Your final course Research Paper assignment calls for you to demonstrate your grasp of the concepts covered in the course which are related to course – specific topics or issues of particular interest to you such as the use of social media in the field of emergency management and / or crisis communications.
Your research paper is worth 25% of your final grade. It should not exceed 15 double – spaced, typed pages (The minimum writing expectation is 10 double – spaced, typed pages) and must include a title page and a reference page (an abstract is optional) – none of which count toward the page total.
The most recent edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) style should guide your formatting and supporting source documentation for this assignment. As a research paper, your work is required to pose a clear thesis statement and be supported through the incorporation of independent, relevant source material which is required to be identified in a properly formatted Reference list and clearly attributed within the body of your writing via properly formatted in-text citations.
PLEASE DO NOTE AND MAKE USE OF THE ‘WRITING ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONS’ DOCUMENT AND SAMPLE PAPER ATTACHED BELOW
Note that as in your earlier, shorter weekly writing assignments, research and investigation beyond those materials indicated in the courseware will be required. Further:
Your work must have a demonstrable and clearly recognizable thesis. Papers without a clear thesis will generally receive no higher than an average grade as will papers without a clear supporting analysis of underlying ideas standing in support of the thesis.
Recall that “first person” writing is not appropriate in formal writing and papers containing first person writing will again receive no higher than an average grade.
