COURSE PROJECT GUIDELINES

COURSE PROJECT GUIDELINES

There will be a course project with any specific related topic to “Epidemiologic Description of a Disease”. Each student will pick a disease and use measures of disease frequency (prevalence, incidence) to describe its occurrence in the population. Also describe 3 known or potential risk factors for the disease. Provide a related measures of association and 95% CI (Cumulative Incidence) for each risk factor and the interpretation of the measure of association.

The project should be submitted on the due date indicated in the syllabus. Students will work on the paper gradually along with the acquisition of new materials into a total of 4 parts that will add up to 100 points in total (see below). The project paper report must be written in your own words and must be a minimum of 6 double-spaced typed pages with at least three (3) references or bibliography. This project requires library research and therefore, students must use the college library, internet and online databases. Each student is expected to research their topic using all resources available.

The student is required to submit the term paper into Turnitin Direct Assignment link for the detection of plagiarism. The report will be reviewed, and feedback will be provided to the student electronically.  No final paper will be accepted without a record of draft submission on Turnitin.  Every submission date is already specified on the weekly schedule.

Project

Course Project Parts and due dates

1- Course Project Part 1: Paper report title and specific topic related with “Epidemiologic Description of the Disease” must be submitted before the end of week 3 in order to be approved by the instructor.  During Week 2 students are expected to be prepared to engage on arelated discussion that will be graded towards this part as well.

Discussion: “Epidemiologic Description of a Disease”              Due: Lecture Week 2            (50%)

Paper report Title                                                                              Due: End of Week 3             (50%)

Input into Course Project Total                                                       20 % out of 100%

2- Course Project Part 2: Abstract (minimum of 150-250 words required) should be submitted along with cover page. Students are required to submit using Turnitin Direct link. Assignments submitted by email will not be accepted or graded. Late assignments will not be accepted after 7 days of due date.

Cover Page & Abstract                                                                    Due: End of Week 5             (100%)

Input into Course Project Total                                                       20% out of 100% 

3- Course Project Part 3: Draft should include the complete developed course project sections as per APA formatting. The student should have a minimum of 6 pages: Cover page, Abstract, Body (3), and References. Images will be accepted and should appear at the end of the paper as per APA format. Late submissions will be deducted points up to a maximum of 20 and will not receive feedback for editing. Assignments submitted by email will not be accepted or graded. Late assignments will not be accepted after 7 days of due date.

Draft                                            Due: end of Week 11           (100%)

Input into Course Project Total                                                       20%  out of 100%

4- Course Project Part 4: Final Paper will be graded according given rubric. APA format is required for submission of this project under Turnitin Direct Assignment link. There is a minimum of 5 pages in total and at least 3 references.  Assignments submitted by email will not be accepted or graded. Late assignments will not be accepted after 7 days of due date.

Final Paper                                            Due: end of Week 13           (100%)

Input into Course Project Total                                                       40% out of 100%

Semester Project Written Format

I. Research Paper Format:

• APA Style – refer to: https://apastyle.apa.org/6th-edition-resources/sample-experiment-paper-1.pdf
• Length: Minimum of 5 Pages
• Typed using 1” Margins; Double-spaced; 12-point font.
• Include: Your Name, Title, and College Name (No dates, course or professor name).
• References: (Bibliography) Required a minimum of 3
• In text Citations: Required; corresponding to references section of paper
• Use at least two (2) out of the 3 required as outside sources (books, articles, commentaries).

II. Guidelines:

• You are supposed to produce your understanding of the learning materials and not copy work produced by others.
• You should not copy or use other classmates work.
• You should not copy and paste words from websites or journal articles into your essays.
• You should read and refer often to this website:https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/teacher_and_tutor_resources/preventing_plagiarism/avoiding_plagiarism/index.html

III. References

• Follow APA format

Your final paper should be 12pt. font, Times New Roman double-spaced, 5 pages minimum

• Do not use Wikipedia or similar open access sites. Wikipedia, while a good starting point to provide you some information to focus your search, it is not a reliable reference. Since Wikipedia is reader based, it does not contain the accuracy needed for a paper. Appropriate sources include articles from the ASA databases, Google Scholar and peer reviewed journals.
• In text citations are a must! Students who do not use in-text citations are plagiarizing and will be at risk of receiving a 0 on their paper.
• For guidelines writing research using the APA format go to the provided links on your Blackboard navigator for APA resources.

