MAT 133 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: The final project for this course is the creation of a research study report. For the first milestone, you need to select an appropriate study from the
provided list. Then you will draft the first of three sections that will make up your report. It is recommended that you use the extra help resource to assist you in
organizing and developing your thoughts.
Prompt: Draft the “Introduction” section of your research study report, which includes the following critical elements:
I. Identify the specific focus of the research. In other words, what was this study about? What was the purpose of the study?
II. Describe the specific characteristics of the population being studied. For example, what was the sample size? What were its demographics?
III. Evaluate the research question(s) of your chosen study. Did the researchers suggest hypotheses for their research questions? To what extent are
these questions significant, and why?
Post your Milestone One submission to the graded discussion in Module Two to receive peer and instructor feedback. Your grade will be based on the timeliness
and quality of your initial post and the quality of the feedback that you provide to your peers. For tips on how to effectively engage in the peer review process,
review these guidelines.
For your initial post, you must do the following:
Attach your Milestone One submission by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
For your response posts, you must do the following:
Reply to at least two different classmates outside of your own initial post thread by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
Demonstrate more depth and thought than simply stating that “I agree” or “You are wrong.”
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your draft of the “Introduction” section of your research study report should be 1 page in length (plus a cover page and references)
and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Cite all references in APA format.
Note: This rubric is tailored to this assignment and awards full points for “Proficient.” For the final project, you will need to demonstrate “Exemplary”
achievement to earn full points. To see how you will be graded on your final project, review the Final Project Guidelines and Rubric document (in the Assignment
Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course).
Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value
Initial Post:
Introduction: Focus
Accurately identifies the
specific focus of the research
(100%)
Identifies the focus of the
research, but is not fully
accurate or lacks specificity
(70%)
Does not identify the focus of
the research (0%)
10
Initial Post:
Population
Accurately describes the
specific characteristics of the
population being studied
(100%)
Describes the characteristics of
the population being studied,
but is not fully accurate or lacks
specificity (70%)
Does not describe the
characteristics of the
population being studied (0%)
10
Initial Post: Research
Question
Evaluates the research
question(s) and associated
hypotheses of the chosen study
in terms of their significance
(100%)
Discusses the research
question(s) and associated
hypotheses of the chosen
study, but fails to fully or
logically evaluate them for their
significance (70%)
Does not discuss the research
question(s) and associated
hypotheses of the chosen study
(0%)
10
Initial Post:
Articulation of
Response
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
(100%)
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas (70%)
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas (0%)
10
Initial Post:
Timeliness
Submits initial post on time
(100%)
Submits initial post one day late
(70%)
Submits initial post two or
more days late (0%)
10
Engagement: Peer
Feedback
Provides relevant and
meaningful response posts with
clarifying explanation and detail
(100%)
Provides relevant response
posts with some explanation
and detail (85%)
Provides somewhat relevant
response posts with some
explanation and detail (70%)
Provides response posts that
are generic with little
explanation or detail (0%)
40
Engagement:
Writing (Mechanics)
Writes posts that are easily
understood, clear, and concise
using proper citation methods
where applicable with no errors
in citations (100%)
Writes posts that are easily
understood using proper
citation methods where
applicable with few errors in
citations (85%)
Writes posts that are
understandable using proper
citation methods where
applicable with a number of
errors in citations (70%)
Writes posts that others are not
able to understand and does
not use proper citation
methods where applicable (0%)
10
Total 100%