PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology

Rubric-Term Paper
Option 2: Seeing Psychology in Personal Experience Paper
Instructions: You will write a 4-6 paged term paper for this course (double-spaced, font 12). If
you select the “Psychology as You’ve Experienced It” option, you can choose from any of the
topics we have covered in class. For example, you may choose to analyze your experiences in
terms of Classical or Operant conditioning (e.g., how you’ve seen rewards/punishments at work).
As another example, you may write about how substance use disorders have affected members of
your family. This paper is very flexible and you really have the freedom to choose any topic that
resonates with you. I am happy to discuss your choices, if you’d like my input before you begin
to write.

Your paper will be graded out of 20 points and here is how:

Introduction and summary of the topic area- Provide a summary of the topic area you are
covering. You should use your textbook or any additional resources you wish. For example, if
you are choosing to write about addiction/substance use disorders, you should define the
important terms, the parts of the brain affected, and define related concepts (e.g., tolerance and
withdrawal). Write this section as if you were describing the topic to someone who knows
nothing about it.
Points possible: 5 Your score:
Connection to your personal experience: In this section, write about your personal experiences
related to the topic you have chosen. What memories came to mind when you studied the topic?
Did you agree with the arguments in the textbook about the topic? Do the theories about the
topic adequately explain your experiences? Why or why not? What are some questions you still
have about the topic?
Points possible: 10 Your score:
Quality of paper: Is your paper clear (easy for me to read and understand), without distracting
spelling or grammatical errors? Do you follow my instructions about length/font? Do you use
course concepts correctly and demonstrate that you understand the terms related to your topic?
Pointe possible: 5 Your score:

My Comments: