Assignment: Research Proposal Value This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade. Background This assignment is the first step in your research project, which is made up of the recommendation report

Jamez

11 Feb 2026 • 5 min read

Assignment: Research Proposal

Value

This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade.

Background

This assignment is the first step in your research project, which is made up of the recommendation report and the formal presentation.

What is a Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a plan that explains what you want to study and how you want to study it. It’s a written document that you give to your instructor (or manager in an employment context) to get feedback and approval before you start your research project. The proposal should include information on what question(s) you want to answer, the research sources or data you will use, and how you intend to use the research or data. The goal of a research proposal is to demonstrate that you have a solid plan in place and have identified the research sources you will use as evidence in your report and presentation.

Instructions

1. Consult the list of research questions/topics and choose one.

2. Familiarize yourself with the topic: what do you already know about it? What experiences have you had with it? Do some preliminary Googling to better orient yourself to the topic.

3. Do some research. Use the library databases, Google Scholar, and other search strategies to find relevant scholarly or authoritative sources that will help you answer your chosen research question. You can also look for reputable websites, books, or any other research sources that adhere to the STAR criteria.

4. Choose the three best and most relevant research sources and make notes briefly summarizing the key points in each as well as how you plan on using the information in each source. (Take note: If you find additional sources that are relevant, keep them on hand. You may decide to add more information to your

report and presentation as your research project progresses. For now, only three sources are required.)

5. Write your proposal: write a research proposal that includes

a. Your chosen research question

b. An APA-formatted reference plus summary and explanation (i.e., annotation ~200-250 words) for each of your chosen research sources (the proposal will be about 500-750 words/2 pages in total)

6. Revise and edit: once you have drafted your proposal, revise and edit it to ensure it communicates your ideas clearly in an organized and professional manner.

7. Submit your proposal: Submit your proposal to your instructor for grading and feedback. Make any necessary changes based on their feedback before beginning your research project.

Notes

• Use the Research Proposal Plan to plan the components of your assignment.

• Use APA style to format your proposal, cite your sources, and provide complete, correct references to your research sources, and include a title page. Consult the APA guide online for guidance.

• If generative AI tools are used, the assignment includes an AI Collaboration Note

Rubric

Criteria	Exceptional 4	Proficient 3	Developing 2	Emerging 1	No evidence to assess 0
Quality and credibility of sources	All sources are valid, authoritative, and clearly meet the STAR criteria. If AI tools are used for source discovery or evaluation, their use is disclosed and sources are independentl y verified by the student. Source selection reflects informed judgment.	Most sources are valid and authoritative and meet the STAR criteria. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and generally verified, with minor gaps in evaluation.	Some sources meet the STAR criteria, but others show gaps in authority, relevance, or reliability. AI use is disclosed but verification is limited or inconsistent.	Few sources meet the STAR criteria. Source selection shows limited verification and may rely heavily on AI output, even if disclosed.	Sources are missing, inappropriate , or not verified. AI use is not disclosed when evident.
Source summaries and integration	Summaries clearly and accurately represent each source. Source types and locations are identified. Paraphrased and quoted material is integrated using objective language, signal phrases, and accurate in text citations. If AI tools are used, their use is disclosed, verified against original	Summaries are mostly clear and accurate. Integration and citation are generally correct. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and reviewed with minor gaps in verification or revision.	Summaries are partially accurate or incomplete. AI use is disclosed but verification or revision is inconsistent.	Summaries are unclear, inaccurate, or overly dependent on AI generated text, even if AI use is disclosed.	Summaries are missing, not verified against original sources, or AI use is not disclosed when evident.
Criteria	Exceptional 4	Proficient 3	Developing 2	Emerging 1	No evidence to assess 0
	sources, and revised by the student.
Relevance of sources to the topic or research question	Clearly and convincingly explains how each source contributes to the topic or research question. Student reasoning is evident. If AI tools are used, their use is disclosed and the explanation reflects the student’s own analysis.	Explains the relevance of most sources. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and student reasoning is generally clear with minor reliance on AI phrasing.	Relevance is identified in general terms. AI use is disclosed but explanations rely heavily on AI generated framing or lack depth.	Relevance of sources is weak or unclear and appears largely AI generated, even if disclosed.	No explanation of relevance is provided or AI use is not disclosed when evident.
References and citation format	All references are complete and correctly formatted in the required citation style. If AI tools are used to generate or format citations, their use is disclosed and all references are checked and corrected by the student.	References are complete with minor formatting errors. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and references are mostly accurate.	References are present but contain multiple formatting or completeness errors, including uncorrected AI generated errors. AI use is disclosed.	References are incomplete, inconsistentl y formatted, or appear incorrectly copied from AI output, even if disclosed.	References are missing, unusable, or AI use is not disclosed when evident.
Writing clarity and appropriatenes s for audience	Writing is clear, concise, and appropriate to the audience. Voice is consistent and controlled. If AI tools are	Writing is generally clear and appropriate. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed and supports clarity with minor issues	Writing is understandabl e but uneven. AI use is disclosed but may be overused or insufficiently revised.	Writing frequently lacks clarity or shows inconsistent voice, suggesting overreliance on AI output, even if disclosed.	Writing is unclear or insufficient to assess, or AI use is not disclosed when evident.
Criteria	Exceptional 4	Proficient 3	Developing 2	Emerging 1	No evidence to assess 0
	used, their use is disclosed and the final text reflects the student’s own decisions and revisions.	in voice or consistency.
Length and formatting requirements	Meets the length requirement and formatting guidelines. Any AI assisted formatting or editing is disclosed and finalized by the student.	Meets length and formatting requirement s with minor deviations. AI use, if applicable, is disclosed.	Length or formatting requirements are partially met.	Length or formatting requirements are mostly unmet.	Submission does not meet length or formatting expectations.

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