7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

Assessment Overview
Intellectual Indebtedness and Academic Integrity | Assignments | Assignment Marking Criteria |
Assignment 1 | Assignments 2 & 3| Assignments Expectations

Intellectual Indebtedness and Academic Integrity

Students enrolled in Athabasca University courses are considered to be responsible scholars and
are therefore expected to adhere rigorously to the principles of academic integrity both in
assignments and tests. In order to maintain test question security, duplication or sharing of quiz and
test questions is not permitted. Please read the Athabasca University Student Academic Misconduct
Policy.

Plagiarism is a form of intellectual dishonesty in which another person's work is presented as one's
own. Be certain that whenever you use a secondary source in your course work and assignments
you reference your source in a consistent and logical manner. All direct quotes (quotations of any
number of words from the original) and indirect quotes (paraphrased ideas) must be acknowledged.
Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, and as with any form of academic misconduct, it will be
penalized. Penalties may take the form of rejection of the submitted work; expulsion from the
examination, the course or the program; or legal action, depending on the specific nature of the
infraction.

Dutiful citation of quotes and paraphrased materials does not mean that you can write an essay
assignment by stringing together a series of quotes. You should always try to summarize or describe
someone else's ideas in your own words. When you present your own ideas or opinions in a paper,
provide evidence or arguments to substantiate your position. For information about the reference
and citation styles of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA
current edition), and how to write scholarly papers, visit Athabasca University's Library Help Centre.

All written assignments in this course must:

use correct spelling and grammar;

adhere to APA format, as outlined in the current edition of the Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association;
be your own work and be free of evidence of plagiarism;
use Microsoft Word (or Microsoft Word compatible) format; and
be submitted via the Assignment Drop Box.

Assignments
To receive credit for Nursing 438 you must complete all of the required assignments and achieve an
overall composite grade of 64% (C). All papers submitted must follow APA Publication Manual,
current edition. The assignments and weighting of the composite grade is:

Assignments Due Date Weighting

Assignment 1 20%

Assignment 2 40%

Assignment 3 40%

Total 100%

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 1/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

Assignment Marking Criteria

All assignments in Nursing 438 are marked according to the following criteria:

Content of Paper or Project (70%)

Each element of the assignment guideline is addressed.
Analysis, synthesis, and critical thinking skills are demonstrated.
The paper integrates material from course textbook and/or other scholarly sources as
appropriate.
Discussion is logical and clear; presentation of ideas is organized; evidence supports
the discussion; writing style is concise.

Scholarly Format of Paper or Project (30%)

Paper/project is free of typographical, grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Paper/project adheres to APA (Current edition) format.
Paper/project adheres to page limits.

Critical thinking, scholarly writing and APA scholarly format, good writing, and critical thinking are the
three most important criteria by which you will be judged in your papers. Each criterion carries equal
weight in assigning marks.

Refer to the Student guide Student guide for more information on scholarly writing expectations and
resources related to intellectual indebtedness.

Assignment 1
Value: 20% of final grade
Submit assignment via the drop boxes on the course home page
Due Date: Negotiable (suggested completion after Unit 3)

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to:

develop skills in analyzing media-presented issues related to the nursing profession and
nursing practice; and
explore the public perception of nurses and the nursing profession.

To complete this assignment:

focus on a current issue in nursing; and

examine this issue in the context of written opinions expressed through three (3) separate
types of media.

Issues are often value laden; issues in health care and in nursing are no different. Concerns about
the state of our health care system and the state of nursing in Canada have been discussed at
length within the media, government, and nursing organizations. While it is often difficult to
differentiate fact from fiction and opinion, public opinion is often influenced by what is written in the
popular press or on the Internet.

Assignment Expectations

Find three articles on the same issue/topic.

One of the articles must be from a popular periodical or media source, preferably
something you may have at home (such as Macleans, Time, Reader's Digest, or your
local newspaper – either print based or online version) or CBC, CTV, GlobalTV, or
online articles.
Your second article must be from a scholarly periodical retrieved from a database [e.g.
AU Library, CINAHL, Medline, etc.].
The third article must be from a Web site that is not merely a Web version of a print
source (e.g. blog, podcast, e-newsletter).
The articles should represent a range of views. In other words, these articles should
not all agree.

