capstone project report template

Capstone Project Templates

MS & MA Degrees

Theses and Capstone Projects: Writing your thesis or capstone project report

When a final project includes a written document of some sort, students are expected to follow the appropriate MSOE style guide. There are separate style guides for undergraduate and graduate work.

The applicable style guide can be found here:

• MSOE Graduate Student Documentation and Style Guide For Technical Documents
• MSOE Undergraduate Documentation and Style Guide

Thesis and Capstone Reports

MSOE librarians work closely with graduate students and their advisers during the thesis and capstone report phase of their education. The following resources, documents and information will help you complete your final project.

Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report Format Checks

In compliance with Graduate Programs Council (GPC) Policy 4.3.009, the library is responsible for verifying that all MSOE Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report documents comply with MSOE’s format requirements.

Graduate Thesis and Capstone Report Completion

• Graduate Thesis and Capstone Document Process This document walks through the process of completing a masters thesis or capstone document, including the library publication approval check and other considerations.
• Graduate Thesis and Capstone Publication Approval Form Complete this form and submit it to the library along with the thesis or capstone project to be reviewed.
• MSOE Electronic Thesis and Capstone Project Report Permission Form Use this Form to grant MSOE permission to electronically publish a graduate degree thesis or a graduate degree capstone project report or other independent graduate degree final report or essay.
• Library “Non-Circulation Status” Request Form Complete this from to request access restrictions for a thesis or capstone report.

Personal Thesis/Capstone Bindery Request

The library offers a bindery service for graduate students interested in having copies of their thesis or capstone report bound in a durable, sturdy, and attractive hardcover binding. Students are charged a fee per volume for the service. To request binding of a thesis or capstone report, please send an email to [email protected] .

Electronic Publications at MSOE

• Electronic Publications at MSOE A selection of theses and final capstone project reports completed by graduate students at MSOE that have been approved for electronic dissemination.

MSOE electronic publication provides the broadest possible method of disseminating your work. With electronic publication, the full text of your electronic thesis, capstone project report, or final independent report or essay is freely accessible world-wide on the Internet. Electronic publication of your document typically results in more recognition of your research work, wider dissemination of scholarly information, and acceleration of research.

The MSOE Library invites MSOE graduate students who have completed an approved master's thesis, capstone project report, or other independent final report or essay to submit their work to the MSOE Institutional Repository. In order to participate, graduate students must complete and submit a Permission Form in order to enable MSOE to electronically publish their work.

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• Last Updated: Feb 9, 2024 8:42 AM
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Capstone Project Formats

Mect410/meng410 - intro to capstone design.

• Report Format 

MECT411/MENG411 - Capstone Team Project

• Video Format  

Report Sections:

• Chapter 1- Introduction 
• Chapter 2- Literature Review  
• Chapter 3- Design and Analysis 
• Chapter 4- Manufacturing Plan 
• Chapter 5- Product Testing Plan 
• References 
• Appendix A: Electronic Media 
• Appendix B: Standards 
• Appendix C: Constraints  
• Appendix D: Project Plan 
• Appendix E: Engineering Drawings

Report Sections:

• Abstract 
• Chapter 2- Literature Review 
• Chapter 3- Design and Analysis
• Chapter 4- Manufacturing 
• Chapter 5- Product Testing 
• Chapter 6- Results & Discussion 
• Chapter 7- Conclusion & Future Works 
• Appendix A: Electronic Media 
• Appendix B: Standards 
• Appendix C: Constraints 
• Appendix E: Engineering Drawings 
• Please follow the report format
• The main report must be to the point and as brief as possible. Please include the necessary information in the report and include all other supporting material/detailed information/data in the Appendices instead of the main report). For example Catalogue Information of Materials, Components etc can be included in the Appendix - F, G. 
• For Casptone 1: Appendix - A must include the Project Poster
• For Casptone 2:  A ppendix - A must include the Complete Project Portfolio i.e. Project Poster, Pictures , Video etc. For previous projects reports, videos and posters, please check the following:
• Previous Capstone Projects Page
• Department's LinkedIn Page   https://www.linkedin.com/school/emu-mechanical-engineering-dept/ 

Referencing

• Improves traceability
• Distinguishes your own contribution
• Demonstrates the depth of reading
• Supports claims made in the text.
• Prevents accusations of plagiarism
• Motivates the readers.
• Improves the presentation of your work.
• Academic practice

What to Cite?

• The work & ideas of other researchers.
• The sources you used to construct your own arguments
• Ideas taken from others that are demonstrated inside tables.
• All figures and tables need Numbers, Titles. They may also need Citations next to the title.
• Slides that you produce for giving a presentation need to be cited as well.
• Any image, figure, table, data, equation, modelxt etc taken from another source must be cited.

