Requirements for the final report The final report should contain the following structural elements and needs to be organised in a similar fashion: * Cover * Title Page * Preface * Table of Contents * Executive Summary * Explanation of Terms/List of Symbols or Abbreviations (if applicable) * 1 Introduction * 2 Chapter’s title* (your final report may contain more chapters) * 3 Chapter’s title * 4 Chapter’s title * 5 Conclusion * Bibliography * Appendix

More information about these structural elements may be found further down in this file.

The final report needs to meet the following formatting requirements: BASIC FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS | PAPER | White, A4 | MARGINS | 2.5 centimetres | LINE SPACING | single | FONT & POINT SIZE | 10/12, Times New Roman, Arial or Lucida sans Unicode | PAGE NUMBERING | All pages should be numbered | PRINTING | One sided, white paper | CAPITALIZATION | Headings should be in capital letters | TABLES, GRAPHS, DIAGRAMS | All tables, graphs, diagrams etc. must have a number, title and a key. Source reference must also be given. | REFERENCING | All references must be made using the APA guidelines. This includes both references in the text (in-text citations) and the bibliography. | PAGE LIMIT | The page limit for the final report of this project is thirty pages, run-on type, excluding graphs and/ or tables, cover, title page, preface and table of content. | USE OF IMAGES | The use of images in the final report is limited to graphs, tables and figures which are content-wise related to your text. Decorative elements are not allowed. | COLOUR | Text should be black ink. Colour may be used for graphs, tables or figures. | BIBLIOGRAPHY | RequiredUse APA style | THE COVER
It goes without saying that a cover is an essential part of any report. The cover should be simple, including merely the title and the name of the author(s). Any further information such as the name of the company or school and date should be given on the title page. Please be sure that the title covers the contents of the report.

THE TITLE PAGE
The title page should have the same format as the cover and include the same information. In addition to the title, subtitle and author(s) name(s), the name of the company or organisation responsible for the report should be shown. The place and date of publication should also be included.

THE PREFACE
The purpose of a preface is to provide the reader with relevant information which is not directly related to the subject matter covered in the report, such as:

* Why the report was written (final assignment) * Background of the author(s) * Description of the target group * Acknowledgements for a company, research group, lecturer or staff member who has been beneficial to the research

The preface should precede the body of the report, and be located after the title page and before the table of contents.

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
The table of contents lists the contents of a report, providing a structural overview of the text. The sections and subsections are listed here as well as any tables, figures and Appendices.

Here are some guidelines to follow: * Numbering should begin with the title page, but the first page number should not be listed until after the table of contents * Use the “so-called decimal code” system. Apply this only to the Introduction, Body and Conclusion. This system should represent the hierarchy of the contents * Do not use more than three numbers, i.e. a maximum of 2.2.2., for example. * Make sure your headings coincide and try and keep them short, but informative

THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The summary is a guide to the report and should highlight the major points, as well as conclusions and recommendations. It should be concise and follow the structure of the report which is being summarised. Here are some points to keep in mind: * The summary is very important as it is usually the first thing readers will look for. Make sure the outline of the report is clear and that the summary provides some orientation for the reader. * The Introduction, Body and Conclusion should be summarised clearly and concisely. * Explain the subject and/or define the problem, summarise the chapters and provide the most important conclusions * Readers of business reports are interested in concrete findings!

THE EXPLANATION OF TERMS & SYMBOLS
Listing the terms used in a report and providing a definition or explanation for them is useful to the reader. These terms may be new or unfamiliar to the reader. The format should be consistent, clear and alphabetical in order. Make sure the explanations are concise.

Symbols should be included when a report contains recurring symbols. The first time the symbol is used in the report, an explanation should also be given. The notation should be in keeping with national and international standards. Please refer to the British Standards Institution (BSI) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for more information.

THE INTRODUCTION
The introduction can be seen as the reader’s map to the report. This is where the What (subject or problem), the Why (purpose or importance of the subject or statement of the problem) and the How (method, approach or structure) of the report are dealt with. These three elements should be dealt with in the above-mentioned order.

CHAPTERS
The different chapters will form the body of the final report. All chapters should have the same structure. From the start of your research, sources should be cited using the APA guide (see below for more information). Referencing, in the form of footnotes, within the text and a bibliography, will be required.

