Here is the paper format, explanation of the sections and some guidelines for your paper.
Executive Summary – 150 words, central points of project. Do not say “This paper is about.” I should be able to read this and not have to read your paper. This section is written last.
Introduction – 1 to 2 pages in length. Should be compelling and engaging. This is the only time in the paper where you can use the first person (I,me,my) the rest of the Capstone is in the third person. Let us know how you personally connect to this topic, do you work in it? Have you experienced this situation? This section is written at the end.
Background/literature review – this should be up to 1/3 of your paper or around ten pages. In the background you are setting the stage, showing what exists. This section is not in your voice, this is where you highlight past events, evidence, thought processes and the current state of the situation that you are working with. Try starting at the 30,000 foot level and working down. Give demographics of the population or town you may be working with, give background on the sport or a ruling or cases, look at past clients or events or industry growth etc… Here is where you want to have stated the information that helps you make your argument for the change/opportunity you suggest in your analysis. In this section you take the information you have gathered in the articles and peer reviewed journals and use that information to construct your background. You will need to cite extensively in this section using correct APA format. Remember, assume the reader is not familiar with the sport, situation, rule etc.. Don’t get too inside baseball. You will write this section first.
Thesis Statement – The thesis statement can go many places. We usually see it after the background section because it identifies the problem or opportunity and gives a recommendation which is what you will be discussing in the next section, the analysis/body of paper. Remember it is a declarative statement – one to two sentences at most.
Research questions – They are guides for you to use to research and write, for us to understand your thought process – it is up to you if you want to include them in your final paper. If you do include them don’t have more than three and just list the questions not the answers. The analysis section will contain the information to answer your questions.
Analysis/Body of Paper – This is where you take all the background information and give us your analysis of the current situation and why it needs changed, or what can make it better, or a great business opportunity. Your analysis leads us to your suggestions/recommendations and the justification for your suggestions. Be clear in your recommendations, this is where your voice comes in to the paper. Remember this is not a book report. Use your chosen analytical tool here to look at the current state of things. You can use various tools like — SWOT Analysis, Porter’s Five, Environmental, Company and Competition Analysis / Scan Market / Demand / Product/Service Analysis / External Sector Factors / Trends / Economic & Social Conditions. Remember your chosen tool is used on the current situation and ties in your recommendations/solutions. For example, if you identify a threat in your SWOT analysis, your solution can address this threat. You can use a comparative analysis if you are using a team or league that has proven best practices that you want to implement in your solution. The analysis section is usually where your five interviews come in to play in your paper. The interview offer personal opinion and actual experience. (they can also contribute to background information).
Media/Communications – may not be relevant to all papers, include if you will need a comms plan.
Financial Considerations – You have to have a financials section. You need to give us a budget, financial considerations, profit/loss of your idea and the implementation of your plan/idea/program.
Measurement – You can use ROI or ROO on your idea/solution.
Conclusion – This is where you wrap up your paper, connect back to the introduction. It is one or two paragraphs long. This is written last.
Please keep in mind that you have to stay to 30 pages – not including the appendix. Page count starts with the Executive Summary not the Table of Contents.
You do not have to include all of your interviews or sources in your paper if they do not help your case (but still include them in your resources).
Cite everything using APA format. You can’t cite too much.
No graphs or charts are allowed in the body of the paper – put them in the appendix.
No bullets are allowed in your paper – narrative form only.
Remember that the Capstone paper should be written in the third person. The only section you can use ‘I” or “me” is in the Introduction.
