Scholarship Guidelines

MISF encourages all levels of scholarly endeavor, from simple enjoyment of scholarly presentations, to more active engagement in research, discussion, and/or writing projects. The following guidelines indicate what we aspire to, rather than what we are always able to achieve.

1. Clarity of purpose. The Work has a clear and understandable statement of purpose. There are realistic and achievable objectives to be accomplished by the Work. The Work has established a context of current and important questions in the field of study.

2. Competency. The Scholar demonstrates an understanding of the existing scholarship in the field. The Scholar has the stated skills needed to accomplish the Work and shows a competency with those skills. The Scholar has enumerated the resources needed to finish the Work and has identified both the source of those resources and the means of accessing them.

3. Approaches and Methods. The Scholar delineates the approaches and methods to be used and shows how each will accomplish the purpose of the Work. The Scholar shows a proficiency with the methods. The Scholar has the flexibility to alter a method or approach when the method or approach is not reaching an objective, based on feedback while doing the Work.

4. Demonstrated success of the Work. The finished Work clearly shows each objective has been achieved. The Work adds to an enhanced understanding of an aspect of the field of study. The Work identifies questions or problems for further investigation, based on the outcomes of the Work.

5. Effective Publication of the Work. The Work has a style and organization for effective presentation. The Scholar has identified the appropriate forums in which to present the Work to the intended audiences. The Scholar is prepared to present the Work with clarity and integrity.

6. Self Assessment. The Scholar has stated a critical evaluation of the Work with sufficient evidence to support the critique. The Scholar indicates how the critique will be used to improve the quality of future work.

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Derived from Glassick CE, Huber MT, Maeroff G. Scholarship Assessed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997; p.25 & 36. See also, Boyer EL. Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate. Princeton, NJ: Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1990, for a discussion of the types of scholarship.>/em>