Final Research Project Preparation – Annotated Bibliography

Review the Final Research Project instructions located in Week Five. To help with the preparation of the paper, complete the following items and submit them to your instructor as a single document.

 Introduction to Topic: Refer to the Final Research Project guidelines for your topic selection. For your introduction, you should write a 150-word paragraph which clearly explains the topic, the importance of further research, ethical implications, and how the topic relates to one’s academic and professional pursuits. Make sure you effectively inform the reader of the rationale behind your topic. Thesis statement: Write a direct and concise thesis statement, which will become the point or perspective you will argue or prove in the Final Research Project. A thesis statement should be a single declarative sentence that makes one point in 25 words or less. The thesis statement must appear within the introduction paragraph. Annotated Bibliography: To help prepare for your Final Research Project, write an annotated bibliography to indicate the quality of the sources you have read. The bibliography must include no less than five scholarly sources that will be used to support the major points of the Final Research Project. Critical thinking skills need to be demonstrated by accurately interpreting evidence used to support various positions of the topic. Please make sure to provide full reference information in accordance with APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center . Write a brief paragraph (around 150 words) summarizing the source and explaining how it is pertinent and relevant to the topic of the project and how each source will support your thesis statement. See the Sample Annotated Bibliography in the Ashford Writing Center for more detailed information. Keep in mind the academic research standards for all Ashford University papers.

The Final Research Project Preparation

 Must be 1,000 – 1,250 words in length (excluding the title and reference pages) Must include a separate title page Must use at least five scholarly sources. Must document all sources in APA style

2. RESEARCH PAPER

The topic of your project needs to be a contemporary societal problem, such as legalizing drugs . The topic must focus on a single aspect, as in “How far do corporations intrude into the private lives of their employers?” or “The social costs of financing the distribution of custom-designed drugs.”  

The Research Project will present research relating the responsibilities of a critical thinker to contemporary society. In this assignment, you will do the following:

 3,300–3,900 words Research one aspect of a contemporary social problem. Define the problem. Propose a possible solution for the problem. Create an argument that supports your thesis position. You should take on the perspective of a critically thinking researcher. The argument must present a thesis statement and evidence to support the thesis statement. Evaluate the ethical outcomes that result from the position you take on the issue and explain how those outcomes would influence society and culture. Interpret statistical data from at least two peer-reviewed scholarly sources. Evaluate evidence using the following standards: validity, reliability, and bias related to the chosen topic and accurately identify strengths and weaknesses.