Research Project Guidelines & Grading Rubric (under construction)

Paper:
50 points total:
10 pts. - APA style
10 points - organization/flow
30 points - research, scholarship, content

Each individual in the group will write his/her own research paper.
5 pages, typewritten, in APA 5th Edition style
The "5 pages" is in addition to your title page, abstract, and bibliography pages.
The APA manual will answer all questions about format, font, margins, spacing, and more - so refer to the manual for these types of questions

For APA FAQs: http://www.apastyle.org/faqs.html

The BEST APA help page online (from Perdue):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/#resourcenav
5 sources, minimum - you may need to find more scholarly, peer reviewed articles on your topic area in order to write a solid research paper. All articles must therefore interrelate and your paper be a cohesive summary of the research on your topic.

Well-written, organized, and polished. It is assumed that your paper will be free of typos, spelling errors, and grammatical errors. One point will be deducted for each of these types of errors.

ANY plagiarism (i.e. lifting phrases/sentences from the articles in your bibliography, lifting phrases/sentences from ANY other source without quoting and acknowledging the source, copying material from the internet, or using the work of anyone else) will absolutely result in a failing of the project and a failing of the course. If you do not understand what plagiarism is or how to avoid it, it is your responsibility to come talk to me about it. Ignorance of the academic code is not an excuse for plagiarism.

PowerPoint:
35 points
Each person will design his/her own powerpoint slides (5 slides minimum - 7 maximum).
The group will then combine the slides into ONE cohesive presentation with each person having an equal portion of the presentation. This presentation will be turned in on a CD on the corresponding due date for this portion.

Slides will summarize the research in your area of the topic your group studied. You will not be able to discuss everything, so pick out the most surprising or applicable research to share in the presentation.

Slides, too, must be your original work.

Slides must also be free of typos and grammatical errors. Five (5) points will be deducted for each error of this type.

Sources in APA style must be inserted at the bottom of each slide in which you refer to the research.

Each person should utilize images in the slides that boost interest and comprehension of the subject matter. Citations are not necessary for images (as this is an in-class presentation).

Oral Presentation:
50 points
Each individual must present their topic in a well-planned, organized, and extemporaneous class presentation (as a part of their group). Each member of the group will present in an order determined by the group.

You will not use notecards, or read from notes or your slides. Reading a scripted "speech" will result in failure for the oral presentation. You will be allowed 1 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper, using the front only, typewritten in no less than 16 point font, of a key-word/phrase outline (no complete sentences). This sheet of notes, if used, must be approved before taking it up with you to speak (to be sure it is within the guidelines), and will be turned in following the presentation.

Each oral presentation must also be free of plagiarism and be your original work.

Each individual presentation will be 5 minutes in length. You should practice your presentation with your slides to ensure your presentation is at least 5 minutes and no longer than 6 minutes. If your presentation goes over 7 minutes, you will be asked to stop so we will have adequate time for all presenters.

Each individual will smoothly and effectively incorporate his/her powerpoint slides in the presentation.

Group Grade:
(15 points)
Each individual will assign all group members (including him/herself) a grade based on criteria provided by the professor via a grading form. This will be provided at the final exam.