(1) FRONT MATTER
Title Page – include your full name, contact information, and university affiliation [i.e., your department]).
Table of Contents (TOC) – this is a ‘road map’/navigational guide for your readers.
Remember to include page numbers in the document itself (insert page numbers).
List of Illustrations – this is a ‘road map’/navigational guide to the illustrations in your report (include the full name of the illustration and a page number).
Within the report, include at least two tables and/or figures. These should be strategically placed (i.e., included on the page with corresponding text. Additionally, each illustration should include a descriptive caption and correct citation (i.e., source of the illustration).
(2) BODY SECTIONS (include sub-headings per each section to help guide your reader)
Introduction
Introduce the topic.
State your purpose (“the purpose of this report is to investigate ___________”).
Provide background on the topic (cite several secondary sources to provide context).
Why does this topic matter?
Who should care about it and why?
What has been (or has not been) studied to date? [what is in the literature?]
Identify Side A/Perspective 1 (briefly state and explain). (Side A includes people who actively fight against climate change)
Identify Side B/Perspective 2 (briefly state and explain). (Side B includes people who do not believe in climate change)
Overview of Sides/Perspectives
This section is the ‘heart’ of your paper. Here you should go into great detail explaining both sides/perspectives. This portion of the paper should be at least 4 pages in length.
Side A/Perspective 1 – include at least 3 sources of evidence to explain (1 source must be scholarly). (Side A includes people who actively fight against climate change)
Side B/Perspective 2 – include at least 3 sources of evidence to explain (1 source must be scholarly). (Side B includes people who do not believe in climate change)
Conclusion: Your Position
After providing a thorough analysis of the two sides explained above, explain your position on the issue. In short, you are explaining ‘here is what I believe and why,’ and this is based on your comparison of the findings for each. (My side: Climate change is impacting agriculture)
Include several citations as evidence for your position.
Your conclusion should address not only your position but also the implications of what you found – what do these findings mean for your field at large?
Additionally, you can use the conclusion to address any limitations and/or future research directions for your study.
Recommendation
Provide a plan of action (i.e., recommendation on how to move forward). Now that you have conducted this research and taken a stance on the issue, provide a short explanation of what steps can be taken to move forward (i.e., to put your recommendation into action).
(3) BACK MATTER
List of References (at least 7 sources cited in correct APA style)
Your discussion of each side of the issue and your position must include at least one source that is scholarly in nature (i.e., from a peer-reviewed source such as a journal or textbook).
Appendix (supplemental information to further inform your readers)
This may include an interview guide, interview transcript, survey you administered, spreadsheet of additional data, or additional illustrations with pertinent information.
