Final Course-Research Paper

FINAL COURSE: WEEK 5 – Research paper

The focus of this paper is to explore how residential patterns affect intergroup relations. You will use research approaches such as observation and secondary data analysis to further understand your community. Remember, you should conduct the observation (Step 2 below) on the same locale for which you completed the demographic report in your Week Three assignment (Step 1 below). If you are currently overseas or have other barriers that prevent you from physically accessing a location in the U.S., please contact your instructor for alternative assignment instructions.

Step 1: Using Secondary Data
Use the data gathered on your chosen locality in the Week Three assignment, “Demographic Report,” and implement any feedback from your instructor into your paper. If more data is needed, use demographic data from the latest census (available online using the US Census American FactFinder) and identify the various social and economic characteristics (i.e., education, population, housing, race, class, etc.) of this locale. You can also check government websites for your state, county or city for data. Present your findings in two to three pages of the paper.

Step 2: Using an Observational Study 
Next, spend 30 to 60 minutes observing your community. Go to a central place in your town such as the center of the city, a major landmark, or you can drive or walk to different areas and observe for a few minutes. Take notes of what you observe, including the types of people you see, the economic conditions, as well as the businesses or other institutions that are present. Based on your observations, what can you tell about the economic condition of the majority of people? Is the locale integrated or segregated? In this step, consider the information you have gathered in Step 1 regarding social and economic characteristics, and identify whether it matches what you have recorded from your observation. Be sure to compare the data you gathered from your observations to what was found in the census data and make note if there are differences. Present your findings in one to two pages of the paper.

Step 3: Analysis and Reporting of Research
Analyze your data and present your responses in two to three pages in the paper:

• Describe how segregated the neighborhoods are in your locality. Be sure to consider the various social inequality indicators: race, ethnicity, class, gender, and perhaps sexuality for some areas.

• Indicate if there are policies, practices, or specific circumstances that have created and maintained these patterns.

Here are some examples of aspects to consider: Historically, has there always been racial segregation or not? Was it traditionally an area of immigration from a certain ethnic region? Is there an LGBT community? Was it an industrial area that had a strong working class community, or is it a technology area with highly educated citizens? Have there been efforts to desegregate or plans in the future?

• In Chapter 1 and throughout the text, you have explored several sociological theoretical perspectives. Indicate which theoretical perspective best presents your analysis of your locality. Describe why you have chosen this theoretical perspective and ensure you include detail on which theorist’s work is most representative.

The Research Paper:

• Must be seven to nine double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

• Must include a title page with the following:

  • Title of paper

  • Student’s name

  • Course name and number

  • Instructor’s name

  • Date submitted

• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.

• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

• Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

• Must use at least five scholarly resources, including a minimum of two from the Ashford University Library.

• Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

• Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment

Description:

Total Possible Score: 19.00

Total: 5.00

Distinguished - Comprehensively compares observation data to secondary data.

Proficient - Compares observation data to secondary data. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally compares observation data to secondary data.  Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compare observation data to secondary data; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The comparison of observation data and secondary data is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Total: 3.00

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive description of community segregation of locality.

Proficient - Provides a description of community segregation of locality.  Minor elements are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited description of community segregation of locality.  Relevant elements are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of community segregation of locality; however, significant elements are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of community segregation for the locality is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Total: 3.00

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive indication of policy, practice or special circumstances of the locality.

Proficient - Provides an indication of policy, practice or special circumstances of the locality. Minor elements are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited indication of policy, practice or special circumstances of the locality. Relevant elements are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an indication of policy practice or special circumstances of the locality; however, significant elements are missing.

Non-Performance - The indication of policy, practice, or special circumstances of the locality is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Total: 3.00

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive indication of which theoretical perspective best represents the analysis of the locality and describes reasons for the chosen theoretical perspective including detail on which theorist’s work is most representative.

Proficient - Provides an indication of which theoretical perspective best represents the analysis of the locality and describes reasons for the chosen theoretical perspective including detail on which theorist’s work is most representative. Minor elements are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited indication of which theoretical perspective best represents the analysis of the locality and describes reasons for the chosen theoretical perspective including detail on which theorist’s work is most representative. Relevant elements are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an indication of which theoretical perspective best represents the analysis of the locality and describes reasons for the chosen theoretical perspective including detail on which theorist’s work is most representative; however, significant elements are missing.

Non-Performance - The indication of which theoretical perspective best  represents the analysis of the locality and describes reasons for the chosen theoretical perspective including detail on which theorist’s work is most representative is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Total: 1.00

Effectively uses the draft/outline feedback in the development of the final paper.

Adequately uses the draft/outline feedback in the development of the final paper.

Uses some draft/outline feedback in the development of the final paper.

Uses minimal draft/outline feedback in the development of the final paper.

The incorporation of outline feedback in the development of the final paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Total: 1.00

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Total: 1.00

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Total: 0.50

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Total: 1.00

Distinguished - The paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - The paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - The paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - The paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.