A completed capstone project must contain the following sections as the main body of the paper (page lengths in parentheses are
strong recommendations, but students must meet the minimum total page count of 30, not including references):
• Introduction (8 pages): This section serves as the introduction to the entire paper and defines the research topic, research
problem, and research question(s) in a clear, concise manner. Sometimes you’ll see this section identified as the Statement of the
Problem, but it’s so much more than that. This section also includes justifications as to why the research problem is important to
study and any deficits in existing bodies of literature. It’s OK for this section to include examples of the problem and its impact
as well as ask questions in your writing. End this section with a clearly stated Purpose of the Paper where you succinctly reiterate
the problem and what you plan to do in this paper to address it (one or more paragraphs, possibly under a Level Two Heading).
• Literature Review (16 pages): The purpose of this section is to familiarize you and your reader with research on the proposed topic
that has already been completed, including the methodologies that were employed. The literature review often provides general
background information about the issue and industry. Some of the literature may be tangentially related rather than directly related
to your research problem. The review of literature should be presented objectively and will place the student’s proposed work in a
proper research context, add validity to your project, and provide supporting information related to your research question(s). You
should not be asking questions at this point but rather stating facts and ideas from others found in the literature (NOT your
thoughts and ideas – that’s in the next section). Remember, a Financial Crime capstone project is a literature-based endeavor. The
more quality academic sources you have, the better!
• Discussion of Findings (10 pages): The Discussion of Findings section in a capstone project acts as a bridge between the Literature
Review and the Recommendations and Conclusions section. Here you will tell your reader how the literature helps to support your
proposal. Analyze all of the information you found and synthesize it into your own thoughts and words (adding your subjective “voice”
to the discussion). What major themes emerge or conclusions can you draw from the Lit Review that supports and/or counters your
proposal? What does it all mean? If it’s action-oriented, save it for the next section!
• Recommendations and Conclusion (6 pages): This section will provide substantive recommendations and conclusions regarding the
problem that has been undertaken for study. This section will include a presentation of the conclusions drawn from the study,
weighing evidence and coming to a final judgment based on the evidence that has been accumulated. This section requires analysis and
the support of conclusions with solid evidence. Are there new actions, procedures, or policies that can be recommended or explored?
In addition, future recommendations will be presented. The conclusion section summarizes the entire paper and highlights the key
points from each section of the paper.
The capstone project will be a 30 – 50 page substantive paper that is APA compliant and adheres to the formatting requirements
specified in the Thesis/Capstone Project Formatting and Submission Guide.
