PSY 314: Final Project Guidelines and Grading Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a presentation in which you will explore one topic area in depth, focusing on a particular disorder of childhood
and adolescence, including the current known causes and effective interventions. You will also present your conclusions on best practices in prevention and
intervention for this particular disorder. You will want to consider what role environment and genetics play in the lives of those with this particular challenge. As
you weigh the most effective treatments of this disorder, consider how both research and public opinion influence which treatment option is ultimately selected
by caregivers and mental health professionals.
Please note: This presentation will not be graded on the basis of the position you hold. Rather, it will be judged in terms of the thoughtfulness put into the
subject matter, the amount and quality of information learned from researching the issue, critical thinking regarding the issue, and quality of the presentation.
The final product represents an authentic demonstration competency because students will integrate their own values and beliefs into their research.
No matter how extensive the research or accurate the conclusions, a weak presentation can undermine an argument. A presentation is a tool for assisting in
making an argument. When creating presentations, you will develop skills in researching an issue, synthesizing the information, organizing data logically, and
presenting findings in an effective manner.
Principles of an Effective Presentation:
 Consider your presentation from the perspective of your audience prior to selecting a specific style. Distracting backgrounds, large blocks of text, all
uppercase fonts, elaborate font styles, grammatical errors, and misspellings are distracting. Be consistent with the style of text, bullets, and sub-points to
create a powerful presentation that allows your content to be the focus.
 Each slide should include your key point(s). Do not place large blocks of text on the visual. Your presentation is not a means of presenting your short
paper, but should be thought of as a presentation you might present at a convention of your peers. In an actual presentation you would not “read” from
your slides but rather use them as prompts.
 Any notes or narration you would use in delivering this presentation to a group should be listed in the “notes” section of the slides.
 References should be listed at the bottom of the slide in slightly smaller text.
 If you wish, use clip art, AutoShapes, pictures, charts, tables, and diagrams to enhance but not overwhelm your content.
The project is divided into four milestones and a final submission, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and
ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Module Two, Module Three, Module Five, and Module Six. In Module Seven, you will
submit your final presentation. In Module Eight, you will review and respond to the presentations of your peers.
This assessment will assess your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:
 To assist students with developing a deeper understanding of abnormality in children and adolescence
 To develop an in-depth understanding of the specific disorders of childhood and adolescence including: the behavioral disorders, emotional disorders,
and developmental disorders
 To refine skills of observation and critical analysis
 To understand the current issues, classic research, and future directions of the field of child and adolescent disorders
 To further develop students’ research skills involved with observation and case studies
 To refine students’ professional level writing skills re: case reports, observations, and papers
 To develop the skill of avoiding one’s preconceptions, thus not impeding critical thinking and allowing deeper levels of learning
 To comprehend multiple perspectives on abnormality and how each perspective complements the others
 To develop an increased awareness of self, others, and the world
 To instill an understanding of ethical behavior as it applies to the field with applications to ethical living in our modern world
 Think developmentally about psychopathology as it sometimes develops during childhood and adolescence periods
 Recognize and express an understanding of specific psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence
 Explain your understanding of the scientific method as it applies to research of psychopathology with children and adolescents
 Define and explain related psychological terms
 Demonstrate critical thinking skills through detection of correct and faulty applications of psychological principles and theory
 Demonstrate critical thinking skills through evaluation of different perspectives of psychopathology
 Demonstrate critical thinking skills through demonstration of a reflective, methodical application of the material learned in class to a case observation
and evaluation
 Recognize and express an empathic understanding and appreciation of the complex and culturally diverse nature of humans utilizing a cultural
perspective
 Express a basic understanding of future trends and directions related to child and adolescent psychopathology
 Demonstrate your understanding of the APA Ethical Code with application to this area of study
 Demonstrate information competency through personal computer skills: word-processing, research, email
 Demonstrate information competency through writing skills using APA format
 Demonstrate information competency through Gathering information from reputable sources: journals, reference materials, media information,
electronic and traditional databases
Prompt
Your presentation on a specific topic related to childhood disorders should contain 10 to 15 visually appealing slides that address the following critical elements:
I. Define Your Position:
a. What is the topic? Provide an overview of the disorder. What are the causes and symptoms, and how is it diagnosed?
b. What is your thesis-driven argument regarding the topic?
c. What logical and appropriate assertions support your topic?
d. What precisely selected research can be referenced to support your assertions, and vice versa?
