------------------------------------------------- Red River College ECE Program

ECED-2009 Research Essay Assignment
Value: 30%

Select a topic related to Early Childhood Education for this assignment.

The list on the following page may be helpful for some ideas, although you are not restricted to these topics. Approve your topic with your instructor by: _______ .
Duplication of topics will not be allowed, and topic choice is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Search for resources related to this topic. Check the Learning Centre, as well as the Library. Conduct an Internet search. For your paper, you need a minimum of 4 current (less than 8 years old) references.

Include a minimum of one of each of the following: - book - scholarly journal article (from EBSCOHOST or other scholarly database) - reliable internet source.

Use the APA style of documentation (see text) to write a 3 - 4 page paper. Include an introduction, thesis statement, body (that includes background information and at least 3 points of discussion), a conclusion, and a reference page. The reference page is not included in the length.

You will also complete a 5 minute presentation to the class based on your research. Refer to Considerations for Effective Presentations.

Use peer editing as part of your writing process. That is, when you have a draft completed, ask at least one peer to provide feedback using the peer editing rubric. Be mindful of the peer’s schedule and value their time. Do not wait until the last minute to ask for feedback. Use the feedback to help revise your essay.

Submit essay (attach peer editing sheet, drafts or notes, and marking rubric) 45 marks (Note: 10 of the 45 marks will be allocated to your APA-style reference list and in-text citations.)

Presentation 4-5 minutes, plus any questions 5 marks

Due: Total: 50 marks When submitting your essay package, make sure it contains (in this order): * a cover page * your essay * your reference list * your peer edit sheet(s) * your marking rubric

Some Essay Ideas

Play in early childhood Traumatic stress Food allergies Drama in pre-school activities Using music in learning ADHD How children learn Dealing with ethnicity Blended families Single parent dads Step-child challenges Nature vs. Nurture Counseling pre-schoolers Child nutrition Language development Tantrums Play equipment for toddlers Developing math skills Dealing with challenging behaviour Play-fighting Infant care What preschoolers find funny! No! I won’t share! Fitness for pre-schoolers Environmental factors Cooperative games Emotional development Evaluating intelligence Interacting with parents Listening for understanding Body Language Using dance activities Multiple Intelligence Emotional Intelligence The very shy child The “terrible twos” Nurturing environments Pets in pre-school programs Anger management Sex education I want to be the boss! Male/female role models Treating childhood disorders with drugs Child Advocacy

You may consider another topic of interest, but it must be approved by your instructor.

*If you do not submit your topic and have it preapproved by your instructor on the designated date, you will lose marks.

ECED-2009 Essay Marking Rubric

Student: __________________________ Instructor: _______________________Section: _________ Criteria | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Mark/5 | Weighting | Content/10 | Research is evident and well-presented. All necessary information is present. Minimum of 4 different sources. | Research is evident; information generally complete; some minor omissions. | Research is weak; gaps are evident. Significant content omissions. Less than 4 sources. | Research is inadequate; or information is unclear. Major content omissions. | Little evidence of research. Content is unacceptable. | | x 2 = | Organization/10 | Essay is clear, concise, and logical, with superior flow and coherence | Essay is clear, concise, and logical. Minor problems with flow and/or coherence. | Essay has good flow, but lacks clarity or conciseness. | Flow and coherence are inadequate, or lacks clarity and conciseness. | Essay is choppy, wordy, disjointed, or vague and unclear. | | x 2 = | Format/5 | APA formatting guidelines are followed without exception. | 1 – 4 minor errors in following APA formatting guidelines | One significant formatting error or 5+ minor errors | 2-3 significant formatting errors or many minor errors | More than 3 significant formatting errors or many minor errors | | x 1 = | Grammar and Mechanics /10 | No grammar errors | 1-5 errors. | 5-10 errors. | 10-15 errors. | More than 15 errors. | | x 2 = | APA Citations/ Reference List /10*Failure to reference correctly could be considered plagiarism and may result in disciplinary action. | All citations completed correctly. Reference list is complete, appropriate, and correctly formatted. | All citations completed correctly. Reference list is appropriate and complete. Minor problems with formatting. | Research materials acknowledged in text and reference list, but with significant problems in content, formatting, or style. | Research materials not referenced or cited correctly. | No citations or reference list. | | x 2 = | Presentation /5 | Well prepared, knowledgeable, organized, informative, visuals, overview of topic, loud, clear, expressive, eye contact with audience, glances at notes, and competently answers audience questions. | Adequate amount of information, recovers quickly from mistakes, minor errors. | Presentation meets some, but not all, of the criteria. | Too long/too short, not enough information presented, mumbles, speaks too quickly or quietly, does not make eye contact, uses filler words, reads large excerpts directly from paper. | Difficult to understand and/or follow. No clear plan for organization of information. | | x 1 = | Comments: Total: /50 /30 | *Did not approve topic, or submitted topic late deduct 2 marks. *Did not have a peer edit work, or did not submit peer rubric deduct 2 marks.