  APA Format Citation Guide  

  Mendeley

Mendeley Downlaod

In academi a you bear responsibility for what you write and using somebody else's work without acknowledging the fact is highly unacceptable.  Indeed , plagiarism is taken very serious by academic institutions and, thus, you should ensure that you take every effort to avoid it by being completely honest in your work.  It is regarded as an infringement of academic principles, casts doubt on the author’s entire work and is a breach of ethical and, on occasion, legal copyright standards.  Similarly , Plagiarism is NOT tolerated at EMU.  A plagiarized assignment or report can even be awarded a mark of zero, without the opportunity for a resubmission.

• Piracy: Obtaining someone else’s printed or electronic version of work or applications of art and presenting them under one’s own name without giving appropriate credit;
• Presenting others’ research findings or ideas and applications simply by using different words or expressions or by changing part of it without giving credit;
• Submitting or presenting part of someone else’s printed or electronic version of work as your own, without giving any reference as required by academic publication rules;
• Presenting someone else’s ideas, findings and artistic applications as one’s own, without making any appropriate attributions in a manner that would leave no room for suspicion and that is parallel with the original source or the artistic applications;   
• Failing to present others’ ideas, findings, and artistic applications in a manner that would show that they are citations;
• Failing to provide information regarding the source of the quote or providing partial information regarding the source..

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Department of Mechanical Engineering Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey

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Capstone Project Proposal: What It Is And How to Write One

by  Antony W

January 2, 2023

What would be your reaction if you spent months carrying out a school project, only for it to be thrown out on grounds of being irrelevant, inadmissible, or downright outrageous? Not very happy, I would say. To avoid such scenarios and censor the type of projects being carried out, schools require that every student taking this kind of an assignment to submit a capstone project proposal first.

Every capstone project begins with a project proposal. It is submitted to your instructor or school panel that reviews and either approves or rejects it. Thus, you can also think of a proposal as a plan or project blueprint.

Given that the capstone project proposal is integral to your success in the whole thing, we at Help for Assessment are here to show you how to do it properly.

Our expertise in all forms of academic writing includes a specialty in capstone projects, which is why we’re the perfect people to help you. We will also   do your capstone project proposal for you at very affordable prices. Visit our homepage to learn more about us and what we can do for you.

Back to the capstone project proposal guide. This article will cover all the main aspects of how to write it including:

• What is a capstone project proposal
• Qualities of a good capstone project proposal
• How to write a capstone project proposal
• Format of a capstone project proposal

What is a Capstone Project Proposal? 

A capstone project proposal is a brief document that outlines what your capstone project is about, the steps you intend to follow while doing it, the resources you will need, and an outline of the project itself. It is more or less your blueprint for the entire project.

The purpose of a capstone project proposal is to help your instructor understand what your project is about. In the case where you are seeking assistance from the school such as funding or the use of school facilities, the proposal helps to convince them of why those resources should be allocated to you.

The proposal is also a big help to you as a student. Before you commit a lot of time and resources to the project, it forces you to take a look ahead at where you're going, what you want to achieve, and the investment you will need to put in to do that.

Capstone projects vary widely from discipline to discipline, but the proposal follows a standard format. Your instructor might provide you with a template and accompanying instructions, or they may not.

In any case, there are certain qualities you need to aim for if your proposal is to be successfully approved.

Qualities of a Good Capstone Project Proposal

The length of a good capstone project proposal should be between 1 and 4 pages.

Anything longer is discouraged unless your instructor says otherwise. Thus, refine it until it is concise, clear, and direct. 

2. Structured

The information flow should be clear and logical. It should be a document that a person can scan through in minutes and get what you’re talking about.

Thus, present it in an easy to understand manner.

3. Straightforward

The person reviewing your proposal wants answers to questions such as:

What is your project about? How will you do it? What resources will you need, and how will you get them? Who will be involved? 

Provide these answers simply and directly in your proposal and you stand a much better chance of impressing them. The content of the proposal should all aim toward this one goal.

4. Compelling 

The language you use should be convincing. Be confident about what you want to do, be enthusiastic, and share your enthusiasm.

Prove why you think the project will work and how relevant it is in your field.

5. Detailed

Even though the proposal should be brief, include as much detail as is needed to support your points. 

Format of a Capstone Project Proposal

This will be the same title you will use in the capstone project write-up, so take your time to craft a brief, direct, all-inclusive title for the proposal.

One way to come up with a good title is to write down the research problem as a question then craft your title in response to that question.

You should also try to make the title as intriguing as possible to get your readers interested in what you have to say.

In 150-200 words, describe what the project is about. Give the rationale for the project, i.e, why you think it is important and should be carried out.

Also, describe your methodology, analysis, and expected findings.

Think of the rationale as to the social implications of the project you are about to undertake.

