INSTRUCTIONS
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #1 – RESEARCH PAPER
In Chapter 1 of your textbook you learned about “Research Methods”. Using your new- found knowledge you will write a Research Paper for your first written assignment. Please read below for instructions.
Finding and Reading a Research Journal Article
Included in your handbook, are three different peer reviewed journal articles.
Select one journal article from the three journal articles in your handbook to use as the focus for your research paper.
Read the article to be sure you understand its focus. Each article will describe an experiment (necessary for purpose of this assignment). The article has the following sections labeled “Introduction”, “Method”, “Results”, “Discussion” and Reference Page”. You will notice the section title “Introduction” has been omitted from the journal articles in your handbook; I would like you to include the section title “Introduction” in your paper. The introduction section of your paper will demonstrate that you read the journal article and understand the research question (as stated in the title of the article). The introduction is also where the hypothesis is explained; the hypothesis explains what your research is about. Required information will come from the opening paragraphs in the journal article.
In a (minimum) two-page paper, handwritten or typed double-spaced, write a synopsis of each section in the journal article (which you selected from your handbook). Please use the section titles listed above;two to three paragraphs for each section will be acceptable.
I will expect students to include the following in each research paper.
Cover Sheet: (Page 1)
include your course name, your instructor name, assignment name, your name.
Section titles: (Pages 2 and 3) – Please center the titles on the page
Introduction – Demonstrate your understanding of the research question. List the hypothesis
which explains what your research is about. Discuss the defined variable(s).
Method – explains how the variables in the research was/is measured. Who were the
research participants?
Results – Reflect how the participant’s response was analyzed.
Discussion – Discussion on how the data was interpreted. Answers what were limitations;
speculations and practical implications.
Reference – (Page 4) Last page of research; contains names of authors written per APA
standards. Authors names are listed on first page of the journal article.
APA STANDARDS
You will be able to view the APA standards by reviewing the American Psychology Association section recorded in your Student Handbook. Turn to the pages in the back of the book which, contains the Coastline Online Library.
Research CHECKLIST:
- Did you begin each paragraph with a proper topic sentence?
2. Have you supported your arguments with documented proof or examples?
3. Any run-on or unfinished sentences?
4. Any unnecessary or repetitious words?
5. Varying lengths of sentences?
6. Does one paragraph or idea flow smoothly into the next?
7. Any spelling or grammatical errors?
8. Quotes accurate in source, spelling, and punctuation?
9. Are all references accurate and in correct format?
10. Did you avoid using
contractions? Use “cannot” instead of “can’t”, “do
not” instead of “don’t”?
11. Did you use third person as much as possible? Avoid using phrases such as “I think”, “I
guess”, “I suppose”.
12. Have you made your points clear and interesting but remained objective?
13. Did you leave a sense of completion for your reader(s) at the end of the
paper?
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #1 – RUBRIC
RESEARCH PAPER
| CRITERIA | POINTS POSSIBLE | |
| 1 | Content (Substantive) | 20 PTS |
| 2 | Spelling | 5 PTS |
| 3 | Grammar | 5 PTS |
| 4 | Title Page | 5 PTS |
| 5 | Research Sections | 10 PTS |
| 6 | Reference page | 5 PTS |
| Total Points Possible 50.0 |
