Assingments % - Media Violence:

Your project must be submitted as a Word document (.docx, .doc). Your project will be individually graded by your instructor and therefore may take up to five to seven days to grade.

Be sure that each of your files contains the following information:

· Your name

· Your student ID number

· The exam number (found on the lesson assignment upload page)

To submit your graded project, proceed to the Graded Assignment page in this lesson. Follow the instructions provided to upload the file and submit it for grading.

Be sure to keep a backup copy of any files you submit to the school!

After your assignment has been graded, feedback will be available on the Graded Assignment page within the course. It will have an option to download the feedback from the instructor.

Objective

To successfully complete this course, you must write a research essay based on information found in your textbook, Psychology and Your Life, by Robert S. Feldman, and three outside sources. You’ll choose one of the three topics below and write an essay of six complete paragraphs for or against the question being asked. After presenting both sides of the debate, you’ll make three claims to support your thesis and convince the reader why your opinion is correct.

Topics

1. Media Violence: Does media violence cause violent behavior?

2. Eyewitness Testimony: Is eyewitness testimony reliable in the court of law?

3. The Opioid Epidemic: Are doctors who overprescribe narcotic pain medication causing the opioid epidemic?

Note: You’re to select only one topic for your paper.

Process

Your essay must include the following:

1. A title page

2. Introduction paragraph and thesis statement

3. Topic background paragraph that presents both sides of the debate

4. Body consisting of three claim paragraphs and supporting evidence

5. Conclusion paragraph

6. APA style reference page

The Title Page

The first page of your essay will be the title page. Provide the following information:

· The title of your research essay

· Your name and student ID

· “SSC130: Essentials of Psychology”

· Exam number

· “Penn Foster College”

· Current date

Formatting

Format your essay following American Psychological Association (APA) style using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Set your paragraph line spacing to 2.0, double-spacing. Use 1 inch margins. Include a header with a shortened title in ALL CAPS on the left and the page number on the right. In-text citations and the reference page must be in APA style. On this page list websites, journals, and all other references used in preparing the submission. Also include a cover page and in-text citations. For assistance with this project and APA in-text citations and references, please see the Biology page in the Penn Foster Virtual Library .

Remember that grammar counts! Be sure to reread, revise and proofread your essay for polished English grammar, spelling, capitalization, spacing, and mechanics.

Rubric

SSC130: Essentials of Psychology Research Essay Evaluation
Name: Student ID:	A	B	C	F
CONTENT • The student clearly stated his/her opinion on a chosen topic. • The student used at least three different sources and listed these sources on an APA-style reference page. • The student presented both sides of the debate. • The student wrote three claims to support the thesis. • The student cited evidence to support each claim.	70–64	63–58	57–50	49–0
GRAMMAR, SENTENCES, and MECHANICS • The student used correct grammar, spelling, mechanics, punctuation, and sentence structure. • The student formed six complete paragraphs.	15–13	12–11	10–9	8–0
FORMAT and LENGTH • The student’s title page contains all the required information (title; name and student number; course title and number; exam number, and current date) and includes a header with page numbers. • The student used Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced and 1-inch margins. • The student included APA style in-text citations and a reference page.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your SSC130 Research Essay

1. Understanding the Assignment

Objective: You need to write a research essay of six complete paragraphs based on the topic you select (from the three provided). The essay should present both sides of the debate, followed by three claims supporting your thesis. Your goal is to convince the reader of your opinion through credible evidence from at least three sources (including the textbook and outside sources).
Topics to Choose From:
- Media Violence: Does media violence cause violent behavior?
- Eyewitness Testimony: Is eyewitness testimony reliable in the court of law?
- The Opioid Epidemic: Are doctors who overprescribe narcotic pain medication causing the opioid epidemic?

2. Title Page

Required Information: Your title page should include the following:
- Title of your research essay
- Your name and student ID
- Course title and number: “SSC130: Essentials of Psychology”
- Exam number (can be found on the lesson assignment page)
- “Penn Foster College”
- Current date
Formatting: The title page should be formatted according to APA style, with the title centered on the page.

3. Formatting Your Essay

APA Style: Your entire essay must be formatted according to APA style:
- Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
- Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including the title page and reference page
- Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides
- Header: Include a shortened title (in all caps) on the left and page number on the right
- Citations: Use in-text citations where necessary and include a reference page formatted in APA style

4. Writing the Introduction Paragraph

Purpose: Introduce your topic and clearly state your thesis (your stance on the issue). The introduction should hook the reader, give some background information, and set up your argument.
Example: If you’re writing about media violence, your introduction might start by explaining how media violence has become a topic of debate and end with a clear thesis: “Although some argue that media violence influences violent behavior, research and analysis suggest that the connection is not as direct as often assumed.”

5. Topic Background Paragraph

Purpose: Provide background information on your chosen topic. Present both sides of the debate fairly and objectively. This helps your reader understand the broader context before diving into your specific claims.
Example: “Proponents of the media violence theory argue that exposure to violent content desensitizes individuals and increases aggression. Conversely, others believe that a variety of factors contribute to violent behavior, and media consumption is not a primary cause.”

6. Body Paragraphs (Claims and Supporting Evidence)

Purpose: In the next three paragraphs, make three claims that support your thesis. Each claim should be backed by evidence from your textbook and outside sources (at least three total). Use in-text citations for each piece of evidence.
- Claim 1: State your first claim and back it up with facts, statistics, or examples.
- Claim 2: Present your second claim and use evidence to support it.
- Claim 3: Offer your third claim and further justify it with research.
Example Claim: “Research by Smith (2019) shows that while violent media may influence aggressive thoughts, other psychological factors such as personal experiences and environment are stronger predictors of violent behavior.”

7. Conclusion Paragraph

Purpose: Summarize your argument and restate your thesis in light of the evidence you presented. Conclude by reiterating why your position on the topic is valid.
Example: “While the link between media violence and violent behavior remains a topic of concern, the evidence suggests that other factors—such as individual temperament and societal influences—are far more significant contributors to aggression. Therefore, focusing solely on media violence is an oversimplified solution to a complex issue.”

8. Reference Page

Required Information: List all the sources you referenced in your essay in APA format. This includes your textbook and three outside sources. Follow proper APA formatting for the reference page.
Example Reference: “Feldman, R. S. (2017). Psychology and your life. McGraw-Hill Education.”

9. Final Draft Submission

After completing your essay, be sure to:
- Proofread for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
- Ensure the essay is within the required length (6 paragraphs total).
- Double-check that your in-text citations and reference page are properly formatted in APA style.
- Submit your project as a Word document (.doc or .docx) to the appropriate submission page.

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Writing Your Research Essay for SSC130: A Step-by-Step Guide

By following these steps, you will have a structured and well-researched essay that clearly presents both sides of the debate and effectively supports your thesis with evidence. Good luck with your writing!