GAILY REY APRIL M.

GUZON

CAPSTONE CHAPTERS
- GUIDELINES
 MANUSCRIPT FORMAT
Based on CCS Capstone Manual and Student Paper Setup Guide, APA
Style 7th Edition
Page Size and Margins
✓ The entire document is Letter 8.5 x 11 inches.
✓ Portrait orientation
✓ 1-inch margin for top, bottom, and right. 1.5 for the left margin
Type Style
✓ Font Style – Arial
✓ Font Size – 12
✓ Font Size for Tables and Figures – 10
Line Spacing
✓ One-and-a-half (1.5) between all text lines of the manuscript.
✓ Single space table of contents
✓ One space between words
✓ Indent at beginning of each paragraph
Paragraph alignment and indentation
• Align paragraphs of text to the left margin.
• Leave the right margin ragged.
• Do not use full justification.
• Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5 inches using the tab
key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing
program.
Paragraph alignment and indentation

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Center Headings
Paragraph alignment and indentation

Background of the Study Align Left Subheadings

Page Heading, Footer, and Pagination
Page Heading, Footer, and Pagination

CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE • COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES • CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE • COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES • CARLOS HILADO MEMORIAL STATE COLLEGE •
Page Heading, Footer, and Pagination
• Every page should be assigned a number with the following
exceptions, the title page and the Approval page, which are
counted, but not numbered.
• The Title Page is considered as page ‘i’ and the Approval page ‘ii’.
• Page numbers on these pages using small Roman numerals (i.e., “iii”,
“iv”, etc.): Dedication page, Acknowledgements, Abstract, Table of
Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures.
• Beginning with Chapter 1, pages are numbered with Arabic numbers
1 and it continuous throughout the manuscript.
• NOTE: We also omit the chapter labels and page numbers on every
introductory page of a Chapter; Chapter 1, Chapter 2, …..
Headings
Major Headings
✓ Sections starting with a Major heading (Heading 1) should begin on a
new page.
✓ Do not place a major heading in the middle of the page.
Subheadings
✓ Subheadings within a chapter do not begin on a new page unless the
preceding page is filled.
✓ Subheadings at the bottom of a page require at least two lines of text
following the heading, otherwise, the heading should be pushed to
the next page.
Headings &
Subheadings
Tables
• Tables and figures must be referenced in your text.
• Figures should use word wrapping that is in line with the text.
• All tables and figures must conform to the margin requirements. Images can be
resized to meet the margin requirements OR the page may be landscape
orientation for large tables and figures.
• Do not use screenshots of tables from other sources in your work. If you have an
image of a table from another source, recreate the table in your word processor.
• All tables, even if there is only one, must be listed in a List of Tables located on
separate pages following the Table of Contents.
• The Lists of Tables should include a Table/Figure number along with descriptive
text (usually a portion of the caption)
Tables (APA Format)
• Table number in bold above the table.
• Brief title, in italics and title case, below the table number.
• No vertical lines.
• Horizontal lines only where necessary for clarity.
• Clear, concise labels for column and row headings.
• Numbers consistently formatted (e.g. with the same number of
decimal places).
• Any relevant notes below the table.
Tables (APA
Format)
Figures
• Figures may not appear on the title page or other introductory pages.
• Diagrams, drawings, graphs, charts, maps, photographs, or any other
type of illustrations should be referred to in the manuscript as
a Figure.
• Figures must be referenced in your text.
• Figures should use word wrapping that is in line with the text.
• All figures, even if there is only one, must be listed in a List of Figures
located on separate pages following the Table of Contents.
• The Lists of Figures should include a Figure number along with
descriptive text (usually a portion of the caption)
Figures (APA Format)
• Figure number in bold above the figure.
• Brief title, in italics and title case, under the figure number.
• If necessary, clear labels and legends integrated into the image.
• Any relevant notes below the figure.
Figures (APA
Format)
Large Tables and Figures
➢Large tables or figures can be placed on the page in
landscape orientation
➢The top and bottom margins should be the same as
on a regular page
Captions and Numbering
✓Alltables and figures in your paper must include a proper
caption located either above or below the table or figure. Be
consistent in placement
✓Tables and figures should be numbered and ordered
sequentially as they appear in your paper
✓Tables and figures in appendices should be captioned and
continue the numbering sequence used in the text
Where to place tables and figures
• You have two options for the placement of tables and figures in APA Style:
• Option 1: Place tables and figures throughout your text, shortly after the
parts of the text that refer to them.
• Option 2: Place them all together at the end of your text (after the
reference list) to avoid breaking up the text.
• If you place them throughout the text, note that each table or figure should
only appear once. If you refer to the same table or figure more than once,
don’t reproduce it each time—just place it after the paragraph in which it’s
first discussed.
• Align the table or figure with the text along the left margin. Leave a line
break before and after the table or figure to clearly distinguish it from the
main text, and place it on a new page if necessary to avoid splitting it
across multiple pages.
Where to place
tables and
figures
References
✓Use APA 7th Edition
✓Arrange alphabetically
✓Make sure that everything you cite in the text is also in the reference
list and vice versa
✓Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches.
APA 7th Edition References APA reference entry
FORMAT

