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BUS501 : Managing in Complex Environments: Assignments

Writing Help Guides

Consult the following help guides for assistance with units one and two.

All content copyright Capella University.

Quantitative Research

Are you certain that the article you found is based on quantitative research? Consider the following:

  • Did the author(s) use math or statistics to collect and analyze the data in their study?
  • Does the study involve numerical analysis of data?
  • Do the research results center around specific, measurable quantities, rather than words?

If the answers to these questions were yes, you are most likely looking at a quantitative research article.

For a more detailed description of quantitative vs. qualitative research, view this guide from a faculty member at the University of Connecticut.

Article Review Tips

While you're in the process of writing an article review, don't refer to the abstract. The abstract is a well-written, concise summary of the article, and therefore it can be tempting to "borrow" wording and phrases for your own review. Avoid temptation!


Write the full reference for the article at the top of your review (see journal article reference example). Follow standard APA style for in-text citations.


View this guide from Virginia Tech for more information on writing an article review.

Is It Scholarly?

Your professor has asked you to use scholarly critical sources in your paper. But how do you know if you've found one? Watch this helpful 5-minute video (courtesy of NC State University Libraries).

Putting It All Together

After you've finished reading and reviewing articles, and it's time to write your final paper, make sure you're doing it the right way.

Think critically about how to incorporate the sources you've found into your own writing--don't just take an author's word for granted.

Organize your sources by theme or point of view to give your paper clarity.

Use quotations and paraphrases carefully -- quotations should complement and support your writing, not the other way around.


Not sure what any of this means? Don't despair! View the following two tutorials from Capella University to ensure success in your writing process.