Things to keep in mind (adapted from Hoogland 1992) as you work on your final assignment:

The planning phase: * Clearly define the subject, purpose and approach of your research, i.e. the WHAT, WHY and HOW * Always keep your audience in mind * Focus on structure

Presentation: * Lay-out plays a very important role; it is your “calling card”. * Make sure you are adhering to the formatting requirements * Pay special attention to how figures, tables and graphs are incorporated into your report as well as quotations. * Do not forget to properly cite your sources. * Always place footnotes at the bottom of the page

Language: * Keep your audience in mind; you are not writing for yourself * Make sure your sentences and paragraphs are balanced, i.e. they should not be too long or too short * Make sure your topic sentences are clear and concise * Always explain difficult terms * Write your final report in formal and correct English. Check your spelling, grammar and mechanics; grammar and spelling errors take away from your authority and expertise * Always proofread a hard-copy of your work before submitting it

THE CONCLUSION The conclusion is a gathering of all the main points made in the report. The conclusion should be bringing all of the “threads” in the report together. Additional things to keep in mind: * No new information should be added here, i.e. there should be no surprises for the reader here. * The conclusion should be clear to someone who has not read the entire report, i.e. just like the summary. * It should be clear and concise * Conclusions are always followed by recommendations
The author should do the interpreting, not the reader

BIBLIOGRAPHY
A bibliography is an alphabetical listing of the sources used in the report. The list is alphabetized by the author’s last name. The system which should be used is that of the American Psychological Association, formally known as the APA. Please study the example below. An explanation and more examples of how to use of the APA can be found in the appendix.

APPENDIX
By using an appendix a report becomes clear and readable. The following information may be included in an appendix: graphs, charts, listings, calculations and so on. The appendix contains additional information related to the report, and the reader should be able to read the report without having to frequently check the appendix. Always refer to the appendix in the body of the report. The appendices should be labelled with a roman numeral (I, II, IV, etc.) and a title. When only using a few appendices, they can be listed separately in the table of contents. If you have more than 3, the appendix should have its own table of contents.

REFERENCING AND CITATION
In the course of your research, you will be reading a great deal of other people’s work such as books, articles and websites. It is important that you include references in your research to the author of any text, image, or idea you use. These references should include everything from direct quotes, to graphs, figures and theories.

The difference between paraphrasing and quoting
When you use ideas and information from other people you can do so in two ways, quoting and paraphrasing. When you quote someone you are using that person’s text or figure without making any changes or adjustments to it. If you are using someone else’s idea, but you explain it in your own words it is called paraphrasing and should be indicated as such.

Example of Quoting (Brasley 2011, 2): Original Text | Quote | “Buffy, a small, delicate-looking blonde of superhuman strength, relies on Giles not only for adult support and coaching, but also for the research necessary to do that for which the Vampire Slayer has been chosen.” | According to DeCandido, Buffy "relies on Giles not only for adult support and coaching, but also for the research necessary to do that for which the Vampire Slayer has been chosen" (44). |

Example of Paraphrasing (Brasley 2011, 1): Original Text | Paraphrase | In the third season, Giles was officially relieved from his Watcher duties, but he ignores that and continues as Buffy's trainer, confidant, and father-figure. | Despite his termination by the Watcher's Council in season three, Giles persists to teach and counsel Buffy while playing a "father-figure" role (DeCandido 44). |

When citing a source within the text, the paraphrased or quoted information should be followed by the author’s name, the date of publication and the page number in parentheses. For this appendix, the citation would read as follows (Wijers & Tucker, 2011). If you are quoting from a specific page in the document or source, you need to include the page number(s): (Wijers & Tucker, 2011, p. xx).

Avoid plagiarism and always reference correctly.
NB: Refraining from listing your sources or incorrectly referencing them is invariably considered fraud as meant in art. 14 of the Education and Examination Regulations.

APA GUIDELINES
Below you will find the commonest types of sources which are cited in the type of research you will be doing. A full list of how to cite various resources using the APA will not be given here. Please see the following site for additional information: http://libguides.library.curtin.edu.au/content.php

Type of source | How to cite it | Article | Author, A. B., (Year). Title. Periodical, volume number (issue number), pages. | Book | Author, A. B. (Publication year). Title: Subtitle. Location: Publisher. | Book, no author | Editor, A.B. (Editor(s)). (Year). Title. Location: Publisher. | Online periodical | Author, A. B. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of Online Periodical, volume number (issue number if available). Retrieved on [date] from http:// | Online periodical with a publication date (DOI) | Author, A. B. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number, page range. doi:0000000/000000000000 | Online periodical without a publication date | Author, A. B. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number. Retrieved on [date] from http:// |

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brasley, S. et al. (2011). Carlos and Eddie’s Guide to Bruin Success with Less Stress: Tips on Paraphrasing. Retrieved on July 12, 2011 from http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/col/bruinsuccess/03/11.cfm
Brasley, S. et al. (2011). Carlos and Eddie’s Guide to Bruin Success with Less Stress: Tips on Quoting. Retrieved on July 12, 2011 from http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/col/bruinsuccess/03/09.cfm
Hoogland, W. (1992). The report on report writing. Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff.