synthesized within acknowledged. position. Conclusions, Conclusions and Conclusions and Conclusions and Conclusions and implications, implications are logical implications are implications are implications are and and reflect student’s logically tied to a logically tied to inconsistently tied consequences informed evaluation and range of information (b/c to the information ability to place evidence information, incl. information is discussed and are and perspectives opposing chosen to fit the oversimplified. discussed into priority viewpoints. desired order. conclusion). Literature Review (objective 6) Knowledge Demonstrates a thorough Demonstrates a Demonstrates Demonstrates base grasp of the conceptual good grasp of the adequate inadequate basis, scope, and conceptual basis, understanding of knowledge of significance of the scope, and the scope and significance or issue/problem; uses significance of the significance of the scope of the terminology and issue/problem, but problem and its issue/problem; concepts appropriately may miss some of conceptual basis; avoids using the relevant uses appropriate appropriate information; uses terminology and terminology and terminology and concepts. concepts. concepts appropriately. Relevance Only cites sources that Cites sources that Cites some relevant Cites resources are highly relevant to are relevant to the sources and that appear the issue/problem; issue/problem; identifies related minimally or only identifies major schools identifies major schools of thought generally relevant of thought and authors schools of thought and authors in the to defining the in the field and authors in the field, but shows proposed field, but may miss significant gaps in issue/problem. important ones. the pertinent literature. Scope of Reveals spectrum of Largely reveals Partially reveals Extremely narrow opinion and opinions among current spectrum of spectrum of focus obscures the contrasting researchers of this opinions among opinions among scope of opinions positions issue/problem, concisely current researchers current for the current summarizes these of this researchers, but research on this contrasting positions; issue/problem, exhibits a fairly issue/problem. explains own position in summarizes them; narrow focus; may Own position may relation to them. generally addresses not address own or may not be own position in position in relation addressed. relation to them. to them. Theoretical Demonstrates thorough Generally Understand some Incompletely implications understanding of the understands theoretical understands the theoretical implications theoretical implications cited theoretical of cited research implications of research findings, implications of findings; establishes research findings in but may fail to do cited research;
synthesized within position. acknowledged. Conclusions, implications, and consequences Conclusions and implications are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed into priority order. Conclusions and implications are logically tied to a range of information, incl. opposing viewpoints. Conclusions and implications are logically tied to information (b/c information is chosen to fit the desired conclusion). Conclusions and implications are inconsistently tied to the information discussed and are oversimplified. Literature Review (objective 6) Knowledge base Demonstrates a thorough grasp of the conceptual basis, scope, and significance of the issue/problem; uses terminology and concepts appropriately Demonstrates a good grasp of the conceptual basis, scope, and significance of the issue/problem, but may miss some of the relevant information; uses terminology and concepts appropriately. Demonstrates adequate understanding of the scope and significance of the problem and its conceptual basis; uses appropriate terminology and concepts. Demonstrates inadequate knowledge of significance or scope of the issue/problem; avoids using appropriate terminology and concepts. Relevance Only cites sources that are highly relevant to the issue/problem; identifies major schools of thought and authors in the field Cites sources that are relevant to the issue/problem; identifies major schools of thought and authors in the field, but may miss important ones. Cites some relevant sources and identifies related schools of thought and authors in the field, but shows significant gaps in the pertinent literature. Cites resources that appear minimally or only generally relevant to defining the proposed issue/problem. Scope of opinion and contrasting positions Reveals spectrum of opinions among current researchers of this issue/problem, concisely summarizes these contrasting positions; explains own position in relation to them. Largely reveals spectrum of opinions among current researchers of this issue/problem, summarizes them; generally addresses own position in relation to them. Partially reveals spectrum of opinions among current researchers, but exhibits a fairly narrow focus; may not address own position in relation to them. Extremely narrow focus obscures the scope of opinions for the current research on this issue/problem. Own position may or may not be addressed. Theoretical implications Demonstrates thorough understanding of the theoretical implications of cited research findings; establishes Generally understands theoretical implications of research findings in Understand some theoretical implications cited research findings, but may fail to do Incompletely understands the theoretical implications of cited research;
POLS_Senior%20Project%20Handbook%20SEPT17.docx