RESEARCH PAPER
RESEARCH PAPER - WEIGHTAGE – 12 % OF TOTAL GRADE
The main goal for this assignment is that students gain an in-depth understanding about an
emerging topic in Marketing. Each student will conduct in-depth research on the topic and write
the research paper.
The theme for research is: Marketing/ Branding Initiatives that balance People, Planet and
Profits
Please note that theme has been provided. It is not a topic. You can consider a specific
marketing problem under this broad theme.
Important Suggestions:
1) This is a very broad theme. It is important that you select a narrow area of research under this
broad theme for better output.
2) Please review resource links provided below to help you understand how to write research
papers. Link 2 is particularly useful guide.
This assignment is worth 12 % of your final grade.
Due Date – 14th November 2021
Instructions
1) You may consider organizing the research paper as follows:
• Introduction
• Relevance of the topic
• Objective of the Research/ Research Questions
• Discussion (organize in appropriate sub sections)
• Conclusions
2) The suggested word limit is 1800-2500 words.
3) Must use external academic (these include research journals; consider using your library) and
relevant non-academic references. Provide in-text citations and should provide references in
APA format.
Resources to learn more about organizing a Research Paper:
1) https://www.ufv.ca/media/assets/academic-success-centre/handouts/The-Research-Paper-
2009.pdf
2) https://library.ufv.ca/research-help-guides/assignment-planner/research-paper-planner/
3) https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/tutorials-help/research-paper
1-4 Scale
Percentage Score 0-59 59-71 72-77 78-81 82-84 85-89 88-91 92-100
Grades F C B- B B+ A- A A+
Mastery Level
Standard Level
Subject Matter 50
Introduction and Background 10
Discussion of Findings/ Discussion
about the topic
10
Conclusion and Managerial
Recommendation
10
Use of appropriate references 10
Use of relevant data, depiction of
data, use of Tables/Charts
10
Organization & Critical Thinking 20
Demonstration of thought process
and analysis of problem and
resolution using own thoughts and
ideas
20
Style & Mechanics 30
Readability & Style - Clarity of
thought and appropropriate level
of language use that brings the
author's thoughts and ideas to the
reader.
10
Grammar/Punctuation/Spelling -
Use of proper English language
grammar, spelling and punctuation
to create a readable paper.
10
APA - Application of the
requirements of the 7th APA
manual to create a standardized
formatted report
10
Marks 100
Rubric For Assessment of Research Paper
Weight Student Score 1 2 3 4
Beginning Developing Competent Mastery
Below Standard Approaching Standard At Standard Exceeds Standard
Problem statement is poorly crafted
or missing or is misstated
Problem statement is not well-
crafted but is acceptable
Problem statement is reasonably
well-crafted and is specific to the
issue
Problem statement is well-crafted,
specific and represents a novel
outlook on the issue
Discussion is incorrect
correct, missing many of the pros
with little or no discussion of
negatives
Discussion is inadequately
correct, missing some of the pros
and most or all of the cons
Discussion is correct, taking into
account most of the pros and cons
and represents a solid level of
research
Discussion is complete and correct,
taking into account pros and cons
and represents a full level of
research with novel conclusions
Recommendations are not
supported
and demonstrat little or no
understanding of problem or the
consequences of implementation
Recommendations are
inadequately supported
and do not represent reasonable
understanding of problem or the
consequences of implementation,
with alternate solution available
Recommendations are adequately
supported and represents
reasonable understanding of
problem, some of the
consequences of implementation
and may have and alternate
solution available
Recommendations are fully
supported and represents superior
understanding of problem,
consequences of implementation
and has alternate solutions
available
References are not appropriate to
the subject matter or are missing
References are not fully
appropriate to the subject matter
References are timely and
appropriate to the subject matter
References represent a complete
literature survey are timely and
appropriate to the subject matter
Tables, charts and other media
poorly support the presentation of
the material of the report or are
not present when they would be of
value
Tables, charts and other media
inadequately support the
presentation of the material of the
report
Tables, charts and other media
adequately support the
presentation of the material of the
report
Tables, charts and other media fully
support and augment the
presentation of the material of the
report
Introduction provides poor level of
background of paper
Structure of paper is not clear and is
difficult to follow train of thought
process
Conclusion does not follow logically
from body of paper
Critical Thinking is lacking: missing
logical argumentation & reasoning,
concrete examples & valid
inferences
Introduction provides background
of paper missing some key elements
Structure of paper is not clear and it
is not easy to follow train of
thought process
Conclusion follows from body of
paper but misses key points
Critical Thinking is not fully present:
missing key points of logical
argumentation & reasoning,
concrete examples & valid
inferences
Introduction provides good level of
background of paper
Structure of paper is clear and train
of thought process is
understandable
Conclusion mostly follows logically
from body of paper
Critical Thinking is present: logical
argumentation & reasoning shows,
reasonable examples & valid
inferences are made
Introduction provides superior level
of background of paper
Structure of paper is very clear and
easy to follow train of thought
process
Conclusion follows logically from
body of paper
Critical Thinking is present through:
logical argumentation & reasoning,
concrete examples & valid
inferences
7th Ed. APA Manual is not followed
or there are significant errors in:
title page & references pages. In-
text citations, paraphrasing and
direct quotes are quite inadequate
but do not rise to the level of
plagiarism
7th Ed. APA Manual is followed with
significant errors in:
title page & references pages. In-
text citations, paraphrasing and
direct quotes are lacking but do not
rise to the level of plagiarism
7th Ed. APA Manual is followed with
minor errors in:
formatted title page, formatted
references pages, in-text citations,
paraphrasing and direct quotes are
adequately used in the correct
context
7th Ed. APA Manual is followed with
no errors including:
properly formatted title page,
properly formatted references
pages, in-text citations are correclty
used, paraphrasing and direct
quotes are properly used in the
correct context
Grammar and sentence structure
has major problems following
standard English rules and reads
with difficulty with major errors in
punctuation and spelling
Grammar and sentence structure
has problems following standard
English rules and reads with some
difficulty with errors in punctuation
and spelling
Grammar and sentence structure
mostly follows standard English
rules and reads reasonably well
with few errors in punctuation and
spelling
Grammar and sentence structure
follows standard English rules and
reads well with excellent
punctuation and spelling
Sentences are lacking in
completeness, clearness,
consicseness and are not well-
structured.
Transitions do not maintain flow of
thought.
Words are ambiguous.
Tone is inappropriate to
audience/assessment. Colloquial
language or inappropriatel use of
paraphrasing is used.
Sentences need to be more
complete, clear, consicse and well-
constructed.
Transitions do not maintain flow of
thought well.
Words are not precise and have
some ambiguity.
Tone is not appropriate to
audience/assessment. Colloquial
language or inappropriatel use of
paraphrasing is used too much.
Sentences are mostly complete,
clear, consicse and well-
constructed.
Transitions moslty maintain flow of
thought.
Words are mostly precise with little
ambiguity.
Tone is mostly appropriate to
audience/assessment. Colloquial
language or inappropriatel use of
paraphrasing is used sparingly.
Sentences are consistently
complete, clear, consicse and well-
constructed with strong, varied
structure.
Transitions consistently maintain
flow of thought.
Words are quite precise and
unambiguous.
Tone is comlpetely appropriate to
audience/assessment. No colloquial
language or inappropriatel use of
paraphrasing used.