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EDD 8100 Academic Writing

Assignment 1 - Organizational Background Narrative

Due Week 5; 10 points, LOs 4 and 5)

Purpose

You are establishing the foundation for your EdD capstone. This three-paragraph narrative will:

  1. Describe your organization in your concentration area.
  2. Define a concentration-related problem or gap.
  3. Reflect on impact, offer a solution, and develop critical-thinking skills.

Instructions

  1. Document Setup
    • Use the provided Canvas template.
    • APA 7th ed. format: 12-pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1″ margins, running header with page number.
    • Submit as an MS Word document.
  2. Paragraph 1: Introduction & Organizational Context (5–6 sentences)
    • Starter: “This narrative introduces [Org Name], a [type of organization] in the field of [your EdD concentration].”
    • Include:
      • Type/Name: Real or pseudonym.
      • Mission & Structure: Purpose, size, governance, location.
      • Stakeholders: Who it serves (e.g., students, staff, community).
      • Key Data: One scholarly metric (e.g., enrollment, performance indicator).
  3. Paragraph 2: Problem/GAP Definition (5–6 sentences)
    • Requirement: The problem must tie directly to your EdD concentration.
    • What is a problem statement?
      • A concise sentence beginning with “The identified problem is…”
      • Specifies a barrier or gap preventing the organization from achieving its goals in your concentration.
      • Example: “The identified problem is the lack of data-driven decision-making in newcomer teacher support, which undermines retention efforts.”
    • Include:
      • Evidence: One concrete example or data point.
      • Alignment: How this issue relates to the organization’s mission or strategic goals.
  4. Paragraph 3: Impact, Recommendation & Reflection (5–6 sentences)
    • Starter: “Addressing this issue would…” or “To close this gap, I recommend…”
    • Include:
      • Impact: Benefits to stakeholders or mission advancement.
      • Recommendation: One innovative intervention (e.g., a new training program, technology tool, or curriculum module).
      • Reflection Tips:
        • What critical-thinking strategies guided your recommendation?
        • Remember: there is no single “right” answer—this is a scholarly exploration.
  5. Sources & Support
    • Cite at least two current, peer-reviewed, or scholarly sources across your paragraphs.
    • Use in-text citations and include a References page in APA 7th ed. format.
    • Tip: Start building your “research library”—save PDFs or bookmarks for these sources.
  6. Writing Resources
    • Consult the APA Manual (Chapters 2, 3, 8, and 9) for formatting, problem-statement examples, and scholarly tone.
    • Reach out to the Writing & Communication Center (WCC) consultant for feedback—no question is too small.

See Appendix B of the syllabus for detailed grading rubric. Good luck—this narrative is the first step in your doctoral research journey!

Library Tips

To find company profiles, use these databases:

To find current, peer-reviewed, scholarly sources, use these databases:

To build your "research library", consider which method of organization for your articles suits you:

  • Use a software program for organizing your citations, like Academic Writer, or EndNote.  These tools are available for you through NSU Libraries.  Other citation managers exist, some of which are free and some that you have to pay for.
  • Create a running list of citations in a word document and keep downloaded pdfs of the articles in a folder.
  • Create a spreadsheet of keywords, search strategies used, and databases searched, along with citations and notes about each article.
  • Remember, whether you use citation manager software or organize them yourself, think of a naming system for your files and stick to it.