A chapter-by-chapter walkthrough to articulate your design thinking, technical execution, and real-world application impact.
Purpose of This Guide
In today’s academic and professional landscape, developing an application is only part of the journey. The real value lies in your ability to document the design process, demonstrate decision-making, and reflect on outcomes. This guide was created to help graduate students structure their capstone or thesis application design reports in a cohesive, rigorous, and professional manner.
Through clear, structured chapters, this guide helps you transform your technical build into an academic contribution—demonstrating not just what you built, but how and why.
What This Guide Covers
Each section in this instructional series aligns to one of the six foundational chapters commonly expected in a graduate-level application design report:
- Chapter 1 – Introduction
Setting up the context, defining the problem, and outlining your application’s goals. - Chapter 2 – Literature and Technology Review
Positioning your work within current research and technological practice. - Chapter 3 – Requirements and Design
Defining what your system must do and how it is structured. - Chapter 4 – Implementation
Documenting how you brought your design to life with real code and infrastructure. - Chapter 5 – Testing and Evaluation
Proving your application works—and learning from where it doesn’t. - Chapter 6 – Results, Limitations, and Future Work
Reflecting on what was achieved, what could be improved, and what lies ahead.
Why This Matters
Too often, students focus on building a working prototype and rush through documentation. But strong documentationdoes more than meet course requirements:
- It improves your clarity of thought.
- It reflects your professionalism.
- It enhances your technical communication skills.
- It can become part of a portfolio for jobs, publications, or patents.
The Pedagogical Approach
This series is based on three instructional pillars:
- Structure + Substance: Each chapter is broken down into clear sections with examples.
- Clarity + Credibility: Guidance on APA formatting, diagrams, citations, and technical accuracy.
- Reflection + Refinement: Tips to avoid common mistakes, include peer or mentor feedback, and present your work with confidence.
Ready to Start Writing?
Begin with Chapter 1, and follow along step-by-step. Whether you’re early in your design or wrapping up testing, you’ll find insights here to elevate both your application and your academic report.
Chapter 1: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=799
Chapter 2: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=804
Chapter 3: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=807
Chapter 4: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=809
Chapter 5: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=812
Chapter 6: https://www.akella.org/mani/?page_id=815