Management Question

Description

instructions:

You are to select a topic and in a page or two, address these items: purpose for studying the topic, the problem or questions you will focus on regarding the topic, and the significance for studying the topic. Remember to include the citations and references for your study using the APA manual.

Let me know if you need further clarity! We are partners in this effort and you are important to us!

As you are exploring different ideas for your paper, note the research paper will require you to submit 8-10 double-spaced literature review, typed pages regarding a topic identified in the textbook or another topic relative to this course. Please refer to Weekly Contents for research paper writing tips and resources. It is important that you follow those guidelines and site your references throughout your paper and at the end of the paper. Please submit a proposal for your research paper. Again, you may select any topic which can be justified as course related. Be sure your topic can be supported by cited sources. Provide the following:

Purpose Statement:

This is the most important statement in the proposal. It orients the reader to the central intent of the study and from it addresses all other aspects of the research project follow. While there are a number of differing formats for purpose statements, in general the statement should present the central controlling idea in the study, focus on the central phenomenon under study.

Statement of the Problem and Research Question(s):

Based on the type of study to be conducted, present here a clear statement of the problem to be investigated or the specific research question(s) which will be addressed in the study.

Developing a Research Question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrWeLJZydUU
Research Questions and Hypothesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BmjujlZExQ
Developing Good Research Question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLYCYeCFak
Significance of the Study:

Delineate the significance of the research, what knowledge will it create, what gaps in our knowledge will it help fill, how will it advance the selected theory or theories, what new research methods will it advance, how the results may be applied to improve existing policy or procedures, etc.—as appropriate for the study.

List of References:

Provided at least 10 references to support selected topic in the reference area.Use the paper template attached to complete the assignment.

Looking Ahead: Final Draft Paper

As you prepare your proposal, take time to familiarize yourself with the Wk7 Final Paper and the ITMG498 Undergraduate Research Paper Rubric.