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 2/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview
The introduction includes a thesis that prepares your reader for the general topic the articles
address, the issues they raise, and the position you will be taking.
Summarize each article separately by stating in your own words the important information
presented in each article and any arguments the authors make.
Do not paraphrase the whole article; present the main points briefly—each summary
should be one paragraph long, two at the most.
When summarizing, it is not appropriate to dwell on extended examples (such as
personal case histories or stories); you do not need to summarize complex statistical
parts of a study.
You should focus on the main ideas and issues discussed. You could briefly refer to
any specific personal stories or statistical sections of the piece (using one or two
sentences).
Respond to the three articles by:
comparing the authors’ credibility, documentation, and support for claims;
evaluating any disagreements or agreements between the authors; and
articulating your own position on their ideas or issues. This means more than just
stating your opinion; you must also explain it.
Describe how your personal and professional values influence your views on this issue.
Document your sources using correct APA style. This paper adheres to a 6 page limit
excluding reference and title pages.

Assignments 2 & 3
Value: 40% each
Submit assignment via link in the Assessment section of the course home page
Due Date : Negotiable (suggested completion after Units 4 and 8)

Purpose

It is becoming increasingly important for registered nurses to assume a leadership role in a changing
health care system. Hence, registered nurses must be able to assess and act to fulfill their own
learning needs in order to work to their full scope of practice. To complete this assignment, consider
an issue or trend in nursing or health care and choose one of the options from the bulleted list
below. Your papers must be scholarly in presentation, reflective of course content, and although they
may be related to one another, they must not be duplications.

The following is a brief description of each type of paper/project. Please refer to the
assignment expectations assessment section below for a detailed description of each type of
paper/project.

Note: There is a 10 page limit for all written papers excluding title and reference pages. (with the
exception of the professional portfolio):

Paper/Project Options:

Position Paper: presents an arguable position on an issue with the goal of convincing the
audience that this position is valid. The position paper is related to course content; be clear
as to difference between a position paper, discussion paper, and an issue paper
Discussion Paper: discusses a situation or dilemma representing a variety of views; consists
of a reasoned defense of the recommendations. The discussion paper is related to course
content; for example one could frame a question and then proceed with discussion of the
answer.
Issue Paper: presents a balanced view of a situation or dilemma in which both sides of the
situation are clearly articulated. The issue paper is related to course content that follows the
framework from your textbook - Framing and Analyzing the Issue.
Literature Review: is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited
scholars and researchers; the purpose is to convey to what knowledge and ideas have been
established on a topic, including the strengths and weaknesses. The literature review is
related to course content.
Website Critique:: is a formalized, critical appraisal of a website; the goal is to turn critical
reading into a systematic evaluation in order to deepen insight into that website. This is an
analysis of several (5-7) interesting Web sites that relate to a particular issue and or take a
position on that issue. Critique the verifiability of information in each web site including the
authority of the Web site. Compare and contrast how the issue is presented, and provide an
executive summary of each Web site.
charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 3/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

Professional Portfolio: is a convenient system to tell the story of one's career. It might
include: original documents (e.g. resume/curriculum vitae, professional association
memberships, license/board results), supporting materials (e.g. letters of recommendation,
publications, presentations, certifications, job descriptions, evaluations), and collateral pieces
(e.g. thank you letters, articles and books you have read). This is a beginning professional
portfolio. Portfolio should not exceed a 15 page limit including title page and any appendices
(this page limit is an exception to the 10 pages as stated above).

Assignments Expectations
What is a Position Paper
A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to
convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. Ideas that you are
considering need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your argument, and
organizing your paper. It is very important to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue
and presenting it in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is to take one
side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the
topic being presented. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the validity
of your claims, as well as to address the counterclaims to show that you are well informed about
both sides.

Writing a Position Paper

Issue Criteria

To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you. Ask
yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to present a strong argument:

Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty?

Can you distinctly identify two positions?
Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

Analyzing an Issue and Developing an Argument

Once your topic is selected, you should do some research on the subject matter. While you may
already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the argument you want to
take, you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing out the pro and con sides of the
topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting
evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the following:

Factual knowledge - Information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone.
Statistical Inferences - Interpretation and examples of an accumulation of facts.
Informed Opinion - Opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the claim.
Personal Testimony - Personal experience related by a knowledgeable party.

