This assignment provides you an opportunity to explore in detail a topic of your choice in the general field of Adult Development, and write a reasonably in-depth paper on the topic. Ensure you clear your topic with me before Session 5 ends (i.e., 5 points).
Please select a topic that you feel passionate about and want to learn more about through research. Remember topics need to be cleared by me before you begin writing.
The research paper should be 8-10 pages including the front page and references page (minimum of 8 full pages, and maximum of 10 full pages). Your research paper must be written in APA format. An abstract is essentially a 50-75-word summary of your entire paper. The references page should be the last page of the paper. Thus, the research paper should contain, in order, Title page (1 page), the Abstract (1 page), Body (5-7 full pages), and the References page (1 page).
You are expected to do independent research for this paper, and to cite the necessary references. The research paper must have at least SIX reasonably up-to-date (less than 15 years old) citations beside your text (if you cite the text). It is important to note that the most current and accurate information in psychology, including Child/Adolescent Development, is NOT found on the Internet or in books; the most current and accurate information is found in professional journals. THEREFORE, OF THE SIX REFERENCES YOU ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE, AT LEAST FOUR MUST BE FROM CURRENT PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNALS (note that newspapers, newsletters, and magazines such as “Psychology Today,” “Time,” “Newsweek,” or “Christian Parenting” ARE NOT professional journals). You are encouraged to use the library/Ebscohost databases for your literature search.
If you cite a book, ensure you provide a full reference for the book, and, in addition, GIVE THE LIBRARY WHERE YOU OBTAINED THE BOOK at the end of your reference. If you use the internet to obtain information, be aware that your internet sources MUST BE PROPERLY ANNOTATED. That is, material from the Internet which is not accurately and properly described, and cited is not acceptable as a reference. At the very least, you should be able to say who produced the page, give some date/time information about the information (when the information was published; NOT when you accessed it), and be able to say something about its accuracy/value. If not, beware! You will lose marks.
Among other factors, marking will take into account: clarity of thought and writing, quality of insight and understanding, grammar and spelling, correct citation for references and compliance with the following APA format. You are encouraged to visit the following site to help with writing your research paper. Please view the URL: “Basics of APA Style Tutorial” http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/index.htm (Links to an external site.)
You are also encouraged to visit & utilize the ‘Purdue Online Writing Lab’ below for additional writing support: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ (Links to an external site.)
*Please, include references and cite sources in APA format.
*You may Not use more than three direct quotes (the Exact words of the author) in your writing.
*For this final paper, please do not reuse your previous work (If the old paper or parts of the paper is submitted again, Canvas will be able to find the match and flag it as possible plagiarism).
*Final paper must be submitted in Canvas.