Projects should be a written exploration of a subject related to the course module. Direction or advice will be given on the subject matter during the course. Thought needs to be given to the content and layout of the project before commencing. Your Tutor may ask for a project plan outlining in a series of headings the intended layout and subject matter. Advice may be offered at this stage about your project.

Layout
In general, the project should have:

• A title which allows the reader to know the subject matter of the project.
• An introduction which tells the reader what it is about, the issues dealt with and the approach taken to prepare it (methodology) it that is relevant.
• A body which describes and analyses the issues under separate headings. A progression based on what, where, how, when and why, approach might be considered. The approach should be to first describe the subject fully, assuming no prior knowledge by the reader, and then to discuss it. Both description and discussion benefit from references, including short quotations when appropriate, to literature on the subject.
• A summary and conclusion which reminds the reader of the most significant issues dealt with in the body of the project. Any major conclusions which you wish to draw may be appropriate at the end.
• An attachment or appendix which list reference notes made in the body of the text and a bibliography on the subject. If the project included any detailed figures or statistics it may be appropriate to include these in an appendix.

General Hints

• Do most of the necessary reading in advance and highlight or take notes of important points you may want to refer to later in your project as you read. You may want to classify your reference notes under possible subject headings.
• The project should be typed and broken up into logical "chapters". While it is not an English test, the grammar, spelling and style should permit reading without irritation or confusion. Give a friend or colleague a draft for advice.
• If you quote any author put it inside quotation marks and list the reference. The reference may be a number or more usually an author's name with the full title noted in the back.
• If you are having difficulty talk to others and get advice. Those who have done projects or thesis themselves may be of most use, but use their ideas only as a guide or stimulus for your writing; otherwise you could be put off focus. Sometimes it can help to talk to yourself with or without a tape recorder. This gets the mind working. Keep a notebook to hand always - ideas may come at any time, and if you don't record them you may forget them.