Term Paper Assignment

Term Paper Due: Last day of class

I. Topics:

This is a research paper wherein you will summarize the research/thinking in a particular area of psychology. You will need at least three (3) references other than the text material to complete this paper. (Newpapers and magazines are not acceptable references.)

The individual topic you choose is up to you -- I have attached a list of potential subjects, but feel free to select something not listed that may be of interest to you. Please submit your topic selection and at least three (3) potential references to me by 11/15.

Your task in this term paper is to summarize the current thinking on your topic by researchers in the area. You should (1) clearly state your topic and the viewpoint from which your paper will be based, (2) discuss the research supporting your topic, and (3) critique the information (discuss your thoughts on the advantages to society arising from the research, as well as addressing the limitations or questions still unanswered --> This should incorporate your own opinion as to why such advantages and limitations are important to consider in understanding this issue.)

II. Guidelines for Term Paper:

Term papers should have a particular structure, as do many other types of papers you will write or have written in your college courses. Four major areas should be covered, and highlighted by titles in writing your paper:

1) Introduction. In this section you will identify the topic you have chosen as the subject of the paper. You should explain why you believe this is an important issue to address given its impact on an individual's life and that of society in general.

2) Body of the Paper (here you will use headings that reflect the various points you will be making). Discuss in this section the relevant research/thinking (your reference material) on your topic. You should be using your references to support your explanation as to why this is an important issue to address, and to convince me that I, too, should agree that your topic is important to today's society. (Ideally, you will be making several points backed up by the research you cite, and in doing so you may have several headings to highlight the various points.)

Also included within the body of your paper should be an evaluation of the research/thinking you have provided from your references. Do you believe they are correct in their thinking? Why? Do you think there are some points they have neglected to bring up that may bear on understanding this topic better? What are they? (Essentially, give me your opinion on what you have read and reported to me on.)

3) Conclusion. This section should briefly summarize the main points on the issue that you have been making in the body of your paper. It should also highlight why you believe this topic should continue to be pursued or is crucial to today's world.

4) References. Each of the references you used as supporting evidence should be listed on a reference page in the appropriate format. Examples of the appropiate way to cite your references are as follows:

For Books:

Rymer, R. (1993). Genie: An abused child's flight from silence. New York: Harper Collins.

For Edited Books: (Those that contain chapters by different authors)

Shneidman, E.S. (1987). A psychological approach to suicide. In G.R. VanderBos & B.K. Bryant (Eds.), Cataclysms, cries, and catasrophes: Psychology of action (pp. 151-183). Washington, DC: American Pschological Association.

For Jounrnal Articles:

Rothbart, M.K., & Ahadi, S.A. (1994). Temperament and the development of personality. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 55-66.

A first step to finding appropriate references for your paper may be by looking at the chapter in our textbook that discusses your topic. Look first in the index to find your topic; next read the material on your topic and note the references given (e.g., Rothbart & Ahadi, 1994). Then go to the reference list at the back of the text that gives you the authors cited and write down the full citations (examples of such are given above for books and journal articles). Using the computers or library card catalogues, look up the reference by author or title (or both -- sometimes one will not be listed), and get the location of the book or journal in the library. Also, use the PsychInfo database on the libarary's computer system.

III. Evaluation of Term Paper:

Due dates for the term paper are specified at the top of this assignment. The criteria for evaluation (also set out in syllabus) is as follows:

--Topic/Outline/References is worth 30 points;

--Content (following of guidelines; references adequately support your points; and demonstation of understanding and conveying the information in your selected topic) is worth 70 points.