Mid-Project Report

Aim, Objectives, Minimum Requirements, Deliverables, Schedule & Milestones, Progress and Scholarship/Background Research

This is the second submission by students after the start of the project. Attach a header sheet to the paper copy and post in the Coursework Postbox in the SSO by the published deadline. Please also submit an electronic copy via submit. (The electronic copy does not need the header sheet uploading.) This report will be seen and commented on by your assessor and it should therefore justify the project topic you have chosen. You should ensure that your report demonstrates that you have considered both the questions and answers relating to the type of project you are undertaking.

The header sheet requires the supervisor's signature, but it is the student's responsibility to post it by the due date (not the supervisor's). Please note that it may take two or three iterations to agree a suitable submission with your supervisor, and you should let your supervisor see an initial draft well in advance of the deadline.

The header sheet will be available from the trays opposite the SSO or can be downloaded in MS Word format.

Attached to the header sheet should be:

• your NAME,
• the overall aim of the project,
• the objectives of the project,
• the minimum requirements of the project and possible further enhancements,
• a list of deliverables,
• the project schedule,
• the progress report,
• a draft chapter on background work (including list of references).

Project Aim

This is a very brief description of the overall aim of your project. Note that this is the first submission which is seen by your assessor and it must be clear from the whole report what your project is about.

Objectives, Minimum Requirements and Deliverables

The objectives of the project are defined, achievable steps towards achieving the aim. There should be a list of project objectives, the successful completion of which should ensure that you have also successfully satisfied the project aim. There should be a statement defining the minimum that must be produced in order to deliver a solution to the problem. Suggested enhancements should then be listed.

Project Schedule

The schedule for completion of the project should relate the objectives to dates; milestones for progress should be identified. Note that milestones are identified as assessable in the 'Produce a Solution' category of the markscheme. For 40 credit projects the schedule must take into account the end of first semester exams and their revision time.

Progress Report

The report on progress (what has been done so far) may be brief, but it should be clear and accurate.

Background Research

The background research chapter should be around 10 pages and focus on the relevant background work necessary to address the objectives and deliverables of the project. This section will form the backbone of any background literature chapters in your final report. Depending on the nature of the project this may include:

• a review of literature evaluating methodologies and methods
• a review of literature evaluating tools
• a review of literature reporting the outcomes of similar projects
• a review of literature proposing particular approaches to problems

The background research section should address specifically the 'Understanding the Problem' category of the markscheme.

Submission Format

The format of this submission is deliberately left fairly vague so as to allow it to be interpreted in a suitable fashion for each of the many different types of projects being attempted. An example layout is available, and the latex for this example is available at ~scsfproj/public/latex/MidProj.

These documents should be clear and well written; typescript is preferred but not essential. Between 10 and 15 (A4) pages are expected for the mid-project report, including the cover sheet. Your supervisor or the project coordinator can advise you on whether or not it is sensible to exceed 15 pages, as the content should be relevant, but an upper limit of 20 pages is recommended. Since it is hoped that much of the background research section can be inserted into the final report, it might be worth while consulting the layout at this stage. Students should be aware that the success or otherwise of their project will, to a certain extent, be measured against the objectives, minimum requirements and milestones set at this stage: be realistic, not wishful!

Students will receive the assessor's comments on their submission early in the second term. KEEP THIS! You will hand in a copy of the marked mid-project report with each final report.