Assignment 4: Writing persuasive proposals (Individual) – CALS602 [CLALD-MA 2023-1 OL] Sep 25 2023

Overview

For this assignment you’ll write a complete and cohesive climate action project or research proposal according to the template provided. Developing a strong research proposal forces you to answer hard questions about what is already known, what can and should be done to explore your topic, in what ways you would want to influence actions, who and what will benefit from the findings, and what are the limitations of your study. In addition to clarifying your understanding of an important issue, the research proposal is a persuasive argument, designed to create interest and support for what you propose.

Instructions

Begin by reading the chapter Choosing Methodologies and Methods for Online Studies (Salmons, 2016) to help guide choices of methodologies and their related methods. You may also find it useful to consult the 2019 open access textbook by DeCarlo, M., Cory, C., & Agnelli, K. (2019). Graduate research methods in social work: A project-based approach. Building on and incorporating relevant aspects of the reference library and research question you developed in earlier assignments, you will design a research project that has the potential to better inform a significant topic in climate action research. You will write a complete proposal according to the instructions included in the supplied template document. Your proposal will communicate a clear and compelling research question in the context of climate action, review literature to identify the knowledge gap this addresses, and illustrate a practical research process to inform the key question.

Requirements

The assignment must be submitted in the provided Word template with all sections completed and formatted according to the template standards. This is based on the MACAL Thesis Handbook which was updated in March 2023.
The research proposal must articulate a clear and compelling purpose framed as a research question, provide sufficient background information to assess its potential knowledge contribution, and employ appropriate methodology and methods to inform the intended analysis.
Where research includes stakeholder participation, an informed consent form might be developed to meet ethical standards, such as that in the example supplied. This is included for your information and is not required for this assignment.
All external sources must be acknowledged using software following the APA format for in-text citations and references.
The assignment must be submitted on or before the due date in the activities schedule

Assessment Criteria

In this assignment, you are expected to:

Use evidence-informed climate adaptation strategies to develop or select feasible solutions, recommendations, and action plans (Learning outcome 1.2)
Ask relevant, probing, and detailed questions to deepen knowledge that informs arguments, choices, and practices (Learning outcome 3.1)
Evaluate the rigour and validity of adaptation research and information with a critical lens to deepen knowledge that informs arguments, choices, and practices (Learning outcome 3.2)
Illustrate the use and limitations of information and theory in the field of climate adaptation (Learning outcome 3.3)

Assessment

Weight: 30%

Submit: to Assignment 4 dropbox in Moodle

To aid you in revising your proposal, these are the plain language questions from that rubric that will guide the marking:

To what extent …

Is the climate action project proposal complete and cohesive?
Does it address a feasible project and useful adaptation research question?
Do credible sources support all expected knowledge contributions, methodology, methods and analysis?
Are diverse worldviews explicit?
Are worldviews linked to how addressing this question will deepen knowledge that informs climate action arguments, choices and practices?
Is a critical argument used to evaluate the rigor and validity of the proposed project?
Does it include counterarguments and explicitly define limitations of the project?
Are key research questions well identified and supported by literature on practice or theory?
Is selection of methodologies, data collection methods, and analysis well explained and supported by literature on practice or theory?
Did at least one clear, detailed argument in the proposal demonstrate suitability of the proposed research methods and units of analysis to develop knowledge for climate action?

Marking Rubric:

Course Learning Outcome/Assessment Criteria	Excellent (A+ to A)	Proficient (A- to B+)	Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory (B to B-)
Citation and APA format	All citations and APA format are correct.	Most citations and APA formatting are correct.	Some citations and APA formatting are correct.	Citations and APA formatting are not correct.
Use evidence-informed climate adaptation strategies to develop or select feasible solutions, recommendations, and action plans (Learning outcome 1.2)	The complete and cohesive climate action project proposal addresses a feasible project and useful adaptation research question. Credible sources support all expected knowledge contributions, methodology, methods and analysis.	The complete climate action project proposal addresses a generally feasible project and useful adaptation research question. Mainly credible sources support most of the expected knowledge contributions, methodology, methods and analysis.	The almost complete climate action project proposal addresses a generally feasible project and related adaptation research question. Some credible sources support may of the expected knowledge contributions, methodology, methods and analysis.	The incomplete climate action project proposal does not present a feasible project or a useful adaptation research question. Credible sources are few or absent to support the expected knowledge contribution, methodology, methods or analysis.
Ask relevant, probing, and detailed questions to deepen knowledge that informs arguments, choices, and practices (Learning outcome 3.1)	Diverse worldviews are explicit and linked to how addressing this question will deepen knowledge that informs climate action arguments, choices and practices.	One worldview is explicitly linked to how addressing this question will deepen knowledge that informs climate action arguments, choices and practices.	There is mention of a worldview. The key question is linked to knowledge that informs climate action arguments, choices or practices.	Worldviews are not mentioned. The key question is not clearly linked to knowledge that informs climate action arguments, choices and practices.
Evaluate the rigor and validity of adaptation research and information with a critical lens to deepen knowledge that informs arguments, choices, and practices (Learning outcome 3.2)	A critical argument is used to evaluate the rigor and validity of the proposed project, including counterarguments and explicitly defining limitations of the project.	A logical argument is used to evaluate the rigor and validity of elements of the proposed project, including a counterargument and limitations of the project.	Referenced statements are used to evaluate the rigor and validity of elements of the proposed project, including a counterargument or limitations of the project.	The rigor and validity of the proposed project are not evaluated. Statements addressing counterarguments or limitations of the project are lacking or absent.
Illustrate the use and limitations of information and theory in the field of climate adaptation (Learning outcome 3.3)	Key research questions were well identified and supported by literature on practice or theory that related to selection of methodologies, data collection methods, and analysis, which were well-explained. At least one clear, detailed argument demonstrated suitability of the proposed research methods and units of analysis to develop knowledge for climate action.	Key research questions were adequately identified and supported by literature on practice or theory that related to selection of methodologies, data collection methods, and analysis, which were sufficiently-explained. At least one appropriate argument demonstrated suitability of the proposed research methods and units of analysis to develop knowledge for climate action.	Relevant research questions were generally identified and supported by literature on practice or theory that related to selection of methodologies, data collection methods, and analysis, which were sufficiently-explained. At least one loosely-related argument partially demonstrated suitability of the proposed research methods and units of analysis to develop knowledge for climate action.	Relevant research questions were not clearly identified or supported by literature on practice or theory that related to selection of methodologies, data collection methods, and analysis, which were missing or not well explained. The argument was not appropriate or did not demonstrate suitability of the proposed research methods and units of analysis to develop knowledge for climate action.