RSMT 2500
Assignment # 1: Introduction and Literature Review
Total Score: 20%
Your first major assignment for this course is to write the first two Sections I and II (see the proposal outline posted on BB) of the final Proposal (Course Learning Outcome 5 and 6). This assignment is to be submitted electronically via “Assignments” on Blackboard and will be automatically screened for academic integrity using SafeAssign. PLEASE read the instructions and the Rubric thoroughly. It is worth 20% of your final grade.
Your assignment should meet the following requirements:
• Write at least 4-5 pages paper while adhering to APA citation style.
• Use at least eight empirical sources (peer-reviewed journal articles and books).
• Each paragraph consists of at least 4-5 sentences.
• Submit on Blackboard in a standard word document format (must).
Follow APA General guidelines:
• Have a title page (Indicate accurately the purpose of the study and methods used).
• Make 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides; title page.
• Use Times New Roman font, size 12, and double-spaced the entire research paper.
• Follow APA citation style (title page, main body, reference page).
• Remember to properly reference all ideas and information using APA referencing format, to avoid the serious academic offence of plagiarism. You must use in-text citations and a list of references according to the APA citation style. For example, you must use APA in-text citations in the proposal for any idea or direct quote that you use that is not your own idea. If you find an exciting idea and put it in your own words, you must still provide an in-text citation for it. Further, this is an individual assignment. It is not a group assignment. No two proposals should resemble each other in whole or in part. See the following Humber Libraries site for guidance about how to properly reference direct quotes and paraphrased material: http://library.humber.ca/APA-MLA N.B. Failure to properly reference constitutes plagiarism and will result in an automatic grade of zero. Students who commit this serious academic offence will be reported to the college for academic misconduct.
No credit may be given if your proposal is not in the format specified below. Your proposal should have the followings:
I. INTRODUCTION [200-300 words]
• Begins with a relatively significant issue (some staggering statistics, the problem). Then, focus on the specific issue that you are interested in (a general subject area to a particular field of research)
• Provides the reader with the necessary background and setting to put the problem in the proper context.
• Establishes the context and significance of the study by summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic.
• Highlights the aspects of previous research (e.g., some methodological flaws in previous approaches)
• Discusses an issue or a question that needs to be addressed
• States an excellent idea of what the central issue of the proposal will be by the end of the introduction
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM [100 -150]
• Specify the purpose of the research (first sentence – The purpose of the study is to find out…).
• States what issues exist or what problems still need to be addressed (cite whenever required).
• States previous findings were inconclusive and contradictory (cite the earlier studies according to APA style).
• Describes the problem be researched.
• Find a research or literature gap. A research or literature gap refers to unexplored or underexplored areas with further study scope. You may realize some areas have significant scope for more research.
• Explain how your study plays a role in addressing the problem.
Research Question/s
• Writes focused, researchable, feasible, specific, and relevant research questions.
***Remember: If your proposal does not have a research question/s, your proposal will not be marked. Thus, a Zero mark will be assigned.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY [100 – 150]
• Convinces the reader on how the study will contribute and who will benefit from it
• Includes an explanation of the importance or rationale to explain to an audience why a researcher’s work is worth performing
• Examines what impact the study might have not just on the academic or scientific community but also the general public
• Identifies the practical significance of the study. Writes how an organization or the government could possibly change its policy to better serve people in need.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Definitions of Key Terms (at least 30 words for each definition – refer to published articles and book, but NOT a dictionary).: Include a list of definitions for terms and concepts that have significant meaning for your study. How do you conceptualize or define key terms used in your proposal, mainly in your research questions?
Literature Review [at least 600 words]. (You must incorporate feedback that you’ve received in your mini-lit review). This lit review section provides a perfect space for you to summarize, evaluate, and compare original studies. Focus on the literature related to your research topic. Connect the literature to your research and investigate the strengths and challenges of previous research approaches. When comparing and contrasting various research, you also show gaps in past research and how your research can fill the void. Compare and contrast the different arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings of past studies. Critique the literature write which arguments are more persuasive and why? Conclude your literature review section with an emphatic restatement of your study’s central research questions (goals). Note: don’t write an article by article or author by author.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
If you have questions or concerns about this assignment. In that case, you are encouraged to post your questions via the Discussion Board, under the “Assignment #1: Research Questions and Literature Review HELP’ Forum, so that all students can benefit from the answer and help each other. If you prefer, you are welcome to communicate with me using Course Messages or my Humber email soni.thapaoli@humber.ca
See the attached Rubric.
Developed by Soni Thapa Oli, PhD 2
RSMT 2500
Assignment # 1: Introduction and Literature Review
Total Score: 20%
Criteria
Excellent
3
Good
2
Average
1
Below Average
0.5
INTRODUCTION
The introduction is inviting, comprehensive, clear and specific to work (s), addresses the topic directly, and clearly summarizes current understanding and background information. Toward the end of the introduction, writes an excellent idea of the proposal’s central issue.
The introduction is mostly inviting, comprehensive, clear and specific to work (s), addresses the topic directly, and clearly summarizes current understanding and background information. Toward the end of the introduction, writes a very good idea of the proposal’s central issue.
