Use the above assignment template to complete the assignment.  It's a rich text format file that should work in any word processing program. Clicking on the link will download it to your computer.  Find it in your Downloads folder.  If you have any problems, please e-mail me and I'll send you a copy.  You can enter your assignment answers right on this document and then send it to me by e-mail attachment. Don't send me a PDF or a .Pages document.

Assignment due at the beginning of next class.  Send by e-mail attachment to badke@twu.ca.

Consult the rubrics below to determine what you should be doing to achieve excellence in the assignment.

 Assignment Instructions:

Do the reading: Research Strategies, 7th ed., Introduction, Chapters One to Three, and Appendix A.1-A.2 (Appendix A is especially helpful.)

See the presentations for this section at https://libguides.twu.ca/UNIV110Online/presentations.

A. View the "What is Scholarship?" presentation from the box below, and answer the following questions (open to full screen):

1. Explain what is meant by the statement: "Authority depends on context." 
2. Why is it important to understand the process by which information was created?
3. What are four "dimensions of value" given to information?
4. In considering Research as Inquiry, what is true research, and what is it not?
5. What is meant by "Scholarship is a Conversation?"  Be sure to explain what is meant by the word "conversation."
6. In what ways is searching "strategic?"

B. Begin working on your topic

1. Choose a topic that you will research through this and the following assignments. Note that you need to contact me at badke@twu.ca so that I can have a look at your topic and make sure that it will work for this course.
2. Develop a working knowledge of your topic by looking it up the following:

  ○  Wikipedia

  ○  A more formal research tool. Use: https://libguides.twu.ca/?b=s to find it. Here are some instructions:

Choose a subject area once you have clicked on the link above-->Find the Encyclopedias tab-->identify a relevant encyclopedia, dictionary, handbook, etc.  For example, in Leadership, find Encyclopedia of Management Theory, click on the table of contents, and navigate to the entry you want: Note: If you lose the link, click on Research Guides above the search box on the library home page.

A sample encyclopedia entry:

(Do not use full books on the topic, journal articles or websites at this stage). 

3. Summarize in a paragraph of 8-10 lines the basic facts about your topic, based on your study of the two reference sources.  Don’t copy. Put the information in your own words.  Don’t pose any research questions at this time or explain how you want to address the topic.  Just summarize the essential information people need to know about this topic.  Which source – Wikipedia or the formal research work – offers you the “best” information, and why?

Please contact me at any time by e-mail if you have a question about the assignment or are running into difficulties.  Please use the assignment template at the top of this box.

B. Begin working on your topic

1. My topic: Servant Leadership

2. Working knowledge from reference sources:

  ○  Wikipedia  "Servant Leadership"
  ○  A more formal reference source.:  Encyclopedia of Management Theory: "Servant Leadership"
 

Summary in 8-10 lines of the most important facts/features of the topic:

Servant Leadership was first described by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 in his book, Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. This view argues that it is the role of a leader to serve rather than to dominate.  Serving brings benefit both to the employees and to the organization as a whole. While the concept of servant leadership has been found in leaders throughout history, notably in Jesus, this role, as described by Greenleaf, is very well suited to today's organizations where having an empowered workforce makes the organization stronger and more able to adapt to changing conditions. Servant leaders find a deep level of commitment among their workers. Despite the fact that servant leadership was described in 1970, it is still viewed as a fairly new theory, and not everyone in the leadership community is convinced that it is a useful form of leadership. Further research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Which source – Wikipedia or the more formal source - offers the best information? Why? Both sources covered the topic quite well, though the formal reference source went into more detail and generally provided stronger coverage.  

A well done assignment will include the following features:

1. Answers to the initial questions that show understanding and insight into the issues involved.

2. Choice of a topic that shows good likelihood of being researchable

3. Good choice of Wikipedia article and more formal reference source that address the topic well.

4. Summary is clear, covers the topic well, and summarizes rather than arguing a case.

5. Clear choice of which source offers the best information and explanation of why.