Details on the Individual Research Paper:
1. Length and Style: The body of an analytic research paper should be 10 pages in length and typed using the APA Guide. Student projects distill fundamental issues, discuss the various available solutions, discuss the benefits and limitations of the available solutions, and provide a new solution and justification. Student papers must state a thesis, and based on the research, attempt to prove or disprove that thesis. An adequate literature search will include a few books and journal articles (or other relevant documents). A search of Internet documentation is required. Students should develop a conclusion which synthesizes the literature in such a way as to demonstrate new knowledge.
Guidelines for the format of the paper are as follows:
The paper should be 10-12 pages of text in length. (This minimum and maximum length should not include the title page, separate figures and tables, or the list of references);
The paper should include a one paragraph abstract, an introduction, and a conclusion – think as if you were writing for a professional journal;
The paper should use APA format (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, one inch margins, page numbers with running head in upper right corner, section titles, citations, and references in accordance with the APA standard).
2. Due Date: The finalized Research Paper is due for submission at the end of Week 8.
3. Evaluation Criteria and Feedback: The litmus test of a good research project is: “Does my research project provide the professor with new insight on my topic?” An e-mail evaluation of the paper will be provided along with the final grade.
The grade for your paper will be determined using the Individual Research Paper rubric. (See Content > Rubrics)
4. Standards for Papers: (Repeated from the UMUC Policies Entry.) Effective managers and leaders are also effective communicators. Written communication is an important element of the total communication process. The Graduate School recognizes and expects exemplary writing to be the norm for course work. All individual and group papers must demonstrate graduate level writing ability and comply with the format requirements of the Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition). Careful attention should be given to source citations, proper listing of references, and the presentation of tables and graphs. Format and graphics, however, are not always transmitted well over the Internet: there are dozens of ways in which hardware, software and networks may be incompatible. A student may mail an additional copy of his/ her research paper to the professor by Postal Service when graphics present a problem.
5. Policy and Academic Integrity (Plagiarism): (Repeated from the UMUC Policies Entry.)
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional presentation of another person’s idea or product as one’s own. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the following: copying verbatim all or part of another’s written work; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, or mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; and paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source. Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record sources of material to be cited, quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, and papers should acknowledge these sources in footnotes. The penalties on plagiarism include a zero or a grade “F” on the work in question, a grade “F” in the course, suspension with a file letter, suspension with a transcript notation, or expulsion