How will it help the organization you work for or society at large? Describe the original contributions your project will have to the target group.

Research Problem

This is the problem statement of the project proposal. Give your thesis statement in one sentence, keeping in mind that it is the same statement you will use in the actual project write-up.

In the case of a project deliverable or creative project, describe the product you will develop, and the rationale behind it.

Describe what format your deliverable will be, e.g. a video, website, software, new curriculum, health or education program, policy paper, etc.

You should   write a descriptive literature review of all the sources you have used and cited for your project proposal including books, online sources, and papers. 

You can use these same sources in the project itself or choose to go for another set.

Methodology/Project Design

Explain how you intend to do what you want to do. Start with the method of inquiry which can include textual research, scientific experimentation, statistical data collection, qualitative study, or any other method.

Describe also, in detail, how this data will be gathered, processed, analyzed, and what resources or manpower will be needed to do this.

At the same time, explain the hypotheses and theoretical academic approaches in use which form the backbone of your project.

Detail the steps of your project and state when you expect to do what. This can usually be given in the form of a table with specific dates.

Also, state when you will be meeting with your supervisor/mentor and giving progress updates.

Description of the Final Product/Expected Results

For a research project, explain what results you expect based on existing data about the same.

For creative projects, describe what the final product will be, how you expect it to look like, and how it will work. How will it help/affect the target group? How will you evaluate its efficacy and success?

Such a project will also need specific documentation, usually called a rationale report or just a report. Describe such kind of documentation format.

Resources Needed Including Expected Budget

This is a crucial part. Give a detailed record of all the resources you expect or need to use in the course of your project.

If you need funding, give a breakdown of how the money will be used and how much in total is needed.

State how you expect it to be funded, either through school funding or external sponsorship.

In the same way, state what school resources you need. Laboratory access, data access, support by school personnel, computers, or machines belonging to the school or an outside entity, and everything in between.

Reference list

This is a list of all the citations and sources used while writing the project proposal. 

Tips on How To Write a Capstone Project Proposal

• The capstone project isn't meant to be a mere outline. Make it captivating by highlighting its real-world relevance and how it will benefit the target group. Use data where possible as proof.
• Say something about your motivation for choosing to carry out that particular project. Include some information about your background experience and why it qualifies you to carry it out. That way, your audience can connect with you and the project on a deeper level.
• Be very careful about the resources you wish to use. Restrict yourself to primary and secondary sources with a high academic credibility level. Doing so gives your project more merit.
• Follow the instructions supplied by your instructor faithfully. In many cases, you will be given a template or detailed guide about how you should format the proposal.
• Spend quality time on the title, hypotheses, and research problem. That way, your project will gain focus and have a clear scope.
• Quote sparing. Unless you have good reason to choose a quoted phrase rather than a paraphrase, stick to your own words but make sure you cite sources used.
• Review previous capstone projects and proposals done by students in your school to find out what is expected of you and get an idea on how to format your own.

Get Help With Your Capstone Project

Are you having trouble with your capstone project proposal? We strongly suggest that you get the experts involved. You cannot afford to fail at this stage because the entire project relies on it.

Let Help for Assessment handle your capstone project proposal for you and you will be assured of success. 

Thanks to our student-friendly prices, you are assured of a deal of a lifetime. Check out our service page and grab our first-time discount before it is too late!

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Project Plan Template for Capstone

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Benefits of a Capstone Project Plan Template

• Helps ensure that your capstone project is completed on time and within budget
• Conveniently organizes all of the tasks and information needed for success
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• Allows you to track progress and make revisions as needed

Main Elements of a Project Plan Template for Capstone

• Detailed plan
• Team roster
• Scope of work

How to Use a Capstone Project Plan Template

1. define your goal., 2. set milestones & deadlines., 3. identify resources & materials needed., 4. outline processes & procedures., 5. write an executive summary & conclusion statement., related project plan templates.

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6 Free Project Report Templates (Weekly Status Report Included)

Still using spreadsheets to manage your projects? Revolutionize how you manage your projects with ProjectManager. Plan, track and report with PM software.

Throughout the life of a project, you must report on a wide variety of information. This information will be compiled into different reports and passed along to managers, investors, clients and other stakeholders. From there, reports can be used to make project decisions and adjustments.

Using project report templates, like a weekly status report template, ensure these reports are created quickly and effectively.

Why Create Project Reports?

No matter how thoroughly a project is planned, the unexpected is bound to happen. Project reports document these changes, whether good or bad, and inform future strategies. Without regularly completing project reports, valuable information and insights is missed out on.

Status reports are an example of how reporting directly impacts a project, in both the short-term and long-term. These weekly reports outline many details about a project, and using a weekly status report template can save you from leaving gaps in the information. Project report templates also keep these reports consistent and organized throughout the life of the project. Disorganized, or “messy” project reporting is a major pitfall.

