Research Project on Mass spectrometry Imaging of skin in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Squamous Cell

Format

1. Title Page.
There must be a separate title page, which will contain the following:
• The full, agreed title of the project
• Your full name (the author)
• The Module title (i.e. Research Project)
• The award for which the report is submitted in partial fulfilment of its requirements
• The date and year of submission

2. Table of Contents. A table of contents should be included. This should be a normai type contents page, listing the titles of major headings and subheadings and giving the page numbers at which they can be found in the report. Headings and subheadings should be numbered (e.g. 2.1, 2.2).

3. Abstract. The abstract should be between 150-200 words and be a concise summary of your project. A copy of the abstract should be included in the report after the title page. It should include an outline of the results obtained and pertinent aspects from the discussion.

4. Introduction. The introduction should be between 1,500 - 2,000 words and introduce the subject area(s) in which the project is based. It should include a brief review of the literature that specifically links to your research questions and your study aims and objectives (relevant diagrams, flow charts, pathways etc.), clearly define the aims of the project and outline what you set out to do in your project.

5. Materials and methods. This section should include details of all
methods/techniques that were used to perform the project work. The methods need not extend to detailed protocols unless this is essential to the specific topic, but the detail should be sufficient for another biologist or chemist (such as the moderator) to understand how the results were obtained. A section on data analysis and statistical methods used should be included within the methods section. For unusual material, such as specialist software, you should include the name and address of the company who designed the tools.

6. Results. This section should be and contain all the relevant results you obtain during your project. It should include all graphs and tables, charts and photographs (if applicable). These must also be supplemented by written text which should be a description and explanation of your results. This should refer to the figures and tables
used and should be understandable without reference to the figures and tables.

Appropriate statistical procedures should be undertaken. All raw data should not be
included. If it is needed, it may be appropriate to place this in an appendix. Units should be SI units with standard abbreviations.

7. Discussion. This section should at least 1,500 words in length, it should discuss the results of your project in context with those of other workers in the same or related field and show that you can critically evaluate your own results and those previously published. It should include relevant references. For example:
....these results agree with those of Bowden and Lord (1976)
....however the results are in disagreement with the work of Jones et al (1992) who showed that.
Consideration of an interpretation and the possible relevance of the work should be attempted. This section should also include suggestions for further work.

B. References. This is a key part of your report and you should take care to follow these guidelines closely.
Referencing is an acknowledgement of the sources of the information, ideas, thoughts and data, which you have used in your work. You are required to reference or acknowledge these sources in two places:
• in the main body of your text where you use the information (citing)
• in the list of references at the end of your thesis

There are a number of systems of referencing. You will use the APA6 adopted by the University as a standard format or the RSC system for projects in the Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis courses. Full details on how to reference are found in the online book "Guide to referencing and citations" which is available via the learning centre catalogue or the project blackboard site.

General points to consider
Abbreviations/Glossary If your report contains many abbreviations or specialist terms then it may be useful to include a list of these in a separate section
Headings and subheadings. The various sections should carry subheadings, e.g. 2.1, 2.2 and figures and/or diagrams may be used whenever it is appropriate.
Tables and Figures. Tables should be denoted by Roman numerals, figures by Arabic numerals and each should appear either at an appropriate place within the text or on a separate page interposed in the relevant place in the text. Both tables and figures should be "stand alone" and have self-explanatory legends enabling their interpretation without frequent reference to the text. The legends should be either underneath or on the page opposite the relevant table or figure.