This assignment is an expository essay in which you describe and explain your area of interest, its significance and why you have chosen the area (how it relates to you?). You may discuss the significance of the chosen area theoretically and practically by citing related literature, and support your selection of the topic by showing how it is important to you personally, professionally and contextually (where you work or what you’ll be doing). The essay should follow the conventional essay structure: an introduction, body and a conclusion. The introduction may end with your thesis statement (the reasons why you’ve chosen the topic). The body can include paragraphs in which you describe and discuss every one of the reasons you stated in the thesis statement. Finally, the conclusion section may highlight your main arguments about the significance of your topic. You may also discuss methodological issues related to your topic in the conclusion. Provide a list of references according to APA style.   

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources and annotations (summary and evaluation) on a selected topic arranged in alphabetical order. Each annotation will have two parts. The first part is the bibliographic information of the source which should strictly follow APA style. The second part of each annotation includes a concise summary of the content and methodology of the study and evaluation of its value or relevance to the theme of the AB (your chosen topic or area of interest). Given your annotated bibliography will be used to write the literature review for your third assignment (research proposal), it is worth preparing it as carefully as possible. Roughly, the summary and the evaluation of each stud should have a 50:50 proportion.

Assignment 3 is a proposal for a research project and is based on Assignments 1 and 2 with some additional sections. Use assignments 1 and 2 and the comments and feedback you received to prepare your proposal.

 Outline of assignment 3

 1. Introduction: Introduce your topic (area) and its importance (theoretically and practically). You can use Assignment 1 to prepare this section, however, you may need to re-word and summarise it to fit it to the scope of this assignment. Then identify the research problem or the gap in the topic to be investigated. You can use the conclusions section of your Assignment 2 to write this part.

2. Literature review: Contextualise your problem and your research questions by reviewing the related literature and indicating the significance of your problem [use your annotations from Assignment 2 to write this part]. At the end of the literature say how the proposed study will contribute to the current body of the knowledge on the topic as you included in your AB.

3.Purpose and research questions: State the general purpose of the proposed study, and formulate 3-5 specific research questions and/or research hypotheses to be investigated.

4. Methods: Provide details of how the study will be conducted. These will include:

·         Research design and method (The design of your study and the specific research methods you will use to investigate the research problem and answer research questions)

·         Operationalization of key concepts/constructs & identification of variables

·         Participants (choice, selection, numbers, features)

·         Instruments of data collection (append examples if appropriate)

·         Procedures for data collection and analysis

·         How ethical issues relevant to your study will be handled?

·         Issues related to the reliability and validity of the instruments

·         Limitations of the study

 5. Probable contribution of your proposed study to the field

 A reference list must be provided at the end of the proposal in alphabetical order and according to APA writing style. There should be a one-to-one correspondence between the works cited in the body of your proposal and the ones in your reference list.

Both internal (on-campus) and external (distance) students should take part in 

teaching and learning activities throughout the semester. These will include 

face-to-face in class, and online discussion. Use “Forum” facility in iLearn and 

post your comments and discuss different topics related to the unit. 

You are encouraged to post a brief report of the papers you find and read 

on each of the unit topics. Groups may be formed of those who share similar 

areas of interest to further discuss their topics and exchange resources. 

Also, use the “Glossary” part to define and describe research concepts and 

terms. This will help you to consolidate your understanding of these terms 

and will give others a chance to read and understand those concepts.