PSYC401-03 Final Paper Assignment (IN PLACE of final exam)
DATE DUE: Friday, May 13th in my inbox (mbp28@unh.edu) AND on SafeAssign by
10:00AM
Total possible points = 50
For this assignment, I would like you to focus on any of the units that we have covered in class this
semester.
YOU HAVE 2 OPTIONS – SELECT 1 OF THEM (Please let me know which option you select either at
the top of the paper or as part of your title)!
OPTION 1:
Pick any topic that you have written about for any of the first 3 papers, and expand on it.
By “expand on it” I mean that you should find more research pertaining to that topic and add to what you
have already written.
*IMPORTANT – I DO NOT want you to simply add more writing to what you have already handed in. I
want you to either approach the topic from a different angle/perspective than you had done previously, or
evaluate/argue a topic for which you previously submitted a summary of research (rather than an actual
argument). I want to hear your views on the topic that you select, but they must be supported with
scientific/research information (PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES). For example, if your
previous paper was simply a write-up about the treatment methods for ADHD, you can now use this
information to take a position about which treatment seems to work best and why. If you previously
submitted a paper arguing that the media has little influence on development, you can now expand on this
idea by presenting opposing data and arguing why your opinion is correct despite some evidence that
contradicts it (again, these examples are just suggestions of approaches that you can use to expand on past
research. You can take approach the assignment from many perspectives).
OPTION 2:
Act as a MythBuster! Research a psychology-related topic that you feel may be a myth/false belief, or
controversy, that exists in our popular culture, and either confirm or “bust it”. By this, I mean that you
should present your myth, and then find research data (PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES) that
either show that the myth is just a myth, or confirm that it is a true fact (and, therefore, not a myth at all!).
For example, if you are interested in the effects of hypnosis on memory, you can examine whether
hypnosis is actually effective in helping people remember real past events (or whether it is not as effective
as some may think).
Regardless of the option that you choose, your paper MUST:
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Be at least 5-7 pages long.
Use at least 5 peer-reviewed articles to back up your argument.
Contain an introduction and a conclusion paragraph.
Be cited in proper APA style.
5. Be submitted to SafeAssign on blackboard by 10:00AM on 05/13
*If you have any questions, feel free to come see me during my office hours or send me an e-mail.
Remember, you can also utilize the librarians or the UNH Writing Center!
*If you would like me to look over your paper (or any parts of it) before you submit a final version, email it to me no later than Monday (05/09) evening.
Directions for submission to SafeAssign:
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Under the PSYC401 Course on blackboard, find the Information link.
Click on the Paper Assignments folder
You will see a green box and check mark indicating the Safe Assign link.
Click on the link that says ‘View/Complete’ under it and follow the instructions.
*REMEMBER: If you fail to submit your paper to Safe Assign, 50% of your grade for that paper will be
deducted from your score!