In considering your audience, ask yourself the following questions:

Is your topic interesting?

Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the tutor?
Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action?
Do you have enough material to support an opinion?

Organization

Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your paper. There are three
advantages to leading with the thesis:

The audience knows where you stand.

The thesis is located in the two strongest places, first and last.
It is the most common form of academic argument used.

Generic Sample Outline for a Position Paper

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 4/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview
Introduction

Introduce the topic

Provide background on the topic
Assert the thesis [your view on the issue]

Counter Argument

Summarize the counterclaims

Provide supporting information for counterclaims
Refute the counterclaims
Give evidence for argument

Your Argument

Assert point #1 of your claims

Give your opinion
Provide support
Assert point #2 of your claims
Give your opinion
Provide support
Assert point #3 of your claims
Give your opinion
Provide support

Conclusion

Restate your argument

Provide a plan of action

[Reference: University of Hawaii-West O'ahu. (1998). Writing a position paper. UHWO Writing
Center]

What is a Discussion Paper

A discussion paper is a formal discourse or exposition on a topic in which there is an exchange of
views culled from the literature. A discussion paper differs from a position paper in that a discussion
paper consists of the reasoned defense of your recommendations. In order to offer your own
recommendations on an issue, you must present a variety of opinions or recommendations based
on the literature. Your goal in writing a discussion paper is to formulate and share your own opinions
so that your recommendations are a natural extension of your paper.

Writing a Discussion Paper

There are a variety of things a discussion paper can aim to accomplish. Many features of good
discussion writing invite comparison and contrast of specific authors, clinical practice, or different
interpretations of a nursing issue, such as telehealth. Discussing the significance of both what is
common and what is different will prompt you and the reader to new insights.

A good discussion paper is modest, and makes a small point, but it makes that point clearly and
succinctly, and it offers good reasons in support of it. In other words, your paper must offer
recommendations. It can't consist in the mere report of your opinions, nor in a mere report of the
opinions of the authors you discuss.

A discussion paper usually begins by putting some thesis or argument on the table for
consideration. Then it goes on to do one or two of the following:

Criticize that argument; or show that certain arguments for the thesis are no good
Defend the argument or thesis against someone else's criticism
Offer reasons to believe the thesis
Offer counter-examples to the thesis
Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of two opposing views about the thesis
Give examples which help explain the thesis, or which help to make the thesis more plausible
Argue that certain authors are committed to the thesis by their other views, though they do
not come out and explicitly endorse the thesis
Discuss what consequences the thesis would have, if it were true
charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 5/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview
Revise the thesis, in the light of some objection

Your paper has to show some independent thinking. Try to come up with your own arguments, or
your own way of elaborating or criticizing or defending some issue we looked at in this course.
Merely summarizing what others have said won't be enough.

Proposed Outline of a Discussion Paper

Introduction

Briefly highlight the most salient points of your topic

State your main thesis on the topic for discussion

Background

Provide background information from the literature on your general topic area

Definition and Scope

Provide a definition of your topic Outline the scope of the topic-does this affect all of Canada,
or just your province or your health care region? Explain.
How do nurses or the health care system factor into the topic?

Benefits and Challenges

Describe the benefits to nurses or the health care system

Describe the challenges that nurses [or other health care providers] face in this topic
What does the literature say about the benefits and challenges?

Impact and Implications

What is the impact on nurses or the health care system?

How will this affect human resource management?
What other implications do you foresee; what does the literature say about implications?

Recommendations

What do you think needs to be done next?

Who do you think should be involved?
What are the recommendations from the literature?
Would you agree or disagree with the literature and why?

Conclusion

Restate your thesis

Provide a summary of your recommendations

People very often attempt to accomplish too much in a discussion paper. The usual result of this is a
paper that's hard to read, and which is full of inadequately defended and poorly explained claims. So
don't be over-ambitious. Don't try to establish any earth-shattering conclusions in your paper.

[Reference: Pryor, J. (2004). Guidelines on writing a philosphy paper. Princeton University.]

What is an Issue Paper?

An issue paper differs from a position paper or a discussion paper in that an issue paper consists of
a balanced view of a situation or dilemma in which both sides of the situation are clearly articulated.
Because authors will often disagree about the kinds of solutions that should be implemented in
remedying the situation or dilemma, you are expected to provide an overview of the various points of
view found in the literature regarding how this issue should be resolved. Based on your literature
review, you will be expected to discuss how you believe this issue should be resolved and provide
your own rationale.

