Firewalls and VPNs

Research Project Introduction

Research Topic:

How are Firewalls and VPNs used in small and medium sized organizations in the United States? What are the successes and areas of concern regarding their implementation?

Assignment Requirements:

· Papers must be your original work.

. Papers must be 4-5 double-spaced pages exclusive of title page and reference page.

. No more that 5 text pages (7 overall with a title page and reference page).

. Be concise and follow academic writing guidelines.

. Contact the UC Writing Center for assistance.

· At least six references are expected and three must be peer-reviewed.

· The paper, sources, and citations are to be provided in APA 7th format.

· File formats acceptable include DOCX, DOC, and ODT.

. PDF is NOT acceptable.

Research Paper Guidelines

 

Length: If the assignment indicates 4 to 5 pages of text. Text means the content of the paper must be a minimum of 4 pages, maximum of 5, double spaced, using a standard 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman. A title page, list of sources (references), tables, figures, and appendices are not part of the text.  Assignment lengths will vary. 

Format: The paper should have a title page, text, and references. An abstract is not necessary or recommended for this assignment.

Title page: Follow the guidelines at the APA Style Website,  Title Page Setup .  The title should be short and descriptive but not a mere restatement of the topic.

Text: Double space throughout the text.  Set 1-inch margins at the top, bottom, right, and left. Do not use Align Full but rather Align Left, leave the right margin uneven, or “ragged.” Use paragraphs and indent each paragraph 5 spaces (1/2 inch). Number the pages. 

 

Essential elements of the text are the following: Introduction, Literature Review, Thesis, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion.  These are suggestions, not requirements.

Introduction and Thesis - 1 paragraph. Introduction: The introduction should get the reader’s attention and stimulate continued reading. It should lead smoothly to a statement of the thesis.  Thesis: The thesis is the main idea of the entire paper. It is the unifying force since every paragraph should relate to the thesis. It is the primary takeaway that you want your reader to remember. State the thesis explicitly in a complete sentence near the end of the introduction.

Literature Review - 1 paragraph. Briefly review the relevant professional literature used as a basis for your paper.

Methods - 3 to 4 paragraphs.

As an example - Explain the methods used by a privately held, a publicly traded, and a government organization to develop and implement ERM action plans. Questions you might address include: How did these entities identify risks and decide which ones to manage actively?  How did each overcome obstacles? How was the action plan communicated to stakeholders, if that is relevant?

Results - 3 to 4 paragraphs. As an example - What have been the short-term and long-term results of each entities implemented ERM action plan? The gains and losses? Which stakeholders have benefited most and least from the ERM action plan? Has the entity made changes in its resource management, daily operations, or overall governance as a result of its ERM action plan?

Discussion - 3 to 4 paragraphs.

As an example - Has the entity met the objectives of its ERM action plan? Does the approach to ERM provide a viable framework for risk management now? In the future?

Conclusion - 1 paragraph. The conclusion should reinforce the thesis but not simply restate it. The most effective conclusions support the thesis with a new “twist” or “edge” that adds insight or looks ahead to the future.

References documented in current APA style. Essential documentation of sources in APA style has 2 parts: (1) adequate in-text citations, and (2) a separate page titled References that lists all sources actually cited in the paper and provides full bibliographic information for each source. Do not include in References any sources that you consulted but did not actually cite in the paper.  If one or the other part of the documentation is missing, the paper is not acceptable by academic and/or professional standards. Complete, correct documentation of sources is fundamental to a research paper’s credibility.

Follow the guidelines for in-text citations at the APA Style Website,  Basic Principles of Citation

Follow the guidelines for references at the same site,  Basic Principles of Reference List Entries

Other Points:

Use only the following file types to submit the final paper: DOC, DOCX, ODT. Do not submit a PDF file. Any paper submitted as a PDF file will not be accepted.

Use complete sentences. Avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices. Avoid bulleted and numbered lists.

The use of subheadings is discouraged. Make sure you begin a new paragraph when you move from one section to another. Smooth transitions are part of the writer's job. Reliance on subheadings can serve to artificially extend the length of the paper.

Use appropriate diction and idiomatic English. Avoid the use of pronouns such as I, we, and me.

Be clear but concise. Avoid long, convoluted sentences and inflated, “flowery” language. It is a short paper, so make every word count. Follow the advice of George Orwell in Politics and the English Language:

·

. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

. Never use the passive where you can use the active [voice].

. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or jargon if you can think of an accurate English equivalent to use instead.