IV. Tips

DOs

• DO proofread your paper several times to insure that there are no spelling errors or typos.
• DO use quotation marks for quotes and page numbers for references to other sources (along with the author, title, and year of the publication).
• DO turn your paper in on time for full credit.

DON’Ts

• DON’T use slang, expletives, or vulgar language unless it is within a citation
• DON’T use report covers or folders.  Stapled papers with cover pages are fine.
• DON’T use colored ink or pictures unless it is relevant to the depiction.
• DON’T use more than half a page of quotes in the entire paper.

BIO120 – RUBRIC FOR COURSE TERM PROJECT

Grading Rubric for Research Paper using APA Style

CATEGORY

Unacceptable

(Below Standards)

Acceptable

(Meets Standards)

Good

(Occasionally Exceeds)

Excellent

(Exceeds Standards)

SCORE

Introduction (Abstract)

Does not adequately convey topic. Does not describe subtopics to be reviewed.

Lacks adequate thesis statement.

Conveys topic, but not key question(s). Describes

Subtopics to be reviewed. General thesis statement.

Conveys topic and key question(s). Clearly delineates subtopics to be reviewed. General thesis statement.

Strong introduction of topic(s) key question(s), terms. Clearly delineates subtopics to be reviewed. Specific thesis statement.

__________ points

Out of 15 points

Focus,  Sequencing, & Content

Little evidence material is logically organized into topic, subtopics or related to topic. Many transitions are unclear or nonexistent.

Most material clearly related to subtopic, main topic. Material may not be organized within subtopics. Attempts to provide variety of transitions

All material clearly related to subtopic, main topic and logically organized within subtopics. Clear, varied transitions linking subtopics, and main topic.

All material clearly related to subtopic, main topic. Strong organization and integration of material within subtopics. Strong transitions linking subtopics, and main topic.

__________ points

Out of 20 points

Support

Few sources supporting thesis. Sources insignificant or unsubstantiated.

Sources generally acceptable but not peer-reviewed research (evidence) based.

Sources well selected to support thesis with some research in support of thesis

Strong peer reviewed research based support for thesis.

__________ points

Out of 15 points

Conclusion

Does not summarize evidence with respect to thesis statement. Does not discuss the impact of researched material on topic.

Review of key conclusions. Some integration with thesis statement. Discusses impact of researched material on topic.

Strong review of key conclusions. Strong integration with thesis statement. Discusses impact of researched material on topic.

Strong review of key conclusions. Strong integration with thesis statement. Insightful discussion of impact of the researched material on topic.

__________ points

Out of 10 points

Grammar & Mechanics

Grammatical errors or spelling & punctuation substantially detract from the paper.

Very few grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors interfere with reading the paper.

Grammatical errors or spelling & punctuation are rare and do not detract from the paper.

The paper is free of grammatical errors and spelling & punctuation.

__________ points

Out of 10 points

APA Style & Communication

Errors in APA style detract substantially from the paper. Word choice is informal in tone. Writing is choppy, with many awkward or unclear passages.

Errors in APA style are noticeable. Word choice occasionally informal in tone. Writing has a few awkward or unclear passages.

Rare errors in APA style that do not detract from the paper. Scholarly style. Writing has minimal awkward of unclear passages.

No errors in APA style. Scholarly style. Writing is flowing and easy to follow.

__________ points

Out of 15 points

Citations & References

Reference and citation errors detract significantly from paper.

Two references or citations missing or incorrectly written.

One reference or citations missing or incorrectly written.

All references and citations are correctly written and present.

__________ points

Out of 15 points