“Family Dynamics and The Chapters of My Life” Paper
Due Sunday by midnight of week 3.
This month you are to write a 1200 word research paper on concepts covered in this class and how you see them related to your own family life. This paper is worth 20% of your grade. As you read the text and do research throughout the class make notes of family systems concepts that you see illustrated in your own family life.You may use some of the concepts in bold print in the Weekly Summaries. You will identify each concept and tell how it applies to your own family system. Please use the APA format and cite at least four (4) sources. I have guidelines on using the APA format and citing sources posted in Student Resources for you. Please submit your research paper into THE Dropbox called “Family Dynamics Paper.” Follow the directions below for a step-by-step process.
Assignment Requirements (Use as a checklist):
· Identify six or eight marriage and family concepts and explain how they apply to your own family system over the years
· Use a 10 or 12 pt Arial or Times New Roman Font
· Double-space paper
· Minimum of 1200 words. No more than 2,000 words
· Minimum of four (4) cited sources
· Use APA format and parenthetical citations right after cited material (See below)
· Make sure your name is on your paper
· Paper should contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion
Suggested Outline
Name on top right corner of page
Title centered 4 spaces under name
Introduction – 1st paragraph
A. Define concepts to be covered
B. Explain how you see these concepts in your own family
C. List the main concepts you are going to discuss in the body of the paper. Make sure to have at least 6. You need one paragraph in the body for each point you mention in this part of the introduction.
D. State thesis: purpose of paper. This is the last sentence of your introduction. (Ex: Since families play such a major role in our lives, it is very important to understand the theories and systems at work within them .)
Body – 2nd thru 6th or 8th paragraphs
A. The 2nd paragraph of your paper (or 1st paragraph of the body should discuss the first concept you listed in the introduction.
B. The next paragraph of your paper should discuss the 2nd concept you listed.
C. Continue in this pattern until you have addressed the concepts you listed.
Conclusion – Last paragraph
A. Restate your thesis or the purpose of your paper
B. Write about why this is important
C. Remember to make the conclusion similar in length to the other paragraphs.
Many students write a one or two sentence conclusion. Do not do that.
Grading Grid
Item Description
Percent
Grade
Correct definition of Concepts
10%
Statement of main points and thesis in introduction
5%
Properly indented paragraphs
5%
Content in introduction
5%
Content in body
40%
Content in conclusion
5%
Balance – paragraphs similar in length – about 150 words
5%
Organization – followed format (intro, body, conclusion)
5%
Spelling
10%
Grammar
10%
Total
100%
There will be a 20 pt. penalty for writing less than 1200 words on this assignment.
There will be a 10pt. penalty for each day the assignment is late. It is due Sunday, by midnight, of week 3.
There will be a 100 pt. penalty for plagiarizing. This means a 0. If in doubt, cite, cite, cite.
Last, but not least, if you have any questions, please ask.
Parenthetical (In-Text) Citations
A parenthetical (in-text) citation is when you place the source in parenthesis ( ) right after the sentence you cited instead of waiting until the end of the paper. It helps the reader to know exactly what sentences and paragraphs are taken from particular sources.
Place the author’s name and the source’s date of publication in parentheses immediately after the end of the cited material. If it is a direct quote, include the page number as well. For example:
“Psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes” (Coon, 2012 p. 12).
If you have paraphrased the information then you do not need to include the page number. For example:
Psychology is a scientific field that specifically studies both mental processes and the associated behaviors (Coon, 2012).
Helpful Tips
• Always use spell and grammar check
• Make sure you indented the paragraphs (5 spaces in)
• Balance – Each paragraph should be similar in length
• Review the APA video and resource in Student Resources under Course Home
• You can send your paper to the Keiser OWL (Online Writing Lab) for review and to ask for help.
A Quick Guide to Referencing Sources
Book
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.
Example:
Calfee, R. C., & Valencia, R. R. (1991). APA guide to preparing manuscripts for journal publication.
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of
book (pages of chapter). Location: Publisher.
Example:
O’Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men’s and women’s gender role journeys: A metaphor for healing,
transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp.
107-123). New York, NY: Springer.
Article from Library Database
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume
number(issue number), pages.
Example:
Harlow, H. F. (1983). Fundamentals for preparing psychology journal articles. Journal of Comparative
and Physiological Psychology, 55(3), 893-896.
Note – If the article can also be found in print you do no need to provide the database or online location.
If there is a doi # that should also be given at the end of the reference.
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number, page range. doi:0000000/000000000000
Example:
Brownlie, D. (2007). Toward effective poster presentations: An annotated bibliography. European Journal of Marketing, 41(11/12), 1245-1283. doi:10.1108/03090560710821161
Article in Online Journal
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Online Periodical, volume number(issue number if available). Retrieved from http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/
Example:
Bernstein, M. (2002). 10 tips on writing the living Web. A list apart: For people who make websites, 149. Retrieved from http://www.alistapart.com/articles/writeliving
Web Page
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Retrieved from http://webaddress.com
Example:
Cressia, L. L. (1997). Copyright and fair use: Future of fair use. Retrieved from
http://www.cas.usf.edu/english/walker/courses/fall97/concl.html
Web Page without Author
Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml
Online Lecture Notes or Presentation Slides
Hallam, A. Duality in consumer theory [PDF document]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ501/Hallam/index.html
Newspaper Article
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from
http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/
Example:
Parker-Pope, T. (2008, May 6). Psychiatry handbook linked to drug industry. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com
Graphics, Audio, or Video Files
CBS News. (2006). MLK Jr.’s legacy [Video]. Available from http://www.cbsnews.com
For files without titles, use the file name instead.
press-image4.jpg [Graphic]. Retrieved from http://universe.nasa.gov/images/press-image4.jpg
Online Encyclopedias or Dictionaries
Feminism. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/724633/feminism
Blogs
Bartow, A. (2006, March 26). Parody is fair use! Sivacracy.net. Retrieved from
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/siva/
Psychology Video Blog #3 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqM90eQi5-M
Interview, Emails, or other Personal Communication
No personal communication is included in your reference list; instead, parenthetically cite the communicator’s name, the phrase “personal communication,” and the date of the communication in your main text only.
(E. Robbins, personal communication, January 4, 2001).
Example of how this would be presented as an in-text citation
E. Robbins also claimed that many of her students had difficulties with APA style (personal communication, January 4, 2001).
Reference
Purdue Online Writing Lab. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
A Few Other Helpful Websites on Referencing Sources
· APA Online – Electronic Resources: http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
· The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Keiser is a great resource! -They will read and help you edit your papers.
· APA Power Point Presentation under the Course Home heading of your Student Resources
· The Writer’s Workshop: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/CWS/wWORKSHOP/writer_resources/citation_styles/apa/apa.htm
· Online Writing Lab at Purdue University: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
