Article Review

Guidelines/Grading Rubric for Reaction Papers

To facilitate your learning of addiction science, you will read original research reports and write reaction papers. Each paper should be at least one but no more than two double-spaced pages long (Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point font, 1-inch margins). Each paper should be a thoughtful response that:

1) includes a brief description of the main points of the paper,

2) reflects that you have read and thought about the entire article, not simply skimmed the abstract, and

3) presents your own opinions and reactions, incorporating relevant material from the course (e.g., the textbook, class lectures & discussion). Grammar and writing quality will be considered in the grading of your paper. Please submit your reaction papers electronically via Blackboard.Points will be deducted for papers submitted after the 11:59 PM deadline in accordance with the late submission policy stated in the course syllabus. Students are welcome, even encouraged, to submit their papers early.The purpose of the summary paper is for you to demonstrate your ability to independently evaluate and analyze a peer-reviewed, primary-source research report. Be sure to write in your own words, as this is the best way to convey your understanding and thoughts. Do not use direct quotes! Use of direct quotes will result in point deductions. Strong papers will: succinctly state the study aims/hypotheses, briefly describe the key elements of the research design, and summarize the main study findings. Please note, you are not required to report on all aspects of the study design nor is it necessary to report every individual result from a study.Instead, identify and describe key aspects of the research method and main results, as you understand them.Your paper also should provide a concise interpretation of those findings in the context of strengths/weaknesses of particular relevance to the study aims. For example, simply stating a longitudinal design is a strength of the study will not be sufficient unless a detailed explanation for the particular value of studying the phenomenon in question over time is provided. Similarly, stating that a small sample size limits generalizability will not be sufficient unless a case is made for why the specific sample studied may differ from other samples based on the methods used.A rubric for how summary papers will be evaluated and graded is provided below. Please note that points are assigned not only based on whether an element is addressed, but largely on how well they are completed. You may consider this as a checklist or guide as you write your paper.