Psychology Unit 7 Assignment:

PSY 102 – Fundamentals of Psychology II

Due Date: , Points: 100 Overview: Throughout the course, you have been working on your course paper. This is the final assignment: compiling your research into a paper on your chosen topic. Instructions:

You must complete one course paper during the 8-week term; it will be due at the end of Unit 7. Please note that before completing the course paper, you will complete three other assignments designed to help you write a successful course paper. These include:

• Unit 2: Select your Topic for the course paper • Unit 3: Complete the Annotated Bibliography Assignment • Unit 5: Complete the Paper Outline Assignment

These assignments are designed to help you complete your paper in stages. You will be graded on these assignments and receive feedback from your instructor so you will be comfortable that you are on the “right track” to complete the course paper in Unit 7.

Incorporating your instructor’s feedback from Unit 3 and Unit 5 Assignments into your final course paper is strongly recommended.

• Using your approved topic from Unit 2, write a research paper like a literature review discussing current information about your topic.

• Include a discussion of psychological concepts AND key research findings relevant to your chosen topic. Your incorporation of concepts and research should come from the information you find through reading scholarly sources and journal articles (from your course paper resources assignment due in Unit 3).

• Organize your paper into three main sections: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion (do not label them as such). Organize your paper according to the themes you identified in your outline (submitted in Unit 5).

• Include specific examples that support theory and research.

• Please note that this is NOT an opinion essay.

• You are strongly encouraged to use the Center for Academic Success assignments.

Requirements:

• Submit a Word document in APA format. • Five pages in length, excluding the Title and Reference pages. • At least four scholarly sources.

Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.

Evaluation Rubric for Course Paper Assignment

CRITERIA Deficient Needs Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

0 – 23 points 24 – 31 points 32 – 39 points 40 points Discussion of Psychological Concepts and Key Research Findings

Subject matter is minimally addressed. Opinions are offered, but arguments lack scholarly backing.

Subject matter is adequately addressed. Arguments are partially supported by scholarly research.

Subject matter is well addressed. Arguments are supported by scholarly research but could be further elaborated with specific details.

Subject matter is thoroughly addressed. Arguments are well elaborated and fully supported with scholarly research and specific examples.

0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points Organization Paper is not

organized with an Introduction, Body, Conclusion format and topics organized according to theme.

Paper is somewhat organized with an Introduction, Body, Conclusion format and topics organized according to theme.

Paper is mostly organized with an Introduction, Body, Conclusion format and topics organized according to theme.

Paper is organized according to Introduction, Body, Conclusion. Topics are organized according to theme.

Scholarly Sources

One or no scholarly sources are used or are represented well within the paper. Sources lack relevance to topic.

Two to three scholarly sources are included and/or are not well represented within the paper. Sources are somewhat relevant.

Four relevant scholarly sources are included, but the content discussion is not well represented within the paper.

Four relevant scholarly sources are included. Scholarly source content is well represented within the paper.

CRITERIA Deficient Needs Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

Structure and Flow

Flow is poor. Paragraphing is inappropriate. Transitions are minimal or absent. Significant redundancy is evident.

Flow is adequate. Paragraphs may be too long or too short. Transitions are minimal, and redundancy is evident.

Flow is good. Paragraphing is mostly appropriate. Transitions are present, and redundancies are minimal.

Flow is excellent. Paragraphing is clear, and transitions are smooth and consistent. Inappropriate redundancies are absent.

0 points 0 points 0 points 5 points Paper Length Does not meet

the required page count requirement of 5 full pages.

n/a n/a Minimum 5 pages

0 – 5 points 6 – 7 points 8 – 9 points 10 points Clear and Professional Writing and APA Format

Errors impede professional presentation; guidelines not followed.

Significant errors that do not impede professional presentation.

Few errors that do not impede professional presentation.

Writing and format are clear, professional, APA compliant, and error free.