APA in-text citation

EXAMPLE
References
1.5 pt
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The Research Description/Project Context
▪ The researcher must describe the chosen problem through the background of the

study. This includes the description of the client, the existing system and its
prevailing issues based on his data gathering.
▪ Project context gives a strong justification for choosing such research problem or
rationale.
▪ Finally, in the project context, provide a statement that shows the relationship
among the rationale of the study to the proposed research problem.
▪ Why is there a need of developing such system?
Background of the Study
Purpose and description
• A purpose statement is a declarative sentence which summarizes the
specific topic and goals of a document. It is typically included in the
introduction to give the reader an accurate, concrete understanding
what the document will cover and what he/she can gain from reading
it.

• NOTE: All sources must be cited and included in the References

Objectives of the Study
• A research objective is a concrete statement that describes what the
researcher is trying to achieve. A well-worded objective will be
SMART, i.e.
• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic, and
• Time-bound.
Objectives of the Study
General Objective (Level 2 Heading)
• General objectives are extensive goals to be achieved and are usually
less in number.
• The study aims to design and develop the __”Title”____ for the ________.
• Specific Objectives (Level 3 Heading)
• Specific objectives are short term and constricted in focus.
• General objectives can be broken into smaller parts to form specific
objectives.
• Most of all, specific objectives gives a clearer vision of what the study
is trying to achieve.
Objectives of the Study
• Specific Objectives (Level 3 Heading)
• Every statement must start with “To…”
• Example:
• To design the system with following features:
a.
b.
c.
• To evaluate the quality of the system.
• Experts evaluation (5 members)
• To evaluate the acceptability of the system.
• End-users evaluation (10+ members)
• To develop User Manual
Scope and Limitations of the Study
• The scope explains the nature, coverage and time frame of the study.
1st paragraph
• May explain the scope of the study including the functionalities and features
of the system, the users and level of users of the system, the expected
outputs of the system, etc.
• The limitations explains all that are NOT included in your project,
usually in the 2nd paragraph.
Significance of the Study
• Describes the contributions of the study as new knowledge and
makes findings more conclusive.
• Also, it cites the usefulness of the study to users and certain groups.
• Then, cite all the persons and groups that would benefit from the
study.
• Users from the Use Cases must also be included.
Definition of Terms
• Definition of terms gives definition to the major terms that are
relevant to your study for the clarification of the common
understanding.
• Lastly, the definition can either be conceptual or operational or both
in relation to the study only.
• Should be in chronological order.

