GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

Grand Canyon University GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment-Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Grand Canyon University GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

The introduction for the Grand Canyon University GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

After the introduction, move into the main part of the GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for GCU UNV104 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: Week 1 Assignment

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Brainstorming and Beginning Research Worksheet

Access and complete the “Brainstorming and Beginning Research Worksheet” assignment.

To assist you with this assignment, be sure to review the “The Writing Process” media; this is a great resource for you to use as you create your essay throughout the course.

Access and complete the “Brainstorming and Beginning Research” worksheet. This assignment will walk you through the writing process steps of choosing a topic, brainstorming techniques, research strategies, and research.

Submit the completed assignment to the final assignment drop box by the end of Topic 1 (Sunday, by 11:59pm, Arizona Time).

Name:

Course:

Date:

Instructor:

Expository Essay: Brainstorming and Beginning Research

Before you begin any writing assignment, it is often necessary to complete several “pre-writing” activities necessary for completing your expository essay including selecting a topic, brainstorming, research strategies, and research. Follow the instructions to complete these pre-writing activities. Make sure you complete all sections of this worksheet.

Part 1: Select a Topic – Pick One

Below are lists of essay topics to use for the expository essay please highlight/bold your topic choice so your instructor will know your selection.

1. Three services Veterans need to successfully return to civilian life

2. Three characteristics of good leaders

3. Three ways bullying can negatively impact children

4. Three ways technology can impact communication

5. Three issues found in a large classroom

6. Three services the Christian church can provide the community

Part 2: Brainstorming Strategies

Read: Topic 1 Lecture.

Review: “Invention: Finding Your Ideas” section of “The Writing Process” media piece:

https://lc.gcumedia.com/unv104/the-writing-process/index.html

Complete: In box 1, use the brainstorming method of “Free Writing”.

Brainstorm Method: Free Writing:

Set a timer for 10 minutes and complete your free write brainstorm activity in this box to show your work.

Part 3: Research Strategies – Key Words & Phrases

Step 1: Pull keywords that were generated from your brainstorming activity in part 2. These keywords need to pertain to the topic selected from part 1.

Step 2: Combine keywords to come up with Boolean search terms. Boolean Search Possibilities: Boolean search terms utilize AND phrases and is covered on page 15 of the course eBook.

An example table is provided below to demonstrate how you should complete this. Please do not use any part of the example as part of your own table.

Example Tables

Keywords pulled from brainstorming Boolean: Phrases from Keywords

1. Online Learning 1. Online Learning AND Education

2. Student Success 2. Online Learning AND Student Success

Keywords pulled from brainstorming

Boolean: Phrases with Keywords – Boolean search terms utilize AND phrases. This is covered on page 15 of the course eBook

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Part 4: Define Sub-topics

State three potential sub-topics you want to write about based on the topic you selected in Part 1. Subtopics are the main ideas you plan to use to explain your chosen topic.

1. Sub-topic 1:

2. Sub-topic 2:

3. Sub-topic 3:

Part 5: Navigating the GCU Online Library

Overview: The GCU Library will be a vital resource for you during your academic career. The Library contains a wealth of resources that will help you find, research, and broaden your understanding on any given topic. Learning to correctly use resources to support your writing is an essential component of your academic success.

Before starting this section, review the short walk-through tutorial on the GCU Library. http://tutorials.gcumedia.com/mediaElement/library-walk-through-tutorial/library-walk-through-tutorial-v1.1.php

Step 1: How to Access the Library

There are a number of ways to access the library’s website; here is one path to reach the Library Research & Resources page:

Please click on the following link: http://library.gcu.edu/

Question 1: On the Library Research & Resources Page, list three ways in which you can contact the library for assistance if needed. If at any point, you find yourself searching more than 15 minutes with no results: STOP and contact a librarian.

Step 2: Finding Journal Articles

For this section, you will be searching using LopeSEARCH. LopeSEARCH is a federated search that allows you to search many databases across many subjects with one search. Follow the instructions below to access and begin searching in LopeSEARCH.

1. On the Library Research & Resources page, click the link Find Journal Articles.

2. Under the LopeSEARCH type in your first Boolean Search Phrase. This should include your main topic and one of the subtopics you created in Part 4. Check the box beside Peer Reviewed and click SEARCH

3. Sign in if prompted, using your GCU Username and password.

Question 2: Provide the title of the first journal article that is listed in the results.

