Research Paper Assignment Instructions
There are two steps to this Research Paper Assignment:
- Research Paper: Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
- Research Paper: Policy Issue and Solution Assignment
Please see the instructions for each part below:
Research Paper: Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
Overview
The assignments in this course are built upon one another. These assignments are to reflect the path one takes in the dissertation process. This assignment and the ones that follow are to be of the same topic and to build completing the Research Paper: Policy Issue and Solution Assignment. Select a topic that you are interested in exploring this term. Pick Research Questions and include a Bibliography to support the proposed Research Paper and Literature Review in the future modules.
Instructions
During this course, the student will compose an original Literature Review on a current topic or trend in criminal justice (see the instructions for the Literature Review Assignment). In preparation for the Literature Review Assignment, the student will submit his/her topic for approval, along with a preliminary Bibliography. The preliminary Bibliography must include at least 6 scholarly resources that are significant to the topic (current, relevant, credible, and each carries its weight), with a clear and meaningful connection between all the resources. The student must identify a research question for his/her topic. The students must properly follow the current APA style. The items to include are outlined as follows:
- Length of assignment: 2-5 pages
- Information that is excluded from this length (e.g. title page, abstract, reference section, etc.)
- Format of assignment: Current APA
- Number of citations: Minimum of two (2)
- Acceptable sources: Scholarly articles published within the last five years, the course textbook, and the Bible.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
Research Paper: Policy Issue and Solution Assignment Instructions
Overview
As you prepare to author a dissertation, one aspect is the solution to the research problem. This assignment empowers you, the scholar, to reflect on a specific problem within law enforcement and offer probable solutions.
Instructions
You will author a 20-25-page research-oriented paper. The paper must focus on policy analysis regarding Correctional Policy. The paper must also be in the current APA format. The current APA headers must be current APA Level 1 headings for Problem, Significance, and Solution. The subthemes of the solution section must contain current APA Level 2 headings or beyond. The paper must include a minimum of 15 references in addition to the course textbook and the Bible. All references must be academic/peer-reviewed sources. You must meet the criteria below:
- Identify an issue that needs to be addressed.
- Discuss the problem in a few brief paragraphs.
- Discuss the significance of the problem (the significance discussion must contain many of your references). The significance section of the paper must contain why the issue is significant, what is being done by other departments or agencies, what law is applicable, and any other issues that can be identified as significant. This significance section of the paper must be thorough and leave no additional questions.
- Propose a solution in the form of policy or guidance toward a policy. The solution must involve a minimum of 3 choices: do nothing, incremental approach, and full implementation. The solution section of the paper must have enough of an explanation of the solution so that an executive would be able to make an informed decision from your explanation. The solution must also have sub-themes. Some subthemes are: impact to department, impact to external stakeholders, and impact to budget. There may be other sub-themes in addition to or in replacement of those listed above.
- Must have a section relating how a Christian worldview does or may change potential proposed solutions. This must be a section and not merely a sentence or two.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
