Through this paper, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate the range of knowledge you have acquired through this course and apply it to some specific context in people’s everyday lives. In grading your papers, I will be looking for evidence that you are actively engaged with the class material and making it your own. In particular, I will be expecting you to draw significantly upon insights gleaned from at least two of the workshop presentations you attended (in addition to any outside peer-reviewed literature or reputable resources you might use).

For this project, you are to select a specific health disparity of concern to you, affecting a particular at-risk population (defined by factors such as age, race/ethnicity, gender, and region), and then thoroughly research the topic (analyzing the available information and identifying specific directions for further action). While I am not requiring you to run your topic by me in advance, I encourage you to do so (through Discussion Board postings) in order to resolve any potential issues of suitability or scope.

In your paper, you are to do the following:

a. Provide adequate background information about the disparity (populations affected; historical, biological, psychological, cultural, political, and social influences; etc.).

b. Indicate how you would address the disparity with regard to reducing it (at what level; type of intervention; potential obstacles to success; etc.).

c. If your intervention worked, indicate what would be the expected outcome (i.e., your measure of success).

d. If the intervention did not work, state what you would change to improve your approach.

The grading rubric I will be using to evaluate your paper is located on the next page. Here and elsewhere in life your careful attention to detail will inevitably give people a better impression of what you have to offer. Your paper should be 8-10 pages, not including title and reference pages (12-point type, double spaced, 1-inch margins, and APA 5th or 6th edition style). Include at least 10 references from outside sources (Rule of Thumb: At least 2 references per page of text). Only academic journal articles and professional literature are to be used and cited—i.e., no use of the popular press or Wikipedia and other unregulated Internet sites. You may use reputable sites such as National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as national non-profits such as the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

SOCW 4390—Summer I, 2016—Grading Rubric for Final Research Paper

Name___________________________________ Total Points:_________ out of a possible 100

Points / Possible Points

Background—Comprehensive overview of topic (up to 30 points):

__ / 6 What is the health disparity you are researching? (Describe concisely, yet in adequate detail.)

__ / 6 What population(s) does it affect? (Define in terms of age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, region, and other factors likely to influence degree of risk.)

__ / 6 How does it affect the at-risk population(s)? (Describe historical, biological, cultural, political, and/or social influences.)

__ / 6 Why do we care? Why is this disparity important?

__ / 6 What research has been done? (hypotheses/theories, findings, implications)

Plan of Action—Your proposal for how this disparity can be reduced (up to 30 points):

__ / 12 Rationale (Why your proposal is a logical approach to reducing the disparity?)

__ / 6 What are you proposing to do? (What type of intervention, and at what level?)

__ / 6 How are you proposing to do it? (Describe your methodology—what factors will you manipulate, and how will you measure the outcome?)

__ / 6 What potential obstacles to success do you anticipate, and how do you plan to deal with them?

Expected Outcome (up to 15 points):

__ / 3 Based on prior research, how likely is your method to work?

__ / 3 If it did work, what would you expect to find? (i.e., your measure of success versus failure)

__ / 3 What would your findings (positive or negative results) mean?

__ / 6 What are the broader implications?

Changes/Future Studies (up to 15 points):

__ / 5 If your intervention DID NOT work, what would you change to improve your approach?

__ / 5 What are the implications related to these changes?

__ / 5 If your intervention DID work, what are some potential limitations?

Overall Considerations (up to 10 points):

__ / 6 Citations and reference list included for outside sources.

__ / 4 Presentation style (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, word usage, etc.).

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