Each semester, all students in General Psychology must write a paper on a topic related to psychology that is graded using a standardized rubric
Actions
for departmental assessment.
For this research summary paper, you will choose one empirical research article from a list that will be provided to you. Your paper should have 4 main components: background information/hypotheses, method, results, and conclusion.
Begin your paper with a brief introduction that describes what the article is about. Show that you can situate the study in a larger conceptual and/or empirical context. What is the real question? You can take your lead from the ‘introduction’ section of the article, but note that you can disagree with the authors regarding the really important issues addressed in the article. This section should also include the hypotheses of the study.
The next section should describe what the researchers did. This description should highlight the design and procedure that are relevant for the results. Weed out irrelevant details.
Another section should describe what the researchers found. You should limit yourself to the critical findings that make the paper important and interesting with regard to your argument. I don’t expect you to understand the statistical analyses.
Next, you should describe why the researchers think their findings are important. What was their primary interpretation of the results? The final conclusion should include your own point of view. You might relate the method or findings to material you learned from lectures or other readings. You might criticize some aspects of the article or highlight some aspects that you think are important but that was not touched on by the authors. This is the section where we want to see the use of critical thinking skills so make sure it is not just a summary of the author’s points.
APA Format Paper Template: PSYC 2301 APA Summary Paper Template.docx
Actions
Example of APA Format Summary Paper: PSYC 2301 Summary Paper Example.docx
Actions
Requirements:
2-3 content pages (not including the title page and reference page)
Title Page
Reference Page
Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double-spaced, 1in margins
Must not contain more than one direct quote (using a direct quote is not required)
Each source must be cited in-text and on the references page
Cite ONLY peer-reviewed journal articles
Have no more than a 25% similarity score using TurnItIn
You may submit your paper as many times as you would like to check the similarity score. I will grade the last submission.
Once you submit your paper, after a few minutes you will receive a similarity score next to your submission, you can click this score to see exactly what is being highlighted by TurnItIn. Here is an example of what that would look like:
SUBMISSIONS MUST BE IN EITHER PDF, DOC, OR DOCX FORMAT
Rubric
Summary Paper
Summary Paper
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting style & mechanics
Standard grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage
(Based on Writing Center changes)
2.5 pts
Distinguished
No errors.
2 pts
Accomplished
1-2 errors
1.5 pts
Developing
3-4 errors
1 pts
Beginning
5+ errors
2.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUnderstanding
Stayed on topic, topic was relevant to the content of the course, all sections were addressed
2.5 pts
Distinguished
Clearly understood instructions and grasped concept of assignment.
2 pts
Accomplished
1-2 errors
1.5 pts
Developing
3-4 errors
1 pts
Beginning
Did not follow instructions.
2.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA Format
Based on these components: Entire paper is double-spaced with 1″ margins, 12pt font, Times New Roman, title page includes all format components, abstract page is formatted correctly, two level of headings are present and correctly formatted
2.5 pts
Distinguished
No errors.
2 pts
Accomplished
1-2 errors
1.5 pts
Developing
3-4 errors
1 pts
Beginning
5+ errors
2.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReferences and citations
Separate reference page titled appropriately, each reference includes all components in the correct format, listed alphabetically, hanging indents, minimum of 1 peer reviewed source from list, all references cited in text and vice versa, all in text citations correctly formatted.
2.5 pts
Distinguished
No errors.
2 pts
Accomplished
1-2 errors
1.5 pts
Developing
3-4 errors
1 pts
Beginning
5+ errors
2.5 pts
Total Points: 10
