Research Project
Value: 20%
Due: Week 8
What is the Purpose of this Assignment?
The purpose of this assignment is to offer students the opportunity to learn about and engage deeply with one of the many diverse Indigenous cultures in Canada.
What are the Assignment Requirements?
Students will research an Indigenous cultural group in Canada (of their choosing), and are required to develop a 4-6 page report (12pt font, double spaced) that includes the following:
- Name of chosen Indigenous cultural group
- Historical and/or contemporary territory/homeland
- Belief system and spiritual practices
- Stories/oral traditions
- Traditional teachings and/or cultural symbols
- Ancestral language
- Any other unique elements of culture such as music, art, dance, games, ceremonies, traditional clothing, hunting/gathering practices, etc
- Thoughtful visuals such as photographs, diagrams, and maps. All visuals should have in-text citations. Captions will connect your visuals to the narrative of your project.
- References (do not count in the page count)
- This project is to be written in your own words. You may paraphrase, but in-text citations are necessary. According to the SALS online Direct quotations document, direct quotations should only be used in the following circumstances and when paraphrasing or summarizing is not an option:
- To support a point
- To give credibility to a point (usually by providing expert opinion)
- To provide a counterargument or alternative to a point
- To give a point relevance (by presenting examples or observations)
- Please provide references using any standard citation format (i.e. APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). A single citation format must be used consistently and accurately throughout the work. A useful resource is the Purdue Online Writing Learning Lab: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
- This project is to be written in your own words. You may paraphrase, but in-text citations are necessary. According to the SALS online Direct quotations document, direct quotations should only be used in the following circumstances and when paraphrasing or summarizing is not an option:
How do I Submit the Assignment?
Students will submit their completed assignment via DC Connect to a drop-box labelled Research Project.
When is the Assignment Due?
Sunday March 12 @ 11:59 pm
How will the Assignment be Graded?
The assignment will be graded according to the following rubric:
| Objective/Criteria | Meets All Expectations (4) | Meets Most Expectations (3) | Approaches Expectations (2) | Does Not Meet Expectations (1) |
| Effectiveness of Content (15pts) | Very informative, meets all requirements, and is 4-6 pages in length, referenced | Informative, meets most requirements, and is 4-6 pages in length, poorly referenced | Somewhat informative and is approaching content requirements, not referenced | Does not meet content requirements |
| Reflections (10pts) | Reflects deeply on all elements of their learning, including thoughts, feelings and lingering questions, and has made insightful course connections | Reflects on many elements of their learning, including thoughts, feelings and lingering questions, and has made course connections | Reflects on only some elements of their learning, occasionally including thoughts, feelings, and lingering questions | Does not reflect on their learning effectively |
| Imagery (5pts) | Wide range of visual elements used with great effect throughout the work | A range of visual elements used mostly effectively throughout the work | Visual elements used somewhat effectively throughout the work | Visual elements are not used effectively throughout the work |