Unformatted Attachment Preview

Running Head: [SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
1
[Title in Mixed Case]
[Author Name]
American Public University System
1.
2.
Sections of an APA paper: title page, abstract (might be optional – check with instructor), text of paper and
reference page.
Running head is PERMANENT and aligned left margin on same line as page number (page number is flush
right margin).
•
Reads: Running head: Portion of title no longer than12 words in length and contain no
abbreviations.
All letters of title are capitalized. Example: Running head: LEARNING STYLES (title
page only)
•
Title page is always page 1. Thereafter, the title appears on each page in the header with
only page numbers changing). Example: LEARNING STYLES .
•
Center on page: Title of paper typed in upper & lower letters, followed by name,
professor’s name and title of course.
•
Begin paper by centering title at the top of page two (unless there is an Abstract or Table
of Contents – number these first). The title is uppercase and lowercase letters and located
directly under the 1” margin. Here is an example!
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
Table of Contents
2
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
3
Abstract
[Beginning on this line, write a concise summary of the key points of your paper regarding your
organization’s use of IT. Your abstract should be a single paragraph double-spaced. Your
abstract should be between 150 and 250 words.]
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
Introduction
Introduction goes after the Abstract. Include all of the following using level 2
heading:
Statement of the Problem
Start your sentence here!
Statement of the Purpose
Start your sentence here!
Research Questions
Start your sentence here!
Significance of the Study
Start your sentence here!
4
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
5
Literature Review
[Begin the body of your paper with your introductory paragraph(s), which should provide
an overview of your organization and their use of IT. You may want to mention any challenges
that you faced in conducting your analysis and how you overcame them. All paragraphs of your
term paper should be indented with a tab, like this example is. The entire paper should be
double-spaced. However, there should be no blank lines before or after headings or subheadings, or between paragraphs!] Remember to preview what the paper will discuss. For
example, “the paper will or the research will.”Use 3rd person point of view (unless opinion
paper) avoiding pronouns such as I, we, my, our (1st person) and you, yours, your, us, we
(2ndperson). Deal with facts, thus, providing citations within paper and reference page. Focus on
subject; not feelings about the subject. The use of 3rd person retains a formal tone: Academic
writing is more formal than casual conversation.
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[Subheading 3]
Place Your First Main Point Name Here
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
[Subheading 3]
Place Your Second Main Point Here
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[Subheading 3]
Place Your Third Main Point Here
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[Subheading 3]
Place Your Fourth Main Point Here
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[Subheading 3]
6
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
Place Your Recommendations Here Based on your Literature Review
[Subheading 1]
[Subheading 2]
[Subheading 3]
[Subheading 4]
[Subheading 5]
Conclusion
[Your conclusion should contain several paragraphs summarizing the key points in your
paper, or discussing future implications regarding the use of this analysis that you have written
for your organization, and bringing your paper to a close.]
7
[SHORT TITLE NOT TO EXCEED 50 UPPERCASE CHARACTERS]
8
References
[List all references in alphabetical order, in APA citation style, such as in the example below of a
reference of your textbook in correct APA citation style. All references should be formatted with
hanging indentations, as required in APA citation style, as the example below illustrates.]
Turban, E., Leidner, D., McLean, E., & Wetherbe, J. (with contributions by Volonino, L.,
Amoroso, D., Lai, L., Tse, D., Lew, M., & Cheung, C.) (2008). Information technology
for management: Transforming organizations in the digital economy (6th ed.). Hoboken,
NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Writing Checklist
Use citations to give credibility to your paper.
In the 7th edition of the manual, the running head is “required only for manuscripts
being submitted for publication. Running heads are not required for student papers
unless the instructor or institution requests them [emphasis added]” (American
Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 37).
Remember the introductory paragraph should clearly state the main topic and use the
last sentence to preview the structure of the paper to give your reader a structure to
follow– highlight all the main points you will cover in the paper.
Use 3rd person point of view (unless opinion paper) avoiding pronouns such as I, we, my,
our (1st person) and you, yours, your, us, we (2ndperson). Deal with facts, thus, providing
citations within paper and reference page. Focus on subject; not feelings about the
subject. The use of 3rd person retains a formal tone: Academic writing is more formal