Step 3: Article Details

In addition to the actual full text of the article, the databases will provide valuable information about an article. You will see things such as authors, source, subject terms, and abstract. The abstract is a brief summary of the article you found.

1. Click on the title of the first article you found in Step 2.

2. Scroll down this page and find the Article Abstract.

Question 3: Copy and paste the abstract from the article you have found in the space below AND explain how an abstract is valuable to your research process and how it will save you time.

Step 4: Permanent and Persistent Links

Databases are designed as powerful searching tools; unfortunately, this means the website link located at the top of any page in a database is temporary and is based on your search at the time. Should you try to save that link as a bookmark or copy and paste it to use at a later time, it will not work. However, the databases have links that are tied directly to the articles you find. Follow the steps below to find the permalink (persistent, durable link, or document URL) to the article you accessed in Step 2.

1. On the same page where you found the abstract, look to the right for the Tools column.

2. Click on the link that says Permalink.

3. A box will pop up above the article title with a permanent link.

Question 4: Copy and paste the permalink to the article you have found in the space below AND explain why a permalink could be an important item to copy.

Step 5: Using Library Databases to Cite Articles

Another important option under the tool bar is the Cite button. In academic writing, citing your sources is very important. It will tell your reader that the information that you are using is the property of someone else. It will also show your reader exactly where you found this information and how to access this information again. This is a necessary step in avoiding academic dishonesty issues like plagiarism.

Note: Remember, GCU Style required for your undergraduate coursework is a simplified version of APA. It is possible for there to be errors in the reference citations available in the GCU Library database, so check the GCU style manual located in the Student Success Center: The Writing Center to ensure your reference is properly formatted.

1. On the same page where you found the abstract look to the right for the Tools column.

2. Click on the link that says Cite.

3. A box will pop up above the article title with different citation styles.

Question 5: Copy and paste the APA reference you have found from the article in the space below. According to the GCU Style Guide, where should you include this information in your essay?

Part 6: Gather Resources

Step 1: Go to the GCU Library website and start a search for peer-reviewed journal articles.

• On the Library Research & Resources page, click the link Find Journal Articles.

• Under the LopeSEARCH type in your first Boolean Search Phrase. This should include your main topic and one of the subtopics you created in Part 4. Check the box beside Peer Reviewed and click SEARCH

• Sign in if prompted, using your GCU Username and password.

Step 2: Complete the table below using the 3 most relevant peer-reviewed journal articles you found on the topic chosen from part 1.

An example table is provided below to demonstrate how you should complete this portion. Please do not use any part of the example as part of your own table.

Example

Peer-reviewed article 1 Title of Resource: Factors influencing adult learners’ decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Boolean terms/ Keywords Used: Online Learning AND Student Success

Permalink http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44785109&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Abstract The number of adult learners who participate in online learning has rapidly grown in the last two decades due to online learning’s many advantages. In spite of the growth, the high dropout rate in online learning has been of concern to many higher education institutions and organizations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether persistent learners and dropouts are different in individual characteristics (i.e., age, gender, and educational level), external factors (i.e., family and organizational supports), and internal factors (i.e., satisfaction and relevance as sub-dimensions of motivation). Quantitative data were collected from 147 learners who had dropped out of or finished one of the online courses offered from a large Midwestern university. Dropouts and persistent learners showed statistical differences in perceptions of family and organizational support, and satisfaction and relevance. It was also shown that the theoretical framework, which includes family support, organizational support, satisfaction, and relevance in addition to individual characteristics, is able to predict learners’ decision to drop out or persist. Organizational support and relevance were shown to be particularly predictive. The results imply that lower dropout rates can be achieved if online program developers or instructors find ways to enhance the relevance of the course. It also implies that adult learners need to be supported by their organizations in order for them to finish online courses that they register for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

APA Reference Park, J., & Hee Jun, C. (2009). Factors influencing adult learners’ decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Journal Of Educational Technology & Society, 12(4), 207-217.

Peer-reviewed Article 1

Title of Resource: Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:

Permalink

Abstract

APA Reference

Peer-reviewed Article 2

Title of Resource:

Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:

Permalink

Abstract

APA Reference

Peer-reviewed Article 3

Title of Resource:

Boolean terms/ Keywords Used:

Permalink

Abstract

APA Reference