page last updated 4/23/22 -  / additional updates possible

 

► ► ►    the   R e s e a r c h    T h e s i s (P a p e r)

 

    shortcut to paper components & link to an online sample

    shortcut to instructions for Oral Presentation

   shortcut to this semester's PRESENTATION SCHEDULE  &  Guidelines for the Presenter & the Designated Questioner

  

 

    First-Submitted-Draft:

 

>Written Component = no later than W-4/27/22-11:59pm | via email | Word document | "Hard Copy" equivalent

 [additional options negotiable]
>Oral Component =5/2-through-5/9 [ presentation schedule also to be listed in course calendar] [you can volunteer for a slot in advance][ schedule to be finalized by 4/27][click for Oral Presentation Components or scroll down ]
 

 

 

 

      FINAL Draft:  

 

>Written Component = no later than exam day 5/16/22- 2:20pm   |  hard copy  |  Word document-strict A.P.A. formatting  |  . Earlier submission possible
   
   

 

 

   

 

   Written & Oral Components : Overview

 

Throughout the course, you will have been investigating (i.e. conducting original research), resulting in the composing and presenting of a _15-20 pp. (minimum) scholarly paper  {supported by approximately 15 academic sources}.  This page count does not include the title page {even though, technically, it is page 1}.

 

 Remember, writing is not a finite event; it's a PROCESS.

 

At the end of the semester, you will be reporting on your findings in an oral presentation { modeled after symposium presentation style in which you summarize:  >how you conducted your study and >your findings and >the implications for future research.

      


 


 

 

►►►Rationale - Similar to a journal article, this thesis paper primarily summarizes (1) your semester's investigative focus, (2) the procedures you used to carry it out  & (3) the findings that resulted from your research.  It is also a demonstration of "everything" that you have learned as a college student and as a Communication major in terms of synthesizing material and presenting it in an organized , professional, yet audience-centered format & manner.   ADDITIONAL ADVICE: You are aiming for a research thesis, not a term paper.  It may seem counter intuitive to what you have done in many of your past courses,  but, this type of project utilizes "Inductive Reasoning".  Also,  a single investigative study usually i  more valid if it strategically limits its data collection on a focused area rather than trying to examine all (or many) of the relevant factors within the topic. [ The body of Research is "cumulative and self-correcting" and incremental  ]

 

 

►►►Components

    This paper should contain the  standard parts of a scholarly "research" report (see pp. 15- 17     {Frey =  pp. 66- 69 & also Chap 15 [381-396]  posted in Ereserves}

 __ Click for an ABBREVIATED reminder of the 7 labeled sections & a link to a sample paper on the the Purdue OWL website.  __Re-Read Frey's chapters for complete explanations.

 

 

    Be sure that you have used correct APA format throughout the paper [especially for formatting, section headings & for citation technique] as well as in the Bibliography/Works Cited section.   Papers with substantial APA errors will not pass. 

 

 

    Although you will need a title page and page numbers, since this submission is not going to an external publisher,  it is not necessary to include a "Running Head" on each page-- although you can if you want to.

    

 

    The paper should be typed/printed, double spaced and use a standard font/margins  (e.g.  Times New Roman , 12 pt.).

 

     NB: Remember,  the Review-Of-The-Literature/annotated bibliography  that you did early in the semester is NOT the same format as the Literature Review that goes into the part II of your paper. Refer to other scholarly journal articles as your model for how to write the final, narrative review-of-the-extant-literature.

 

 

     NB: You certainly are aware of the implications of academic integrity and of the need to cite sources WITHIN the body of your Thesis paper.  Be sure to reference the source of any material you may be quoting or any proprietary concept you may be using.  For a paper of this type, it is  also important to beware of "incremental plagiarism."

