Guidelines for Report Writing of Graduation Project

Bachelor of Fashion Technology

(Apparel Production)

Reference Manual
For Students

Department of Fashion Technology

National Institute of Fashion Technology

Introduction
A project report is a form of written communication that presents information to a specified audience in a clear and logical manner. It represents the report writer in this case the student, in absentia and therefore, should be self explanatory, self document, organized in a structured manner, and should have a logical flow of ideas. While planning the project report, the student should always keep the reader in mind. In this case the reader is the Faculty in NIFT, Industry Members, Other prospective researchers, Student community etc. Students should also decide on how much to include and how best to arrange it for the readers benefit and therefore be clear about the objectives of writing the report. This guideline is prepared for students of all NIFT centre. Wherever any information pertaining to specific centre, specific year required, the students should consult the centre co-ordinator. Some general points to follow when writing the report Write as much as you can. It is easier to drop/edit later. Be simple and direct because you are communicating with a purpose. The report should be written in a formal language (Formal English No slang, No local dialect, unless required). The report should be written in third person avoiding the usage of words such as you, me, I and we etc. The report is to be directed at public at large. The report should be written in past tense unless there is a need to talk about the present and future. In most of the reports, one will find the reference is always made to the time period of writing the report at the time of writing this report. Whatever has happened before the report was written is past tense, whatever is analyzed is in the present and whatever is being recommended is in the future tense. The report should have clarity, continuity and interest throughout the report. Each chapter, section paragraph should be linked forward and backward. The report should not look like a collection of parts of different parts. It should look like an integrated document in a sequential manner. The report should not be repetitive and monotonous in language. The sentence formation should be innovative and thought provoking. The report should have proper paragraphing, section breaks, sentences breaks, punctuation etc. Page cuttings on paragraph, tables, figures etc. should be done appropriately without affecting the flow and these should not be unnecessarily divided. The report should have proper reference of graphs, tables, figures etc. with proper references to them within the body of the report. All Annexure and Appendices should have proper reference. The report should have authenticity of reference source notation in the form of footnotes and endnotes. In other words, every document that has been referred to should be traceable with complete bibliographic details for further reading on the subject. Write the summary and abstract last because by that time you would have already seen what all has gone into the report.

OUTSIDE COVER (HARD BOUND) Format as follows (all lines justified at centre): Project should be hard bound. Front cover should have following text with gold embossing Name of the student (s) (first name/s are ok in case the name is long), degree, NIFT and passing year should be embossed on sides to ensure easy identification and trace ability of report when kept in book shelves/cupboards.

STUDENTS FIRST NAME/S B.F.Tech, NIFT Year

NAME OF THE PROJECT(limited to 10 words)

STUDENTS NAME/NAMES

Department of Fashion Technology

National Institute of Fashion Technology, (Centre Name)

Month, Year

I. INSIDE COVER (First page of report) Format as follows (all lines justified at centre):

NAME OF THE PROJECT (limited to 10 words)

A dissertation submitted in partial Fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Degree in

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)

Submitted By

STUDENTS NAME/NAMES

Under the Guidance of

NAME OF THE FACULTY GUIDE/GUIDES

Department of Fashion Technology

National Institute of Fashion Technology, (Centre Name)

Month, Year

II. SEQUENCE OF CHAPTERS AND INDEX PAGE Abstract Certificate Acknowledgments List of tables List of figures All tables and figures should be numbered in decimal indicating the chapter number and the corresponding table/figure number. Eg. Table 2.2 along with the page number. CHAPTERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction Review of literature Methodology 4,5,6 Varying from project to projects Results Limitations and scope of further study Conclusion Bibliography Annexure Page numbering in Italics

a. Annexure 1 b. Annexure 2 Certificate, Acknowledgement, Abstract page should have roman page numbers in Italics. Similarly for all attached Annexure and Appendix. Index page should also consist of separate page of List of Tables and List of Figures mentioning Titles and Page Numbers. This is compulsory in case of projects having 10 or more tables and figures. Recommendations, if any, should be a different chapter. The report should indicate further scope of research in the area as a separate chapter. This maybe along with the limitations of the study. III. ABSTRACT This is a brief and concise statement of the research area being investigated by the study, the methods used, major findings, main conclusions and summary recommendations of the study. In other words this provides a birds overview of the report. It is a 1 - 2 page abridged version of your project.

IV. KEYWORDS Keywords are the word or words or phrase that relate to a particular topic, that can be used to best describe the contents of the document and a user believes is relevant to the information he or she is seeking. Keywords may be present in the title, subject headings, contents notes, abstract, or text of a thesis or database which can be used as a search term in a free-text search to retrieve all the records containing it. Keywords are drawn from a person's natural vocabulary and allow you to type in any word you think defines your topic. Keywords are neither the same as subject headings nor necessarily the maximum occurred word in the thesis, but truly relate to the content of research. Students must mention 3-5 keywords. V. CERTIFICATE Most of the academic reports need to carry a certificate by the researcher (not by the faculty) to the effect that the material has not been copied and wherever the material has been borrowed, the same has been duly acknowledged The font should be in Italics with enough space for signatures. Name of the guide should be mentioned along with Designation, company /organization and role of the guide in the project (i.e. Faculty guide/expert guide /Industry coordinator etc.) Project will only be accepted in the department after projects are signed by the guides along with date. Format of the certificate is

This is to certify that this Project Report titled {title of the project in bold} is based on my (our) {name of the students(s) in bold} original research work, conducted under the guidance of {name of faculty guide in bold} towards partial fulfillment of the requirement for award of the Bachelors Degree in Fashion Technology (Apparel Production), of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Center. No part of this work has been copied from any other source. Material, wherever borrowed has been duly acknowledged. Signature of Author/Researchers
VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is important to acknowledge the sources from where the students have borrowed ideas, information, data etc. Students should acknowledge all those named individuals and organizations that have provided information and/or support that have made direct or indirect contribution to the project should be mentioned.

