Paper Guidelines = 850 words / 3 ½ pages
*Written in APA 6th edition(American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences.
*Papers must be main body pages this DOES NOT include Title Page, Abstract and Reference page
*Must include Title Page, Abstract, and Reference page
*12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced
*1 inch margins
*Must include page header and running head at top of each page
*Sources need to be cited within paper and on Reference page
*Correct grammar and spelling
Grading Specifications
Main body 130 points
Title Page, Abstract, Reference page 5 points
Font requirements, 1 inch margins 5 points
Page header and running head 5 pts
Sources cited within paper 5 pts
Grammar and Spelling mistakes are separate from total paper points; each mistake is worth 2 points each.
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Paper Topics
Topic should be relevant to topics covered and discussed in the book and class, or any current events effecting families.
You can utilize newspapers, magazines, journal articles, documentaries, websites, and websites and information from organizations/associations related to support and/or research of topic.
Possible topics: dating, marriage, divorce, parenthood, sexuality, weddings, housework, balancing family and work, “family issues,” same sex marriage, infidelity, healing relationships after infidelity, step-families, family stressers, the unintended impact of family policies, the role of government in family size and behaviors, or impact of gender-related family traditions. Personal essays are welcome.
You are not limited to these topics. You may have a different topic that you are interested in or you may find something that interests you as we progress through class.
I encourage “thinking outside of the box.” If you are not sure about the topic you want to write about, ask me.
Reflect on what you learned, why it is significant and how it relates to key issues and topic(s) discussed in class.
Include personal thoughts, discoveries, perceptions and responses you have regarding the topic
Anything you found interesting
What you learned
How your thoughts/ideas/judgments may have changed
How it personally impacts you (if it does)
What message about families, marriage, gender roles, etc. does it send?
What are values being presented
How do you feel about the topic and/or message? Agree or Disagree?
Do you find the topic, issue, message or etc. positive or negative?
Speak from personal experience or opinion in your writing. In most every paper authors should be coming to their own conclusions about the data, information or topic. And certainly there are contexts (such as, say, a personal essay or reflection paper) in which drawing upon your own experiences and knowledge is even encouraged.
Personal Essay/Reflection paper In a personal essay you can write about personal experiences and/or events that have affected and/or changed you and/or your family, past event that have been turning points in your life, or personal ideas/opinions/ perceptions about family and/or family values/issues affecting family.
***If you write a personal essay, you will cite yourself as you would cite an interview, both in the body of the paper and Reference page***
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APA Format Guidelines
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html
http://www.apastyle.org
Personal interview/experience
For interviews, letters, e-mails, and other person-to-person communication, cite the communicator’s name, the fact that it was personal communication, and the date of the communication. Do not include personal communication in the reference list.
Snowden, K. (2017, December 24). Personal experience
