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ChAD 164: Contemporary Parenting
Fall 2019
Due Date: November 26
Term Paper Requirements:
This requirement will allow students to explore an issue regarding parenting that is especially
interesting to them. When preparing their term paper, students will also face the challenge of
reviewing the literature independently and linking their independent work to the reading and
discussion done by the entire class. Since this is a research paper, personal examples or narrative
should not be included in the paper.
For this paper you will need review the theories and research on a topic in parenting (e.g., parents
and childcare, cultural differences in parenting, parental influence on peer relationships). You
will also include a research section on community services/interventions linked to this parenting
issue. This paper should be like reviews in major journals (e.g., Child Development), although
much shorter. You should outline the major theories, discuss important methodological issues in
the research area, review research findings, discuss community connections, draw conclusions,
and suggest directions for future research. Grading will be based on several criteria:
(a) Are the most important theories described?
(b) Are the strongest studies on the topic cited (i.e., recent studies- 2000s to the present- as well
as the most important)?
(c) Are the research findings integrated (or do you simply describe one study after another)?
(d) Did you discuss research involving community resources/services/interventions linked to your
parenting topic?
(e) Have you cited problems with the methods (how the researchers studied the topic or collected
their information) involved with the theories and research you discuss?
(f) Do the conclusions of the paper offer original and valuable insights about the topic?
You must integrate what you learn from your independent reading for the paper with what you
have learned in other components of this course. This integration must be shown in two ways.
First, you must refer at least once in your paper to statements in the textbook (or article from the
course readings) that relate to your topic. The textbook/reading must then be included in the
reference list (not included in your ten references). This is the only textbook that can be used for
the paper. The other sources must be journal or primary research sources (peer-reviewed).
Second, you must refer to at least one comment related to your topic that the instructor or other
students made during class sessions. Such comments should be considered personal
communication and cited using the format specified in the APA publication manual (and in your
Brief Guide to APA format posted to the course website). Remember, the focus of the paper
should be on parents/parenting- not on children. You should assume that the reader is a naïve
reader- do not make assumptions about common knowledge, so cite your sources appropriately.
Specifics:
The paper is to be 8 - 10 pages in length (it must be at least 8 full pages of text and no more than
10 pages). You are to double-space, use 12 point Times or Times New Roman font, and you must
have one-inch margins on all sides of each page. Page numbers are to be included on the upper
right hand corner of each page along with the running head title on the upper left corner of each
page. A minimum of 10 peer-reviewed references is required. Any additional sources must also
be peer-reviewed. The paper is to be clearly written so it is easy to read. Ideas are to be presented
in a way that they flow together. I should not be left wondering where sentences fit into the paper.
Grammar and spelling are very important and points are deducted for any errors. Overall, you
Term Paper, 164, Fall 2019
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will be graded on how well you write.
The title page and reference page should be in APA format (see APA guide and sample APA
pages). Specifically, any references you may use should be put on a separate page at the end of
your paper in APA format (title and reference pages are NOT counted in the 8 pages required for
this paper). You may choose to write an abstract, but it is not required and not counted in the page
requirements. A total of 3 points will be deducted for grammar and spelling errors and the paper
is worth 40 points with the bulk of the points assigned to whether you have met the criteria
specified. Late papers will be penalized 3 points for each day that they are late (including
Saturday and Sunday). Early papers are always accepted!!
Be sure to review the grading protocol when writing and revising your paper. In the past students
put a lot of effort writing papers- but lose significant points because they do not meet the paper
criteria.
Sections:
I. Introduction
• Introduce your paper and present some background information (what and how you plan
to discuss the issues in the rest of your paper).
• Discuss why this paper is important and describe the focus on parents and/or parenting.
• End this section by discussing the plan of the paper (e.g., First I will discuss…, Next, I
will discuss…).
II. Body
• Longest section of the paper, bulk of points are assigned here.
• Discuss the major issues involved with your paper (using lecture materials, outside
research articles, and your text/course reading).
• Present research-based evidence to support the issues as you discuss them.
• Must describe a research theory or explanation for the findings presented on your topic.
• Include research on community services/resources linked to this parenting issue (e.g.,
community interventions that have worked or not worked).
• Be as specific as possible. Provide details and examples of what you are discussing in
your paper and make sure your ideas flow from one idea to the next.
