Final Project memo

Instructions

Data-driven story

Analyze a database or related databases and write (1) a story and (2) a report about it. Paper
must have a minimum of five pages, single space, font size 12.

You may use any database/s that was/were:

● Obtained from a government agency;

● Downloaded from a government website; or
● Created using paper records.

Inform your instructor first of the database/s you will use on or before 10 p.m. of March 13/15
to allow ample time for your analysis. Instructor must approve the database/s.

The final project must include the following:

STORY

1. News report or news summary (750-1,200 words)

The news report or summary must include key information or findings that you discovered when
you analyzed the database/s. Provide context in your analysis as well. Interview people who can
talk about the dataset, i.e., experts, government officials, or case studies.

REPORT

2. Problems found in the data

List down any problem or limit you found in the database/s using data-integrity checks. Explain
how these problems could affect your analysis. Discuss anything you do not understand about
your data.

If you did anything to clean your data, describe what you did in this section.

3. Audit trail of spreadsheet actions/queries

Enumerate these actions/queries and write a brief description of each that tells: (1) the question
you were trying to answer and (2) what you discovered.

For example:
Sort projects by contract amount

I wanted to know the most expensive project that the Quezon City Government implemented for
the year 2016. I also wanted to get an idea which projects were prioritized that year. I found that
P30 million was poured into the repair and re-gravelling of Road 1 in Project 6. The same road
section was also repaired in 2015 and 2014.

4. Law or related law discussion

Cite and summarize the law/s that govern the collection and use of the data (where applicable). If
no law applies, provide background information about the agency that collected the data. What
does the agency do? How does the agency use the data?

5. Next steps

List what you need to do to complete the reporting. Please include:

a. Other possible interviewees

Identify at least two possible sources, by name and title, to consult as you report your
project. Explain why they are relevant to your story.

b. Other related data or records

Identify other data or records that may be related to your story. Explain why these are
relevant to your story.

c. References
Identify published stories, reports, or researches related to your story. Explain why these
are relevant to your story.

d. Time, resources, and money needed

Estimate the time and money you need to complete the reporting.

6. A copy of your database/s with pivot tables, etc.

7. A copy of the record layout or any documentation needed to understand the data.

8. PowerPoint slideshow file

For bonus points, create a data visualization for your project, using Microsoft Excel or any web
tool such as Data Wrapper.

Important dates

The database proposal is due on or before 10 p.m. of March 13/15. Send me a copy of the
database/s by email with the subject head “Your Section Finals Your Surnames”. State the
database/s you will use and how you obtained it. Each group will send only one proposal; copy
all your groupmates in the email.

The final project is due on or before class time of May 29/31.

Each group will also give a 10-minute lighting talk about their project around the same week the
paper is due. Create an 8-slide (plus one title slide) presentation using PowerPoint.

Submit your written report, slideshow, data files, and supporting materials electronically, as
much as possible. Options include email or Google Drive.

How you will be graded

● How you used tools to analyze your data.

● How you analyzed your data.
● How you composed your news summary.
● How thorough you addressed each requirement in the written report.