than casual conversation.
Remember to include the author’s last name, year, and page or paragraph number
when using direct quotes.
Remember “Retrieved from…” and “date” are no longer required when using APA 7th
edition, which is the latest edition of APA format.
•
Paragraph Construction – All paragraphs should include an introductory sentence,
explanations or details, and concluding sentence.
•
Sequencing – Place your details in a logical order, so they correspond to the
structure presented in the introduction.
•
Transitions – Use a variety of thoughtful transitions to clearly show how ideas are
connected.
•
Supportive Research – write a research-based and accurately reported study.
•
Quality of Information – Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several
supporting details and/or examples.
•
Conclusion/
Recommendations – The conclusion should effectively summarize the discussion and
provide recommendation(s) for further research.
•
Sources/Citations/References – Document all sources (information and graphics) using
APA format accurately.
•
Mechanics – No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
APA Checklist – Changes to APA: https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-seventh-edition-changes/
1.
2.
Sections of an APA paper: title page, abstract (might be optional – check with instructor), text of paper
and reference page.
Running head is PERMANENT and aligned left margin on same line as page number (page number is flush
right margin).
•
Running head: Portion of title no longer than12 words in length and contain no
abbreviations.
All letters of title are capitalized. Example: LEARNING STYLES (title page only)
•
Title page is always page 1. Thereafter, the title appears on each page in the header
with only page numbers changing). Example: LEARNING STYLES .
•
Center on page: Title of paper typed in upper & lower letters, followed by name,
professor’s name and title of course.
•
Begin paper by centering title at the top of page two (unless there is an Abstract or
Table of Contents – number these first). The title is uppercase and lowercase letters and
located directly under the 1” margin. Here is an example!
The title, in all caps, appears on each page in the header (in the left margin) after the title page
with only the page numbers changing in the right margin. Only use the number!
3.
Double space entire paper/Use 1 inch margin/Text is to be left aligned.
4.
Increased flexibility regarding fonts: options include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times
New Roman 12, and Georgia 11.
5.
First sentence of a paragraph must be indented (with the exception of the Abstract).
6.
The abstract must include the following components: purpose of the research, methodology, findings, and
conclusion. The body of the abstract is limited to 150-200 words (no less than 150 and no more than 200).
7.
Use the appropriate level headings for your paper. For all major headings, use level 1, use level 2 for
your main points and use level 3 for your subpoints—see image.
8.
Summary or paraphrase
If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and
year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to also provide the page
number (although it is not required.) For example,
According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
Or
APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998, p. 199).
See the Purdue OWL for more guidance.
9.
When using long quotes, consider the following below:
Long quotations
Place direct quotations that are 40 words, or longer, in a free-standing block of typewritten lines, and
omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in
the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and
indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin.
Maintain double-spacing throughout. The parenthetical citation should come after the closing
punctuation mark.
Jones’s (1998) study found the following: Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it
was their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many students failed
to purchase a style manual or to ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)
Source: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
1.
Same font throughout with the exception of italicizing: (1) key term to emphasize (2) titles of books,
periodicals, films, videos, TV shows and microfilm publications (there are more in-depth examples in
APA Manual section 4.21).
2.
Numbers: 0-9 are written out while 10 and above are written as numbers (Exceptions: numbers
expressing approximate lengths of time written as words ex: 1 hr 30 min; 12:30 a.m.; about 3 months
ago).
3.
Punctuation when ending a Quote: If quotation is at the end of a sentence, close quote with
quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses, and end with a period or other punctuation outside
the final parenthesis.
4.
Avoid using “etc.” at the end of a list or exclamation point unless it is part of the quotation.
5.
Ampersand: If the citation is in parentheses, use the ampersand (‘&’) instead of the word “and” in
text of paper. Always use ampersand (&) in tables, captions and on reference page.
6.
Capitalize first letter following a colon if clause is a complete sentence.
7.
Use complete sentences and avoid slang. Use Spell Checker and proofread paper.
8.
First sentence of a paragraph must be indented (with the exception of the Abstract).
