Paper

Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR351 Transitions in Professional Nursing
Professional Paper Guidelines.docx
10/30/2015 CJM
5
Professional Paper Guidelines
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to allow the learner to demonstrate writing skills, organizational skills, and ability to correctly present ideas and credit others in APA format when writing a professional paper.
COURSE OUTCOMES
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes.
CO #3. Demonstrate effective verbal, written, and technological communication using legal and ethical standards for transferring knowledge using success resources provided to Chamberlain students. (PO #3)
CO #4. Integrate critical thinking and judgment in professional decision-making in collaboration with faculty and peers. (PO #4)
CO #5. Apply concepts of professionalism when planning for personal, intellectual, and professional development. (PO #5)
CO #9. Demonstrate accountability for personal and professional development by assessing information and technology competence, implementing plans for upgrading technology skills, and using effective strategies for online student success using resources provided to Chamberlain students. (PO #5)
DUE DATE
Submit the assignment to the Week 6 Dropbox by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT.
POINTS
This assignment is worth a total of 200 points.
PREPARING THE Professional Paper
Carefully read this document (Professional Paper Guidelines), including the Rubric.
From Doc Sharing (APA Resources category), download the APA Paper Template. Rename that document as Your Last Name Professional Paper.docx. Save it to your own computer or flash drive in a location where you will be able to retrieve it later. Type your assignment directly on the saved document. Remember that only Microsoft Word 2010 or a later version is acceptable. The document must be saved as a .docx. Save your work frequently as you type to prevent loss of your work.
Mechanics of the Professional Paper include:
Times New Roman size 12 typeface (font) double spaced with 1-inch margins
No abstract
Correct APA format
Correct spelling, apostrophe use, grammar, paragraphing, and sentence structure
Contents must include Title Page, body of the paper ( 500–600 words including Introduction, two Main Points from your Professional Paper Worksheet outline, and Conclusion), and References page.
Two Main Points and Conclusion should be Level 1 headings.
References should only include your Hood textbook and the article you selected in your Professional Paper Worksheet that was approved by your instructor.
Contents of the paper must include any revisions suggested by your instructor in Professional Paper Worksheet feedback.
When your assignment is complete, save and close your Professional Paper. Enter the course and submit the document as an attachment to the Week 6 Dropbox. See the Week 6 Assignments page for step-by-step instructions on how to use the Dropbox.
DIRECTIONS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Category
Points
%
Description: See Rubric for details.
Content
Introduction
25
12.5%
Clearly introduce and define the topic, as well as describe its importance to professional nursing.
First Main Point
50
25%
Clearly address the First Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet.
Second Main Point
50
25%
Clearly address the Second Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet.
Conclusion
25
12.5%
Clearly summarize the paper and make a concluding statement.
APA Format
Title Page
2
1%
Title page adheres to the format of the APA Paper Template assigned.
Margins, font, spacing, headings
4
2%
Margins, font, spacing, and headings adhere to APA format.
Citations
9
4.5%
Provide APA format citations for each idea (and or words) not originally your own.
References
10
5%
References page adheres to APA format for Hood textbook and scholarly professional nursing journal article approved in Professional Paper Worksheet.
Professional Writing
Organization, clarity, structure, paragraphing
15
7.5%
Writing is organized and clear using appropriate structure and paragraphing. Paper contains 500-600 words excluding title page and references page.
Spelling and apostrophe use, grammar, professional wording
10
5%
Writing adheres to American English rules of spelling, apostrophe use, and grammar. Wording is professional.
Total
200 points
100%
A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
Grading RUBRIC
Assignment Criteria
A: (92–100%)
Outstanding or Highest Level of Performance
B: (84–91%)
Very Good or High Level of Performance
C: (76–83%)
Competent or Satisfactory Level of Performance
F: (0–75%)
Poor or Failing or Unsatisfactory Level of Performance
Content
Introduction
25 points
Clearly introduces and defines the topic, as well as describes its importance to professional nursing.
(23–25 points)
Introduces and defines the topic, as well as describes its importance to professional nursing.
