The Final Project for this course is a research project that you will present in the form of a formal report.

Introduction

The Final Project for this course is a research project that you will present in the form of a formal report. The project will involve several weeks of planning, organizing, researching, and writing on a single research topic of interest to you. You begin the research project early in Unit 4 because there are several tasks to complete, too many to accomplish within a single unit at the end of the course. All of these tasks address the course learning outcome regarding primary and secondary research. The preliminary research writing tasks are an important part of your unit writing tasks and will be marked on a pass-fail system. They are designed to help you optimize your grade when you submit your Final Research Report for marking.

The overall research project has three phases that reflect the approach to writing taught in this course: planning, writing, and revising. In the first phase, you must propose a topic for research, have it approved, and create and implement a research plan. Elements of the research plan involve formulating statements of need, purpose, and scope for the research, listing sources, creating a working sentence outline, and supporting outline points with research.

In the second phase, you must draft your report. The product of this phase is a draft of the body section of the final report. Each sentence from the sentence outline becomes the topic sentence of its own paragraph, and the remainder of each paragraph is composed of research findings and evaluation.

The final phase of this project is entirely devoted to writing the introduction and conclusion of your report, considering questions of revision concerning the completed report, and producing all the front and back matter for the report.

The final formal report must contain all the required elements of a formal report as discussed in the course. The report is not required to be any particular length in terms of pages or words involved; rather, the requirement is to fulfill the plans regarding purpose and scope set forth in the proposed research plan. For this reason, take care during the planning phase to properly narrow the scope of the report and address any issues.

After you have completed this Final Project, you will have demonstrated the following knowledge, skills, and attitudes:

• Selecting a suitable research topic that allows you to incorporate your own thinking with support from established credible sources

• Increase of knowledge concerning a suitable topic of your own choosing by pursuing a strategy of research

• Organizing a research plan to investigate new areas and issues within your field of study

• Producing a properly planned, written, edited, and formatted research report. • Engaging in both secondary and primary research on a topic • Experience pleasure and a sense of satisfaction from accomplishing an

important and unique task

Instructions

In the preliminary unit writing tasks leading up to your final research report, make sure you complete the various parts of this assignment as listed below:

• R e s e a r c h T o p i c S e l e c t i o n : A one- to two-page document, due by the end of Unit 4, where you propose a research topic and discuss your own interest in the topic, as well as its potential value to others.

• I n i t i a l P r o j e c t P l a n n i n g D o c u m e n t : Due by the end of Unit 7, this document includes statements of need, purpose, and scope regarding the project topic.

• T a s k L i s t : A list of smaller tasks together with deadlines for completion of each of the tasks, part of the planning template. This is due by the end of Unit 8.

• R e s e a r c h S o u r c e s L i s t : Due by the end of Unit 9, this is a list of print and online sources, that discuss the topic you have chosen to research; these sources will be of value to you in the completion of the report.

• S e n t e n c e O u t l i n e : A thesis statement for your report and sentence outline developed to three levels. This is due by the end of Unit 10.

• D r a f t : Your outline sentences together with your research (as well as any evaluative comments you have to add to the discussion) written as coherent paragraphs that will be the body section of your final report. This is due by the end of Unit 11.

When you have finished all the work listed above, you then need to produce your final formal written report. Write an introduction and conclusion for your report. Be sure to provide readers an appropriate context for your report, to inform them why they are reading it and how it fits into other research.

Although much of the preliminary stages of your research report were submitted as part of your planning document, it is necessary to submit your final research project as a separate document. Paste your draft from the planning document into a new file. This can be done any time after your draft is evaluated, or you can write your introduction and conclusion first before pasting it into a new file to edit.

After you have completed both the introduction and the conclusion, revise your overall report. Be sure to work from the ‘top down’, considering the order and structure of your largest sections before considering the order and structure of smaller sections and paragraphs. Finally, consider the wording and structure of your sentences.

After you are satisfied that your report is as well written as possible and that you have corrected all possible errors in your writing, add front and back matter to complete the formal research report.

Marking Criteria for the Final Research Report

The amount of effort that goes into a properly produced formal research report is considerable, and this Final Project is the most complete and complex requirement of this course. Pay careful attention to the four main areas upon which your writing will be evaluated: content, clarity, organization, and mechanics.

Content (40 marks)

The content of a report concerns what the report is about and what is said about the topic chosen. Some students allow the information they find to dictate their discussion entirely, while others are more careful to evaluate sources and choose the most credible information. Some simply use the first sources they find, while students that are more skilled weigh the quality of information and not just the ease of acquiring it. Finally, some students will build their entire report on information from a single source (or a limited range of sources), while others look for information confirmed in a wide range of studies. All these factors are taken into account when a report is assigned a grade for its content.

In the chart below, the number in the left column is the score out of 10, and the description on the right is the approximate level of skill reflected in the work.

