African/Black Psychology
Term Paper/Project Assignment
Autobiographical Essay
The Term Paper/Project assignment will require students to develop a 5 -8 page( not including
title page and reference pages) autobiography essay addressing the guidelines outlined below. The
paper MUST BE TYPED AND DOUBLE SPACED throughout! Non typed manuscripts will NOT BE
ACCEPTED!!! The paper MUST HAVE A “UNIQUE TITLE” which you create. Be “Original!” In other
words, the title of your paper cannot simply be the course title (e.g., African American
Experience/African/Black Psychology). I want you to make up your own title.
This project will require you to develop an original Autobiography essay. This assignment is
designed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to relate concepts from the class to their life
history in a logical and analytical manner. In the paper, you must use concepts from African American
Experience and course lectures and readings to explain your own personal development up to this
point in your life. You should separate your life history into five or six distinct or major periods defined
by a significant (impactful) event (an event that affected you in some way). You must begin the
autobiography sketch with a childhood experience (such as between 3-5 years of age) and continue
through your Southern University Experience. Some students have used chronological age or
sequences of school grades to structure their papers around. Whichever system you use, the time
period must always be made clear! Describe each event chronologically as objectively as possible, and
then analyze each experience (follow each description) using the Worldview paradigm along with
other concepts from class. Whichever concepts you use, you must justify-explain the concept as fully as
you can in terms of how they apply to your life experiences. (The events can be either positive or
negative). During each analysis, try to also describe your feelings about yourself “racially” (such as your
feelings about your racial-cultural identity) during that developmental period of your life, if you can
recall any such feelings.
References from class readings and lectures must be used to enhance the overall meaning and
academic quality of the paper. You must include a Reference Page (more than one reference) at the
end of the 5-8 page essay. References from class readings and lectures(documented sources) must be
cited and listed alphabetically according to the American Psychological Association (APA) Publications
Manual guidelines!
Please proofread your work before turning it in, also, use the same font/type size throughout
and include a Title Page!!! Points will be deducted for failure to comply with the guidelines for the
assignment as well as for poor grammar (spelling, sentence, and paragraph structure, etc.) Note: If
there are any questions regarding this assignment, please direct such questions to the instructor well
before you attempt to complete the assignment. This assignment is due on Friday, July 19, 2024 by
11:00 P.M. on Canvas/Moodle AND on watermark!!! Therefore, make sure you have a watermark
account so you can submit your essay. Late paper may result in a reduction in the course grade( a
reduction in total course grade points). “I” grades are strongly discouraged and will be given only in
special circumstances where it is deemed absolutely necessary!!!