Writing an Issue Paper

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 6/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

Searching The Literature

In writing an issue paper you will be expected to search for a variety of literature resources. Relying
on your course textbooks or the material in your study guide is not sufficient. You will be expected to
search through the Athabasca University Online Library database (you may also use the online
Library from another University if you have access), and you may also use the Internet to search
through any of the online scholarly databases. In addition, there are many links to articles and online
databases in this resources site which you may use.

Defining the Issue

Once you have a sound understanding of your topic, you will need to clearly define the issue. Recall
that an issue has two sides so your definition of the issue should include a balanced view.

For example: The electronic patient record has many advantages such as a time saver, clarity, and
accessibility, but it also comes with the challenges associated with security, increased financial
costs, and implementation problems. Your issue statement might be: Even though there are
significant benefits to an electronic record, not every health region has the financial resources to
implement the proper security protocols necessary to ensure patient privacy.

Framework of Your Issue Paper

Introduction

Introduce your issue

Identify both sides of the issue
Provide an issue definition
Discuss the significance of the issue for nursing

Body of Paper

Describe your own opinions and beliefs about this issue

Analysis of the issue is completed through discussion of appropriate frameworks
Barriers to resolution are identified
Possible resolution strategies are explored

Conclusion

Briefly summarize your findings and give directions for future research, or recommendations
for further study

[Reference: Pryor, J. (2004). Guidelines on writing a philosphy paper. Princeton University.]

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and
researchers.

In writing the literature review, your purpose is to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas
have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. As a piece of
writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the
problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). It is not just a descriptive list of
the material available, or a set of summaries.

Writing a Literature Review

A literature review is a piece of discursive prose, not a list describing or summarizing one piece of
literature after another. It's usually a bad sign to see every paragraph beginning with the name of a
researcher. Instead, organize the literature review into sections that present themes or identify
trends, including relevant theory. You are not trying to list all the material published, but to
synthesize and evaluate it according to the guiding concept of your thesis or research question.

to identify gaps in the literature

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 7/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

to avoid reinventing the wheel (at the very least this will save time and it can stop you from
making the same mistakes as others)
to carry on from where others have already reached (reviewing the field allows you to build on
the platform of existing knowledge and ideas)
to identify other people working in the same fields (a researcher network is a valuable
resource)
to increase your breadth of knowledge of your subject area
to identify seminal works in your area
to provide the intellectual context for your own work, enabling you to position your project
relative to other work
to identify opposing views
to put your work into perspective
to demonstrate that you can access previous work in an area
to identify information and ideas that may be relevant to your project
to identify methods that could be relevant to your project

Framework for a Literature Review

Introduction

Define the topic, or issue to provide context for reviewing the literature.
Identify trends, conflicts, or gaps in the literature.
Describe your thesis and reason for reviewing the literature;
Explain the criteria used in analyzing and comparing literature, and state the scope of the
review.

Body of Paper

Group research studies and other types of literature according to a central theme or topic. For
example:
current mainstream versus alternative theoretical or ideological viewpoints, including
differing theoretical assumptions, or other conflicts;
definitions in use;
current research studies;
current discoveries about the topic;
principal questions that are being asked;
general conclusions that are being drawn;
methodologies and methods in use;

Discussion of Findings

Organize your findings according to your thesis

What were the most important points you learned?
What is your position based on the findings of your review?

Conclusion

Summarize your major findings and identify gaps in the literature, maintaining the focus
established in the introduction.
Conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the
literature review and the nursing profession.

Originality
The aim of these papers is for you to show that you understand the material and that you're able to
think critically about it. To do this, your paper does have to show some independent thinking.

But you should try to come up with your own arguments, or your own way of elaborating or criticizing
or defending some issue we looked at in this course. Merely summarizing what the literature has
said won't be enough.

What is a Website Critique?

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 8/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

A critique is a formalized, critical appraisal of a website. It is also a personal response to that site,
but it is more than just saying you liked the site or you thought a site was great. Your goal in writing
a critique is to turn your critical reading into a systematic evaluation in order to deepen your reader's
(and your own) insight of that website.

