Valeri Farmer-Dougan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor in the Departments of

Psychology and Biological Sciences

Illinois State University

Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Tools in Neuroscience!

"Psychology and Me" paper assignment:

One of the requirements for this class is an 8-10 page paper. The paper is worth 100 points. The following guidelines MUST be followed to insure maximum credit.
NOTE: I will read rough drafts and give you feedback. Please allow 3 days for me to return to paper to you.

Topic: You are to complete a paper on the topic in psychology that has a personal interest to you. This paper should:

1. provide a detailed research literature on a topic in psychology that has been agreed upon by both you and Dr. Farmer-Dougan. You must have your topic approved prior to turning in your paper, or your paper will not be accepted.

2. relate the literature review to your personal interest. It might be career related, an interest area due to knowledge of the issue with a family member, or general interest due to a life experience.

3. For example, you once met a schizophrenic on the street and this got you wondering why so many schizophrenics live on the street. This question now becomes your thesis questions. You research schizophrenia, its causes and treatments, and social policy related to treatment of schizophrenia. You would then relate this back to your personal interest and answer the question you posed.

4. The paper should contain at least 5 professional reference sources. These can include books, professional journal articles, or other referred sources.

5. The paper can also include interviews, news stories, or other reference sources in addition to the 5 academic reference sources.
Format: There are a few requirements for the format. These are:
1. Typed format: Type the paper using standard APA or MLA referencing style. This means the papers are to be double- spaced, with 1-inch margins. This does NOT mean that you will have a method, result, etc., section. This is a REVIEW paper. If unclear on how to write a review paper, please see me, the TA or use the Center for Learning Assistance.

2. Presentation format: You are to first pose your thesis question, then explain how you became interested in the topic. The literature review should follow, followed by a summary bringing the thesis question and literature review to a conclusion.

3. Referencing: Be sure to cite your references. Tell me where you got your information. You must use the standard APA or MLA reference form.

4. Length: There is no ABSOLUTE length requirement, although 8 to 10 pages should be sufficient. No maximum limit has been given, because different people write in different ways. However, minimum length for a decent paper is about 8 pages.

5. Due Date: All papers are due NO LATER THAN FRIDAY DECEMBER 5th by 4:30 p.m.. Late papers will have 5 points subtracted for every day they are late.

Grading Criteria:

Organization, Cohesion and Clarity
27-30/30	Excellent/ Very Good	Has fully anticipated readers needs; ideas are sequenced with clear transitions; each paragraph has clear purpose/focus; fluid writing; a pleasure to read
24-26/30	Good/ Adequate	Has anticipated most reader needs in organizing and presenting ideas; main ideas stand out, but sequencing of ideas sometimes choppy or disconnected; reader may have difficulty following flow of ideas at times; occasional lapses in meaning
18-23/30	Fair/poor	Has anticipated few reader needs in organizing and presenting information; ideas frequently confused and/or disconnected; reader frequently has difficulty “getting the point” or message as communicated; ideas lack sufficient specificity to make point clear.
17 or lower/30	Needs lots of work	Shows little awareness of reader needs; logical organization absent; lack of transitions; vague or ambiguous
Depth, Elaboration & Development
27-30/30	Excellent/ Very Good	The paper has an idea, or conclusion, or thesis that effectively synthesizes the material it covers. Takes the topic seriously by demonstrating careful and enthusiastic consideration of perspectives; distinguishes subtle differences among perspectives; says something right that would not be obvious to casual observer
24-26/30	Good/ Adequate	Competent, purposeful consideration of perspectives with sufficient support and detail to fully expand the idea
18-23/30	Fair/poor	Agrees quickly with one perspective and never reflects on possible drawbacks to this perspective; lacking in self reflection
17 or lower/30	Needs lots of work	Insufficient development of any perspective; minimal support for ideas; grazes the surface
Argument, Strength and Logical Consistency
27-30/30	Excellent/ Very Good	The topic is well-chosen; the choice reflects a clear grasp of the purpose of the assignment and a careful process of selection. The paper contains no major errors of fact, interpretation, or omission. The paper is solidly based in academic discourse (e.g., the literature, lectures, original research), rather than in popular, casual, everyday discourse.
24-26/30	Good/ Adequate	The topic is well-chosen; the choice reflects a basic grasp of the purpose of the assignment and a careful process of selection. The paper contains no major errors of fact, interpretation, or omissions. The paper is based in academic discourse (e.g., the literature, lectures, original research), rather than in popular, casual, everyday discourse.
18-23/30	Fair/poor	The topic is appropriate but not selective; it may reflect a popular rather than thoughtful choice; the choice reflects a some grasp of the purpose of the assignment but not necessarily a careful process of selection. The paper contains some major errors of fact, interpretation, or omissions. The paper is generally based in academic discourse (e.g., the literature, lectures, original research), but may include popular, casual, everyday discourse.
17 or lower/30	Needs lots of work	The topic is marginally appropriate; the topic reflects a popular rather than thoughtful choice; the choice does not demonstrate a grasp of the purpose of the assignment. The paper contains major errors of fact, interpretation, or omissions. The paper is not based in academic discourse (e.g., the literature, lectures, original research), but is uses popular, casual, everyday discourse. Lack of argument; states a conclusion without supporting premises; conclusion so broad that read asks, “so what?”
Grammar, punctuation, spelling, proper citation of sources
9-10/10	Excellent/ Very Good	Sophisticated language choices (vocabulary, sentence structures); few or no faults with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization; all sources are properly cited; immaculate presentation.
7-8/10	Good/ Adequate	Appropriate language choices; occasional faults in spelling, punctuation, capitalization; citation of sources contains errors in form; adequate presentation.
5-6/10	Fair/poor	Some language choices inappropriate to topic and purpose (use of “casual speech” markers, such as “well”); simple vocabulary; frequent errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization; citation of sources inadequate (not enough sources, insufficiently documented, or too many citations); messy presentation.
4 or lower/10	Needs lots of work	Language choices often inappropriate to topic and purpose; use of “casual speech” throughout; persistent errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization; sources are not cited, or approaches plagiarism by borrowing too much language from a source. (Plagiarism is sufficient to minimally require a re-write before a grade can be assigned, but may result in a grade of “F”.)
TOTAL		*Comments:*