9.
Do not use contractions (it’s = it is; won’t = will not).
10. Always spell out acronym on first use. Example: APU = American Public University.
11. Indirect Quotes: Summary or paraphrase
If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author
and year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to also provide
the page number (although it is not required.)
According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998, p. 199).
See the Purdue OWL for more guidance: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
A Work by Two Authors: Name both authors in the signal phrase or in the parentheses each time you
cite the work. Use the word “and” between the authors’ names within the text and use the
ampersand in the parentheses.
1.
2.
Research by Wegener and Petty (1994) supports…
(Wegener & Petty, 1994)
See the Purdue OWL for more guidance: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/3/
12. Direct Quotes: must give page number. If no page numbers available, cite paragraph number using
abbreviation para. (para. 4). If no page or paragraph numbers, cite heading and paragraph number
where information is found.
•
Direct Quotes: must give page number. If no page numbers available, cite paragraph number
using abbreviation para. (para. 4). If no page or paragraph numbers, cite heading and paragraph
number where information found.
•
According to APA and Purdue OWL, If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to
include the author, year of publication, and the page number for the reference (preceded by
“p.”). Introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author’s last name followed
by the date of publication in parentheses.
According to Jones (1998), “Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it
was their first time” (p. 199).
•
If the author is not named in a signal phrase, place the author’s last name, the year of
publication, and the page number in parentheses after the quotation.
She stated, “Students often had difficulty using APA style” (Jones, 1998, p. 199).
Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
13. Review the Purdue OWL for guidance. In the reference area, capitalize the FIRST word of the title
and the word after a colon. Remove hyperlink. When the web address turns blue and get
underlined, right click them and “remove hyperlink.”
Nonperiodical Web Document, Web Page, or Report
List as much of the following information as possible (you sometimes have to hunt around to find
the information; don’t be lazy. If there is a page like http://www.somesite.com/somepage.htm,
and somepage.htm doesn’t have the information you’re looking for, move up the URL to
http://www.somesite.com/):
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of document (web page titles are
italicized.). Website name. http://Web address
Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderland, L., & Brizee, A. (2010,
May 5). General format. Website name. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
NOTE: When an Internet document is more than one Web page, provide a URL that links to the
home page or entry page for the document. Also, if there isn’t a date available for the document
use (n.d.) for no date.
See the Purdue OWL for more guidance: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
14. Use et al. in all references (ex: Smith et al., 2009) (Exception: three or more authors use et al. first
time).
15. Quotes over 40 words must be indented and page number cited. Do not use quotation marks.
16. The conclusion should summarize the discussion and provide at least two recommendations for
further research.
17. Cite all references in paper AND on reference page. If listed on reference page MUST have cited
within paper.
18. No retrieval dates or database name needed on reference page.
19. The reference page is the last page (unless appendix). Insert page break at end of text preventing
distortion when edits are made.
20. Title of page: References (centered on page directly under the 1” margin). Do not underline, italicize
or make bold.
21. Cite references in text of paper and include sources on reference page. PLEASE NOTE: Wikis (like
Wikipedia) cannot guarantee the verifiability or expertise of entries, therefore, are not considered
scholarly sources. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE.
22. References are in alphabetical order by author(s) last name on the reference page; list last name,
then first and middle initial (if applicable) only. If no author is provided, use the first character of the
title.
23. When citing a book, Web page title, and article or the reference page, capitalize the first word of the
title only (with the exception of proper names). Also, italicize the name of the book.
24. In reference area, capitalize the FIRST word, the word after a colon, and all proper names in the
title of books, web article and articles.
25. Italicize the name of books, journals, Websites and magazines, but do NOT italicize the name of the
article.
26. Do not use the words Volume or Vol., Issue or Iss,. or Pages, p. or pp. on reference page.
27. The name of the journal and volume number are italicized. Pay attention to punctuation.
Remove hyperlink. When the web addresses turn blue and get underlined, right click them and
“remove hyperlink.”
28. Citing a source within a source (secondary sources) example: In-text—Bennett (as cited in Rudman,
