CM 220 Unit 5 Discussion Research and APA Citation Format

As seen in the Learning Activities, conducting research can be a time-intensive process. However, there are various methods that may help you conduct research more efficiently. This evidence can be categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary sources. Primary research is based on first-hand observations and interpretations; in secondary research, you have to rely on another writer’s ability to find and analyze information. Tertiary sources like encyclopedias and bibliographies offer overviews of a topic. It is ideal to have a research strategy or plan in place before jumping into looking for sources. In this Discussion, you will build your research strategy. 

After completing the unit’s Learning Activities, respond to the following questions in at least two well-developed paragraphs:

•    Include the revised version of your thesis statement for an argument for change in your community or workplace, and identify at least three search terms you can use in the KU Library or an Internet search engine to find sources to support that thesis statement.
• Find one source related to your topic. Is that source primary, secondary, or tertiary?  What criteria will help you decide if this source is credible and useful for your research?
• Finally, create an APA formatted References page citation for the source.

To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. These responses should stay on topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant examples, and referencing concepts from the unit’s Learning Activities.

All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard American English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.

When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Learning Activities, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Learning Activities or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. Kaplan University Writing Center has resources on APA citation formatting.

https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/ResearchCitationAndPlagiarism/Index.aspx

You can review a sample Discussion post and response to a peer by clicking on the following link: Unit 5 Sample Discussion Assignment.

You can review the rubric the instructor will use when determining your Discussion grade by clicking on the following link: Discussion Assignment Grading Rubric.