(21–22 points)
Introduces and defines the topic, as well as describes its importance to professional nursing. Depth and detail are fair. (19–20 points)
May not introduce or define the topic, or may not describe its importance to professional nursing in a sufficient manner.
(0–18 points)
First Main Point
50 points
Clearly addresses the First Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are excellent.
(46–50 points)
Addresses the First Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are good.
(42–45 points)
Vaguely addresses the First Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are fair.
(37–41 points)
May or may not address the First Main Point. May or may not include 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are minimal.
(0–36 points)
Second Main Point
50 points
Clearly addresses the Second Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are excellent.
(46–50 points)
Addresses the Second Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are good.
(42–45 points)
Vaguely addresses the Second Main Point including 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are fair.
(37–41 points)
May or may not address the Second Main Point. May or may not include 2 or more sub-points from Professional Paper Worksheet. Depth and detail are minimal.
(0–36 points)
Conclusion
25 points
Clearly summarizes the paper and makes a concluding statement.
(23–25 points)
Summarizes the paper and makes a concluding statement.
(21–22 points)
Summary and concluding statement are fair.
(19–20 points)
May or may not include both summary and concluding statement.
(0–18 points)
APA Format
Title Page
2 points
Title page adheres well to the format of the APA Paper Template assigned (0-2 errors).
(2 points)
Title page somewhat adheres to the format of the APA Paper Template assigned (3 errors).
(1 point)
Title page does not adhere well to the format of the APA Paper Template assigned (4 or more errors). (0 points)
Margins, font, spacing, headings
4 points
Margins, font, spacing, and headings adhere well to APA format.
(4 points)
Margins, font, spacing, and headings adhere fairly well to APA format.
(3 points)
Adherence of margins, font, spacing, and headings to APA format is only fair.
(2 points)
Margins, font, spacing, and headings do not adhere well to APA format.
(0–1 points)
Citations
9 points
Provide very good APA format citations for each idea (and or words) not originally your own (0–1 error).
(9 points)
Provide good APA format citations for each idea (and or words) not originally your own (2–3 errors).
(8 points)
Provide fair APA format citations for each idea (and or words) not originally your own (4 errors).
(7 points)
Provide minimal APA format citations for each idea (and or words) not originally your own (5 or more errors).
(0–6 points)
References
10 points
References page adheres well to APA format for Hood textbook and scholarly professional nursing journal article approved in Professional Paper Worksheet (0-1 error).
(9–10 points)
References page adheres to APA format for Hood textbook and scholarly professional nursing journal article approved in Professional Paper Worksheet (2-3 errors).
(8 points)
References page APA format for Hood textbook and scholarly professional nursing journal article approved in Professional Paper Worksheet has fair format (4 errors).
(7 points)
References page may not adheres to APA format for Hood textbook and scholarly professional nursing journal article approved in Professional Paper Worksheet (5 or more errors).
(0–6 points)
Professional Writing
Organization, clarity, structure, paragraphing
15 points
Writing is very well organized and clear using very good structure and paragraphing.
Paper contains 500-600 words excluding title page and references page.
(14–15 points)
Writing is organized and clear using appropriate structure and paragraphing.
Paper contains 500-600 words excluding title page and references page.
(12–13 points)
Writing organization is fair and sometimes uses appropriate structure and paragraphing.
Paper contains slightly fewer than 500 words or slightly more than 600 words excluding title page and references page.
(11 points)
Writing is not well organized and not clear using minimal appropriate structure and paragraphing.
Paper contains significantly fewer than 500 words or significantly more than 600 words excluding title page and references page.
(0–10 points)
Spelling and apostrophe use, grammar, professional wording
10 points
Writing adheres very well to American English rules of spelling, apostrophe use, and grammar. Wording is very professional.
(9–10 points)
Writing adheres to American English rules of spelling, apostrophe use, and grammar. Wording is usually professional.
(8 points)
Writing sometimes adheres to American English rules of spelling, apostrophe use, and grammar. Wording is sometimes professional.
(7 points)
Writing does not always adhere to American English rules of spelling, apostrophe use, and grammar. Wording is not always professional.
(0–6 points)
TOTAL: 200 points possible