General Guidelines:
This individual assignment will allow you to demonstrate depth of knowledge from two to six of our course concepts, theories, ideas, etc. It should include an introduction and a conclusion.
When thinking about what to write about, I encourage you to focus on the things you found most important or those that resonate with you. Please choose something that you believe in or want to learn more about and go from there. When writing, please try your best to frame this as how you will use these topics to become a successful manager.
When explaining the topic(s), please provide a thorough background. This will usually involve learning a little more about the topic (if there are not academic peer-reviewed articles in Canvas) and explaining what you find most important. I am looking for what scholarly articles and other reputable sources argue.
As you write, please include your personal thoughts and ideas. You may do this in the same sections or you may separate the sections between what experts find and what you believe. I would like to see about 50% being each in this assignment.
Though this is an academic exercise, you are allowed to write in first-person (i.e. I, me, we, our). However, be careful when using “you” versus “one”. Be sure to use a size 12 Serif (e.g., Times New Roman) font with one-inch margins on all four sides. Your finished paper will be at least 2.5 pages in length.
You need to utilize course material (theories, concepts, etc.) to demonstrate that you have read, understand, and are able to apply what is being learned and discussed in this course. Be sure to use and cite course material (theories, concepts, etc.) to guide your writing (the more the better). As previously mentioned (many times), we must adequately cite sources. Basically, if you did not know specific facts, theories, etc. before taking this course, or if it is not “common knowledge”, cite it! There are many tutorials and resources available online (e.g., The Owl at Purdue).
Grading:
This paper will be graded based on (1) comprehensiveness and accuracy of course concept applications, (2) breadth and depth reflection, (3) writing quality, and (4) formatting. Frequent and thorough use and citation of relevant course material (course materials and notes) are the most important consideration in obtaining a high grade. There is not a specific format that is required (APA, MLA, etc.), but you must cite!
An “A” paper addresses all aspects of the assignment clearly and specifically. This paper explicitly demonstrates frequent and thorough use (and citation) of relevant course material. It is a well-organized, detailed, and well-written essay (including proper grammar, syntax, spelling, etc.). It is insightful, demonstrates mastery of both content and expression, and demonstrates high-level analysis. It is likely at least three pages in length
A “B” paper is a well-handled response to the assignment but weak in some aspects. For example, it may be lacking in terms of frequent and thorough use of relevant course material, it may slight one or two of the parts (e.g., one or two sections (scholarly vs. your opinion) are not adequately covered), it may not be clearly organized, or it may have some inconsistencies in expression, such as grammatical or mechanical errors (e.g., lack of paragraph indents, use of long paragraphs with multiple topics, and use of contractions). It may be under 2.5 pages in length. Analysis and insight are evident, but not as well developed.
A “C” paper is minimally competent but deficient in either content or expression. It might be descriptive with little or no analysis or use of course content; it might be general or superficial, or it might have sufficient errors in the mechanics and/or writing to interfere with the reader’s understanding. It may be written in a first-person perspective. One or more sections may be significantly underdeveloped. It may also be significantly under 2.5 pages in length and not include sufficient references.
A “D” paper has serious weaknesses in both content and expression, such as major difficulties in development (details), structure (organization and transactions), or mechanics (syntax, spelling, punctuation, grammar). One of the sections may significantly underdevelop, or one may be the focus of the paper.