1999) defined…
Reference list: Rudman, R. (1999). Human resources management in New Zealand. (3 rd ed.).
Auckland, N.Z.:Addison Wesley Longman
29. Citing references on reference page: use the hanging indent. Highlight the citations and press Ctrl T
automatically formats.
30. The publisher location is no longer included in the reference.
USE the Link to APA Exercise to guide your understanding:
http://wpc.242f.edgecastcdn.net/00242F/academics/multimedia/_live/EDU/APA_Interactive/content.html
Grammar Checklist:
Spelling – Though there are many exceptions and some words simply require that you
memorize their spelling, there are a number of spelling rules that we can utilize in our
writing. Some of the most well-known spelling rules are listed below.
•
•
•
•
•
i before e except after c, or as in long ei such as neighbor and weigh
q is always followed by u
When a word ends in y the y must change to an i before adding any suffix.
When a word ends in e, drop the e before adding a suffice that begins with a vowel.
When the suffixes –ness or –ly are added to a word, the spelling of the original word
remains the same.
Keep in mind that with the advent of modern technology and spell check functions in most
word processing programs (and Sakai!), it is also a good practice to allow the machine to do
some of the spelling work for you.
It is always wise to remember, even though a word is spelled correctly that does not mean that
it is the correct word! More to Explore and Share with Students: List of Common Misspellings
While you consider the spelling challenges that you see most often in your writing, take a look
at Oxford Dictionary’s list of common misspellings. This listing is compiled using the Oxford
English Corpus, “an electronic collection of over 2 billion words of real English that helps us see
how people are using the language and also shows us the mistakes that are most often made”
(Oxford Dictionary, 2014).
Punctuation – Remembering where to place a comma or how to use quotation marks to
designate a quote within a quote can be daunting when we’re writing. Below are some
common rules that will assist you with your writing skills.
• Commas
o Use commas to separate an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence.
EXAMPLE: Without realizing the time, Mary sat down with a book and missed her
appointment.
•
Use commas to separate items in a series and use a comma before the conjunction.
EXAMPLE: Jack likes bananas, apples, pears, and grapes.
NOTE: This rule may vary based on writing style being used. Make sure to check your
style guide.
•
When including a descriptive phrase in your sentence, set it off with commas.
EXAMPLE: The house, situated in the woods, appeared abandoned.
•
Quotation Marks
o Commas and periods go inside quotation marks.
EXAMPLE: At the conference, Marissa Ryan discussed her most recent work saying,
“One interesting finding of the study was that once a carpooling program was
implemented, employees reported greater workplace satisfaction.”
•
When a quotation is part of an in-text citation and ends with a period, the period goes at
the end of the in-text citation.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Smith explained that “the theory of relativity is one of the most difficult
for students to understand” (Evans, 2009).
•
Use quotation marks when referring to a word as a word.
EXAMPLE: The word “hip” was popular when I was a kid.
•
Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes
o Use a semicolon to join independent clauses with no word joining them
otherwise.
EXAMPLE: Sarah returned home from work late; traffic was snarled because of an
overturned tomato truck.
•
Use a colon after a complete sentence and when introducing additional information related
to the sentence.
EXAMPLE: There were a number of items included in Sue’s birthday package: a
sweatshirt, a greeting card, a stuffed animal, a DVD, and a framed picture of Sue and
her friend on vacation.
•
A dash functions much like a colon but is used when the information to follow is of
particular note or importance.
EXAMPLE: There were a number of items included in Sue’s birthday package – a
diamond ring, two tickets for a cruise, and keys to a brand new car!
•
Apostrophes
o Use apostrophes in contractions, to replace the letter removed to create the
contraction.
EXAMPLE: Jason couldn’t believe that the puppy ate his homework.
•
Use apostrophes to show possession.
EXAMPLE: Jason’s dog ate his homework.
•
If two people have possession of the same item, use the apostrophe s on the second
person’s name.
EXAMPLE: Mark and Tara’s baby has three teeth already!
More to Explore and Share with Students: Proper Punctuation Saves Lives
Consider that punctuation is a part of every sentence that we write. When situated in different
places within the sentence, the same single punctuation mark can change the meaning of the
sentence entirely. In the video below (click the image to watch the video on YouTube), Justin
Franco (2010) demonstrates the importance of proper comma placement. By sharing a short
video like this one with students, we can help them remember the importance of proper
punctuation.
Capitalization – Rules of capitalization can be complicated. Like many other components of our
language, the rules associated with capitalization have changed over time. Interestingly, the
rules for capitalization are not agreed upon and for writers, this can be confusing. There are
