Assignment 4: Basics of Legal Research, Part 1

Due Week 8 and worth 100 points

Per the text, computers are playing an increasingly important role in the practice of law. Successful paralegals must be comfortable with using electronic databases and research tools.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

• Discuss a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Provide two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.

1. Determine whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Provide two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.
2. Use at least two (2) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the students name, the professors name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Develop effective research strategies, and conduct effective and efficient research using conventional sources, the Internet, and computer-assisted legal research.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in legal research and writing.
• Writeclearlyandconciselyaboutlegalresearchandwritingusingproperwritingmechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 100	Assignment 4: Basics of Legal Research, Part 1
Criteria	Unacceptable Below 60% F	Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D	Fair 70-79% C	Proficient 80-89% B	Exemplary 90-100% A
1. Discuss a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Provide two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices. Weight: 40%	Did not submit or incompletely discussed a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Did not submit or incompletely provided two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.	Insufficiently incompletely discussed a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Insufficiently provided two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.	Partially incompletely discussed a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Partially provided two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.	Satisfactorily incompletely discussed a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Satisfactorily provided two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.	Thoroughly incompletely discussed a paralegals ethical obligation to conduct competent electronic research. Thoroughly provided two (2) examples of the potential consequences of inept electronic research practices.
2. Determine whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Provide two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials. Weight: 35%	Did not submit or incompletely determined whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Did not submit or incompletely provided two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.	Insufficiently determined whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Insufficiently provided two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.	Partially determined whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Partially provided two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.	Satisfactorily determined whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Satisfactorily provided two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.	Thoroughly determined whether or not traditional reference materials (e.g., State and Federal Reporters, Wests Encyclopedia, etc.) can be as current as electronic resources. Thoroughly provided two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages to using traditional resource materials.
3. 2 references Weight: 5%	No references provided	Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices.	Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices.	Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.	Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.
4. Writing Mechanics, Grammar, and Formatting Weight: 5%	Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.	Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.	Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.	Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.	Error free or almost error free grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
5. Appropriate use of APA in-text citations and reference Weight: 5%	Lack of in-text citations and / or lack of reference section.	In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA format.	In-text citations and references are provided, but they are only partially formatted correctly in APA style.	Most in-text citations and references are provided, and they are generally formatted correctly in APA style.	In-text citations and references are error free or almost error free and consistently formatted correctly in APA style.
6. Information Literacy / Integration of Sources Weight: 5%	Serious errors in the integration of sources, such as intentional or accidental plagiarism, or failure to use in-text citations.	Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.	Sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.	Sources are mostly integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.	Sources are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.
7. Clarity and Coherence of Writing Weight: 5%	Information is confusing to the reader and fails to include reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.	Information is somewhat confusing with not enough reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.	Information is partially clear with minimal reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.	Information is mostly clear and generally supported with reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.	Information is provided in a clear, coherent, and consistent manner with reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.