PLC.

Activity 4
Using the entries in your Annotated Bibliography, write a paper in which you discuss and (if appropriate) take positions on the following in your topic area:
1.    Current theories, explanations, proposed relationships among constructs, and absence of theories about meaningful phenomena in your topic area.
2.    Contradictions, inconsistencies, and ambiguities regarding findings related to theories in your topic area
Length: 5-7 pages not including title and reference pages.
References: Minimum of 3-5 scholarly resources.

Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your paper should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Review APA Form and Style.
Activity 5
Keeping in mind all you have learned about research design in previous courses, your Instructorr’s feedback on first assignment, and ethical and practical considerations about the kind of study needed to address the problem, write a problem statement and research questions based on the articles in your annotated bibliography. Follow these guidelines:
The Problem Statement should be 250-300 words that is in accord with the Concept Paper PPT (located under the heading ‘Dissertation Conference Calls). The problem should be related to an issue you have already identified.

Absolutely avoid one of the most common errors in problem statements (and literature reviews): reporting what previous researchers have done instead of using critically evaluated findings from previous research to demonstrate the existence of a gap in knowledge appropriate to a dissertation. Your problem statement must use sources to show what we know and don’t know, not what researchers have done and not done.

The Research Questions addresses the research problem identified in the problem statement and are in accord with the Concept Paper PPT (located under the heading ‘Dissertation Conference Calls).

At the bottom of your paper, paste the Problem Statement and Research Questions section from the Concept Paper PPT (located under the heading ‘Dissertation Conference Calls) and explain how your statement meets the criteria for these sections.

Activity 6
Using all the sources from the annotated bibliography you completed in a previous Week and your analysis of issues in your topic area, write a brief literature review.

Your Concept Paper literature review is a synthesis and integration of fundamental and recent research and theory on your dissertation topic. Its main purpose is to show that you are familiar with key literature relevant to your research topic and to demonstrate that there is a gap in existing literature and research findings that your study will address. Use your work from Activity 4 to discuss and place your research problem in the context of issues in your topic area.

Your review should be a coherent, organized, and logical narrative that uses sources to argue that there is a meaningful gap in the current theory and research in your topic area that your study will address. Your review should be in the form of a conceptual arrow that points to the need for new research exactly the research that you propose!

Avoid simply describing one study per paragraph: Your goal is an integrated synthesis of concepts, ideas, and findings. The last few paragraphs of the review should summarize the trends in the literature that you have observed and build a bridge to the need for additional research within the area.

Review the ‘What is a Brief Literature Review’ slide in the PPT Concept Paper presentation (located in the Dissertation Center).

Length: varies; as many pages as you need to accommodate your references.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your paper should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Review APA Form and Style.
Activity 7
For this assignment, using any one or all of the books or articles in the dissertation planning resources, the course’s supplemental resources or any other book or web site of your choice as a guide, write a paper in which you discuss possible obstacles to completing your dissertation and strategies you will use to avoid or overcome them, and generally, how you will take care of yourself throughout the rest of you career as a doctoral student. Or, if you don’t want in any way to focus on negatives, identify the positives you will embrace to keep on a path to success!

The paper does not have to be in APA format. Actually, it should be in a format that is easy for you to refer to and use. Print it and keep it by your desk or save it as an icon on your desktop. If your plan includes making a plan or a timeline as part of this assignment, keep that handy too.
Length: 2-3 pages not including title and reference pages.

Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your paper should reflect scholarly writing.