Highlight Skills 
Essay
Objective: To assess research skills to explore skills that are important to the research process.
Introduction: Beginning your Applied Research Project may require a self-assessment of your research skills. This essay assignment will help you start generating preliminary thoughts to assess your own knowledge and understanding of research processes, but more particularly your own. After you have reviewed the reading provided below, conduct a self-assessment on what areas you might need additional help in understanding the research process. How will you achieve your objectives, or begin your research project? Assessment might include examining your readiness, attitude and research experience, specific to what you will develop, design, utilize, create, analyze, collect, survey, observe.
Deliverables: The essay for this lesson is required to be a minimum of 3 pages which clearly demonstrate your understanding of the activity. Essays should have a clear introduction, thesis statement and conclusion, written in APA format (APAstyle.org).
Activity Details:
Step 1: Review the questions in the Research Readiness Self-Assessment article , and then review the examples provided on Table 2 of the the Laus/Casey article below. From the assessment topics and categories, conduct an internet search to evaluate your own problem areas. Write 3-pages to summarize your topic. 
Note: This may require a library account to do your research and inquires. (APA formatting required):
Research Readiness Self-Assessment: Assessing Students\' Research Skills and Attitudes Ivanitskaya, L. & Casey, A. (2014) 

Step 2: Write a paper that includes a concise statement that summarizes the goals and objectives for your Applied Research Project. Please review the links provided below, containing the essay rubric and APA formatting guidelines, prior to proceeding.
Essay Rubric
APAstyle.org
3 Sources minimum