The final paper in PSYC 303 addresses psychosocial health concerns. This is the required final assessment for the course; per Davenport policies, a failure to submit the final assessment (including the accompanying presentation) will result in a failure of the course, regardless of total points accumulated to that point.
Topic:
This assignment consists of analyzing the psychological and sociological implications of a particular chronic illness affecting an individual and developing a plan to assist individuals/families in solving psychological problems that affect health care. Topic examples include: asthma, sickle cell anemia, obesity, Alzheimer disease, depression, autism, ADHD, AIDS, diabetes, depression, etc.
Research:
Your paper should incorporate a minimum of 5 scholarly sources in addition to the textbook. These resources may help with ensuring scholarly research. These are also found in the Davenport Online Library. You will be asked to login to Davenport to proceed:
Davenport Library How to Research Guide
Davenport Library Databases
The American Psychological Associations website may also be helpful to find articles: http://www.apa.org/.
Requirements:
APA-formatted Word document with an APA title page (the link takes you to a Google Doc template for an APA-formatted paper. Alternatively, you can also download a Word APA template.
4-5 pages minimum of text. The title and references page do NOT count toward this minimum.
A minimum of 5 outside, scholarly sources used. The text should be a 6th source.
The article and text cited properly in APA format
The following headings MUST be used and covered:
1. Introduction
a. Identify chronic illness
b. Historical overview
c. Frequency of disorder
d. Identify ethnic and/or gender differences
e. Describe symptoms of disorder
f. Research impact on individual and family
2. Causes of chronic illness/disease
a. Identify etiology of disorder
b. Identify any genetic predispositions
3. Identify and describe treatment options
Identify and describe appropriate treatment options that a health practitioner would implement when working with the patient and family members. Your suggestions need to be specific.
4. Conclusions
Rubric: 200 points possible
**The rubric is at instructor discretion. An essay that has major issues with grammar/spelling/readability or lacks APA format or citation of sources may lose additional points beyond the rubric points possible for those criteria.
200 pts total
Introduction
55 possible pts
Writing reflects a sophisticated understanding of the chronic illness, historical overview, frequency of disorder, symptoms of disorder, ethnic and/or gender differences related to the disorder and impact on family as supported by research and the textbook.
Causes of chronic illness/disease
35 possible pts
Writing reflects a sophisticated understanding of etiology of disorder and genetic predispositions. Information from textbook/research is incorporated into the paper.
Treatment Options
55 possible pts
Writing reflects a sophisticated understanding of the treatment plan. Paper demonstrates innovative thinking. Writer communicates perceptiveness in making insightful connections.
Information from textbook/research is incorporated into the paper.
Conclusion
15 possible pts
Conclusions are clear. Creates finality.
Clarity of Writing Grammar and Mechanics
20 possible pts
Writing is crisp, clear, and succinct. Writer incorporates an active voice when appropriate with supporting ideas and examples. No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors are made. Strong writing skills shown with respect to sentence structure. Sophisticated vocabulary, professional tone, hierarchical and logical organization.
APA Formatting
20 possible pts
Citation/reference and formatting for the paper followed APA format.
