PSY 201

Written Assignment Guidelines

There is one written assignment in the course. There are three parts to the assignment: Topic Selection, Written
Assignment Draft, Written Assignment Final Paper

Part One: Topic Selection

After looking through the textbook, identify a topic you would like to explore for the written assignment. You
may NOT select a topic related to psychological disorders or mental illness. Post the topic to the discussion
board topic “Written Assignment Topic”. The topic selection should include 2 – 3 sentences about the topic as
well as two (2) sources that may be used in the written assignment. The sources referenced in APA format.
Feedback regarding the topic will be provided by the instructor. Your topic must be approved before continuing
the with assignment.

Suggested Topics:

 Lobotomy and Transorbital Lobotomy

 Gender differences in the Brain
 Sleep and Sleep Disorders
 Sleep Deprivation
 Synesthesia
 Health-Stress Connection
 Health and Illness
 Lifestyle and Health
 Subliminal perception and extrasensory perception
 Meditation and Hypnosis
 Memory and Eyewitness testimony
 Classical conditioning and advertising
 Cognitive Dissonance
 Bias in the hiring/employment process
 Parenting Styles
 Psychological adjustment to menopause
 Stress in the workplace
 Projective personality tests
 Brain fingerprinting

Part Two: Written Assignment Draft

The Written Assignment Draft assignment requires you to write a draft (1-2 pages) on your pre-approved topic. The
draft should be in APA format with a title page, 1 – 2 pages of content related to your topic, and a reference page.
You will need to include three (3) sources in the draft. You do NOT need an abstract for the draft, The draft
assignment is worth 100 points. Please submit your draft to the assignment folder labeled “Written Assignment Draft”
in D2L.
 Grading Rubric for Written Assignment Draft

POSSIBLE CATEGORY: ABOVE MEETS BELOW POINTS

POINTS: STANDARDS: STANDARDS: STANDARDS: EARNED:
The topic is clearly The topic is The topic is not
defined and satisfactorily defined satisfactorily defined
50 Content and explained in the and explained in the or explained in the
Development paper. The topic paper, although it paper, and it
relates to the subject lacks in areas such severely lacks in
of Psychology. At as depth of topic or areas such as depth
least 3 primary clarity. The topic of topic or clarity.
source articles (not relates somewhat to The topic dos not
text books) are used the subject of relate well to the
and appear in Psychology. At least subject of Psychology.
Bibliography. (40-50 2 primary source 1 primary source
pts.) articles are used and articles was used and
appear in appears in
Bibliography.(21-39- Bibliography. (0-20
pts.) pts.)

The paper adheres The paper is The paper has poor

to APA style. somewhat adequate in APA style and
20 APA Style Citations follow adhering to APA style citations are
APA guidelines and APA guidelines incorrect or
(page #’s, author is for citations. (9-14 missing. (0-8 pts.)
cited properly). pts.)
(15-20 pts.)
All or most 50-75% of paragraph <50% of paragraph
15 Format paragraph indentation, line indentation, line
indentation, line spacing, and margins spacing, and
spacing, and are correct. margins are co4rect.
margins are correct. (5-9 pts.) (0-4 pts.)
(10-15 pts.)
Correct grammar Several areas with Numerous areas
throughout paper, fragmented sentences, with fragmented
10 Grammar, with few fragmented incorrect sentences, incorrect
Spelling, and sentences, incorrect punctuations, or punctuations, or
Punctuation punctuations, or misspellings. misspellings. (8 or
misspellings. (4-7 sentences with more sentences with
(< 3 sentences w/o errors.) 50-75% of errors). <50% of
errors). sentences are sentences are
All or most complete, concise, complete, concise,
sentences are and well-constructed and well-
complete, clear, (5-9 pts.) constructed.
concise, and well- (0-4 pts.)
constructed. (10
pts.)
The correct number The paper is slightly The paper is
5 Following of words or pages is too long or too short. significantly too long
Directions met. A title and Either the title page or too short. Either
Reference page is or Reference page is the title page or
included. missing. Reference page is
(5 pts.) (3-4 pts.) missing.
(0-2 pts.)
 Part Three: Final Paper