Using a project report template ensures you’re getting the most from the data and presenting it to stakeholders in the right way.

Free Project Report Templates

Regardless of the project report, the document must convey information concisely—but that doesn’t mean the data should suffer. The challenge is providing information in the most efficient way. A project reporting template strikes the balance between too much detail and oversimplified reports that are useless to stakeholders.

Project reporting templates make reporting easier and data more straightforward. Each of the following free project report templates is designed for a specific purpose and focuses on different information.

1. Weekly Status Report Template

A weekly project status report does exactly what one would think — documents specific information during a project. These reports should be created throughout the life of a project in order to illustrate changes, whether than be successes or failures. A weekly status report is the first step toward understanding if a project is going smoothly.

Our weekly status report template covers all the bases and presents information efficiently. This template includes major details such as an executive summary , project milestones, issues, risks and past and future projections.

This status report template also ensures the information is presented in a way that makes the most logical sense. The executive summary defines the project and discusses goals and projections. It doesn’t make sense to present potential risks and changes to stakeholders before they’re hooked on the executive summary.

2. Project Dashboard Template

A project dashboard is one of the most widely used project management tools. Our dashboard template is a visual tool to view the project’s current status, health, calendar and more. It’s a great complement to our weekly status report template.

Project dashboards can also be detrimental to productivity if they’re overcomplicated and difficult to navigate. We naturally assume it’s best to include every piece of information on a dashboard. Really, this is a one-way ticket to an unusable dashboard.

A dashboard should include tasks, task lengths, costs and workload, but it shouldn’t necessarily illustrate the minutiae of them. Use this free project dashboard template to keep it simple without needing an oversaturated dashboard.

3. Project Progress Template

A project progress template helps project managers compare actual progress against the projections and estimates included in the project plan. A progress report is a critical project management tool that works for both tracking and reporting.

4. Risk Register Template

As the project continues, new risks are bound to crop up. There’s no way to foresee every potential risk during the project planning phase, so reporting on new issues as they appear is required. This way problems are identified before they happen and you gain a better understanding of what to look out for in future projects.

A risk register should include each potential risk and the impact it could have. It should also categorize the risk and describe what steps were taken in order to avoid it.

While many of these risks will never become reality, it’s crucial to document and plan for them. Projects without risk registers walk the tightrope with no safety net. They also don’t inform future projects. Keeping a running list with this risk register template turns risks into references for the future.

5. Change Log Template

A change log is similar to a risk register. However, in a risk register, these are potential risks. In a change log, these are actual changes that took place. A change log template is where major changes in the project, what actions were taken to resolve them when the matter was resolved and other details will be listed.

Why not add this information to a weekly status report? Because these are specific, unusual circumstances throughout the life of the project that need to be in one location.

A change log template organizes the information about changes and what steps were taken to address them in one chronological list. Remember, a project report template is supposed to be a point of reference for project managers experiencing changes in future projects. An organized change log shows what responses worked in the past and what didn’t.

6. Project Closure Template

At the end of the project, it’s time to wrap up and get stakeholder sign-offs with a project closure template. This report is the final sprint in the marathon of managing a successful project. Without this final push, all the hard work up to this point loses value.

A project closure report includes documentation of everything needed to complete the project, as well as any outstanding items that have not been completed. This report should summarize objectives, criteria for completion, successes, failures and lessons learned. It should also provide information about time spent, budget, scope and schedule.

A project closure report sometimes asks for abstract information. Listing all the major takeaways from a project sounds challenging, but this free project closure template makes it as simple as following a checklist.

The Value of a Perfect Report

All too often, projects are managed without reflecting on the successes and failures of past projects. The best projects are informed by past reports and create reports with the future in mind. Using project reporting templates means each report created is part of a larger reference for the future.

Whether reporting on agile projects, programs, products, or managing any other type of project , there is a template that will benefit your reporting and end results. This can mean simplifying your workflow and improving deliverables.

Take Project Reporting Further with ProjectManager

Using project templates is an excellent first step in the project reporting process, but templates can only take you so far.

Fortunately, you can take project reports even further by using them in combination with project management software. Online project management software such as ProjectManager has the ability to create and share automated reports with the most current data. Take a free trial of ProjectManager and see just how much we can improve your project reporting experience.

Related Content

• 10 Essential Project Report Templates for Excel
• Project Status Reports: The Ultimate Guide
• Understanding the Exception Report in Project Management

ProjectManager is a cloud-based software that allows you to manage projects and create reports from anywhere. Import your project in minutes and create reports with ease. The ProjectManager dashboard shows an easy-to-navigate overview of your project, and our reporting tools give you the power to report on the information with the click of a button. See for yourself by taking this 30-day free trial today.

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