18 Dec PSY 540 Short Paper Guidelines and Rubric
Twice during this course, you will assume the role of a psychology professional in an applied setting and apply theories to suggest solutions to contemporary problems through a short paper. The purpose of these papers is to help you identify gaps in and propose improvements for professional disciplines based on the strengths and limitations of human cognitive systems while assessing foundational theories of cognitive psychology for their relevance to real-world issues.
Short papers should be approximately 3 to 5 pages in length and should be directed toward someone with limited or no background knowledge of psychological concepts or terminology. Because of this, you will want to explain relevant terms and concepts as you work through your paper. Be sure to use proper APA formatting and citation.
Your paper should include all of the following elements:
- An explanation of two theories to support the paper and how they connect to the applied setting
- An explanation of concepts and terminology appropriate for someone with limited or no background knowledge of psychological concepts
- An application of actionable steps to improve cognition
What to Submit
12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, APA-formatted citations for all sources used, and appropriate sentence structure. The paper should be 3 to 5 pages, not including references.
Short Paper Rubric
| Criteria | Proficient (100%) | Needs Improvement (85%) | Not Evident (0%) | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theories | Explains two theories to support the paper and directly connect them to the applied setting | Explains two theories to support the paper but does not directly connect them to the applied setting, or theories are incorrectly applied | Does not include theories to support the paper | 35 |
| Concepts and Terminology | Explains concepts and terminology using language appropriate for someone with limited or no background knowledge of psychological concepts | Explains concepts and terminology, but does not use language appropriate for someone with limited or no background knowledge of psychological concepts | Does not explain concepts and terminology | 20 |
| Application | Applies actionable steps to improve cognitive function | Applies steps to improve cognitive function, but steps are unrealistic and not actionable | Does not apply steps to improve cognitive function | 30 |
| Articulation of Response | Uses appropriate sentence structure and APA format and citations | Sentence structure and improper APA citations make the paper difficult to follow | Does not provide a readable paper | 15 |
| Total: | 100% |
