Final Paper:
Each student will produce a final paper due during Week 11 of the term, on a topic pre-approved by Week 4. In general, the paper must relate to a discussion, topic, issue, or theory that we covered in class or read about in the text. The paper is a challenging assignment, but the step-by-step requirements are organized so that you can get the feedback you need to get a good grade, and so that you will be unable to procrastinate but will instead begin working on it early in the quarter and continue to progress throughout the quarter.
Papers are required to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the current state of the research in your chosen topic. A broad, general paper about basic areas of forensic psychology is not adequate. Rather, it must address a specific issue that is currently being developed or investigated in this field. For example: “The Death Penalty” (inadequate); “Changes in the Admissibility of Expert Testimony Since Daubert” (excellent).
A superior paper demonstrates breadth and depth of knowledge, and critical thinking appropriate for doctoral-level scholarship. The paper must follow APA Publication Manual guidelines and be free of typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors. I expect a minimum of 18/maximum of 25 pages of text, not counting title page, abstract, or references.
References: You must support every statement made in a scholarly research paper with a reference. Be very cautious when stating your opinion or using terms suggesting absolute facts or values, as these MUST be supported by references. Note that textbooks, including our course text, are composed of information from many other sources (see the reference section in our assigned textbook). With this in mind, I expect an adequate number of appropriate references. A good “rule of thumb” would be to include approximately three pages or more of references in APA style.
Please note that you are to use primary sources. Peer-reviewed journal articles should make up the bulk of your references (90%). If referring to a book, be sure to include all information in APA style, including specific page numbers. Note that an article referred to in a book is a secondary source. More on this topic is available in the APA Publication Manual and in the Walden Writing CenterLinks to an external site.. Also see “Policies on Academic Honesty” in the Syllabus, Part II, Walden University Policies and Information. Plagiarism, including slightly-paraphrased material when the citation is correct, will not be tolerated.