two general conventions: sentence case (also called Down style) and title case (also called Up
style) and depending on the content and purpose of the writing, the use of either convention
can be acceptable as long as the writer is consistent. In some cases, the writing style used may
dictate a certain convention or other specific rules associated with capitalization.
•
Capitalize family relationships when the relationship is stated as part of the individual’s
name.
EXAMPLE: Mother, did you see the sweater I knitted for Uncle Tim?
•
Capitalize people’s titles when the title is placed in front of the name but not when it is
used after the name.
EXAMPLE: Mayor Little spoke with Kyle Loftman, the mayor of Dimsdale.
•
Capitalize the first, last, and all important words in the title of a major
work. (Prepositions and words equaling less than three letters need not be capitalized
but there is disagreement on this point as Lowe’s article below notes.)
EXAMPLE: The Catcher in the Rye
More to Explore and Share with Students: Capitalization
In this contribution to the DailyWritingTips blog, Carla Lowe (n.d.) explores the confusion
surrounding when to capitalize words in titles. She notes that “the rules for capitalization in
titles – like the rules for other areas of English grammar – are not set in stone; style guides and
grammarians disagree on which words to capitalize in a title” (para. 2). Review Lowe’s article,
“Rules for Capitalization in Titles,” to learn more about the sentence case and title case
conventions as well as other nuances related to capitalization in the English language.
Word Usage – Many words in the English language sound the same but have very different
meanings. It can sometimes be a challenge for students to determine which to use in their
writing. Consider the examples below.
•
Affect vs. Effect
“Affect” means to influence and is often used with “on.”
EXAMPLE: The flooding affected our entire evening.
“Effect” can also be thought of as “resulting in.”
EXAMPLE: The effect was that we were unable to attend the concert.
•
Who vs. That
The general rule is that writers should use “who” when referring to a person and “that”
when referring to a thing.
EXAMPLE 1 (appropriate use of “who”): The little boy who spilled the milk blamed it on his
little brother.
EXAMPLE 2 (appropriate use of “that”): The pencil that was on the table is no longer there.
•
Irregardless vs. Regardless
Particularly in conversation, we may hear a person say (or, we may say ourselves)
something like, “Irregardless of that point, …” What the person really means to say is,
“Regardless of that point, …”
Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty (2013), provides a valuable explanation: “Regardless means
‘regard less,’ ‘without regard,’ or despite something….The prefix ir- (i-r) is a negative prefix,
so if you add the prefix ir to a word that’s already negative like regardless, you’re making a
double-negative word that literally means ‘without without regard’” (para. 3).
More to Explore and Share with Students: Common Errors in English Usage
Emeritus Professor of English at Washington State University, Paul Brians, provides a variety of
resources related to proper word usage (and common errors in English usage). On the
homepage of his “Common Errors in English Usage” site, Brians addresses his visitors writing,
“The aim of this site is to help you avoid low grades, lost employment opportunities, lost
business, and titters of amusement at the way you write or speak.” In appreciation of Dr.
Brians’ efforts to assist us, please review his extensive collection of Common Errors in English
Usage.
Grammar
Grammar is best described as the rules for how we properly write and speak a language. There
are typically two approaches to grammar in any language: descriptive and
prescriptive. Descriptive approaches to grammar are typically “based on a systematic analysis
of a large text corpus [to describe] grammatical structures” while prescriptive approaches
attempt “to use the identified rules of a given language as a tool to govern the linguistic
behavior of speakers” (Princeton University, n.d., para. 2). Below are just a few of the most
basic grammar rules that we should understand as we work with students.
•
Forming Complete Sentences
Sentences are how we convey ideas. We must ensure that they are “complete.” A
complete sentence requires a subject and a verb. Sometimes the subject can be implied, as
in the case of a direct command.
EXAMPLE 1 (complete sentence): Michael ran to the office this morning, completing his
exercise for the day.
EXAMPLE 2 (incomplete sentence): Michael ran to the office this morning. Completing his
exercise for the day.
•
Subject and Verb Agreement
The verb of a sentence must agree with the subject and the basic rule states that a singular
subject performs a singular verb while a plural subject performs a plural verb.
EXAMPLE: Jennifer speaks with the teacher while Amber and Sharon sing a song.
•
Passive vs. active voice
Passive voice occurs in our writing when the subject is not performing the action of the
verb. It is best to rewrite your sentence so that the subject of the sentence is performing
the action. Consider the examples below.
EXAMPLE 1 (passive voice): The findings were determined to be sound.
EXAMPLE 2 (active voice): The researchers determined the findings were sound.
•
