The research paper and presentation should cover a particular field or subfield related to IST and how the topic of interest relates to other areas of IST.  For completeness it should address the fundamental issues rasied by Heilmeier's Catechism:

• What is the goal of your field and its research? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
• What is the state of the art? How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
• What's new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
• Why should anyone care?
  
• If you're successful, what difference will it make?
• What are the risks and the payoffs?
• What resources will it require?
  
• How long will it take?
• How will you know if you have succeeded; how will you evaluate your work?
  

The paper should be at least 10 pages, not including references, in the ACM double columned, single space format.  It is important to learn to adhere to publication formats since some venues will not accept documents in a different format.


There have been many excellent descriptions of what constitutes a good research presentation. Here are some: