Assignment
For this activity, locate a scholarly journal article, chapter, or book relevant to your topic, and consult the recommended Rael (2004) article, How to Read a Secondary Source.
The purpose of this activity is twofold. First, it will help you hone your research skills as you locate articles, chapters, and books to support your Final Capstone Research Project. Second, it will help you focus on analyzing, rather than just describing, the contents of sources relevant to your work. Your review will be comprised of a brief analysis of a scholarly journal article, chapter, or book that assesses its central points and main argument. This exercise will help you identify and explain an author's thesis statement. By developing an awareness of thesis statements in scholarly works, you will be better able to formulate thesis statements in your own work. In addition, by paying attention to the way an author has constructed an argument, including use of sources and methodological perspectives, you will refine your critical thinking skills and improve your own ability to build arguments that support your thesis statements.
In your article, chapter, or book review:
• Explain what makes your source scholarly and why the author is an expert in the field.
o What do you know about the author? For instance, do a Google search and find his or her biography at the place where he or she teaches. In addition, look for the author's curriculum vitae (academic resume). What information establishes the author as a credible expert on this topic?
o What are three specific examples of scholarly sources or primary sources referenced and cited in this article, chapter, or book? Be specific.
• Identify the author's thesis or the central focus. Where in the text is the thesis statement located? If you explained to someone what you read, and they then asked, "so what's the point?" what would your response be? Be precise.
• List three main points the author makes to back up the thesis or central focus.
• Explain how the author uses each main point to back up the thesis or central focus.
• Explain how the author uses other scholarly sources and/or primary sources to substantiate each main point.
• Identify a specific part of your Final Capstone Research Project this article, chapter, or book could support, and explain why it advances your position.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.