Article review #2

SPMT 560 – SPORT LAW
ARTICLE REVIEW ASSIGNMENT
*Note: It would be to your benefit to do article reviews on articles you plan on using in your
final paper.
Length: 2-3 pages
Font: 12 Point, Times New Roman
Margins: 1 inch
Point value: 25 Pts
Find a sport law-related peer-reviewed (e.g., journal) article that interests you. It would probably
behoove you to choose an article dealing with the topic you plan to use for your Final Paper. The
article must be no older than 2014. The article may be a case study or an aspect/analysis of sport
law. Your article cannot be a book review.
Steps for Locating an Article:
1) Go to the Colorado State University’s Libraries Homepage:

Off-Campus Access

2) Click on Articles/Databases.
3) Click on one of the following databases:
a. Google Scholar
b. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe
c. SPORTDiscus
d. Academic Search Complete
e. Westlaw
i. (You may need to log into the Libraries using your eID username and
password)
4) You can now search for an article two different ways:
a. Search via keyword search in the box (sport law, antitrust and sport, drug testing
and NCAA, etc.). Click on the articles listed (look for the PDFs).
b. Browse through the journal issues and read the titles of the articles for an article
of interest.
5) Print off your chosen article (PDF is the best format).
Write a critique of the article meeting the following criteria:
• First write a complete APA citation for your article
o APA resources:
§ http://www.apastyle.org/ (look at the Tutorials here)
§ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
§ http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.aspx?doc_id=796
§ http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citapa.htm
• State either the plaintiff/defendant/judgment of the case or an explanation of the topic and
how it has been adjudicated (judged) in the past (i.e., Equal Protection Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment as protection for student-athletes from sexual orientation
discrimination).
• Explain your perspective on this case/legal issue. Does this surprise you? Is this how you
expected law to be interpreted? Why or why not?
• Did the author(s) do a good job explaining the legal issue(s)? Why or why not?
Note: You will be graded on clarity, content, grammar, and thoughtfulness. Any issues of
plagiarism will result in, at minimum, a zero on the project and the possibility of additional
penalties including a zero for the course.
Article Review Rubric
Criteria Needs Improvement (1pt) Satisfactory (2pts) Good (3p-4ts) Excellent (5pts)
Article
Summary
Many parts of the
purpose, method, and
important findings are not
accurately summarized, or
the summary is not
succinct enough.
Information about
relevant literature used &
theoretical or conceptual
framework contains
errors.
Some parts of the
purpose, method, and
important findings are
not accurately
summarized, or the
summary is not succinct
enough. Information
about relevant
literature used &
theoretical or
conceptual framework
contains errors.
The purpose, method,
and important findings
are succinctly and
accurately summarized
for the most part. The
information about
relevant literature used
& theoretical or
conceptual framework
is mostly correct.
The purpose, method,
and important findings
are succinctly and
accurately summarized.
The information about
relevant literature used
& theoretical or
conceptual framework
is all correct.
Strengths
The strengths identified
are not the greatest
strengths from the article,
or they are not actual
strengths at all. There is
no explanation of why
these are strengths, or the
explanation is incorrect.
The strengths identified
are not the greatest
strengths of the article,
but they are stated and
explained in a mostly
satisfactory manner.
The greatest strengths
of the article are stated,
but some detail is
lacking in the
explanation. The
strengths that were
identified are correct.
The greatest strengths
of the article are both
1) stated, and 2)
explained in detail. The
strengths that were
identified are all
correct.
Weaknesses
The weaknesses identified
are not the greatest
weaknesses from the
article, or they are not
actual weaknesses at all.
There is no explanation of
why these are
weaknesses, or the
explanation is incorrect.
The weaknesses
identified are not the
greatest weaknesses of
the article, but they are
stated and explained in
a mostly satisfactory
manner.
The greatest
weaknesses of the
article are stated, but
some detail is lacking in
the explanation. The
weaknesses that were
identified are correct.
The greatest
weaknesses of the
article are both 1)
stated, and 2)
explained in detail. The
weaknesses that were
identified are all
correct.
Writing
The writing contains
several spelling, grammar,
and punctuation errors.
The writing lacks a
continuous flow and is
difficult to read or
The writing contains
several spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation errors. The
writing flows
somewhat, but at times
The writing contains
some minor spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation errors. The
writing flows
throughout the review
The writing is entirely
free of spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation errors. The
writing flows
throughout the review
comprehend. it is difficult to read or
comprehend.
and is fairly easy to
read.
and is easy to read.
Paper
Specifications
5 or more of the following
specifications were not
followed: double-spaced,
12-point font, 2 pages in
length (+/- ¼ page),
headings were bolded,
and the student’s name,
name of the course, and
article name were listed
at the top of the
assignment.
3-4 of the following
specifications were not
followed: doublespaced, 12-point font, 2
pages in length (+/- ¼
page), headings were
bolded, and the
student’s name, name
of the course, and
article name were listed
at the top of the
assignment.
1-2 of the following
specifications were not
followed: doublespaced, 12-point font, 2
pages in length (+/- ¼
page), headings were
bolded, and the
student’s name, name
of the course, and
article name were listed
at the top of the
assignment.
All paper specifications
were followed: doublespaced, 12-point font, 2
pages in length (+/- ¼
page), headings were
bolded, and the
student’s name, name
of the course, and
article name were
listed at the top of the
assignment.