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Tutorial-ResearchPaper-PPT-Online1.pptINTERNSHIP ANALYTICAL RESEARCH PAPER TUTORIAL
HTM 515
Hospitality Management Internship
Andrew Walls
Tutorial Objective
This tutorial is designed to help students understand the HTM 515 Analytical Research Paper expectations
The research paper assignment is designed to give students the opportunity to research a relevant, HTM industry-related topic that can be applied to today’s business environment.
Agenda
What does this class expect for my research paper
What is a Analytical Research Paper ? (And what it is not)
Choosing your general topic and research question
Research paper structure, sourcing, & Turnitin.com
Research paper grading and assessment
What does this class expect for my Analytical Research Paper
For this class students are expected to research and write about a relevant and applied HTM topic that is educational to the student and beneficial to the company.
The research will include topic selection (i.e., research question), audience consideration, data collection & analysis, demonstration of comprehension, application/conclusion, and citation of sources.
Students will present findings to their supervisor/team
This paper’s final composition is expected to be robust and quality-driven, original work.
What is a research paper?
What it is:
Broadly speaking, “research” is the process of finding out or investigating a solution to a problem (Odoh & Chinedum, 2014)
A research paper is a piece of academic writing based on its author’s original research on a particular topic, and the analysis and interpretation of the research findings
A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition.
Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article)
the student explores, interprets, and evaluates sources related to a specific topic
(Sources: www.owl.purdue.edu and www.aresearchguide.com).
What is a research paper?
What it is not:
A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources.
It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic.
Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources.
The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand.
(Source: www.owl.purdue.edu).
What is a research paper?
Two Major types of research papers:
Argumentative research paper.
The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement.
Analytical research paper.
An academic piece of writing that is aimed at analyzing different points of view from multiple sources on a particular topic. ... You may evaluate the works of researchers on the chosen topic, but you should always remain objective.
The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which the student has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation.
(Source: www.owl.purdue.edu).
This class will utilize the Analytical research paper type
General Topic & Research Question
*
Choosing Your Topic & Developing Your Research Question (RQ)
General Topic Selection - Critical Step
Choosing your general topic is a critical step in a quality research paper and should be done with input from your supervisor and instructor.
The general topic and research question, should be reviewed with your supervisor and edited to meet the specifics of your company, role and objectives of the internship.
Two topic sources:
Instructor Provided Topic
I have provide a lengthy list of potential topics on the course syllabus and iLearn. Review the topics and modify as necessary.
These topics should be reviewed with your supervisor and edited to meet the specifics of your company, role and objectives of the internship.
Student/Host-Company Generated Topic
Meet with your supervisor and review (their) possible options for research topics. The topic should be beneficial to the company and educational to the student.
General Topic Examples
- Good general research topics
- Determining Methods to Decreasing Stress from the Front Desk
- Impact and Logistics of Cost/Revenue Analysis in a Banquet Setting
- Poor Research Topics
- Student will help update catering menus
- Update employee, operations, events manual
- Talk with employees about morale
- Give an opinion about restaurant menu design
- Events catering
General Topic & Research Question
Research is the process of finding out or investigating a solution to a problem (Odoh & Chinedum, 2014)
What is a research question?
A research question is the question around which you center your research. It should be:
clear: it provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.
concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition of an answer.
arguable: its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts.
Research questions help writers focus their research by providing a clear path through the research and writing process
A well developed research question helps writers avoid the “all-about” paper and work toward supporting a specific, arguable thesis.
(Source: https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question)
General Topic & Research Question
Steps to developing a research question (RQ)
Choose an interesting general topic.
Choose a broad topic that you’d like to learn more about
E.g., Front desk clerk’s impact on guest satisfaction
Do some preliminary research on your general topic
What info is available? Can you narrow your focus?
Consider your audience
Both for your mgmt. team and faculty
Start asking questions
Question the how and why about your general topic
Develop a descriptive RQ
Write the RQ statement in a form of a question
E.g., What is the relationship between front desk clerk’s compensation & satisfaction with mgmt. and guest satisfaction scores?
Evaluate your RQ
Is your RQ clear? Focused? More complex than a simple yes/no?
Begin your research
Determine your next steps (literature sources, data collection, etc.)
(Source: https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question)
Sample Research Questions
- Unclear: How should social networking sites address the harm they cause?
Clear: What action should social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook take to protect users’ personal information and privacy?
- Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?
Focused: What is the most significant effect of glacial melting on the lives of penguins in Antarctica? - Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.?
Appropriately Complex: What main environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors predict whether Americans will develop diabetes, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease?
(Source: https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question)
Research Paper Structure
- Quality is preferred over quantity.
- The length of the paper is not specified. Minimum length should be at least 15+ pages long (not including cover page, references, or appendices)
- Double-spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font with 1” margins.
- Content, writing logic/flow, spelling and grammar will be graded as part of your final grade.
Research Paper Structure
References & Sources Requirement
- Student analytical research papers are expected to have external sources of information (e.g., collected data, personal interviews, outside articles, newspaper, internal company documents, textbooks, academic articles, etc.) to address your research question.
- Charts, tables and graphs are anticipated
- 3-5+ references minimum but more are expected. A reference section is required when you cite any source in your paper.
- All citation and references should follow the APA format. Please see (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01) or (www.apastyle.org)
Turnitin.com Requirement
- All final papers must be uploaded and submitted through Turnitin.com link on iLearn for plagiarism and grammar checks. Please use MSWord or PDF format.
- Directions and feedback:
- http://at.sfsu.edu/support/how-submit-turnitin-assignment
- The paper must be uploaded and submitted to Turnitin.com no later than the final packet due date outlined on the course schedule.
- You can review the Turnitin feedback and make changes to your paper.
- See course syllabus for strict rules and guidance on cheating and plagiarism/Self-Plagiarism. This class has a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating behaviors.
Research Paper Grading
- Your grade is composed through two sources:
- Supervisor - The final research paper and formal presentation is graded (e.g., “A-”, “B”, “C+”, etc.) by your supervisor with feedback.
- Faculty – graded based on assessment rubric AND supervisor grade.
- The final paper will be graded using the assessment rubric provided. Nine (9) criteria are used in the grading of each research paper using an Unacceptable, Acceptable, and Exemplary (see rubric).
Assessment Rubric
Samples and Help
- Samples - iLearn provides a number of papers that have provided excellent content.
- Tips & Help
- Please do not procrastinate
- I am available throughout the semester to provide encouragement, feedback and help with any part of your research paper.
- Check out the helpful links on iLearn (e.g., APA, Questionnaire design, etc.)
- Please use the resource librarian for help on researching topics and sources.
