08 Oct Reducing the Digital Divide in Education Essay

Reducing the Digital Divide in Education Essay

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAMPLE SECTION OF FINAL PAPER

 FINAL PAPER: The 10-14 page research brief will enable you to pursue a specific topic related to the digital age in which you have personal interest. It may be some aspect we have studied in class or one we have not studied. Your assignment is to write research brief on the topic. This assignment is worth 80 points.

 

 

 

 ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR YOUR FINAL PAPER

 

Remember that this paper is to be written for a lay (non-research) audience. Introduction to Paper

 

1) Try to summarize/preview the main question of your paper in the first paragraph.

 

2) Dedicate a couple of paragraphs to why your topic is important. It is okay to be explicit by using a paragraph that starts: “This topic is important because…” Think about who will benefit from reading your paper and what knowledge will be gained. Say who can use the information of your review and how.

 

3) It is okay to use evidence from popular literature to make the claim that your study is important. Consider using statistics. Support all claims with empirical evidence.

 

4) Make sure you define any key terms. Give one best definition. If the definition is controversial say why you have chosen the definition you have chosen. Usually definitions have citations.

 

5) Give readers important background about your topic. Only give enough so that they will understand the study. They do not need the whole history of your topic.

 

 6) Provide a road map of what your reader can expect in your paper.

 

Representative Literature Review

 

1) Start your literature review with a paragraph that previews what we know on the basis of the literature.

 

2) Divide your literature review into sections. Include three or four sections, each with three or four studies. The sections should be conceptual. Use APA headings to divide the sections. Begin each section with a summary argument that states one idea that all of the studies in that section support.

 

3) Make sure you describe the key details for each study. Tell us what the researchers did and what they found. Do not tell us about their literature review or what they think the implications are. Make sure you mention critical ideas that help the reader evaluate the study (How many subjects? Was the sample random?).

 

 4) Don’t just say there is a relationship between two variables. Always say the direction of the relationship. For example, don’t say “humor and attention are related.” Say “humor and attention are positively related.”

 

 5) Use transitions between studies that explain how one study relates to the next. Usually transitions explain how the conclusions in the studies are related.

 

 6) At the end of each section include a summary statement that articulates what one idea all of the studies in that section argue.

 

7) If a study touches on ideas that are not relevant to your paper don’t mention those results or that aspect of the study.

 

8) If a study is relevant to two or more sections mention the study in both sections.

 

Analysis/Recommendations

 

 1) At the end of literature review, present a summary that articulates the main argument from each section. Follow this statement about what we know with a presentation of what we do not know.

 

2) Critique shortcomings of the studies, if any.

 

3) Provide an analysis of the research you have just presented: what are the key themes that emerge? What would you tell someone about this topic? What are the implications of the research for communication professionals who work in this topic area?

 

4) What would you recommend to these professionals? You may want to consider how larger trends in digital communication interact with these findings (think the larger topics we covered in the first half of class: digital divide, usability, credibility, demographics related to use). Make sure you provide clear, specific recommendations.

 

 Conclusion

 

1) Restate the main points of your paper and provide a brief summary of your argument and recommendations. This should be a summary of your entire paper and be about 12 paragraphs.