Research Project

Here is a detailed plan of the research project and what is expected from each group to hand in. All course projects are intended to involve research and result in a written document that summarizes the findings. The milestones as well as the marks (out of 100%) for the research project are as follows:

Milestones

  1. Project Idea Approval (5%)

    As soon as you have formed your group and decided upon an idea, the group members MUST meet with the instructor. The goal is to ensure that every group is pursuing a different project and that groups have a reasonable project idea before embarking on the proposal. The project idea has to be approved by Feb. 27, 2006.

  2. Proposal and a bibliography (15%)

    Each group must submit a project proposal. In the project proposal, the following must be provided: (a) the members of your project group, (b) a four-page (1000 word) description of your project idea, and (c) a project schedule. The project description should outline what the group intends to accomplish from your project, and how you intend to go about carrying out your project, your research methods, and how the tasks are divided between the group members. The project schedule should include at least three intermediate milestones (with deliverables) as well as the final milestone (with the final deliverables). This is due Mar. 6, 2006.

  3. Class Presentation (40%)

    One of the final deliverables for all projects include a 30 minute Powerpoint presentation of your research project to be presented to the class. Time os class presentations will be discussed in class.

  4. Final Report (40%)

    A final document of at least 8 pages (2000 words) describing your research project and its results need to be submitted by Apr. 3, 2006.

  5. Intermediate Milestones

    In your project proposal, you will identify at least three intermediate milestones. Each milestone specifies a date by which a certain work product will be delivered to the instructor. Example intermediate deliverables include: outlines of the final paper, drafts of sections of the paper, related research citations, etc. You should space these intermediate deliverables out over the course of the semester. For this milestone, each group will arrange to meet with the instructor every second week to ensure that progress is made towards the final project.

Research project ideas

Here are some example project ideas to pursue. You can pick one of these (as long as it hasn't already been reserved).