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives describe nouns.
EXAMPLE: The happy girl ran through the park.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, clauses, or other adverbs. Adverbs typically answer
questions related to when, where, or how something occurred.
EXAMPLE: The happy girl ran joyfully through the park.
•
Pronouns
Pronouns are used in place of nouns and help writers avoid continuously re-stating the
same word. Pronouns must match the subject to which they are referring. Consider the
examples below.
EXAMPLE 1 (incorrect): The student submitted their paper late.
EXAMPLE 2 (correct): The student submitted his paper late.
More to Explore and Share with Students: 7 Grammar Rules + 7 Grammar Rules
The English language is, for all intents and purposes, a living creature. Because we use it every
day and because we change, our language changes, as well. From time to time rules and
accepted conventions change and what we learned in grade school may not be as strictly
enforced (or, enforced at all) as it once was. You may be pleased to read about some of these
changes in Ben Yagoda’s article, “7 Bogus Grammar ‘Errors’ You Don’t Need to Worry
About.” Make sure to check out Yagoda’s follow-on article, “7 Grammar Rules You Really
Should Pay Attention To,” as well!
Syntax
Syntax refers to the order of words in a sentence, the sentence structure. It should not be
surprising that there is not only one rule related to syntax. In some ways, syntax is a matter of
preference. Writers have the opportunity to utilize the many rules and guidelines of writing
mechanics and grammar to create a variety of sentence structures and effective syntax. With
this in mind, there are some generally-accepted guidelines that writers should follow to achieve
effective syntax.
•
If you can say it in fewer words, it is generally best to do so.
Particularly in non-fiction writing, brevity is considered an effective writing strategy.
•
Consider your audience when selecting sentence varieties.
Short, choppy sentences that read like they’re from a Dick and Jane book are appropriate
for very young children who are just beginning to understand and use language. A college
student or any other adult is not likely to appreciate this type of writing. On the other
hand, sentences that are overly complex may leave the reader feeling confused about 1)
the meaning you are trying to convey and 2) why you are not being concise in your writing!
•
Be careful not to write as you speak.
This is easy to do for many people but keep in mind that the rules of conversational English
are much more lenient than the rules of proper written English. In some ways this is related
to finding the appropriate tone for your writing. An academic paper should convey a more
formal tone than an email to a friend or a conversation with a neighbor about the upcoming
block party may.
More to Explore and Share with Students: Using the Paramedic Method for Effective
Syntax
In his book, Revising Prose, Richard Lanham outlined a method for editing professional writing:
the Paramedic Method (Brizee, 2010). The Purdue OWL provides a great resource describing
how to use The Paramedic Method to create concise sentences. Also consider the OWL’s
resource, “Reverse Paramedic Method,” which assists in effectively using passive voice, an
acceptable practice in scientific writing.
APA Checklist
10. Sections of an APA paper: title page, abstract (might be optional – check with
instructor), text of paper and reference page.
11. Running head is PERMANENT and aligned left margin on same line as page number
(page number is flush right margin).
o
Reads: Running head: Portion of title no longer than12 words in length
and contain no abbreviations.
All letters of title are capitalized. Example: Running head: LEARNING
STYLES (title page only)
o Title page is always page 1. Thereafter, the title appears on each page in
the header with only page numbers changing). Example: LEARNING
STYLES .
12. Center on page: Title of paper typed in upper & lower letters, followed by name,
professor’s name and title of course.
13. Begin paper by centering title at the top of page two (unless there is an Abstract or
Table of Contents – number these first). The title is uppercase and lowercase letters
and located directly under the 1” margin.
14. Double space entire paper/Use 1 inch margin/Text is to be left aligned.
15. Use 12 point font/ New Times Roman/black ink.
16. Same font throughout with the exception of italicizing: (1) key term to emphasize (2)
titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows and microfilm publications (there are
more in-depth examples in APA Manual section 4.21).
17. Numbers: 0-9 are written out while 10 and above are written as numbers (Exceptions:
numbers expressing approximate lengths of time written as words ex: 1 hr 30 min;
12:30 a.m.; about 3 months ago).
18. Punctuation when ending a Quote: If quotation is at the end of a sentence, close quote
with quotation marks, cite the source in parentheses, and end with a period or other
punctuation outside the final parenthesis.
19. Avoid using “etc.” at the end of a list or exclamation point unless it is part of the
quotation.
20. Ampersand: If the citation is in parentheses, use the ampersand (‘&’) instead of the
word “and” in text of paper. Always use ampersand (&) in tables, captions and on
reference page.
21. Capitalize first letter following a colon if clause is a co