arguments (middle) and conclusion.
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• An evaluation of how well you felt your project and your overall research went.
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• A bibliography.
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• A source review/evaluation.
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• Other paperwork, possibly including your original project plans, research lists, timescales, project journals, presentation slides, signed confirmation that the project was all your work, etc.

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Make sure you gather everything together, in the correct order and in the format required. Then all you have to do is keep it somewhere safe until you can hand it in!

Job done.