PS490 Research Studies Directions: Be sure to save an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be
Lecture Notes
Final Checklist
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the tunnel and light is beaming brightly. You have arrived armed with well-earned skills in research and writing and bearing your much treasured piece of work.
Before you turn in your final paper, (there is an end to all of those revisions, after all) here’s one last checklist to ensure that all of the components of your scholarly research report are in good order.
A Practical Guide to Preparing Your Final Draft
Have you carefully proof-read your paper for spelling and punctuation? Have you used your computer’s spell-checker and then checked your paper over yourself for anything the computer might have missed?
Are there paragraphs that seem to be too long (say, a page or more), or which seem to deal with two distinctly different ideas? If so, find a way to split such paragraphs into smaller paragraphs.
Are there paragraphs which seem to short (say, a sentence or two) for no recognizable purpose? If so, join the short paragraph with another nearby paragraph or move it to another part of the paper.
Have you looked at your transitions? Look at the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Do you lead your reader through the paper, preparing him or her for what is to come and making clear connections and distinctions between one paragraph/section and the next?
Have you examined your paper for excess repetition? Does any particular word appear too often? If you find that you are using very similar thoughts, ideas, or sentences over and over, can you group them together or add a new spin the second or third time around?
Have you varied your sentence length and structure? Do you avoid using the same word to begin several sentences within the same paragraph?
Does your conclusion do more than simply repeat the introduction? Have you used material in your conclusion that might work better if it were moved to the introduction? Does your conclusion leave the reader something to think about?
Have you provided dates and place names and other details where they would be helpful?
Have you accurately and consistently cited your sources, using APA style? Have you been sure to cite quotes, paraphrased material, and summaries?
Have you used a sufficient variety of sources, according to the wishes of your instructor? Have you mixed those sources instead of using just one for several pages at a time?
Do you use signal phrases (or “lead-ins”) to prepare your reader for quoted material?
Will your reader fully understand why you’re using each particular quote?
Have you checked to be sure that your quotations are not unnecessarily long? Can you delete portions of the quote or use ellipses to shorten any overly long quotes and still make the same point? Have you set off (correctly indented) any quotes longer than three full lines
Have you underlined (or italicized) book titles? Have you used quotation marks for article titles?
Have you given your paper a unique and helpful title?
Have you numbered your pages?
(Reproduced from: George Mason University Writing Center, A Practical Guide to Preparing Your Final Draft http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/a-practical-guide-to-preparing-your-final-draft/)
And from Ashworth College:
Does the number of pages meet the requirements (minimum of 15 total pages and maximum of 20 total pages of written material)?
Will you remember to include a cover page?
Will you remember to include 1-3 pages of references/bibliography, using proper APA style formatting?
Will you remember to follow the guidelines for using proper format (double-spaced line spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and 1” margins) for your paper?
Will you remember to attach your research proposal to your final paper for submission?
One last note - Avoiding Plagiarism
For any scholarly undertaking, such as a major research and writing project, committing plagiarism is a serious offense. It is a form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is typically punishable and can result in serious consequences.
Plagiarism involves assuming credit for work that is not your original work. It may be committed unintentionally; the result of ignorance of the offense, or it may be committed intentionally. There are serious consequences for students who are guilty of committing plagiarism; therefore you must educate yourself about plagiarism.
Ashworth College - Academic Honesty Policy Statement
Academic integrity is the hallmark of excellence and the foundation of higher education which requires honesty in scholarship, research, and all course work. Students are expected at all times to submit their own work for all assignments, to present their own work and ideas in all discussions, and to properly cite original authors and others when referring to sources used. Students can succeed in their classes and programs without violating the Academic Honesty Policy.
To maintain the high quality of education provided by Ashworth College, the Faculty and Administration must address any charge of a violation of academic honesty in order to preserve the integrity of the Ashworth College’s programs. At each penalty level the case is reviewed by the Academic Review Board. The due process procedures include a formal request for inquiry and research to prove or disprove the charge. A proven violation carries academic penalties. Students who violate the Academic Honesty Policy will receive a warning on a first offense, will be put on probation for a second offense, and will be cancelled from the institution on a third offense. Students may appeal the cancellation but may not appeal the warning or the probation. The Academic Review Board reserves the right to issue any penalty subject to the severity of the violation. The result of the investigation may lead to the following disciplinary action that can include but is not limited to:
Warning
Documented counseling by staff
Attend training workshop, write a paper on academic integrity
Revision and resubmission of work
Submission of alternate assignment
Probation
Documented counseling by staff
Attend training workshop, write a paper on academic integrity
Revision and resubmission of work
Submission of alternate assignment
Fail the assignment
Cancelled from course, suspension from the institution
Cancellation
Cancellation from Ashworth College
Resources: Writing Links
The following sites have been selected as some of the most outstanding writing sites from a large number currently available online. I again recommend them to you.
"Purdue University Online Writing Lab" Use these resources for paragraphs, essays and other writing concerns. Consult the "handouts" links for an index. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl
"Writing Resources" Part of the Writing Tutorial Service sponsored by Indiana University, Bloomington. http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml
"Guide to Writing a Basic Essay" Recommended by a student, this site offers a basic and lively step-by-step guide, created by Kathy Livingston. http://members.tripod.com/lklivingston/essay/sample.html
Sponsored by the Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this site offers excellent "handouts" on all phases of academic writing including essays and papers. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/
William Strunk, Jr. “The Elements of Style”, the best little book on writing well. http://www.bartleby.com/141/
