Use the Applied Science and Technology Index, the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, and the InfoTrac system as you begin collecting bibliographical sources.

Choose a topic in your major field or a closely related field involving a mechanism, machine, method, or theory that could be used to solve a specific problem or do a specific job. The paper will then compare the competing mechanism, machines, methods, or theories to see which one will best solve the problem or do the job.

To make a comparison of several things meaningful, you must set up a basis by which to compare them. The basis in this paper will be a set of CRITERIA (plural form of CRITERION) or limits that an ideal solution should achieve. For instance, in buying an automobile, a consumer would consider cost and reliability as important considerations; they would then be made the criteria by which two different cars could be compared to see which is best for the consumer. A taxi cab company or a business might have a different set of criteria in choosing an automobile to use as a cab. The taxi company of business would be the point of view you will use in setting up the criteria. These criterial will come out of your study of the problem and logical limits on solutions to that problem.

The long report must have the following components to be successful:

1. A clear problem that is currently under study;
2. A point of view for study of the problem, such as a businessman, consumer, or patient;
3. a set of criteria to use in evaluating possible solutions; and
4. at least two different possible solutions to be compared.

Preliminary Topics: You must turn in a sheet with your topic or list of possible topics accompanied by photocopies of pages from the above bibliographical sources; highlight the articles that might be used.

Each student must write a proposal; this proposal should be on the proposed topic of the

student's research paper. This proposal should include a Purpose statement, some preliminary

analysis of the problem to be focused on, some idea of the research procedure to be followed,

and a preliminary bibliography of recent works-- primarily periodical sources--on the topic.

Date:
To:
From:
Subject: Report on . . . (give the topic area here, such as insider trading)

Purpose: (to find a solution the problem of . . . .)

Present Status of the Problem: (a short summary of prior work on the problem, current work being done on the problem, and a brief review of at least two written sources, including mention of the author, title, and place of publication)

Research Procedure: (how you will gather the information or how you will conduct your own research)

Tentative Outline: (of the paper, including at least the Problem section, the Criteria section, and the Possible Solutions section)

Projected Conclusion: (telling which possible solution looks best at this time)

Projected Recommendations: (a list giving possible future actions needed to implement the best solution)

1. The bibliography should include about ten sources, most of them periodical articles.

2. The bibliography must include at least two sources from Government Documents.

3. The sources listed in the bibliography should be primarily from the last two years; it is particularly important that your comparison material be very recent.
4. The bibliography should be written in the current form used in the technical field of your paper or in the current MLA form.

A sentence outline should be assigned as the second part of the sequence leading to thecompletion of the research report. This outlineshould be used to develop the major divisions of the long report; because it is in sentence form, it will help the student to get the content of the report solidified before the first draft of the report is written. The outline should be written after or at the same time that the student is turning in note cards.

1. TITLE PAGE (Not numbered; counted as page i, Roman numbers)
2. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (Has no heading; numbered as page ii)
3. ABSTRACT (1st order heading; numbered as page iii)
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS (1st order heading; numbered as page iv)
5. LIST OF FIGURES (1st order heading; numbered as appropriate)
6. INTRODUCTION (1st order heading)
   • Purpose (2nd order heading)
   • History of the Problem (2nd order heading)
   • Review of Recent Literature (2nd order heading)
   • Research Procedure (2nd order heading)
7. TITLE OF REPORT (used as a 1st order heading. Begins Arabic page numbering as page 1. The page number is on the bottom center. Subsequent pages are numbered on the top right.)
8. CONCLUSIONS (1st order heading. The page number is on the bottom center. Subsequent pages are numbered on the top right.)
9. RECOMMENDATIONS (1st order heading. The page number is on the bottom center. Subsequent pages are numbered on the top right.)
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY (1st order heading; arranged alphabetically. Do not number.)
11. APPENDIX A (1st order heading, with a title below it. Example:

    ---

    APPENDIX A

    Interview with William Faulkner

    ---

12. Example of a FIGURE TITLE:

1. All first order headings are all caps, centered, and begin on new pages. Begin each one 2 inches or 5 double spaces from the top of the page. Leave 2 double spaces after a first order heading.
2. All second order headings are either all caps and begin at the left margin or are in initial caps and are centered. Double space before and after a 2nd order heading.
3. Double space before and after a 3rd orderheading.
4. Double space before a 4th order heading; the text begins on the same line.
5. In place of underlining headings, ALL the headings may be bold-faced.
6. Margins: 1 1/2 inches left; 1 inch right,top, and bottom.

1. Emphasis on the problem at the beginning.
2. Clear, definite, separable criteria, explained and justified.
3. Explanation of possible solutions.
4. Possible solutions compared as to how well they meet the criteria.
5. Narrow final conclusion; one of the solutions from #3.

Setions:

1. Letter--has title in quotes; has summary; follows correct form.
2. Abstract--has no mention of the paper itself; is the original paper shrunken to 200 words.
3. Table of Contents--lists all paper headings and the pages on which those headings are found.
4. List of Figures--Gives all figure numbers, titles, and page numbers.
5. Introduction--has correct sub-heads; has background of the problem; has mention of possible solutions; has a summary of two written works dealing with the problem of the solution; gives the general research procedure.
6. Body--Text is divided into four heading levels, following the heading system specified in this course; all headings are placed correctly on the page; all materials from any source in any form are documented in the text and listed in the bibliography.
7. Conclusion--Narrow; discussed in paragraph form.
8. Recommendations--Specific future actions; given in a list.
9. Bibliography--Done according to the textbook.
10. Appendix--Who, when, where for the interview; summary of important information.
11. Sections must be in the correct order.
12. Final copy of the paper in a hard (not plastic) binder.
13. INCLUDED WITH THE FINAL COPY: original topic sheet; graded proposal; graded outline; checked note cards; all other note cards, notes, and photocopies. All note cards and photocopies must be keyed by number to the final bibliography.