FORMATs (RP) 2016

1. Report Writing

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 reader’s benefit and therefore be clear about the objectives of writing the report.

This guideline is prepared for students of all NIFT campus. Wherever any information pertaining to
specific campus, 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.
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FORMATs (RP) 2016

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OUTSIDE COVER (HARD BOUND) Format as follows (all lines justified at centre): Project should be hard
bound in black colour. 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.

S
T
U NAME OF THE PROJECT(limited to 10 words)
D
E
N
T’
S
FI
R
S
T
N
STUDENT’S NAME/NAMES
B.F.T
ech ,/
M.F.
Tech
NIFT

Department of Fashion Technology

Ye National Institute of Fashion Technology, (Campus Name)
ar Month, Year

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 FORMATs (RP) 2016

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

Name of the program

(Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)
OR
Master of Fashion Technology)

Submitted By

STUDENT’S NAME/NAMES

Under the Guidance of

NAME OF THE FACULTY GUIDE/GUIDES

Department of Fashion Technology

National Institute of Fashion Technology, (Campus Name)
Month, Year
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 FORMATs (RP) 2016

II. SEQUENCE OF CHAPTERS AND INDEX PAGE

Abstract

Certificate

Acknowledgments Page numbering in Italics

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. Introduction
2. Review of literature
3. Methodology
4. 4,5,6 Varying from project to projects
5. Results
6. Limitations and scope of further study
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography
9. Annexure

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 bird’s overview of the report. It is a 1 - 2 page abridged version of your
project.

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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 Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion
Technology (Apparel Production), of the National Institute of Fashion
Technology, Campus.
No part of this work has been copied from any other source. Material, wherever
borrowed has been duly acknowledged.”

Signature of Author/Researchers

Signature of Guide

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 FORMATs (RP) 2016

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) Sponsoring company
b) Industry coordinator(s)
c) Any other agency, organization, institutions etc. d)
Libraries visited
e) Any experts
f) Guides (External)
g) Director- NIFT and other Faculty h)
Guides (Internal)
i) Office & Department staff
j) 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.

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• 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 researcher’s 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.

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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
c ons i s t of names, a d d r e s s , tel e phone no. and c ontac t 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.

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XIV. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Projects to be submitted in two copies. One for the Guide and one for Institute (for 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

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2. Format of abstract for uploading on website

Photo of Student 2 for BFT Student Name1 (BFT /MFT)......................... Photo of student 1 for BFT /MFT
Student email :
Students phone no:

Student Name2 (BFT)........................

Student email :
Students phone no:

Faculty Mentor: (name).............

Industry Mentor: (Name with designation and

company name)
PROJECT TITLE

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Keywords: (preferably 5)
Step 6 Research Methodology
Step 5 Research Methodology
Step 4 Research Methodology
Conclusion: Objective:
Step 3 Research Methodology
Step 2 Research Methodology
Step 1 Research Methodology
Analysis: Research Methodology: Background:
2016 FORMATs (RP)