The Research Paper is a ten- to twelve-page paper (excluding title and references pages) that provides the student the opportunity to investigate a specific natural disaster topic, apply graduate-level critical thinking to the presentation of the information, and utilizes and synthesizes appropriate current research for your selected topic. The Research Paper utilizes professional health care knowledge and skills and applies those proficiencies to the context of quality improvement and risk management by developing a natural disaster strategic plan for community health: Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Process. The three-part Strategic Disaster Plan will be developed in Weeks Two, Four, and Six. Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) A strategic planning process for improving public health services and outcomes in local communities; a community-wide strategic planning tool developed specifically for public health by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MAPP Process The MAPP process includes six steps (NACCHO 2010): 1. Organizing for Success: This step involves organizing the planning process and developing partnerships. 2. Visioning: The visioning step engages stakeholders in a collaborative, creative process of developing a shared community vision with common values. 3. Conducting Community Assessments: Four community assessments provide information about internal and external environmental trends relevant to the community: o Community Themes and Strengths Assessment: Identifies local community interests, perceptions about quality of life, and assets. o Local Public Health System Assessment: Appraises the capacity of the local public health system to conduct essential public health services. o Community Health Status Assessment: Analyzes data about health status, quality of life, and risk factors. o Forces of Change Assessment: Identifies changing external forces and dynamics of the community and the local public health system. Review Chapter 3 in the textbook. In this final part, the students will take the strategic issues identified in Part II (Week Four) and formulate goal statements and strategies for addressing issues, resulting in development and adoption of an interrelated set of strategy statements. Lastly, an action plan with an evaluation timeline that identifies outcomes to be reached and what steps would be taken to ensuing adjustments in the strategy plan if needed. The final draft with all three parts will be posted together for a final grade. Writing the Research Paper The Research Paper: 1. Must be ten to twelve double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. 2. Must include a title page with the following: a. Title of paper b. Student's name c. Course name and number d. Instructor's name e. Date submitted 3. Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement. 4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. 5. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis. 6. Must use at least ten scholarly and/or peer-reviewed sources published within the last five years, including a minimum of three from the Ashford University Library. 7. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. 8. Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. GRADING RUBRIC Description: Total Possible Score: 33.00 The Research Paper is Organized With an Introduction, Thesis Statement and Conclusion Total: 2.00 Distinguished - The paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement and conclusion that reaffirms the thesis. Proficient - The paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement and conclusion that reaffirms the thesis. One of these requires improvement. Basic - The paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement and conclusion that vaguely reaffirms the thesis. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement and/or conclusion require improvement. Below Expectations - The paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement and/or conclusion require much improvement. Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Addresses the Required Elements of the Chosen Topic Total: 10.00 Distinguished - The Proficient - The paper fully addresses the required elements of the chosen topic. paper addresses most of the required elements of the chosen topic. Minor details are missing Basic - The paper partially addresses the required elements of the chosen topic. Relevant details are missing. Below Expectations - The paper attempts to address the required elements of the chosen topic; however, significant details are missing. Non-Performance - The paper addressing the chosen topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Applies Graduate Level Critical Thinking Skills to the Presentation of the Information Total: 6.00 Distinguished - Comprehensively applies graduate level critical thinking skills to the presentation of the information. Proficient - Applies graduate level critical thinking skills to the presentation of the information. Minor details are missing. Basic - Partially applies graduate level critical thinking skills to the presentation of the information. Relevant details are missing. Below Expectations - Attempts to apply graduate level critical thinking skills to the presentation of the information; however, significant details are missing. Non-Performance - The application of graduate level thinking skills to the presentation is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Utilizes and Synthesizes Appropriate Current Research for the Selected Topic Total: 6.00 Distinguished - Comprehensively Proficient -Utilizes utilizes and synthesizes appropriate current research for the selected topic. and synthesizes appropriate current research for the selected topic. Minor details are missing. Basic - Partially utilizes and synthesizes appropriate current research for the selected topic. Relevant details are missing. Below Expectations - Attempts to utilize and synthesize appropriate current research for the selected topic; however, significant details are missing. Non-Performance - The utilization and synthesis of appropriate current research for the selected topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Utilizes Professional Health Care Knowledge and Skills and Applies Them to the Context of Quality Improvement and Risk Management Total: 7.00 Distinguished - Thoroughly utilizes professional health care knowledge and skills and comprehensively applies them to the context of quality improvement and risk management. Proficient - Utilizes professional health care knowledge and skills and applies them to the context of quality improvement and risk management. Minor details are missing. Basic - Partially utilizes professional health care knowledge and skills and apply minimally applies them to the context of quality improvement and risk management. Relevant details are missing. Below Expectations - Attempts to utilize professional health care knowledge and skills and apply them to the context of quality improvement and risk management; however, significant details are missing. Non-Performance - The utilization of professional health care knowledge and skills and the application of them to the context of quality improvement and risk management are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions. Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics Total: 0.50 Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand. Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand. Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader. Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader. Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions. Written Communication: APA Formatting Total: 0.50 Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page. Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA. Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions. Written Communication: Page Requirement Total: 0.50 Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages. Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages. Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions. Written Communication: Resource Requirement Total: 0.50 Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment. Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment. Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly. Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly. Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions