Six Essential Elements of Scholarly Assignments

Cheryl Keen, Ed.D.

Specialization Coordinator, Foundations and Core Courses,

Interim Transition Points and Major Assessments Coordinator

COEL Ph.D. Program

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Fall 2012 PROPOSAL TO AGP CAP accepted:

Regarding Six Essential Elements of

Scholarly Assignments

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Six Elements derived this fall by Core Course Instructors with help of the Writing Center

1. Spelling and grammar check2. The paper uses template3. The paper includes the rubric4. The paper has an introductory paragraph5. The paper includes references and in-text

citations6. The paper provides citations for all material

quoted or paraphrased

Instructor’s procedures after quick assessment:

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If I find you have not addressed one or more of the above elements, I will return your assignment to your gradebook with an indication of what is missing, and place a zero as a placeholder for your grade.

If I return your assignment, within 5 days please include the missing element(s) and resubmit your assignment to our course and send it in an email to me as well.

I will then assess your assignment and adjust the grade accordingly. Please know that a late penalty will apply to a returned assignment.

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The following principles undergird this initiative:• Faculty led reform.• Faculty support rewrites.• Faculty will be able to focus on content-rich

feedback.• University policy supports departments

raising the bar.• Fair as is it part of all classes. • Can be refined for individual classes.

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Faculty won’ t have to be editors first, and then teachers!

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We expect this initiative to have the following outcomes:

• improved scholarly assignments in the later classes.

• Students will use the Writing Center resources more

• Students will manage time better• Students will have consolidated these habits by

the 4th or 5th of 9 content courses.• Students will receive more content-rich

feedback on their assignments and rubrics.

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Already faculty in our advanced Core courses report:

Students’ papers are better

Faculty can focus on content

We don’t yet know where the tipping point is for consolidation of learning so students also can more effortlessly comply

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Resources offered for each expectation. 1. Checked for grammar and spelling.

1. Your assignment has been checked and revised using a spelling and grammar check software. If you are unsure of how to use Microsoft Word’s helpful tool, see this short guide. If you need additional help, you can try Grammarly, another Writing Center resource.

http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Documents/Spell_Check.pdf

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http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Documents/Spell_Check.pdf

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2. Use the template, if there is one

Your assignment uses the general Walden University template or the course assignment template if one is provided. ….cover page and APA-compliant margins, page breaks, page numbers, and spacing. … If there is no template provided, a template for a cover page can be found at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm; …An APA list of headings and subheadings can be found on page 62 of your APA Manual, 6th ed.

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Templates:

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3. Use APA formatting for citing references

• Your assignment includes references and in-text citations that demonstrate your attention to APA formatting. In EDUC 8110 and EDUC 8111 courses, we know this skill is still being perfected. By EDUC 8112 and later classes, your Instructors will expect accurate references and in-text citations. Use the examples on this page or in Chapter 7 of your APA Manual, 6th ed., to check your format….

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Link to APA referencing examples

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4.Checking for plagiarism

• Your assignment provides citations for all material quoted or paraphrased from other sources, but is not dependent on excessive quotes or paraphrases. See this link for hints on when and how to cite your sources in APA style. Check your assignment again if it has more than 20% similarity rating in your Turnitin submission.

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Checking Turnitin:

MeditationSelf-hypnosisTalking partnersCreate a narrative about your past and your intentionsReturn regularly to joyful activitiesSymbols, ritual, etc.Ideal workspaceExercise, yogaPositive affirmations

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5. Use the rubric, if provided:

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6. Introductory paragraph, if appropriate

• http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/320.htm

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Help writing introductions

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Any questions?

If we have time, gather a small group, by school or program, to explore

applicability of the ideas.

Thanks for your participation!

Cheryl.keen@waldenu.edu