FRONT MATTER:

• Title Page:

• Table of Contents and Table of Figures: can be on the same page; make sure right and left margins

line up; if you use an “insert” tool, make sure to adjust the font to match the body of the proposal

• Executive Summary: written especially for management, least technical vocab; 250-400 words

o Overview of entire project (including info new to the rec report, e.g. app/integration

proposal), but only major information, dates and outcomes – details will come in “report”

section below

o Chronologically organized

BODY: introduction, app recommendation, implementation plan, evaluation plan

• Introduction: this section has a number of purposes, but ultimately it provides the context and all

necessary background information for the reader to understand the report; 400-600 words

o Short history/background of technology use in the field/discipline/job; Sources must be from

trade or scholarly publications

o Problem statement – What problem(s) would using the app solve? Why is it important to

consider an app for this field/discipline job? Why should the reader care?

o Summary of research report (what apps [or at least kinds of apps] were researched, why and

how, what criteria were applied)

• Recommendation: (400-600 words)

o Add this sentence to the beginning of your recommendation if you are using any ideas or

language from your Informational Report:

▪ Some information presented in this section has come directly from an unpublished report

submitted to the supervisor on [date the research report was due].

o Brief statement of which app you chose

o Extended discussion of why this app works best – support with screenshots where

appropriate!!

▪ Functionality

▪ Audience

▪ Navigation/Usability

▪ Advantages/Opportunities

▪ Disadvantages/Constraints

▪ Cost

▪ Any other criteria you feel are necessary to cover

o Final persuasive statement of why this app works best for chosen audience in specific context

▪ “persuasive” b/c of data and reasoning

▪ Avoid vague or impressionistic praise words (“exciting” “infinite” etc.)

• Implementation Plan: detailed explanation of how to integrate into workplace (or whichever

audience/context you targeted; 300-500 words)

o Statement presenting logic of proposed steps

▪ Should include reasons for timeline, budget, and steps

▪ Chronological order plan of how app is to be integrated

▪ Use second-level subheadings for each major step – labels can be numbered steps or key

words

▪ Keep parallel format for each step

▪ Budget can be in narrative or table format

• Evaluation Plan: (200-400 words)

o Must include brief plan for evaluation of whether app is working as hoped – how would you test

for this? Should match the factors evaluated in the extended discussion of app in

Recommendation section.

BACK MATTER: references, glossary (if needed), list of symbols (if needed), appendix (if needed)

• References: (not included in word count) ALL sources used for entire project in correct APA format

• Appendix: (optional section; not included in word count) supplemental materials

Other important information for whole document:

• Highlighted information are subheadings to be used in document

• Include a shortened title and page number in header

• Pagination: Title Page and Table of Contents get no page numbers. All other front matter gets italicized Roman numerals for page numbers. The body of the text gets Arabic numerals. Here are two resources

to help you do this in Word:

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEfvn0bvNlI (“How to insert Roman, Arabic, & English page numbers in the same Word document (Easy steps)” by MJ Tube)

o https://writingcenter.missouristate.edu/assets/WritingCenter/word_formatting_page_numbers.pdf (“Formatting Page Numbers in Word: Utilizing Roman Numerals and Arabic Numbers”)

• use default (1.15) or 1.5 spacing, 12 pt. Times New Roman or Calibri font • use 1” margins all around