• NOTE: All sources must be cited and included in the References

Conceptual Framework
• A conceptual framework illustrates the expected relationship
between your variables. It defines the relevant objectives for
your research process and maps out how they come together to draw
coherent conclusions.
Conceptual Framework
IPOO Framework
• The input-process-output-outcome model is a conceptual framework used in
software development in the field of information technology.
• This model involves four main components: input, process, output , outcome and
output.
• The input refers to the data or information that is provided to the system for
processing.
• The process involves the actions or operations performed on the input to
transform it into meaningful output -> system.
• The output is the product of the processing that is generated.
• The outcome is the benefit or impact of the product to its target users.
• This model helps in understanding the flow of data and the steps involved in the
development of software systems.
FIGURE LABEL IN MANUSCRIPT
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
• In this chapter, you must start with a brief introduction about
the investigations of the researcher on the review literature and system
about the problem.
• Here, you must get your data from any book, magazines, researchers
and much more. Most of all, label your published material with local or
foreign sources.
Things to consider in writing chapter 2:
• First, include only those references that have immediate connections
or relevance for the study and to the system.
• Second, be explicit in stating the relevance of all cited literature and
system.
• Third, the review should be in the form of an integrated presentation
of all materials.
• Next, it must not contain a simple listing (annotated
bibliography/citation/reference) in APA 7th edition format
• Also, when comparing and summarizing studies, be sure to note
possible differences between samples, measurement techniques and
much more, summarize only those truly comparable sources.
Things to consider in writing chapter 2:
• Then, it is best that your sources is updated and is finished in the most
recent years. Probably, more effective if the material should not be older
than 10 years
• Another, to construct a literature review consider the following issues:
• the selection of the problem
• delimiting the scope of the problem
• demonstrating the relationship of the study to previous knowledge
• indicate the contribution of the study, and
• examine the tools and methods in investigating the problem.
• In addition, the researcher must be selective with respect to the quality of
the sources cited.
Sources
Foreign Related Literature (3)
• The foreign related studies are the studies conducted internationally or outside the Philippines.

Local Related Literature (3)

• The local related studies are the studies conducted here locally or within the Philippines only.

Foreign Prior Art Systems (3)

• The foreign related systems are the systems designed and developed internationally or outside the
Philippines.

Local Prior Art Systems (3)

• The local related studies are the systems designed and developed locally or within the Philippines only.
Feature Comparison of Local and Foreign
Related Literature
The table of comparison shows the different local and foreign prior art
systems that were compared to the “Title”. This table compares the
prior art systems and its features to the proponents’ proposed system.
Feature Comparison
of Local and Foreign
Related Literature

The table of comparison

shows the different local
and foreign prior art
systems that were
compared to the “Title”.
This table compares the
prior art systems and its
features to the proponents’
proposed system.
 CHAPTER 3
DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
Capstone Research Components
• Research Design
• Brief discussion of what research design will be used in the study
• Respondents of the Study
• Target users of the proposed system or Community where the research will be conducted and where research
participants will be drawn
• Sample Size
• When you conduct research about a group of people, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every person in that group.
Instead, you select a sample. The sample is the group of individuals who will actually participate in the research.
• The number of respondents or participants of the study
• Sampling Method
• To draw valid conclusions from your results, you have to carefully decide how you will select a sample that is
representative of the group as a whole. This is called a sampling method. There are two primary types of sampling
methods that you can use in your research:
• Probability sampling involves random selection, allowing you to make strong statistical inferences about the whole group.
• Non-probability sampling involves non-random selection based on convenience or other criteria, allowing you to easily collect
data.
• You should clearly explain how you selected your sample in the methodology section of your paper or thesis, as well as
how you approached minimizing research bias in your work.
Capstone Research Components
• Data Gathering Instrument
• Tools/Materials/Questionnaires to be used in the study as an evaluation tool

• Data Gathering Procedure

• Method of collecting data and the development of instrument for gathering data must be explained.
• How the research will be conducted, particularly the evaluation of the proposed system

• Statistical Treatment of Data

• Statistical treatment of data is a process used to convert raw data into something interpretable.
• This is done right after the data gathering.

• Ethical Considerations
• Ethical considerations in research are a set of principles that guide your research designs and practices. These principles
include voluntary participation, informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, potential for harm, and results communication.
Capstone Developmental Components Research
• System Development Method
• Choose an SDLC that you will be using as a methodology for the development
of the System (ex. Agile or RAD (Rapid Application Development))
• Explain your activities during each phases (ex. planning)
• System Architecture
• Software architecture is a set of principles that define the way software is
designed and developed.
• The system architecture diagram is a visual representation of the system
architecture. It shows the connections between the various components of
the system and indicates what functions each component performs. The
general system representation shows the major functions of the system and
the relationships between the various system components
System Architecture Example
Capstone Developmental Components Research
• Use Case Diagram
• Use Case Description
• Context Diagram
• Data Flow Diagram
• Level 1 and Level 2
• Entity Relationship Diagram
• Data Dictionary
• Hardware and Software Requirements
• Gantt Chart