1 0 Outstanding quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources

9 Very high quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources

8 High quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources

7 Quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources reflects typical (but not exceptional) university work

6 Quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources has a significant gap or flaw

5 Quality in choice of discussion provided, evidence of critical consideration, and use of available resources has multiple gaps or flaws making the work barely acceptable

1 – 4

A range of unacceptable work, including such things as mere summarizing of discussion available elsewhere or presented in the course, avoidance of the assigned topic, or unapproved modification of the topic or assignment

The resulting score out of ten is multiplied by a factor of four to give up to 40 marks for the content of your project. This represents less than half of the overall score, but it is the single most important feature assessed in the report.

Clarity (30 marks)

In this course, simple and direct language is preferred, unless the complexity arises from the actual matters discussed. Take the time to make sure each sentence, paragraph, and section have been presented in the simplest manner possible to score better in the area of clarity of discussion. Additionally, you need to correct needless complexity that arises from the order in which ideas are presented. Finally, consider whether there are incoherent places in their discussion where gaps of information occur.

The number in the left column of the chart below is the score out of 10, and the description on the right is the approximate level of skill reflected in the work.

1 0 Outstanding clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and coherence

9 Exceptional clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and coherence with a single exception involving minor vagueness or ambiguity

8 Clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and coherence with rare exceptions involving vagueness or ambiguity

7 General clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and coherence, but with some exceptions

6 Some clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and

coherence at times, but with exceptions that make the work hard to interpret overall

5 Clarity of discussion, sequence in ideas presented, and coherence are generally lacking, with commonly vague and ambiguous claims made

1 – 4

A range of unacceptable work, including such things as discussion that is very hard to interpret, ideas that are juxtaposed without explicit or obvious connection, or claims that are contrary (or contradictory) to other claims made

The resulting score out of ten is multiplied by a factor of three to give up to 30 marks for the clarity of your project.

Together, content and clarity account for 70 per cent of the evaluation of your report.

Organization (20 marks)

All good written communication is properly organized. The ideas presented reflect concern for:

• how readers will best and most easily understand the resulting document. • reasonably organized information, along with a proper context to understand

how the information fits in a wider context. • a carefully composed introduction that provides suitable background on the

topic and the writer(s) to establish credibility and a proper introduction of the report’s overall thesis.

• balancing this introduction, there must be a conclusion that indicates any recommendations that arise from the research, limitations of the research, or additional areas that were left unexplored but could be researched in future projects.

• the body of the report uses careful and creative transitional elements appropriate to the discussion so that readers can easily follow from one section to another and from one paragraph to the next.

In the chart below, the number in the left column is the score out of 10, and the description on the right is the approximate level of skill reflected in the work.

1 0

Outstanding organization of the text, including a proper introduction and conclusion that provide readers with proper context, carefully ordered paragraphs, and excellent transitions at every level of discussion

9

Proper organization of the text, including an introduction and conclusion that provide readers with proper context, carefully ordered paragraphs, and excellent transitions at every level of discussion, with rare gaps (or perhaps, weak transitions)

8

Organization of the text is good overall, including an introduction and conclusion, carefully ordered paragraphs, and transitions at every level of discussion, but with rare minor flaws, such as an introduction or conclusion that is too brief or superficial, some poor paragraphs, or weak transitions

7

Organization of the text is average overall, with an introduction and conclusion that lacks creativity, ordered paragraphs (with some exceptions), and some transitions, but lacking in some parts of the text or inadequate in some places

6 Organization of the text is flawed overall, lacking either an introduction or conclusion, lacking several transitions, or having paragraphs that are chaotic or without transitional elements

5 Organization of the text is flawed, lacking an introduction and conclusion, having transitions only rarely, and having paragraphs that are chaotic or without transitional elements

1 – 4

A range of unacceptable work, including such things as haphazard overall essay and paragraph structure, random discussion progression, or consistent lack of transitional elements

The resulting score out of ten is multiplied by a factor of two to give up to 20 marks for the organization of your report.

Mechanics (10 marks)

Poorly formatted or edited documents reflect badly on the organizations responsible for producing them, and most professional organizations are acutely aware of this. Students who take the time to ensure that no errors of this sort are found in their work will receive a high mark in this area.

The number in the left column of the chart below is the score out of 10, and the description on the right is the approximate level of skill reflected in the work.

1 0 Meticulous attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having no mechanical errors.

9 Meticulous attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having only one or two minor errors.

8 Careful attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having few minor errors (more than two but fewer than the number of paragraphs written)

7 Average attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having errors, but none that seriously affect proper interpretation of the writing.

6 Some attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having errors, including at least one that affects proper interpretation of the writing.

5 Inadequate attention to the standards of written English expressed in the course and having errors, including several that seriously affect proper interpretation of the writing.

1 – 4

A range of unacceptable work with few error-free sentences, including frequent errors that make the intent of the writer quite difficult to understand

The resulting score out of ten is used to give up to 10 marks for the mechanics of good English writing demonstrated in your report.

Your Open Learning Faculty Member will return an overall score for this Final Project but will also give a breakdown of the content, clarity, organization, and mechanics scores in order to provide more detailed feedback to you.