Final Paper Topic
The purpose of this assignment is to show me that you comprehend how environment is relevant in causing and/or worsening the symptoms of a psychological disorder.
I would like you to choose one of the following psychological disorders with a specific subtype (if applicable):
Stress and Stress Related Disorders
Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive disorders
Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders
Personality Disorders
Sexual and Gender Disorders
Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
Mood Disorders and Suicide
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Neurodevelopemental Disorders and Disruptive Disorders
Eating, Sleep, and Elimination Disorders
Neurocognitve Disorders
*If you have a different disorder that is not mentioned that interests you, please see me.
The subject of your paper can be someone close to you (a family member or close friend, who has been or could be diagnosed with any of these psychological disorders) or, if you have struggled with any of these disorders, you can certainly use yourself as the subject. If you or someone close to you has not experienced one of the disorders studied, you may choose to write about a person from history or the media, or you may write about a made-up person with a specific disorder who meets the criteria of the assignment.
To show your understanding of the disorder and nature and nurture’s influence on it, I would like for you to discuss the following:
The following are critical:
Your paper must be saved and uploaded in Blackboard as a PDF file
This paper is worth a maximum of 100 points
The paper must be 4-6 pages (no less than 4 full pages; no more than 6 maximum).
It is due on the day of your final exam, by 11AM in blackboard or you may hand it in at the beginning of class. No late papers will be accepted unless turned in by 11:59PM the same day for a penalty of 20%.
I will be using Safe Assign in Blackboard to check for plagiarism. Don’t do it.
Most importantly, I will be docking points for poor spelling, particularly poor grammar, and generally poor writing. I will certainly appreciate papers that are free from all spelling errors. Do yourself a favor and not only use Spell-Check, but read and re-read your paper several times, checking for grammatical and spelling errors. I cannot emphasize this enough. It is also a good idea to have someone else proofread your paper. If you choose to hand in a hard copy of your paper, please know I will not be returning these papers to you unless you wish to provide me with an 8×10, double-stamped, self-addressed envelope. The papers will otherwise be shredded for confidential reasons after I grade them and apply any points earned to your final points.
Any questions you may have can be addressed to me via email: cpaterno@clcillinois.edu
Rubric:
10 points each for items 1-7 completed above (70 points)
30 points for grammar, spelling, organization, and overall writing quality
Papers will be handed in the day of the final exam. Late papers may be turned in through blackboard or via email the same day for at a penalty of 20%. You will lose 20% each additional day it is late as grades are due shortly after class ends.