Upper-Division Assignment Description
Papers randomly selected from the ROAD system for review will be evaluated according to our current ROAD Rubric*. In order to accurately evaluate papers according to this rubric, reviewers need some information about the assignment. In particular it would be helpful if assignment descriptions answered the following questions:
- What are the purpose, audience, and context of the assignment?
- What content should be contained in the assignment?
- What style guide does the assignment use (APA, MLA, CBE, Chicago, Turabian, etc.)? How should the assignment be organized?
- What are appropriate sources for the assignment?
Example: Literature review from an economics capstone assignment
Purpose, audience, and context of the assignment
This literature review is intended to be an examination of the research that has taken place in your chosen topic. It should be written at a level that is easily understandable by senior-level economics students.
The literature review for this capstone assignment will attempt to do the following:
Content
Your literature review should not be simply an annotated bibliography. You are expected to have a good enough mastery of the literature to be able to determine how different works in your area of study relate to particular questions or problems rather than simply creating a lists and summaries of the works in your area of study.
Writing Conventions and Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Your literature review should be well-organized, free of grammatical errors, and follow the Turabian style guide.
Sources and Evidence
Your sources should come from reputable economics texts, journals, and working papers.
- Identify key terminology and methodology used
- Identify the important questions that have been addressed in the literature
- Identify what questions have been answered, what questions remain, and what answers are controversial
- Identify how your intended research fits into the literature
Content
Your literature review should not be simply an annotated bibliography. You are expected to have a good enough mastery of the literature to be able to determine how different works in your area of study relate to particular questions or problems rather than simply creating a lists and summaries of the works in your area of study.
Writing Conventions and Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Your literature review should be well-organized, free of grammatical errors, and follow the Turabian style guide.
Sources and Evidence
Your sources should come from reputable economics texts, journals, and working papers.