The final paper requires you to complete a 5 - 7 page paper on your pre-approved topic and submit
the finished version to the Written Assignment Final Paper folder in D2L. The completed written
assignment final paper is worth 250 points. The final paper must include:

 Title page (compose your own title) including your name, PSY207, date (the title page does
not count in the page requirement).
 Abstract (the abstract does not count in the page requirement)
 Content related to the topic. The content of the paper must be 5 – 7 pages, typed, double-
spaced, 1 inch margins in a Word document using the New Times Roman, 12-point font
 Reference page that includes all sources used in the paper, properly formatted in APA – this
means the use of properly formatted in-text citations and a complete citation of the source on
the reference page (the reference page does not count in the page requirement).
 A minimum of seven (7) scholarly, reliable references/sources must be used. The text book
can be one of the sources. Sources must be less than 10 years old. Sources older than 10
years may be used in the paper but will not count toward the minimum number of sources.
 The paper will be submitted to Turnitin.com. The originality score should be less than 20%.
Scores over 20% are unacceptable and will not receive credit.

The references utilized must be listed in APA format on the reference page and cited appropriately within
the text of the paper. If the paper does not utilize in-text citations and/or have a reference page, a failing
grade will be recorded. Information on APA formatting and locating scholarly, reliable references can be
found in the content area of the course.

Grading Rubric for the written assignment Final Paper (250 points total)

POSSIBLE CATEGORY: ABOVE MEETS BELOW POINTS

POINTS: STANDARDS: STANDARDS: STANDARDS: EARNED:
The topic is clearly The topic is The topic is not
defined and satisfactorily defined satisfactorily defined
125 Content and explained in the and explained in the or explained in the
Development paper. The topic paper, although it paper, and it severely
relates to the subject lacks in areas such as lacks in areas such as
of Psychology. At depth of topic or depth of topic or
least 5 primary clarity. The topic clarity. The topic
source articles (not relates somewhat to dos not relate well to
text books) are used the subject of the subject of
and appear in Psychology. At least 4 Psychology. 3 or less
Bibliography. (100- primary source primary source
125 pts.) articles are used and articles were used
appear in and appeas in
Bibliography.(51-99- Bibliography. (0-50
pts.) pts.)
The paper adheres The paper is The paper has poor
to APA style. somewhat adequate in APA style and
50 APA Style Citations follow adhering to APA style citations are
APA guidelines and APA guidelines incorrect or
(page #’s, author is for citations. (21-39 missing. (0-20 pts.)
cited properly). pts.)
(40-50 pts.)
 All or most 50-75% of paragraph <50% of paragraph
50 Format paragraph indentation, line indentation, line
indentation, line spacing, and margins spacing, and margins
spacing, and are correct. are co20rect.
margins are correct. (21-39 pts.) (0-4 pts.)
(40-50 pts.)
Correct grammar Several areas with Numerous areas with
throughout paper, fragmented sentences, fragmented
15 Grammar, with few fragmented incorrect sentences, incorrect
Spelling, and sentences, incorrect punctuations, or punctuations, or
Punctuation punctuations, or misspellings. misspellings. (8 or
misspellings. (4-7 sentences with more sentences with
(< 3 sentences w/o errors.) 50-75% of errors). <50% of
errors). sentences are sentences are
All or most complete, concise, complete, concise,
sentences are and well-constructed and well-constructed.
complete, clear, (8-11 pts.) (0-7 pts.)
concise, and well-
constructed. (12-15
pts.)
The correct number The paper is slightly The paper is
10 Following of words or pages is too long or too short. significantly too long
Directions met. A title and Either the title page or or too short. Either
Bibliography page is Bibliography page is the title page or
included. missing. Bibliography page is
(9-10 pts.) (5-8 pts.) missing.
(0-4 pts.)