Course:LFS350/Projects/Final Written Report

Land, Food & Community (LFC) II Land and Food Systems (LFS) 350 Fall 2014 Community-Based Experiential Learning (CBEL) Group Project Marking Guide for Final Paper Due: Wednesday, December 3^rd, 2014, 11:59pm 20% of Final Mark

Team _________________________________________

Mark /100

Marker’s Name_________________________________

There is a 2000-2200 word limit for the final paper, not including the executive summary, tables, figures, appendices (e.g. reflections on flexible learning) or references.
Bear in mind that your final papers are public documents to be returned to your community partner(s) and available for next year's community of learners through UBC Wiki. Be tactful and respectful with your language in all parts of your report. Ensure your writing is clear and accessible to a wide audience.
Hard copies of consent forms to be submitted to MCML 179 by December 3^rd, 4:00pm.

Executive Summary (5 marks)

Maximum 350 to 400 words (0.5).

An executive summary should be understandable by a person who is not a member of this class (a community member for example). It should provide a one or two sentence introduction to the project and the community (1), and a statement of your research question(s) (1). One or two sentences should describe the methods (0.5) followed by key results (0.5), recommendations (0.5) and limitations (0.5) of the study. The executive summary should accurately reflect the content of the full report (0.5).

( /5 marks)

Introduction (20 marks)

Introduce your team (1), your CBEL project (1), and the community/communities with whom you have engaged. This may include a sentence about your community at large (1), e.g. Gambier Island or Vancouver, and another describing the specific community (or group of people) that your team worked with within this broader community (1). Characterize the community food system(s) and food system issues of concern. Consider using course readings to help contextualize your CBEL project (1).

( /6 marks)

Systems model of your community organization (embed link to Prezi, make sure Privacy level is set to hidden). Model should include clear boundaries, components, inputs, outputs, and interactions. Include an objective of the model (i.e. what is the model attempting to communicate) and a brief legend describing the most significant interactions. Aesthetics and clarity of model will also be considered in grade.

( /5 marks)

Articulate team’s research questions.

Marks awarded for clearly including your research questions (in the form of questions!) (2); also for demonstrating a well-developed research focus that flows from your introduction (2).

( /4 marks)

III. Research Methods (20 marks)

Explain how you conducted research with/in your community (methodologies, ethics, communication, resources, collecting and analysis of data, etc.).

Marks awarded for articulating the theoretical framework (basic conceptual structure) of: your research project (4), community-based learning (3), and the specifics of your research methods (5) (including how your research approach evolved over the semester) (1). Which information sources did you use (2)? Briefly explain the communication process with your community (1), data collection procedure (2), managing data (1), ethical responsibilities towards your community (1), other team responsibilities, and any resources needed.

( /20 marks)

Findings (15 marks)

Results:

Results should flow from your research question(s) (3) and subsequent methods (3). Consider both process and content. What did you discover through your different efforts at data collection (through your interviews, surveys, observations, literature searching etc) (4)? Graphs, tables, and raw data can be included in the appendix if relevant.

( /10 marks)

Discussions and Conclusion (35 marks)

Discussion:

Discuss the meaning and interpretation of your findings (3). What is their significance and relationship of your data to your research focus and question (s) (3)? What are the limitations of your findings and methods (2)? What connections can be made amidst the results? (2)

Use course readings and related peer-reviewed articles to help frame your discussion (3), highlighting the significance of your findings within the broader context of food system issues discussed throughout this course (2).

( /15 marks)

Conclusion: Provide suggestions to enhance food security or food security inquiry relative to your community.

Recommendations must emerge directly from the findings of your research (3), and the experience of community-based learning (3). Ideally, recommendations should emerge from regular communication/ interaction with your community partner(s). Frame your recommendations as suggestions: do not tell your partners what they should do, but rather what you think. If your project is an extension of an existing project, take in account previous recommendations. Include a clear conclusion to your report (4 marks).

( /10 marks)

Appendix (10 marks)

CBEL/Flexible Learning Reflection:

Critically and thoughtfully reflect on your CBEL project, group work and flexible learning experiences. (Flexible learning includes e-lectures, the time that was allocated to work with your community partners instead of plenary and homeroom meetings, and use of UBC wiki to report your project progress and final report). This may include talking about what you learned during your CBEL and flexible learning experiences and that how these have impacted your learning experience personally. You may discuss how the flexible learning approach of the course did or did not make your learning experience more meaningful. This may require you to consider why and how some aspects of your learning (e.g., community research, UBC wiki, community visit, presentations, and etc.) were valuable, enjoyable, educative, or frustrating.

Complete and attach a reflection section as an Appendix, which should include your team members’ reflection statements (one statement from each member, and each statement between 200 to 250 words).

( /10 marks)

VII. Writing Quality (15 marks)

Your paper should be well organized (2), interesting and easy to read (2). Be concise and write with a professional tone (2). Include a title page (1) and page numbers (1). Use APA referencing style (2).

Tips: Follow this marking sheet. Use headings (1). Edit by reading aloud. Consider referring to the Faculty’s Communication Handbook for Guidance [[1]]

( /10 marks)

Free of grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes

Tips: Proofread and spellcheck your report. All members in the team should participate in the proofreading; more eyes are always helpful!

( /5 marks)