THE RESEARCH QUESTION & PROBLEM EXPLANATION PAPER
What is this assignment?
Using your Research Question, and 2 credible websites and 2 scholarly journal articles
related to your topic, write a 1.5- 2 page paper using 12 point Times Roman font explaining
the problem behind your research question.
In this paper, you will have to define the problem, provide a brief background of the
problem, and explain how your research question would provide answers to the
problem (note that providing answers is not the same as solving a problem!).
Use citations and list the references at the end of the paper on a reference page formatted
in APA style. How is this assignment related to your future career?
• Professionals in the field need to be able to explain a problem succinctly to those
who have absolutely no background in the topic that constitutes the problem. • When you work in the human services, it is highly likely that you may have to
complete a grant application. Grant applications are usually done online and allow a
limited space to explain and define the problem. This paper will provide practice in
learning how to explain and define a problem succinctly. What are the requirements of this assignment?
• 1.5- 2 pages of text • APA style cover sheet • APA style reference page • 2 website sources cited in the text and listed on the reference page • 2 scholarly journal articles cited in the text and listed on the reference page How will this assignment be graded? The following rubric will be used to grade this
assignment. SOC 331 Research Question Paper 2015
GRADING CRITERIA FOR RESEARCH QUESTION EXPLANATION
ASSIGNMENT
ORGANIZATION OF IDEAS
NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT 6.9 MEETS
EXPECTATIONS 7.9 EXCEEDS
EXPECTATIONS 10 PAPER ORGANIZATION
The research question
is clearly defined so
that the reader
understands the
purpose of the RQ. The research
question is difficult to
understand; is
phrased as a closed
ended question; or
does not address a
problem. The research question
may leave some
question in the
reader’s mind about
its purpose or
background of the
problem. The research question
is clearly phrased so
that readers clearly
understand the nature
of the problem. Brief background of the
research question is
provided. Background of the
problem leaves
readers with more
questions than an
understanding of the
problem. Background of the
problem may ramble
into more than one
paragraph; sources are
cited. Brief, but thorough,
background of the
problem is provided in
one well-developed
paragraph and expert
sources are cited. Explanation of how the
RQ would provide
answers to the
problem. Weak or poor or no
attempt to provide an
explanation of how
the RQ would help to
provide an answer to
the problem. An explanation of how
the RQ would provide
an answer to the
problem is given; the
explanation may be
verbose or lack
substance. Concise explanation of
how the RQ would
provide an answer to
the problem. Opinions: the student
refrains from offering
opinions and sticks to
using cited expert
opinion to support the
statements in the
paper. Opinions and
judgments are
included that are not
warranted; very few
citations are offered. Most statements in the
paper are based on
facts, examples,
statistics, or expert
opinion and
appropriately cited
with only 1-3
exceptions. Opinions are not
offered, main ideas are
succinctly summarized
without including too
much specific detail GRAMMAR & WRITING STYLE SOC 331 Research Question Paper 2015
Fewer than 10
mechanics, spelling,
usage, grammar or
punctuation errors. Exceeds 8
grammatical and/or
punctuation errors. Between 4-5 errors,
No errors whatsoever!
but they are minor and
do not detract from
the summary. Use of transitions to
connect sentences and
ideas. Choppy, sentences are Summary expresses
not connected.
the ideas of the
author; sentences
relate to one another;
may take a re-reading
to understand. This summary is easy
to read and makes
sense the first time it
is read. It is interesting
to read and smoothly
written. Correct choice of words
used, verb tenses,
avoidance of wordy
phrases, etc. Improper use of
language or slang,
wrong word choice,
appears “padded” No wrong word choice
or slang, uses correct
verb tenses. Tightly
written and uses
words to convey
meaning rather than
take up space. Occasional wrong
word choice,
somewhat wordy but
not enough to detract
from the summary.
May occasionally use
wrong verb tense. APA STYLE FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
Follows academic
writing style of using
12 point Times Roman
font, uses one-inch
margins all around,
and uses correct
Running head and
headings on
subsequent pages. Fails to meet this
Meets this criteria
criteria by obvious
with only minor (-1 or
disregard for the
2) small exceptions.
expectations stated in
the criteria. Exceeds this criteria
by completely meeting
ALL of these
requirements with NO
exception! Uses correctly
formatted citations
throughout the paper. Fails to meet this
criteria by obvious
disregard for the
expectations stated in
the criteria. Exceeds this criteria
by completely meeting
ALL of these
requirements with NO
exception! Correctly formatted
APA-style cover sheet,
and references; Fails to meet this
Meets this criteria
criteria by obvious
with only minor (3-4)
disregard (+8) for the exceptions.
expectations stated in
the criteria. TOTAL SCORE Most of the citations
are correctly
formatted; may have
-1-3 punctuation
errors, Exceeds this criteria
by completely meeting
ALL of these
requirements with NO
exceptions! SOC 331 Research Question Paper 2015 SOC 331 Research Question Paper 2015
