The world in which we find ourselves today is highly driven by knowledge assets rather than just physical assets. Knowledge asset in the world today is more valuable and relevant especially in creating a competitive and differential advantage with contemporaries and a nation at large. For this reason, attempts are made at micro and macro levels to increase the stock of knowledge assets as a strategic choice for increasing development at diverse levels. Early development is always a better choice, in any form of development, so as to earn the best fruit of input or labour. This means that students’ project work in their undergraduate curriculum is aimed at meeting the knowledge needs of the students, society, and the world at the level and stage when the body and mind are willing and receptive to knowledge.
Undergraduate project writing is an academic exercise usually done at the last lap of a four or five years academic journey depending on the course of study. It is an academic undertaking where a student’s leaves a statement as a part which shows that he/she traversed over a period of time. However, the statement or the content of the project may be a building block for the future undergraduate students, university, or humanity at large. When students are at the point of entry into the university they ought to know that they will leave a footprint by way of project, for this, they ought to read widely and get focused early enough. It shows what they’ve learnt as well as the problem they’ve identified and seeks solution to which can be beneficial to a group of people, society, or the nation.
In writing an undergraduate project, it is expected that it should be well organized, properly documented, and carefully edited. However, a good project expected of a student who has spent four or five good years in the university to be orderly, logical, honest, imaginative, and accurate virtues of a good scholar, and virtues which all potential scholars should aspire to acquire.
Undergraduate Project Writing
Undergraduate project writing is an academic exercise undertaken by students towards the completion of academic pursuit of a first degree as stated in first degree curriculum. It is also a task undertaken by student(s) within a given period of time in a given subject area aimed at making the student have independent capacity for inquiries and to supplement and as well complement formal teaching in his area of study. This enables the student hone-in the theoretical course work in the university. There is no doubt that the exercise will reveal to the lecturer who is assigned to supervise the student, the student’s area of strength and weaknesses. When these weaknesses are corrected during lecturer -student interaction, the student comes out to be the pride of the university which is his/her alma mater.
Most Important Aspects
A) The Problem Statement
One of the most important aspects of undergraduate project is the problem statement. You must as a matter of fact be very specific about the identified problem which necessitated the research project topics in the first place. For there will be no research without an identified problem. Your readers or audience will be much interested in knowing your statement of problem even before delving into the findings of the research proper. So you must state the problem which comes after your background of study.
B) The Project Aim
The project aim entails what the project or research sets out to achieve in the area of research. It tells your readers your main aim and purpose of carrying out the research. It is like a door that opens the research findings. As your audience will want to know why and what you intend to find out in your research which is one of the most important aspect of a research.
C) The Review Of Related Literature
The review of related literature is reviewing the findings and studies if other researchers which is related to your project topic. It is a diligent, honest effort to highlight and acknowledge the efforts made by earlier researchers in a particular area of research. However, a good literature review enables the researcher to see where there are gaps in the progression and growth of knowledge in that area of research. It is through such gaps that the researcher can hope to make his own little contribution to knowledge.
The review of related literature shows your audience that you know and understand your project very well. As regards review of related literature in your project writing, you need to ask yourself some questions such as what research has been done or carried out before that is related to your project topic, is there any research trying to solve the problem you’ve identified and wish to find solution to as well as how to contribute and close the gap in knowledge by other researchers. When you answer these questions, then you can be sure of what to look out for when reviewing related literature in your project writing.
D) Research Methodology
Methodology indicates the way the research will be carried out. Whatever methodology you intend to employ in your project writing, is highly dependent on your project topic and the variables in them. You must know the different between the primary and secondary data and which to apply in your research work. Through your research methodology, your readers are aware of how the research and findings were done as well as how you arrived at your conclusion at the end of your research. However, your research methodology must be able to convince your readers how you propose to carry out the project work.
E) Data Analysis
When it comes to data analysis, if your methodology is based on primary data you will know that you will be expected to research using questionnaire. These questionnaires will be printed and distributed to the participant and after the participant has filled and you’ve ascertain that they filled the questionnaire correctly, then you collate the data and analyze it using simple percentages but if the methodology permits the use of secondary data you collect the data from statistical bulletin for each variables on the project topic. When the data is complete you can now analyze using ordinary least square regression.
Conclusion
Conclusively, writing project and it findings is a contribution to an existing knowledge and also solves a problem. Therefore, it must be done following all that is required and the steps in project writing.