The final assignment for this course pulls together the work you have done on the other three assignments. You will incorporate feedback you’ve received and prepare a preliminary concept paper for your dissertation or doctoral project, carrying this work forward into your subsequent residency courses as you develop your topic and project plan. Your concept paper presents the topic and should include discussion of the following:
Topic.
Problem.
Supporting Evidence. (Evidence is based on the literature you have reviewed.)
Preliminary Project Framework. (The methods that you have identified for your project.)
Remember, as you deepen your understanding and add detail to your project, you should expect to make several revisions beyond this course as your work is viewed through multiple lenses, including those of instructors, peers, the existing literature, and other sources. You should seek opportunities to improve and refine your work after this course. Doctoral project planning is an iterative process, with each revision often inspiring further revisions until all elements are aligned. These iterations are a necessary and customary part of the doctoral journey.
Using 35 articles on your potential topic and a summary that provides additional evidence to support your work, include the following in your MS Word document:
Discuss identified gaps in the literature or potential organizational needs.
Identify a topic consistent with the acceptable topics for the discipline.
Define the problem for the proposed topic.
Analyze the alignment of problem, questions, and methods.
Describe ethical issues or concerns related to the topic and/or theory.
Present a preliminary project framework that aligns with the topic and problem and is consistent with the acceptable topics and methods for the discipline.
As a scholar-practitioner, apply conventions of voice, academic tone, and discipline-specific language.
Additional Requirements
Your assignment should also meet the following requirements:
Written communication Written communication is concise and free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Length: Use the following headings—and subheadings as needed—to structure your concept paper:
Research Topic.
Research Problem.
Supporting Evidence.
Project Framework.
Resources: 10 additional scholarly references including seminal literature and articles from primary sources. Include in Reference section at the end of the paper. Plan on 35 or more citations to adequately address each of the areas.