Research Paper

As an individual project, you will research and write a 10–15 page paper on a topic related to venture capital and private markets. This paper will include at least 10 peer-reviewed sources and be APA formatted.

Three deliverables are required.

• Annotated Bibliography (worth 55 points, due in Week 3)
• Project Outline (not graded, but can be submitted in Week 5; this is an optional requirement)
• Final Paper (worth 150 points, due in Week 7)

Project Overview

Introduction 

You are required to write a detailed paper on a topic in venture capital. You can pick any topic from the list below that you like. You can also choose your own topic, but you must get approval from your professor.

• Develop a detailed history of venture capital and the impact it has had in the United States since World War II. Discuss how VC firms work—the size of the industry, the major players, and so forth.
• Develop a detailed history of global venture capital firms and the impact they have had internationally since World War II. Discuss how VC firms work—the size of the industry, the major players, and so forth.
• Discuss the impact of either the Internet Bubble in the early 2000s and/or the 2008–2009 fiscal crisis on venture capital. What changes have been made? How have they affected current issues in venture funding? What are some ways that VC firms are protecting themselves?
• How do you get funded? Write a research paper that is a guideline that details best practices and advice on how to get your idea and business funded.
• Venture capital and private equity careers. Write a paper that discusses the various careers in the investment space. What is required academically? What experience do you need? Is this a space that is growing?

The topics listed above are all interesting and relevant. Be sure that you think of various questions that your research paper is asking and develop a well-written and well-researched paper. You should have many citations throughout your 10–15 pages that demonstrate a deep understanding of the subject. Please note the questions that are listed above are just samples, and you can ask and answer other questions for your paper.

Please get started as soon as possible, because your first deliverable is due in Week 3.

Project Guidelines

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a summary of your research. In Week 3, you should have all of your research completed so that you can begin to write. You are required to have at least 10 outside sources (peer-reviewed sources) for your report.

You will list in APA format all of your research sources, and then write a short summary of each article and how you plan to use it in your paper. A simple paragraph per source will be sufficient.

If you are unaware of what an annotated bibliography is, there are many online resources available to assist you.

Please note: The items on your bibliography are meant to be part of your Final Paper. Please be sure to cite relevant research.

Example:

StyleBaker, T. (1995). Gun Control and You. Stevenson Learning Law Review, 45(2), 

...180–193.

The author researches several federal and state firearms regulations and their 

effects on the everyday citizen. By testing his hypothesis that firearms 

regulations have an inherent effect on everyday citizens, findings yield in 

support of the hypothesis. In contrast, Baker cited in an earlier study the 

complete opposite findings. I will utilize this research to develop a basis for my 

argument for gun control.

Course Outline

After you have completed your research, you begin to construct your paper. A good habit to get into when writing is to create a detailed outline of your paper.   You can elect to submit a course outline in Week 5 that will show the various sections that your paper will have. This is an optional assignment, but if you turn it in, your instructor will be able to provide feedback. The outline should look something such as the following.

1. Introduction
1. Opening Research Question
2. Purpose of Paper
3. Summary of Idea
2. Main Idea #1
1. Supporting Idea X
2. Supporting Idea Y
3. …and so forth

Final Paper

Your Final Paper is due in Week 7. This should reflect graduate-level writing and research, and your paper must be in APA format. As you turn in your polished paper, be sure that you have citations throughout the paper that are synthesized into a well-organized and cohesive document.

This paper should be at least 10 pages in length.

Good luck!

Guidelines

• Please include a title for your project. Papers must be a minimum of 10 pages in length and no more than 15 pages in length, 12-point font, and double-spaced, and must include a cover page, abstract, table of contents, introduction, body of the report, summary or conclusion, and works cited. 
• You are required to have at least 10 authoritative, outside references (anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable). These should be listed on the last page, titled Works Cited. 
• You will be required to complete an annotated bibliography, worth 50 points, by Week 3.
• You can elect to turn in a project outline in Week 5. This is a not a graded assignment.
• Appropriate citations are required. 
• All Keller Graduate School policies are in effect, including the plagiarism policy. 
• The Final Paper is due during Week 7 of this course. 
• Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A Forum discussion topic. 
• This Final Paper is worth 150 total points and will be graded on quality of research topic and quality of paper information, and use of citations, grammar, and sentence structure. 

Milestones

• Annotated Bibliography—Due Week 3
• Paper Outline—Due in Week 5 (not graded)
• Final Report—Due in Week 7

Grading Rubrics

Assignment title: Final Report

Best Practices

The following are the best practices in preparing this paper.

• Cover Page—Include who you prepared the paper for, who prepared it, and the date.
• Abstract—A brief one- to two-page summary of your research and findings
• Table of Contents—List the main ideas and section of your paper and the pages in which they are located.
• Table of Figures—Any and all pictures, figures, tables, graphs, and charts should be listed with page numbers.
• Introduction—Use a header on your paper. This will indicate that you are introducing your paper.

The purpose of an introduction or opening is to do the following.

1. Introduce the subject and why it is important.
2. Preview the main ideas and the order in which they will be covered.
3. Establish a tone of the document.

Include in the introduction a reason for the audience to read the paper. Also, include an overview of what you are going to cover in your paper and the importance of the material. (This should include or introduce the questions you are asked to answer on each assignment.)

• Body of Your Report—Use a header titled with the name of your project. Example: The Development of Hotel X—A World Class Resort. Then, proceed to break out the main ideas. State the main ideas, state major points in each idea, and provide evidence. Break out each main idea that you will use in the body of your paper. Show some type of division, such as separate sections that are labeled, a separate group of paragraphs, or headers. You would include the information that you found during your research and investigation.

Be sure to cite your work inside of your paper.

• Summary and Conclusion—Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but presents the gist of the material in fewer words than the original. An effective summary identifies the main ideas and major support points from the body of your report. Minor details are left out. Summarize the benefits of the ideas and how they affect the tourism industry.
• Work Cited—Use the citation format as specified in the Syllabus.

Additional hints on preparing the best possible project.

1. Apply a four-step process of writing: Research, plan, write, and complete.
2. Prepare an outline of your research paper before you go forward. (This is due in Week 5.)
3. Complete a first draft and then go back to edit, evaluate, and make any changes required.
4. Use visual communication to further clarify and support the written part of your report. You could use example graphs, diagrams, photographs, flowcharts, maps, drawings, animation, video clips, pictograms, tables, and Gantt charts.