Assignment Instructions

Writing Assignment: Issues in Sexuality: Scholarly vs. Popular Media

Due

Sunday midnight, at the end of the 4th week of class

Late papers will be penalized 10%

Course Objectives Addressed

LO 9: The student will be able to demonstrate awareness of the roles of multiple media formats in shaping cultural norms on sexuality.

Description of assignment

Issues in Sexuality: Scholarly vs. Popular Media

This assignment will help you explore the way a topic in human sexuality is covered in two very different sources: 1) a scholarly journal; and 2) a popular media source.

Instructions

Choose a topic on sexuality that interests you. Use the textbook as a guide in selecting your topic.

Find a scholarly article

Select an appropriate topic, and search the APUS online library databases to find an article from a “peer-reviewed” evidence-based scholarly journal.

If you have questions on appropriate types of articles, you can use the library tutorials or contact a librarian.

Summarize the scholarly article

Write a 300-400 word summary of the scholarly article you selected, including:

The hypothesis of the study (what was he author trying to prove or disprove?)

How the study was conducted, including:

The group of people researched and written about (colleges students? adolescents? the elderly? military members? sexual minorities? etc.)

The research method used (i.e. naturalistic observation, lab experiment, survey, etc.)

The results of the study, the interpretation of the data by the authors and any conclusions they include at the end of the article.

Find and summarize the popular media article

Find and analyze/summarize an article from the popular media that covers the same topic as the scholarly paper. Acceptable popular media sources include sources like:

Traditional newspapers

Magazines

Credible websites

Unacceptable popular media sources include:

Blogs

Wikis

Wikipedia

TV shows

Movies

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Tabloids (National Enquirer, etc.)

Write a 300-400 word summary and review of the popular media article.

Summarize the key points and include any information that identifies the group and the methods described.

Describe any conclusions drawn by the authors.

Critique (about 500 words)

Compare the article from Step 3 with the article from Step 4, addressing the following:

What do they have in common?

Other than visually, how are they most different?

What is the value for consumers reading each?

What are the cons associated with the way each presents the information?

Both sources can be important means of communicating information about your topic. Explain what is best about the scholarly approach and why, and what is best about the popular media approach and why.  Consider:

Reasons professors require students to use papers from peer-reviewed and professional organizations.

Reasons for studying sex formally instead of just learning about it from popular media sources.

Conclusion (about 500 words)

Conclude your paper. Include insights you gained from conducting the review, summary, and comparison of the two forms of information. You may comment on their relative interest to you or the average reader.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

General Writing Requirements

Total paper length should be 1500-2000 words.

Use appropriate APA formatting, in-text (parenthetical), and Reference citations. APA formatting guides are available in our class Resources link. APA tutorials are also available on the APUS Library page. If you’re not sure how to do this, take the APA tutorial available in the APU library.

APA formatting requires a separate cover page and a separate References page. Neither counts toward the word length.

Sources must be cited in the body of your paper (in-text or parenthetical citations) and on a page titled: References

Paraphrases should be used instead of quotes unless the quote is VERY short and necessary for complete understanding or to make a particular point. Place quotes inside quotation marks and properly cite them. Failure to correctly quote or cite, even if not intended is plagiarism and will result in a zero on the paper for a first instance and course failure for a second occurrence in any other assignment. Rewrites are not permitted for plagiarized work.

Double spacing is required.

Run a spelling and grammar check.

For library assistance with this assignment, please visit the course guide located here:

CHFD220 Human Sexuality | Course Guide  http://apus.campusguides.com/CHFD220

To find peer reviewed or popular articles on human sexuality go to http://apus.libanswers.com/a.php?qid=69187

Format

Word document with separate title page and reference list, not included in the word count

Length

1200-1500 words

Grading Rubric

Step

Possible grade

Student grade

Step 1: Summary of scholarly article

Primary characteristics, ideas and facts from the article were presented in a clear and easy to understand manner, summary is written in an objective manner per the assignment instructions.

15

Step 2: Summary of popular media article

Primary characteristics, ideas and facts from the popular media source were presented in a clear and easy to understand manner and the summary was written in an objective manner per the assignment instructions.

15

Step 3: Comparison/Critique of scholarly and popular media resources

A clearly articulated comparison of the scholarly and popular media sources was in evidence in easy to understand terms.

20

Step 4: Strength of Conclusion

There was a demonstration of a thorough knowledge of the two forms of information related to human sexuality and the pros and potential challenges associated with both.

20

Paper Format and Mechanics

Paper was well organized and easy to follow. Paper was the required length. Cover page, paper body, citations and Reference list were in the correct APA format.

20

Spelling and Grammar

Few to no spelling, grammar, punctuation or other writing structure errors

10

TOTAL

100

Submission

To submit your assignment, enter text in the Submission Text box below and/or attach one or more files and then click Submit. Save your work frequently.

Submission Text

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Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually.^[1][2] This involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors.^[3][4] Because it is a broad term, which has varied over time, it lacks a precise definition.^[4] The biological and physical aspects of sexuality largely concern the human reproductive functions, including the human sexual response cycle.^[3][4] Someone’s sexual orientation is their pattern of sexual interest in the opposite or same sex.^[5] Physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include bonds between individuals that are expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love, trust, and care. Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one’s sexuality, while spirituality concerns an individual’s spiritual connection with others. Sexuality also affects and is affected by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical, and religious aspects of life.^[3][4]

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

• Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
• Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
• One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
• I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

Weekly Participation

• Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
• In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
• Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
• Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

APA Format and Writing Quality

• Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
• Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
• I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

Use of Direct Quotes

• I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
• As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
• It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

 

LopesWrite Policy

• For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
• Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
• Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
• Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

Late Policy

• The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
• Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
• If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
• I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
• As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

Communication

• Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
  • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
  • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.