SHORT PAPER

Shor Paper: The Risks of Distracted Driving

General Overview: For this assignment, due in Week 5, you are required to write a short paper discussing the cognitive and physical factors related to distracted driving. You have probably seen news stories about the dangers of talking on a cell phone or texting and driving. Logic tells you it is a disaster waiting to happen, but you may not know the science behind the risk. Prompt: After having read Chapter 4 in your textbook, you should now have a much clearer picture of how cognitive and physical limitations come together to create a dangerous situation. Write a short paper addressing the following:

 How do both cognitive and physical factors contribute to accidents when drivers talk on their cell phones and/or text behind the wheel?

 Using the Albizu Library Database, find a research study that investigates the risk of distracted driving and incorporate it into your paper. For example, the study from the APS site, which was provided to you in the week 4 folder, discusses the fact that most drivers think their skills are above average. This study, could be used to propose that drivers’ overconfidence might lead them to take more risks or lead to greater inattentiveness. You cannot use this study for your own paper, but the example should help you come up with some ideas for choosing and incorporating studies into your own research.

 Citations: Use material from Chapter 4 in your textbook to back up your explanations of the cognitive and physical factors you have investigated, and properly cite that information in APA format. Also be sure to list your research-study references, including the textbook, in APA format. Refer the Purdue OWL Reference Page Formatting to facilitate this (see the link below).

Guidelines for Submission: Your short paper must be 1–2 pages in length. It should be in 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins and all references cited in APA format. Any thoughts that are not your own MUST be cited in proper APA format. Direct quotes (short and long) MUST be cited and formatted following APA guidelines. Even if you paraphrase information, it MUST be cited. Papers are being evaluated through SafeAssign. Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated. If plagiarism is discovered, it will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment and possible disciplinary action. AU’s writing center can assist you if you are unsure. You can also use the following Purdue OWL link: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ to help you with your citations and references and you can avoid plagiarism by also using one of the following plagiarism checking links: https://papersowl.com/free-plagiarism-checker , https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker , and https://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-checker/

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%)

Needs Improvement (65%) Not Evident (0%)

Value

Cognitive & Physical Factors

Meets “Proficient” criteria & response demonstrates keen insight into the cognitive & physical factors behind distracted driving

Accurately describes how both cognitive & physical factors contribute to accidents when drivers talk on their cell phones and/or text behind the wheel

Describes how both cognitive & physical factors contribute to accidents when drivers talk on their cell phones and/or text behind the wheel, but description is not accurate or is lacking in detail

Does not provide a description

15points

Research Study Meets “Proficient” criteria & research study provided exemplifies argument in paper

Provides a research study that investigates the risk of distracted driving & effectively incorporates it into paper

Provides a research study that investigates the risk of distracted driving, but does not sufficiently incorporate the study into the paper

Does not provide a research study

15points

Citations Cites references from textbook and research study in proper APA

format

Cites references from textbook and research study, but citations are not in

proper APA format

Does not cite references from textbook or research

study

10points

Writing Mechanics Submission is free of errors related to citations,

grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, & is

presented in a professional & easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or

organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax,

or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10points

Total 100% (50points)