The introduction makes some reference to the work(s), somehow attempts to address the topic and does not fully summarize current understanding and background information about the topic.
Does not write what the central issue of the proposal.
The introduction makes little reference to the work(s), poorly addresses the topic, and unclearly summarizes current understanding and background information.
Criteria
Excellent
2
Good
1.5
Average
1
Below Average
0.5
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Starts with the first sentence, “The purpose of the study is to find out…”
Adequately shows what problems exist or what still needs to be addressed.
Acknowledges and cites past studies.
Starts with the first sentence, “The purpose of the study is to find out…”
Mostly shows what problems still need to be addressed.
Acknowledges and cites past studies.
Does not start with the first sentence, “The purpose of the study is to find out…”
Shows some effort into what problems still need to be addressed.
Hardly any or no acknowledgments and/or cite past studies.
Does not make an effort to address the research problem.
Criteria
Excellent
2
Good
1.5
Average
1
Below Average
0
Research Questions
The research question(s) is excellent well defined, focused and researchable.
The research question(s) is good but need some modification.
The research question(s) shows some effort. Needs modifications revisions.
The research question is missing.
Criteria
Excellent
2
Good
1.5
Average
1
Below Average
0
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Exceptionally convinces the reader of the importance of the study.
Clearly identifies the theoretical and/or practical significance of the research. Specifically states how the study will fill a gap in or add to existing literature.
Mostly convinces the reader of the importance of the study. Mostly identifies the theoretical and/or practical significance of the study. Mostly states how the study will fill a gap in or add to existing literature.
Vaguely convince the reader of the study; vaguely identifies the research’s theoretical and practical significance; no concrete evidence shows how the study will fill a gap in or add to existing literature.
Does not make an effort to show the significance of the study.
Criteria
Excellent
1.5
Good
1
Average
.5
Below Average
0
LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Definition of Key terms
Exceptionally defines key terms, refer to the published articles, cites according to APA style
Mostly defines key terms, refer to the published articles, mostly cites according to APA style
Poorly defines key terms, refer to the published articles, incorrectly cites according to APA style
Missing or writes without citing any source- plagiarism
Excellent
4
Good
3
Average
2
Below Average
1
2. Literature Review
The writer exceptionally compares, contrasts, critiques, connects, and synthesize previous literature into coherent categories of information to frame the study.
Exceptionally concludes the section with an emphatic restatement of the central research question/s.
Uses at least 10 relevant peer- reviewed journal articles
The writer mostly compares, contrasts, critiques, connects, and synthesizes previous literature into coherent categories of information to frame the study.
Mostly concludes the section with an emphatic restatement of the central research question/s.
Uses at least 10 relevant peer reviewed journal articles
The writer poorly contrasts, critiques, connects, and synthesizes previous literature into coherent categories of information to frame the study.
Vaguely concludes the section with an emphatic restatement of the central research question/s.
Less than 7 peer reviewed journal articles.
The writer doesn’t synthesize previous literature into coherent categories of information to frame the study.
Summaries author by author or article by article
Does not meet the requirement.
Criteria
Excellent
1
Good
0.5
Average
0.3
Below Average
0
Grammar & Spelling
The writer makes no errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation that distract the reader from the content.
The writer rarely makes errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
The writer makes a few (3-4) errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
The writer makes many errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
Criteria
Excellent
1
Good
0.5
Average
0.3
Below Average
0
Writing Style
Writing is crisp, clear, and succinct. Words are well chosen and not repetitive. There is continuity from paragraph to paragraph and the student used appropriate headings to aid in readability.
Writing is mostly crisp, clear, and succinct. Words are mostly chosen well and not repetitive. There is continuity from paragraph to paragraph and the student mostly used appropriate headings to aid in readability.
Writing is generally vague, unnecessary words are used or words are used incorrectly. Paragraph or sentence structure may be repetitive.
It is difficult to understand what the writer is trying to express.
APA Formatting
Criteria
Excellent
0.5
Good
0.3
Average
0.2
Below Average
0
Title Page
❑ Title. The title page is according to the APA 7th edition (student title page or professional Title page)
All criteria fulfilled
3 or 4 criteria fulfilled
2 criteria fulfilled
0 criteria fulfilled
Criteria
Excellent
2
Good
1.5
Average
1
Below Average
0
In-text Citations
❑ All outside ideas properly cited
❑ All direct quote and paraphrased quotes are cited correctly.
❑ Indirect or secondary sources cited correctly.
❑ Quotations of 40 or more words correctly cited.
❑ No indication of plagiarism
100% in-text citations correct.
75% of in-text citations correct.
50% of in-text citations correct.
0 criteria fulfilled
Criteria
Excellent
1
Good
0.8
Average
0.5
Below Average
0
Reference List Criteria
❑ References listed in alphabetical order by author’s surnames, with first initials
❑ References are double spaced and properly indented
❑ Title of references page is ‘References’, centered (no bold or underline)
❑ Reference format conforms to APA citation models.
❑ In-text citation and the reference page match exactly
5 criteria fulfilled
4 criteria fulfilled
3-2 criteria fulfilled
0 criteria fulfilled
Total
/20
Late submission: A penalty of 5% a day will be assessed for overdue assignments.
Developed by Soni Thapa Oli, PhD 2