Capstone Paper Critique Thesis paper review should take place in three stages: • Stage 1: Review the paper for format You will answer the questions on this sheet (yes or no) and also put checks or identify what is missing on the hard copy. • Stage 2: Review the paper for content • Stage 3: Answer the questions at the end, thoroughly Must do all parts of critique for full credit

Capstone Paper Critique Thesis paper review should take place in three stages: • Stage 1: Review the paper for format You will answer the questions on this sheet (yes or no) and also put checks or identify what is missing on the hard copy. • Stage 2: Review the paper for content • Stage 3: Answer the questions at the end, thoroughly Must do all parts of critique for full credit • Stage 1: Review the paper for format Introduction: -Is there a running head with only the shortened version of the title all in capital letters across the top? -Does it say the page number in upper right hand corner and does this la-beling of pages continue until the end of the paper? -Is the title “Introduction” centered at the top, not bold or in all caps on page three? -Is there an abstract with key words on page two? Does each new paragraph start with the proper APA indentation? Mark any paragraphs that need an indent. Does each paragraph in the introduction have at least ONE CITATION? -Is anything put forward as ‘fact’ correctly cited in APA format through-out the introduction? For example if it is stated that, “Breast Cancer is the leading cause of death for women” does it have a citation? If it is stated that “Depression is caused by hormonal defects.” is there a cita-tion? If something is stated as fact but lacks a citation, make a note ask-ing for the reference and provide an example of a proper reference in APA format. -Are any figures that are used properly labeled underneath as “Figure #” cited in proper APA format? Remember that even graphs that have been made by the students should be referenced as “adapted from”. If this is not the case, write that they need APA format for those figures and pro-vide an example of proper APA format for figures. -Are all left, right, top, bottom margins correct for APA throughout the paper? Mark any place that they are not. -Does the final paragraph of the introduction segue into what the body of the paper will cover (all studies covered, etc.) -Does the first paragraph of the introduction include a ‘hook’ and sta-tistics with citations, as well as the problem being researched and how? Body Is there a heading for Scientific? Mathematical? Cultural? Ethical? Is the proper information being covered in each area? Are at least three journal articles being covered? Are these cited in proper APA? Would a figure or two make any area of the paper more clear? Is there a segue or introduction into each section? Do all sections avoid use of ‘we’ ‘I’ and blanket statements…such as there is a rise, this is important, etc. OVERALL PAPER: Grammar and Spelling: -Re-read the paper, does it contain few, if any spelling and/or grammati-cal errors 2 pt -Does it contain several grammatical errors, sentence fragments and spelling errors, 3 points for carefully correcting on hard copy? 3 pts for correcting these in ink on the hard copy. 5 pts possible Introduction: -Does the first paragraph contain the problem statement? -Are there sta-tistics given on the importance of this subject with citation rather than vague statements such as “this problem is growing…” -Does the introduction review enough background for the topic? -Can anything be omitted from the introduction (not necessary to under-stand the body?) -Does the introduction talk about the research that will be discussed in the methods and results and does it segue into this again at the end of the introduction? -Does the introduction review any terms or methods that will be needed to understand the studies being exam BODY of Paper -Are there at least three research studies? -Are the studies cohesive? Do they tell a story together? -Does the body the region(s) and time where the study took place? -Do the methods thoroughly explain the criterion for subject selection for the study or experiment? -If scale(s), questionnaire(s) or experiments were utilized as part of the study, does the methods section provide figures or pictures clearly ex-plaining these parts of the methods? -Were figures in this section used by the author in order simplify key points and were these figures referenced in the body of the methods? -Is this part of the author’s paper interesting, and does it precisely con-vey how the experiment/trial/study was performed so that it may be un-derstood by the reader? -Does the author summarize the results of the paper in a clear and easy to understand manner? Conclusions: -Is the title “Conclusions” centered at the top? -Does the conclusion state strengths and weaknesses of studies? -Does the author include their own opinions as to what could be done to improve this area of research? -Are similar studies referenced here? -Is there a clear idea for a solution? -Are contradicting ideas talked about here? -Are any links drawn to what is being done in other areas of the world or in similar studies? Note: “I” and “We” are allowed here. Additional questions to ask when critiquing (and writing your own final paper) • Is the purpose of this paper clear? Does it tell a story? • Is the introduction fully developed and does it clearly have a prob-lem statement and identify the scientific literature articles that will be covered? • Does the literature review support the thesis or problem statement? • Are the methods/results clear? Could anyone understand them? • Are transitions used to connect ideas and paragraphs? • Are all of the figures shown discussed within the paper?