Final Research Paper Assignment Name:
Research Paper Topic:
Research question:
Working hypothesis:
What is your plan to research this topic for the literature review? Where are you going to find access to professional journals? (i.e. EBSCOhost? UW library? BC library?)
Have you found any interesting research at this point?
What can I do to assist you in this project? What questions do you have?
Purpose:
This research paper assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to engage with scholarly research in the context of the field of Communication, and apply contemporary communication research methods to human discourse and behavior. You will:
- conduct research about a communication-related topic of your choice
- write a review of the literature
- generate a hypothesis for future study
- suggest a method of inquiry we learned about that is appropriate for testing your hypothesis.
In the process, you will utilize the following skills, which are designed to support you in understanding course content and help you in future classes/major and/or your future career:
- Form a research question
- Engage in scholarly research to identify quality, relevant, peer-reviewed sources
- Write a hypothesis
- Practice applying methods of inquiry and designing a study to realistically test your hypothesis
- Practice writing and citations using APA
- Communicate research accurately, effectively, and professionally
- Revise past work (specifically your progress report and rough draft) based on feedback from your instructor
Tasks:
Step 1: Review Final Research Paper - Winter Quarter 2025 Assignment description (this document).
Step 2: Identify your topic(s) of interest and engage in some initial research (email me with your ideas and consider resources in Library Module: Keywords).
- Possible Topic Areas (your actual paper topics will be more specific) include:
- Teacher/Student interaction
- Reality TV
- Cultural Differences
- Gender Differences
- Organizational Grapevines
- TV Content
- Campaign messages
- Management Communication
- Dating rituals
- Marital Communication
- Parent-child interaction
- Mission statements
- Relational Aggression
- Flirting
- Doctor-Patient or Patient-Provider interaction
- Effectiveness of Communication Training
- Don't see anything that sounds interesting? You can generate your own topic. E-mail me to discuss your ideas.
- Resource: Generating Research Ideas Exercise Lecture
Step 3: Consider material in the Final Paper Assignment & Resources Module to narrow your focus and gain some clarity about the final paper.
Step 4: Please complete the Final Paper Progress Report, ask me follow-up questions, work your way through the Library Module: How to Read a Scholarly Article to help you begin your research, review example papers provided, and start writing your Final Paper Partial Draft based on my feedback.
- Please know that you may end up adjusting your topic and hypothesis as you move further into your research and writing.
Step 5: After submitting your Final Paper Rough Draft and reviewing my feedback, please continue writing and revising your work, contact me with any questions or requests to review a second draft, and submit your Final Research Paper by the deadline. If you need additional time, please contact me so we can make a plan together.
Final Paper Requirements
Your paper will be 5-6 pages (double-spaced) and is worth 150 points. Each paper must include the following elements, each clearly labeled:
- A brief introduction (1 paragraph) to set up the focus of your topic.
- A brief review of the literature (3 pages)-- this is a summary of the research done on this topic with at least 3 sources. Papers should cite sources using the APA (American Psychological Association) format. Consult the BC library website for helpful information on this style of documentation and other research paper assistance.
- Resources: Guides BY SUBJECT - LibGuides at Bellevue College)Links to an external site.
- bellevuecollege.edu/lmcLinks to an external site.
- What is a literature review?
- A (1 sentence) hypothesis for study. A hypothesis must be written so that it can be proven or not supported on the basis of your study. For example, the question "which type of relational aggression (rumor- spreading, silent treatment, etc.) causes the most pain?" is not an acceptable hypothesis. "Rumor spreading is the most frequently used tool of relational aggression in girls" would be acceptable statement.
- Resource: What does a hypothesis look like?
- A detailed description of research methods (1-2 paragraph discussion) which explains the process you could realistically use to test your hypothesis. For example, in this section you could say that "two researchers will conduct a survey of 300 middle and high school girls at 6 different schools in the Seattle Metropolitan area." You may choose any one of the research methods discussed in the text in Appendix B (except rhetorical criticism). For example, you could create a lab experiment and bring in subjects, conduct a survey, engage in a structured observation of subjects, or do an ethnographic study of conversation of a particular group of people.
- Resource: Appendix B (Trenholm text)
- A reference section including all sources cited in the review of the literature. You will use the APA (American Psychological Association) format.
- Resource: APA 7 Citations – YouTubeLinks to an external site.
- APA 7 Style Citations - BC LibraryLinks to an external site.
- Purdue Writing Lab – APA styleLinks to an external site.
- Appendix A. If you suggest a survey, please include the survey questions in Appendix A (following the reference page). If you suggest an observation or a content analysis, please include the criteria you will use/chart to record data gathered in the Appendix (following the reference page). If you suggest another research method (such as a lab experiment or ethnography), please contact me about how to present the details in the Appendix A.
- Resource: Examples: Appendix A
Criteria:
The rubric is included below for your reference. Please reach out with any questions.
View Rubric