Preparing the scope statement for a research paper is perhaps the most important part of the entire research paper process. In business, a scope statement contains many essential ingredients. The project manager can then use this to charter the entire course of the operation. It saves time and money to set the scope of the project at the beginning, so it is essential that the entire team is on board with the scope. And even in a setting where a company’s bottom line is not being directly affected, like as a student in a university, the scope statement charters the entire direction of the research project. In all of this, remember that accuracy is essential.
So what is the scope exactly? Think of looking at the world through a telescope. It is possible to view the entire world, but only when the telescope is positioned toward the earth from a spaceship. When one is on the ground, the telescope only filters in one circled image at a time, depending on where the operator chooses to position it. This may be at a flower, or a lovely seascape, but it all is contingent on the vantage point that the one holding the lens is standing at. This is exactly what the scope of a research paper is; it is what the writer chooses to focus on, as well as how closely detailed or far back, the author chooses to stand from the subject. That is what a scope statement entails; it states the main objectives of the research project.
At the point where one is ready to write a scope statement, the key idea for the paper should be clear, and a set a research material will also be gathered to facilitate writing the paper. Now it is time to construct the skeleton of the scope statement. The following must be included at outlined by Elle Blake in her article “How to Prepare a Scope Statement for a Research Paper at http://www.ehow.com/how_7633946_prepare-scope-statement-research-paper.html:
- The name of the project: This label should encompass the entire morass of the endeavor in the form of a title.
- Research charter: This part is more of a list of who’s who. The charter states all the key players that are involved in the project and their roles. Make sure that the project’s stakeholders are also included in this section.
- Research justification: The research justification explains why the paper is being written. For example, it may advance knowledge in a certain area or provide a cost savings for a company or taxpayers. Basically, in this section, explain why the research paper is being written, and what the key players from the research charter hope to accomplish.
- List the deliverables (if applicable): The list will apply if there are any materials needed to complete the paper. Make sure details of how to get them and their costs are outlined. This also applies if those participating in the actual research needs additional training before the paper’s results can be materialized. Also make sure the cost is outlined; it will be needed for the next section of the scope statement.
- Cost estimate: The cost estimate is a list of the estimated price of completing the project. Make sure to mention if the research project is running in line with the actual budget. This is where costs are really broken down and analyzed.
- Acceptance page: This page or pages are where those involved in the research paper sign a disclaimer authorizing the researcher to conduct the study. It is very important to collect and save before the paper is actually written. Templates for such pages are easily found on the Internet or will be specifically provided by the research institution or company on behalf of whom the author has been commissioned to write a research paper online.
While writing a scope statement for a research paper in the English department of a university may look different from one delivered to a business to be included in the annual report, all the basic tenets of developing the scope statement are outlined above. Happy writing!
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