When writing a critique of a website, you are expected to analyze and evaluate, not just summarize.
A summary merely reports what is or is not in a website; that is, it answers only the question, "What
did the website contain?" A critique, on the other hand, analyzes, interprets, and evaluates the
website, answering the questions how, why, and how well?

A critique does not necessarily have to criticize the piece in a negative sense. Your reaction to the
site may be largely positive, negative, or a combination of the two. It is important to explain why you
respond to the site in a certain way. Therefore, you have an obligation, both to the reader and
yourself, to clarify your opinions.

Defend your point of view/argument by raising specific issues or aspects of the argument. Explain
how the section you might use from the site supports your argument. Your personal response to
your assessment should not be the expression of an unsupported or irrelevant personal opinion.
Your interpretations and your conclusions must be based on evidence from the site and follow from
the ideas you have dealt with in the paper.

Framing Your Critique

Introduction

Introduces the nursing or health care issue or trend. Introduces the websites and presents a brief
executive summaryof each web site. Clearly articulates the thesis.

Analysis of the Website

Analyzes each web site according to the authorship of the site using the following guide from Johns
Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries.

Analyzes each web site according the verifiability or accuracy of the information found within the site
using the following guide from Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries.

Compares and contrasts how the information is presented in each site using the following questions
as a guide.

Does the content effectively offer sufficient information related to the issue? In what way?
Does the content appear to be complete, is well organized, and is easy to understand? How?
Is the content free of bias, or can the bias be easily detected? In what way?
Does the information appear to be accurate based on user's previous knowledge of subject?
Explain.
Is the information consistent with similar information in other sources? Which ones and in
what way?

How Do the Sites Stand Up to the Overall Analysis?

Now it is your turn to respond to the critique itself. In other words, what is your general interpretation
of your findings? With which parts of the sites do you agree? With which do you disagree? Discuss
your reasons for agreement and disagreement, and tie these reasons to your findings from your
analysis. Discuss how the authors of the sites might improve their site and explain your reasons for
these improvements.

Conclusion

State your conclusions about the overall validity of the information found, and your assessment of
the choices you made in selecting the web sites. Remind the reader about the thesis and how well
you believe your selections augmented or detracted from your thesis.

References

What is a Professional Portfolio?

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 9/10
7/4/22, 8:38 PM Assessment Overview

A convenient system to tell the story of your career which includes:

Original documents (remember to get copies or certified copies)

Supporting materials
Collateral pieces

This is a storehouse of historical information about the professional you. A portfolio is the perfect
place to save and remember your career benchmarks, accomplishments and important events.

A template for a Professional Portfolio is provided here. This is a Microsoft Word document (.doc).

Creating a Professional Portfolio

Rationale for Creating a Portfolio
By utilizing this portfolio nurses will be able to demonstrate how they can contribute to positive
health outcomes through the provision of safe and effective nursing care. In addition, the portfolio
will identify the knowledge and skills the individual nurse has as well as a guideline to assist the
nurse to reflect on the complex nature of nursing activities.

Each nurse's portfolio belongs to the individual and is therefore a personal document. It may be
necessary at times to share components of the portfolio with others, for example as part of the peer
review process. Like other forms of documentation related to professional activity it is the individual
nurse's responsibility to ensure the ethical requirements of client and peer confidentiality are
adhered to.

A professional portfolio folder creates a valuable resource that could also be used for promotion
and/or future job applications. A curriculum vitae (or resume) containing personal, educational and
professional qualifications, and information about the individual's professional practice as a
registered nurse needs to be developed. Along with the curriculum vitae is a section (usually in an
appendix) where certified copies of records related to employment, for example job descriptions,
qualifications and references should be kept.

What Goes Into a Professional Portfolio?

Contents of a portfolio can be diverse, depending on the nurse's history of practice and education.
Generally, the following are included:

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Professional association memberships
Awards
Continuing education including attending lectures
License/Board results
Letters of commendation and recommendation
Publications
Presentations
Certifications
Job descriptions
Evaluations>
Special projects
Thank you letters
Articles and books read
Any other records appropriate, such as volunteer activities

Last updated: October 15, 2021 © Copyright 2005 Athabasca University

For questions, comments or to report broken links, email: CNHS Web

charon.athabascau.ca/cnhsundergrad/438c7/October5assessment.htm 10/10