|
| Final Project Components FINAL PROJECT (PRIMARY-SECONDARY RESEARCH/PRESENT) Practitioners and students must often “scan the environment,” often working in teams. They gather and evaluate primary and secondary research to answer a relevant question, and report findings clearly and credibly. To help you develop these abilities, you will prepare and present an integrated final project on a relevant topic of mutual interest. Your syllabus details both the specifications of the final project for your class, and sample final project topics. TOPIC SUBMISSION In selecting your final project topic, identify a goal, subject, issue, problem, and/or case important and interesting to you. Techniques for working in groups, researching, and presenting are in your Course Materials. To support your research, presentation, and teamwork, your team’s final project topic and project timeline (work plan) will be submitted at mid-term, and returned with constructive feedback at the next class. 1. Your proposed Final Project topic will be submitted in a 1-2 page memo that includes the proposed research question, the proposed answer, 3-5 researched findings (with sources cited) proving your answer is valid (“our answer is true because …”), and 3-5 researched findings (with sources cited) disputing your answer (“those who disagree would say …”). Sources should be current (published within the past 5 years unless referenced for historical value and noted as such), accessed through published sources, and reflect alternate points of view. 2. Your Final Project timeline is a project workplan that identifies all steps and tasks required to complete the project, and the date by which each step/task is to be completed. If your project is a team project, the timeline also includes the person each step/task is to be completed by. ORAL COMPONENT Your oral presentation will be delivered from a timed presentation outline, as learned in class, and include visuals/handouts. It should display “communication basics:” ask and answer a topic question using 80% proof, link the topic to the course, involve your audience, support conclusions, and cite all sources. Cover these points: 1. Introduction: identify your research question, briefly backgrounding the topic and its significance. 2. Relationship of the question/topic to this course: identify and define 3 relevant course terms. 3. Answer to research/topic question: present your preliminary answer; be specific. 4. Methodology: describe the secondary and primary research process you conducted to finalize your answer. 5. Proponent arguments: give 3 research findings supporting your answer (this answer is true because…), using specific facts/examples for 80% proof. Cite sources. 6. Opponent arguments: display critical thinking – give 3 research findings disagreeing with your answer (those who disagree with our answer say…), using specific facts/examples for 80% proof. Cite sources. 7. Discussion: engage the class in a thoughtful discussion of your findings; compare and contrast arguments. 8. Question and answer: invite and answer any questions classmates have. 9. Recommendations (optional): provide suggestions research supports, or suggestions for further research. 10. Conclusion: re-state your question, answer, and proof demonstrating your learning in this course. Do not include any new information. WRITTEN COMPONENT Your written submission will support and follow the format of your oral presentation. Detailed specifications are in your course materials (you will also receive a sample). Your written submission (stapled) will include: 1. Cover sheet: your topic in question form, class, section, semester, names of group members, date submitted. 2. Timed oral presentation outline: the outline used to give your presentation, as learned in class – include all segments/elements used for presenting, and the length of each segment. Cite all sources at the places used. 3. Bibliography: all sources seriously consulted in your research. Have a section for primary sources, and another section for secondary sources (see the Course Materials of your Study Guide). Use standard bibliographic format: author, title, publication/publisher, and publication date must be included for each item (website is not adequate reference information; it tells location, not validity). 4. Appendix: the questions you used to conduct primary research, hard copies of audiovisuals/ handouts used during your oral presentation, and your finalized project work plan. |
|