• Critique the studies (methodological issues) - provide criticisms of the way the data was
collected or limitations of the research you found (e.g., did not use a diverse sample,
research focuses on only mothers).
• Keep the focus on parents and parenting (not children).
III. Summary and Conclusions
• Summarize the major points in your paper.
• Make some conclusions about your assignment and discuss how you came to these
conclusions.
• Summarize the findings of your paper and discuss whether or not your views coincide
with the data or information that you have presented.
• Suggest areas for future research (these suggestions should be carefully thought out- not
“more research needs to be done”).
Using References and Citing Sources in the Paper:
An important portion of the paper is learning how to find and appropriately cite research sources.
• Spend some significant time searching for a solid set of sources and be sure to ask for
help in this essential first step if you need it (check out the library tutorial- Finding
Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Articles: http://library.sjsu.edu/video/finding-scholarly-peerreviewed-articles).
Term Paper, 164, Fall 2019
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You must always cite information that is not known to either you or the general public.
That is, any statement that you make as fact or information must be cited in APA format.
For example, the statement, “mothers do most of the care of young children” or “most
individuals choose to become parents” would need research citations in your paper.
You also should make sure your statements fit together and are not just listed (i.e., must
integrate your statements and ideas).
There is a .5 point deduction for every unsupported statement and un-integrated
statements made in your paper. These half points add up- so be sure to carefully cite your
sources, statements, and research information.
Note: these deductions may result in you earning “0” points in that section of your paper.
General Writing Suggestions:
PROOFREAD. You will improve your paper dramatically if you proofread. Look for spelling
and grammatical errors. Make sure you run the spell check program on your computer. But
remember, computer programs do not know the difference between “their” and “there”. So make
sure that you do! Also make sure the paper is understandable and clear. It often helps to have
a friend, parent, partner, etc., read your paper to see if they understand it or can find errors.
PLAGIARISM. If you are using someone else’s words use quotations and cite the source. Using
someone else’s ideas without giving them credit is also considered plagiarism, even if you put it
in your own words. So remember to cite the sources where you get your ideas. In addition, if you
turn in a paper or project that is similar to another student’s (i.e., in writing style and word
choice) or that you have used in another class that is also considered plagiarism! You will not
receive ANY points for the assignment and will be failed in the course if you plagiarize!
Check your syllabus or course catalog for the definitions of academic integrity at SJSU.
Be sure to include your paper preparation, and the grading protocol below with your hard
copy of the final paper.
Term Paper, 164, Fall 2019
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ChAD 164
Grading Protocol for Term Paper
POINTS
CRITERIA
________
Is the review of theories and research on a topic focused on parents or
parenting? (2 points)
- Focus on important points and choose issues most important to your topic
________
Introduction (e.g., describe specific plan for paper- first I will discuss….)
Provide background information on your topic. (4 points)
________
Are the most important theories or hypotheses described? Have you discussed
(not simply listed or stated) various theories or hypotheses (i.e., explanation of
your topic) related to your topic and outlined the highlights of those theories or
hypotheses. (4 points)
________
Are the strongest studies on the topic cited (i.e., recent and most important)?
Discuss important methodological problems (e.g., critiques with the studies,
limitations) involved in the research articles (not simply listed or stated). Be sure
to describe how the studies are related to your topic. (8 points)
- Report the scientific research accurately and support your claims (.5
point deducted for each error)
- Use only peer-reviewed publications (at least 10) and research-based
sources
________
Are the research findings integrated (or are you just listing one study after
another)? You will need to review the findings and connect the studies to one
another in relation to your topic. Describe what the findings mean for your topic.
(8 points)
- Demonstrate critical thinking about the research, address the issues,
and identify key findings
- Describe and integrate research on parenting/community intervention
or resources (using peer-reviewed article tied specifically to your topic)
________
Do the conclusions of your paper offer original and valuable insights about the
topic? Describe the conclusions you have drawn and suggest directions for
future research. (5 points)
________
Meaningfully refers to statements in the textbook/reader AND at least one
comment made in the class about or related to your topic (Cite both). (4 points)
________
APA and page format, grammar, and spelling (5 points)
- Between 8-10 pages, typed, double-spaced
- Use of APA format and follow paper guidelines
- Proper writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
________
Late penalty (2 points per day deduction)
- Late submission to Canvas
- Late hard copy to instructor
________
Total (out of 40 points)
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