Assignment: Criteria and Databases

Assignment: Criteria and Databases

Assignment: Criteria and Databases

Literature Search Methods: Databases

Meets “Proficient” criteria and databases identified demonstrate keen insight into the literature review process

Identifies databases appropriate to the issue that were used in the initial search

Identifies databases that were used in the initial search, but databases are not appropriate to the issue

Does not identify databases that were used in the initial search

4.3

Literature Search Methods:

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description is in depth and includes scholarly detail

Describes inclusion and exclusion criteria appropriate to the issue for the sample of research reports

Describes inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample of research reports, but criteria are not appropriate to the issue

Does not describe inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample of research reports

4.8

Analysis and Appraisal: Quality

Meets “Proficient” criteria and analysis is exceptionally well informed and well supported

Accurately analyzes the quality of each study

Analyzes study quality, but with gaps in accuracy or detail

Does not analyze the quality of each study

4.3
Analysis and Appraisal: Strengths and

Limitations

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates novel, scholarly insight into research study characteristics

Accurately identifies each study’s strengths and limitations

Identifies study strengths and limitations, but with gaps in accuracy or detail

Does not identify each study’s strengths and limitations

4.3

Analysis and Appraisal: Gaps

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced connections between concepts

Accurately identifies gaps in literature and reflects on why they may exist

Inaccurately identifies gaps in literature, or does not reflect on why they may exist

Does not identify gaps in literature

4.3

Analysis and Appraisal: Similarities and Inconsistencies

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates novel, scholarly insight into research study characteristics

Accurately identifies similarities and differences across the studies

Identifies similarities or differences across the studies, but with gaps in accuracy or detail

Does not identify similarities and differences across the studies

4.3

Results: Evidence Table

Meets “Proficient” criteria and presentation of data is exceptionally clear and logical

Develops a comprehensive evidence table

Develops an evidence table, but with gaps in detail

Does not develop an evidence table

4.8

Results: Major Trends

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced connections between concepts

Accurately identifies major trends or patterns in the research

Identifies trends or patterns in the research, but with gaps in accuracy

Does not identify trends or patterns in the research

4.3

Results: Generalizations

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced connections between concepts

Accurately determines if generalizations can be made across studies, and justifies position

Inaccurately determines if generalizations can be made across studies, or does not justify position

Does not determine if generalizations can be made across studies

3.5

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.