Suggested sequence of acknowledgement It must start with faculty guide, the institute followed by industry guide, sponsoring organization and their people. a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) Sponsoring company Industry coordinator(s) Any other agency, organization, institutions etc. Libraries visited Any experts Guides (External) Director- NIFT and other Faculty Guides (Internal) Office & Department staff Any worker, parents, friends etc.

Acknowledgements should be in italics The main body of the report consists of the following chapters. VII. INTRODUCTION This chapter should not be more than 3-4 pages. This chapter is an introduction of the project highlighting the need and scope of the study and this chapter should lead the reader to the objectives and sub-objectives framed in order to conduct the study. VIII. REVIEW OF LITERATURE This chapter is an appraisal of the previous work done on the topic. It is a complete review of the concepts related to the subject with a focused direction. The chapter consists of the abstracts of literature surveyed published or unpublished in academic journals, trade magazines, conference papers, govt reports, books, other similar research projects within or outside the institute. All ROL chapters should contain review of literature of only the related areas of the topic studied. Topics and sub topics are to be numbered approximately 2:0, 2,1 for main topics and 2.0.1,2.1.1. for sub topics without breaking up the topics into too many sub sub topics. Use the numbering system sensibly. Indicate all references correctly with corresponding numbers listed in the list of references at the end of the chapter. Use the super script option. All tables and figures should be numbered in decimal indicating the chapter number and the corresponding table/figure number. Eg. Table 2.2 Always refer to tables and figures as Table No or Figure no in the text. All table and figures should have sources below in Italics. For preparing List of References, refer to Bibliography.

IX. METHODOLOGY This chapter constitutes in detail the research methods and techniques applied by the student in completing the project.

 It explains the logic behind the methods used, explains the reasons for using particular methods, scope of the research, method of data collection, method of data processing and analysis, sampling method, sample size and assumptions made, if any. It is required to detail out the methodology keeping in view of the objectives framed. This chapters answers the basic questions of How the Project has been conducted? and Why it has been conducted in a particular manner?. X. OTHER CHAPTERS The final chapters that constitute the body of the report will depend upon the topic of the study. No two reports will have the same chapter layout. Each report is focused differently and each of the students will feel differently about the treatment to be given to a subject. Two groups developing reports on the same topic may end up getting two different report layouts. Even the number of chapters could vary from one report to another report .Generally, this part of the study should deal with: Presentation and analysis of secondary data available along with sources. Tabulation and analysis of primary data collected during the study. Interpretation of results of the data analysis. Discussion on these results with specific context of secondary data presented earlier. Implementation process, if any. Findings and Interpretations Conclusion and Recommendations. Generally this should include a statement of researchers major findings and each one of the recommendations should match with the objectives of the study. Each one of the recommendations should be clearly stated, un-ambiguous, leading, indication of cost effectiveness of major initiatives. Suggest step by step plan of action. Suggesting check points for control of implementation. XI. APPENDICES & ANNEXURE Appendices includes all those parts of the report which the student creates originally for the purpose of this study such as questionnaires, checklists, guidelines, formats etc. These should be listed preferably in alphabetical order, not be included in the main body These include the following -Design of questionnaires -List of respondents/Organizations - Tables of data collect from primary sources - Technical notes on research techniques (s) used by the student (such as statistical tables etc.) Annexure includes those secondary documents which the author feels should be provided for quick reference by the student. These are borrowed documents and may be critical from the readability point of view of the report. These should be numbered numerically, containing supporting information ( not collected ,but secondary in nature), relevant to the project topic. These generally include - Important Reports and/or Articles - Important Comments - Important committees and their recommendations on the subject - Glossary of terms

Each appendix and annexure should be listed separately as Appendix A, B, C etc. Appendix should also consist of names, address, telephone no. and contact persons of all those people or organizations contacted during the project. This is compulsory for all projects. Page numbering of appendix and annexure is in italics. XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY and References Each one of us refers to some documents published / Unpublished on way to completion of a report. The list of sources which have been used to complete the report is generally enclosed as a bibliography to the report. The reference footnotes/endnotes cite the authority and the specific location (page numbers) from where a statement, data, direct quotation was taken, where as the bibliography lists in one place the sources used and gives a list of each work which could be of relevance to the reader of the report. There are standard referencing guidelines freely available, students should preferably follow Harvard referencing method. XIII. TITLE The title of the report is the first and major indication of the contents of the report. By looking at the title, a reader should be able to make out what he/She can expect from the report. The title should be neutral should not pass a judgment, should be unambiguous, and should accurately reflect the subject matter of the project. Title preferably should have maximum of 10 words. XIV. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 1. Projects to be submitted in two copies. One for the Guide and one for Institute (Whether you keep in library or dept) Original copy to the department and Xerox for the library. 2. Project and presentation is to be submitted in electronic form on a rewritable CD with students name, batch and project title labeled on the disc. 3. Font size 12 ,Double spacing Font Type-Times New Roman/Arial 4. Italics and bold to be used wherever mentioned necessary. 5. No fancy fonts/styles are permissible. 6. Chapters to have a break page with the chapter mentioned at the centre of the page .Font size to be same for all chapter break pages. These pages are also to be numbered. 7. All Figures, Tables and Charts should be numbered. Numbering will follow a sequence for each chapter. These should also be accompanied by source/reference below in italics. 8. Page Numbering at the center, bottom of page, Chapter title may be printed at bottom right hard corner as a foot note in smaller font. (This is optional) 9. Binding should be of best quality to ensure longevity of the report. Matt Finish to be used only. Kindly refrain from using gloss finish