Essay Instructions: Assignment # 1 - Writing Guidelines
Topic: For this assignment, you will be researching a topic relating to prenatal development. You should pick a specific area that is interesting to you, and check to be sure it's mentioned in the textbook. Prenatal development includes everything from the moment of conception until the moment of birth, as well as any preconception issues that may affect development. Please check with me if you have a question about your topic.
Specifications: This paper requires the use of 4 - 5 double-spaced pages. At least 4 complete pages of text are required in addition to the title page and reference page. Black, 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font and 1-inch margins should be used. The assignment is to be submitted electronically, through the assignment link on Blackboard. It must be saved as a Microsoft Word document (.doc file) or in Rich Text Format (.rtf file). In all cases, professionalism demands accurate and appropriate form and observance of conventionally accepted rules of the language.
Sources: At least 3 professional or scholarly journals (also known as "peer reviewed") are required for your primary sources, in addition to using the textbook as a secondary source. Journal articles are accessible directly through the Virtual Library or through the following specific database links. See Search Tips below for suggestions on forming search queries.
EBSCO Academic Search Premier
EBSCO PsycARTICLES
ProQuest Research Library
When using these databases, be sure you click on the "peer reviewed" or "scholarly journal" limiter; that way you'll get only journal articles, rather than newspapers or popular magazines. This limiter as well as the limiter for full text appears below the search box in EBSCO and ProQuest. For more deatiled information about using EBSCO or ProQuest, click here and scroll down to ...Online Resources section.
Search Tips
1. Search for prenatal development either as: (results will be many and different)
a. a phrase (“prenatal development” – quotation marks required) or
---search engine is forced to look only for the 2 words appearing together.
b. two separate words (prenatal and development – and is required).
---search engine looks for both words but not necessarily appearing together.
2. Even better - search for a particular aspect of prenatal development, e.g. human.
Results will fewer but more relevant to what you want. Search query will be either
a. human and “prenatal development” or
b. human and prenatal and development
Please take advantage of the resources located under the Resources button to your left! There are links to the Virtual Library and website that give great tips, such as how to write in APA format.
Tone: This paper should be written in formal, college-level style. Do not use slang, colloquialisms, contractions, or first person pronouns. Students should not give their own opinions or discuss personal experiences or anecdotal evidence; the goal is to research and summarize the opinion of the experts on the specific topic.
Format: This paper should use APA format for the title page and reference page as well as for all in-text citations and final references of the resources used. When writing, be careful not plagiarize. Not sure what plagiarism is? Click here - Plagiarism - What It Is...
SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT:
Topic: Prenatal development
Sections: Title Page /Body of 4 – 5 pages / Reference Page
Sources: At least 3 professional journal articles as your primary sources of information, and the course textbook as a secondary source.
Details: Formal, college- level tone
Assignment # 1 - Grading Criteria
Breadth and Depth of Content = 65% *Plagiarized material will receive 0 points
Outstanding
88 - 97. 5 points
Expected
60 – 87 points
Unacceptable
0 – 59 points
Demonstrates understanding of the topic or issues-Terminology is appropriately used and explained-
Shows only partial understanding of the topic or issues-Terminology is used incorrectly or is not explained-
Demonstrates little understanding of the topic or issues-Terminology is incorrect, unclear, or absent -
Good support for all points with clear reference to approved sources
Provides insufficient support or doesn't fully reference sources
Limited support or use of personal or anecdotal evidence
Writing Organization = 25%
Outstanding
33 - 37. 5 points
Expected
26 – 32 points
Unacceptable
0 – 25 points
Material is organized, cohesive, and communicates the content clearly
Material is not clearly organized
or is presented in inconsistently
Material is disorganized or haphazardly presented
Uses correct APA style -Correct quotations, title page, and reference page
1or 2 errors in APA-1or 2 errors in title page and reference page -1or 2 quotation errors
3 or more errors in APA style, quotations, title or reference pages, or any section is absent
At least 4 approved sources with accurate and complete citations
2-3 approved sources -
1or 2 errors in the citations or form
insufficient or unacceptable sources 3+ errors in the citations form
Mechanics = 10%
Outstanding
13.5 – 15 points
Expected
10.5 – 13 points
Unacceptable
0 – 10 points
Correct use of Standard English, grammar, word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling - Writing is clear and concise
1or 2 errors in grammar, word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling-
1 or 2 writing errors
3 + errors in grammar, word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling- lacks clarity, is awkward or confusing