Assignment Name: APA Research paper

Below, any text that is both underlined and in bold shows what is new to the APA paper, as different from your former MLA paper.

Any part of the MLA paper you will not use has a strikethrough

Purpose: To use an existing model to analyze a topic.

Download the mandatory APA Checklist here for Communications ONE only


Parts of the Paper

  1. Introduction
    This paragraph is written last

    • A one paragraph summary of the entire paper.
      • The body of the paper is for discussing details.
    • Includes a Thesis statement: A position using a theory or model to investigate a topic.
      • Thesis statements must be one sentence.


      The following part of this box is a discussion we will have in class and is not an essential part of your assignment
      • When considering a thesis, consider your aim.
        • Do you want results in order to determine what best works in a given situation.(Applied Research)
        • or, do you want to increase understanding of a general condition. (Theoretical Research)
          • The following are two excerpts concerning applied and theoretical research from James R. Van
            Scotter and Patrick E. Culligan's article "The Value of Theoretical Research and Applied Research
            for the Hospitality Industry"             :
            • "Applied research is results oriented. It involves determining what
              works and how to apply that information to achieve desired outcomes.
              Applied research is performed with the intention of helping managers
              solve the organization’s problems" (16).
            • "Theoretical research. Although theoretical research often provides
              information that is useful in solving problems, its goals are more general
              than those of applied research. Theoretical research aims to increase
              understanding of a class of phenomena and the relationships among
              key components of phenomena.... In contrast to applied research,
              theoretical research is designed to be independent of any given
              situation. The intent is that, over time, theoretical research will help
              managers in many organizations to solve similar problems by showing
              them how various factors are related" (16).
        • Limitations of the two types of research
          • Applied research has only a specific use, and after time may be worthless.
          • Theoretical research usually has a longer shelf life, but des not answer practical questions.
      • Any trained reader should be able to determine from reading your introduction if your research is applied or theoretical.



  2. Scope of research
    • One to three paragraphs
    • This section of your research paper may range over a few paragraphs and discusses two parts of your scope.
      • The overall scope of your entire subject (so you can show-off that you know how big the subject is)
      • A few sentences at the end to suggests what exact parts of that overall massive subject you will cover in this paper as your topic.


  3. Literature Review
    • One to two paragraphs
    • Discuss at least five sources
    • This section of your research paper may range over a few paragraphs and discusses various credible and pertinent sources concerning your topic.


  4. Model or Theory:
    • One paragraph--maybe two paragraphs
    • Applied research: the model by which you will test your information
    • Theoretical research: the theory Model with which you will examine your topic.
    • This one paragraph explains the model or theory you will use.
      • Every field of study uses many models and many theories, and this paragraph helps the reader understand the one Model you are using.
      • You cannot fabricate your own model or theory.
      • You will have to cite sources in order to "define" your theory or model in this paragraph.


  5. Analysis
    • This part is the bulk of the paper (about 2-3 paragraphs per page).
    • Minimum of 2 pages of analysis needed for this assignment.
    • Here you you show your reader how to understand your topic in a new way by leading your reader as you put your topic through the model you have chosen:
    • every paragraph must relate the information of your subject to either the model or the theory used, or the paragraph is useless and needs removed from the paper.


  6. Conclusion
    • APA
      • This paragraph is NOT a warm fuzzy wrap up.
      • A conclusion summarizes the knowledge you produced.
        • The results of the information having been run through a model.
        • The new way of looking at your information due to the analysis by the theory.
        • This last paragraph discusses other possible models you could have used.






The Order of Writing the Research Paper
  1. Learn about a subject and list how massive the subject is.
    • This part of your paper will impress people with how much you know and the important of your subject.
  2. Write out a scope (a few paragraphs) to better understand the grandeur of the subject.
    • In most papers, you will need a scope, so you might as well do it first.
  3. Narrow the scope of the subject to a topic
    • Be very specific with your topic.
    • List keywords that come to mind concerning your topic. (You'll need this list, below)
    • If your topic is too large, you will not be able to write a short paper.
    • (In one Master's thesis, I used three interconnected theories and six novels: the thesis is 130 pages long.)
  4. Learn "everything" about that topic.
    • Gather sources:
      • Choose only professional writings or interviews with professionals as sources:
        • A professional in your field is someone most others in your field accept as a professional.
        • Sometimes who is or is not a professional in a field is highly arguable.
        • Always be ready with documented proof as to the person's status as a professional.
        • If the article is printed in a peer-reviewed or "juried" journal, the ideas and information in that article is professional.
      • Researching information should be a phased project.
            A phase is not a step; it's a fuzzy midway between steps
        • Use your list of keywords to run searches in databases
        • Scan article titles and summaries for possible useful information
        • Skim the article's introduction and conclusion.
          • If the introduction and conclusion do not seem worthy, the article is not worthy to your research.
        • If the article sounds worthy of your research, read it.
        • Research is continual phases of scanning, skimming, and reading.
        • Read keywords for any article; add them to your list.
        • Read the article's bibliography to find other sources.
      • Know the names of people who are involved in your topic.
        • Often, you will find the same names popping up in articles about a specific topic.
          • Make sure you are using either those names in your paper or articles written by those names.
          • Research is sloppy when experts in the field are not consulted or, worse, are not known
            by the author of the research (you).
  5. Isolate some aspect of the topic that we (in your field) could use a better understanding of:
    • A specific problem to address (Applied research)
    • A general new understanding (Theoretical research)
  6. Find a method:
    • a model to test the topic's information (Applied research).
    • a theory to analyze the information (Theoretical research).
  7. Use the method:
    • Applied: Follow the usage of the model and "test" your information
      • Write about how the information changes before and after the model.
    • Theoretical: Discuss (write) how the theory re-interprets the information.
  8. Write a Conclusion:
    • Applied
      • Write about how the new information does or does not answer the problem.
      • Address other possible research scenarios that would use either other models or other theories with your topic.
        • In Applied research, showing how a model does not solve a problem is a worthy goal.
    • Theoretical: Address other possible research scenarios that would use either other models or other theories with your topic.
  9. Write the Introduction
    • A good introduction is a full summary of the whole paper in one short paragraph.
    • The introduction must include your thesis statement.