The final assignment for this course pulls together the work you have done on the other three assignments. You will incorporate feedback you’ve received and prepare a preliminary concept paper for your

Overview
The final assignment for this course pulls together the work you have done on the other three
assignments. You will incorporate feedback you’ve received and prepare a preliminary concept paper
for your dissertation or doctoral project, carrying this work forward into your subsequent residency
courses as you develop your topic and project plan. Your concept paper presents the topic and should
include discussion of the following:
• Topic.
• Problem.
• Supporting Evidence. (Evidence is based on the literature you have reviewed.)
• Preliminary Project Framework. (The methods that you have identified for your project.)
Remember, as you deepen your understanding and add detail to your project, you should expect to
make several revisions beyond this course as your work is viewed through multiple lenses, including
those of instructors, peers, the existing literature, and other sources. You should seek opportunities
to improve and refine your work after this course. Doctoral project planning is an iterative process,
with each revision often inspiring further revisions until all elements are aligned. These iterations are
a necessary and customary part of the doctoral journey.
Signature Assignment
This assignment has been identified as a signature assignment. Completing signature assignments
serves a dual purpose: to meet the competencies in the course where the signature assignment
appears and to acquire skills needed to demonstrate competencies specific to the completion of the
doctoral project. You must meet the established criteria for demonstrating competence in this
assignment to successfully complete the course per University Policy 3.04.07: Grading_[PDF].
Completion of this course is a program-specific requirement. Consequently, you must pass this course
to remain in good academic standing as stated in University Policy 3.01.04: Academic Standing_[PDF].
Instructions
Using 10 additional articles on your potential topic and a summary that provides additional evidence
to support your work, include the following in your MS Word document:
• Discuss identified gaps in the literature or potential organizational needs.
• Identify a topic consistent with the acceptable topics for the discipline.
• Define the problem for the proposed topic.
• Analyze the alignment of problem, questions, and methods.
• Describe ethical issues or concerns related to the topic and/or theory.
• Present a preliminary project framework that aligns with the topic and problem and is consistent
with the acceptable topics and methods for the discipline.
• As a scholar-practitioner, apply conventions of voice, academic tone, and discipline-specific
language.