Assignment: Research Proposal Value This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade.  Background This assignment is the first step in your research project, which is made up of the recommendation report

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 Assignment: Research Proposal

Value

This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade.

 Background

This assignment is the first step in your research project, which is made up of the recommendation report and the formal presentation.

 

What is a Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a plan that explains what you want to study and how you want to study it. It’s a written document that you give to your instructor (or manager in an employment context) to get feedback and approval before you start your research project. The proposal should include information on what question(s) you want to answer, the research sources or data you will use, and how you intend to use the research or data. The goal of a research proposal is to demonstrate that you have a solid plan in place and have identified the research sources you will use as evidence in your report and presentation.

 

Instructions

1.     Consult the list of research questions/topics and choose one.

2.     Familiarize yourself with the topic: what do you already know about it? What experiences have you had with it? Do some preliminary Googling to better orient yourself to the topic.

3.     Do some research. Use the library databases, Google Scholar, and other search strategies to find relevant scholarly or authoritative sources that will help you answer your chosen research question. You can also look for reputable websites, books, or any other research sources that adhere to the STAR criteria.

4.     Choose the three best and most relevant research sources and make notes briefly summarizing the key points in each as well as how you plan on using the information in each source. (Take note: If you find additional sources that are relevant, keep them on hand. You may decide to add more information to your 

 

report and presentation as your research project progresses. For now, only three sources are required.)

5.     Write your proposal: write a research proposal that includes

a.      Your chosen research question

b.     An APA-formatted reference plus summary and explanation (i.e., annotation ~200-250 words) for each of your chosen research sources (the proposal will be about 500-750 words/2 pages in total)

6.     Revise and edit: once you have drafted your proposal, revise and edit it to ensure it communicates your ideas clearly in an organized and professional manner.

7.     Submit your proposal: Submit your proposal to your instructor for grading and feedback. Make any necessary changes based on their feedback before beginning your research project.

 

Notes

•        Use the Research Proposal Plan to plan the components of your assignment.

•        Use APA style to format your proposal, cite your sources, and provide complete, correct references to your research sources, and include a title page. Consult the APA guide online for guidance.

•        If generative AI tools are used, the assignment includes an AI Collaboration Note

Rubric

Criteria

Exceptional 4

Proficient 3

Developing 2

Emerging 1

No
evidence to assess 0

Quality and credibility of sources

All sources are valid,
authoritative, and clearly meet the

STAR
criteria. If AI tools are used for source discovery or evaluation, their use
is disclosed and sources are independentl y verified by the student. Source
selection reflects informed judgment.

Most sources are valid and
authoritative and meet the STAR

criteria.
AI use, if applicable,

is
disclosed and generally verified, with

minor gaps

in
evaluation.

Some
sources meet the STAR criteria, but others show gaps in authority, relevance,
or reliability. AI use is disclosed but verification is limited or
inconsistent.

Few
sources meet the STAR

criteria.
Source selection shows

limited
verification and may rely heavily on AI output, even if disclosed.

Sources
are missing, inappropriate , or not verified. AI use is not disclosed when
evident.

Source summaries and integration

Summaries clearly and
accurately represent each source. Source types and locations are identified.

Paraphrased
and quoted material is integrated using objective language, signal phrases,
and accurate in text citations. If AI tools are used, their use is disclosed,
verified against original

Summaries
are mostly clear and accurate. Integration and citation are generally
correct. AI use, if applicable,

is
disclosed and reviewed with minor gaps in verification or revision.

Summaries are

partially
accurate or incomplete. AI use is disclosed but verification or revision is
inconsistent.

Summaries

are unclear, inaccurate,
or overly dependent on AI

generated

text,
even if AI use is disclosed.

Summaries

are
missing, not verified against original sources, or AI use is not disclosed
when evident.

Criteria

Exceptional 4

Proficient 3

Developing 2

Emerging 1

No
evidence to assess 0

 

sources,
and revised by the student.

 

 

 

 

Relevance of sources to the topic or research question

Clearly
and convincingly explains how each source contributes to the topic or
research question. Student reasoning is evident. If AI tools are used, their
use is disclosed and the explanation reflects the student’s own analysis.

Explains the relevance of most
sources. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and student reasoning is
generally clear with minor reliance on

AI
phrasing.

Relevance
is identified in general terms. AI use is disclosed but explanations rely
heavily on AI generated framing or lack depth.

Relevance
of sources is weak or unclear and appears largely AI generated, even if
disclosed.

No explanation of
relevance is provided or AI use is not

disclosed
when evident.

References and citation format

All

references
are complete and correctly formatted in the required citation style. If AI
tools are used to generate or format citations, their use is disclosed and
all references are checked and corrected by the student.

References
are complete with minor formatting errors. AI use, if applicable,

is
disclosed and references are mostly accurate.

References are present but
contain multiple formatting or

completeness
errors, including uncorrected AI generated errors. AI use is disclosed.

References
are incomplete, inconsistentl y formatted, or appear incorrectly copied from
AI output, even if disclosed.

References
are missing, unusable, or AI use is not disclosed when evident.

Writing clarity and appropriatenes s for audience

Writing is clear, concise,
and appropriate to the audience. Voice is consistent and

controlled. If AI tools are

Writing is
generally clear and appropriate. AI use, if applicable,

is
disclosed and supports clarity with minor issues

Writing
is understandabl e but uneven. AI use is disclosed but may be overused or
insufficiently revised.

Writing
frequently lacks clarity or shows inconsistent voice, suggesting overreliance
on AI output, even if disclosed.

Writing is unclear or
insufficient to assess, or AI use is not

disclosed
when evident.

Criteria

Exceptional 4

Proficient 3

Developing 2

Emerging 1

No
evidence to assess 0

 

used, their use is
disclosed and the final text reflects

the
student’s own decisions and revisions.

in voice
or consistency.

 

 

 

Length and formatting requirements

Meets the
length requirement and formatting guidelines. Any AI assisted formatting or
editing is disclosed and finalized by the student.

Meets
length and formatting requirement s with minor deviations. AI use, if
applicable, is disclosed.

Length or
formatting requirements are partially met.

Length or
formatting requirements are mostly unmet.

Submission
does not meet length or formatting expectations.