Term Paper Guidelines and Grading

Term Paper Guidelines and Grading

Description:

As part of this course and as an Area VI requirement, you are asked to expand your knowledge outside of our textbook & class discussions and write a term paper.

Schedule:

This is a semester long project (thus the name term paper) – not a weekend before due date.

Paper          =  100 points

PowerPoint =   30 points

Total:          = 130 points (26% of course grade)

Sources: If it is possible, as expected, to have variety of sources.

• No less than 10 sources overall. These should come from Web, Peer-reviewed Academic Journals, Periodical, &other scholarly, reputable, reliable, unbiased sources. The correct APA format should be followed consistently throughout.Other than historical information, the sources should be from 2019-20.
• A separate APA title page, APA abstract, and APA reference pages should be included and do not count toward the minimum assigned length.
• Use Times New Roman 12 point double space throughout. Do not incorporate extra line spaces between paragraphs or before or after headings or subheadings.
• Submit using Word Document – Do not submit a PDF.
• Utilize APA in-text citations throughout. Do not copy word-for-word. Quotes under 40 words should only be used sparingly and must utilize quotation marks before and after the quoted words and must be cited correctly in-text with the reference included on the reference page(s).
• No use of 1^st person! (I, we, our, my, etc).
• Follow other specific directions provided in Course Announcements, emails, and/or Instructor Videos.
• See appropriate Purdue OWL sites such as:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_headings_and_seriation.html

Outline/Contents:

The outline will be typed in a Word document with your name, major and topic listed at the top of the page.

Assigned length of paper: Minimum 15 to maximum 20 pages for the body, not including the title page, abstract, and reference pages.

The outline will have these basic parts:

Title of the Project/Paper

Research Question(s) (The guiding question(s) of the study

Hypothesis(es)(what you believe to be true about the research question(s) as you enter the study, Introduction – To include description/background history and overview of the issue

Major outline points determined from your research

Summary (looks back and highlights the major findings without mere repetition)

Conclusion (looks forward – application, forecast, recommendations)

You will fill in the major points and subpoints as you conduct your research, but you do not have to provide your summary and conclusion with the outline submission (as you are still conducting your research).  Example:
Begin with your Title, Research Questions and Hypotheses. RQ1, H1, RQ2, H2, etc.

1. Introduction/Overview – History/Background (Why has this has become an issue?)       A.  History of issue
2.   Background of issue(s)
3.   Current and future
4. Major Points – There will be multiple major points and subpoints. Your Week 5 outline should be a sketch of where your research is taking you and what you have discovered to this point.
   1. Can includevarious applicable Court Cases which are related to your topic
   2. Is it political/economy/technological?) Save your opinion for the Conclusion following your Findings.
   3. Is it business/economy or profit motivated?) Who benefits? What are the Groups?
   4. Known issues which are related to your topic (there will always be losers/winners): lost/disagreed with/why &etc)

• Summary Looks back. Highlights major points without mere repetition. Contains the answers to your research questions.

1. Conclusion – Looks forward. Where is this headed in the future? Forecasts, predictions, recommendations.

*** See Research Term Paper Rubric

Term Paper Requirements:Required File format name is important 

Your file name MUST be your

LastNameFirst(ReseachTopicName).docx (i.e. SmithJ(IdentifyTheft).docx

1. Font size Times New Roman, 12 point, double-space. APA format
2. Title page: (1) Research Title(Topic), (2) Your Name, (3) Purdue University Fort Wayne
3. Title page, Table of Contents (optional-not required), Abstract, and Reference listThese do not count in the 15-20 page assigned length.
4. Begin with your introduction or overview of topics and issues.

-First state your Research Questions followed by your hypotheses beneath them

-Background, description, and/or history of the issue. Overview of the project/paper.

-Issues, various points of views and/or court cases (Pros/Cons)

-Results of interviews, observations, focus groups, research, etc.

-Your original comments and commentary or evaluations, supported by citations.

5. Summary looks back. Highlights important points. Includes answers to research questions.
6. Conclusion – Looks forward. Forecasts, predictions, recommendations.
7. Final Paper will be submitted using the corresponding link in Brightspace.
8. PowerPoint will be submitted using the corresponding link in Brightspace.