Critique: Background outline (10 points)
Procedure
You will critique the
outline of a classmate's background section,
and you will be graded on the quality of the feedback you provide. Your critique
will be submitted on the assigned due date, and then shared with the student
you critiqued. The outline should be detailed enough for
you to follow the logic of the background section (including proposed
headings and key conclusions),
identify important missing elements,
and
judge
the
clarity of the writing.
Your critique should address all of the questions listed on the critiquing web page, plus the following:
- Do all of the sections seem to be important and relevant?
- Would the completed background section allow you to judge the scientific value of the proposed research?
In addition, the outline should include key statements that describe the:
- Conceptual and theoretical basis of the research
- Status of research in the field (significant publications should be cited at this point if they are known)
- Preliminary results if available
- Remaining information gaps, including those that the proposed research will address
- Key assumptions
- Methods that make the research possible if they are not widely known or well understood
If you do not complete the assignment by the due date, a late penalty will be assigned using the penalties listed in the late assignment policy.