 


 _____
click for "Summary: Departmental 'Senior Seminar Grading Criteria'"

 

 

 

 

►►►Suggested Procedures - Refer to the Frey, et al Chapters  3 & 15  - especially pp. 66- 69 &  Chap 15 [381-396]  posted in eReserves - also accessible via Blackboard ]

 

 

 

►►►Presentation guidelines & timing

 

    In addition to submitting your written thesis/paper to the Professor, each individual will receive 7-10  minutes to present his/her findings to the class.  Q & A will follow.  This is comparable to researchers’ presentations  made at conferences to fellow scholars.  Presentation content areas should include these 6 items listed below:  [use explicit MAIN TOPIC HEADINGS & TRANSITIONS  in your oral structure to denote each of these 6 sections of your presentation]

 

           1- An explanation of where your current project falls within the larger Body-of-Knowledge.

 

           2- The details of and the rationale underlying your (as the investigator's) choices of method &

              measurement and how closely the actual research investigation corresponded to the

               original design plan -including the rationale for any changes made, as applicable ).

 

           3- A specific, but succinct, summary of how the research was carried out. [ e.g. where, with whom, 

                        how, instruments used, coding used, what  aspects of what underlying theories ]

 

           4- A discussion of what (if any) special investigative "challenges" and/or limitations were

                encountered & whether or not they affected the study's outcomes. 

 

         5- Your specific "findings" = a summary of what your research revealed . [e.g. Was your hypothesis

                       proved/disproved /or/  what is the evident answer to your research question. ]

 

         6- Your "Conclusions" = an analysis of the significance & or implications of your findings [e.g. 

                       insights into communication and/or communication behaviors / possible directions for future research in Communication fields, /  suggestions for 

                       changes in policies & procedures] 

        

       

*All presentations should make use of effective Oral Presentation technique [as you learned in COST1600]. This means you should be focused, prepared, audience-centered,  rehearsed , professional, & extemporaneous.

 

* *Since these presentations are in person, it is possible to use a  slide show or a PDF via screen sharing.  You even can show a videoclip.  However, a simple, non-visually aided  presentation is fine as well.  Please ensure your mic & your camera are enabled.

 

* Presentation dates/slots can be requested in advance. Slots will be finalized in class session no later than 4/27/22

 

 

 

  ►►►Grading Considerations & Rubrics

- The First-Submitted-Draft will receive written feedback and a "HYPOGRADE" [ i.e. a hypothetical, nonbinding indication of the grade that would be given to this submission IF being considered as the final version.]

 

- The FINAL draft, will be graded according on how closely it satisfies these five(5)criteria below ( NB: #1 is a Mandatory factor and a Final Thesis Paper CANNOT pass without meeting that requirement.) A,B,C,D, grades will be assigned based on how made other criteria are met and at what level of quality. Overall Grading Criteria

 

__  
__1- ORIGINAL RESEARCH  - Student has carried out original research via an appropriate methodology.
__2-  METHODOLOGY - Student understands & has correctly utilized the methodology procedures with zero/minimal threats to validity)
__3- WRITING CLARITY - Student has used clear (scholarly) writing skills
__4- APA STYLE SHEET - Student has consistently adhered to APA formatting for all factors (layout, headers, citations, references, running head, etc.)
__5- CORRECTIONS - Student has applied changes recommended by Professor & Peers
   

 

 

 

 

acknowledgement:   Dr. Nyberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMINDER:

 

The components of a Research Report are fairly standardized. A Critical Essay follows a similar structure but has more  of a grounded "argumentation" rather than a methodology+ findings section.  As a reminder:

 

>  I - TITLE

 

> II - ABSTRACT          [ see this tip sheet from an external source: How to Write an Abstract - PLOS]

 

> (tent: INTRODUCTION)

 

> III - LITERATURE REVIEW [the narrative]

 

> IV - METHODOLOGY

 

> V - FINDINGS [the results]

 

> VI - DISCUSSION [conclusions & implications]

 

> VII - REFERENCES

 

> (tent: APPENDICES*)

 

*some papers also need appendices (interview questionnaires / detailed data sets / supporting tables & charts / etc.)

 

Link to an APA sample Paper manuscript: click here to go to the Purdue OWL website

 

 

 

 

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