II. Evaluate Issues, Challenges, Problems, Treatments, Opportunities, and Solutions:
a. Describe issues related to the topic—misdiagnosis, over-diagnosis, stigmatization, etc.
b. Analyze challenges posed to children or teens, and their families.
c. Assess additional problems associated with the disorder (without yet devising solutions, for that is to come).
d. Describe treatments and methods of care available.
e. Analyze opportunities for caregivers.
III. Conclude With the Most Up-to-Date Research:
a. Identify the most recent understanding of how to move forward regarding the topic.
b. Describe what can be done now.
c. Estimate what will hopefully be learned in the future.
Milestones
Milestone One: Final Presentation Topic
In task 2-2, you will submit a proposed final presentation topic. The topic discussion should be one page (two to three paragraphs) in Microsoft Word that
identifies a specific topic on childhood disorders, defines your particular position (thesis), and summarizes how you may address the topic and position. This
milestone will be graded using the Milestone One: Topic Guidelines and Rubric.
Milestone Two: Bibliography
In task 3-2, you will compose your initial bibliography in APA style. Write annotations for at least two of your resources. Because writing annotations helps you
clarify which resources will be most useful to you in your presentation, you might want to write annotations for all of your resources, but make sure you write a
minimum of two. Remember, this is an initial list of resources. As you get deeper into the research, you may find you need additional resources. This milestone
will be graded using the Milestone Two: Bibliography Guidelines and Rubric.
Milestone Three: Final Presentation Outline
In task 5-3, you will submit an outline and an updated bibliography of six to eight references in APA style for your final presentation. Your outline should be a 2-
to 3-page Microsoft Word document (not including the bibliography) that will capably translate into 10 to 15 slides in your PowerPoint presentation. Begin by
composing a thesis-driven argument regarding the topic, then support that argument with assertions, as well as research. Evaluate both the challenges of the
disorder—to the child and to caregivers—and also the opportunities for treatment. Conclude by summarizing the most up-to-date research regarding the future
outlook for the disorder. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Three: Outline Guidelines and Rubric.
Milestone Four: Critical Analysis Paper
In task 6-2, you will submit a critical analysis paper designed to help you clarify and develop your final thoughts on your topic before you create your
presentation. In this paper, you will provide an overview of the disorder and refine your thesis regarding the most effective intervention. You will then write a
critical analysis of the causes and interventions by critiquing the arguments and facts. Acknowledge which arguments are convincing according to your research
and explain why. Refute arguments that you believe to be inconsistent or illogical. This will help you clearly define your position and help you address the parts of
Critical Element (above) in your presentation. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Four: Critical Analysis Guidelines and Rubric.
Final Product: Final Presentation
In task 7-2, you will submit the final PowerPoint presentation of 10 to 15 slides on a specific topic related to childhood disorders. Note: You should also post
your final project presentation to the discussion topic in task 8-2 for peer critique. The presentation should be a complete, polished artifact containing all the
critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This milestone will be graded using the Final
Product Rubric (below).
Deliverable Milestones
Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading
1 Milestone One: Topic Two Graded separately; Milestone One: Topic Guidelines and Rubric
2 Milestone Two: Bibliography Three Graded separately; Milestone Two: Bibliography Guidelines and
Rubric
3 Milestone Three: Outline Five Graded separately; Milestone Three: Outline Guidelines and
Rubric
4 Milestone Four: Critical Analysis Six Graded separately; Milestone Four: Critical Analysis Paper
Guidelines and Rubric
Final Product: Final Presentation Seven Graded separately; Final Product Rubric
Final Product Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: The final project must follow these formatting guidelines: PowerPoint, 10 to 15 slides in total (not including bibliography), spacing
suitable to selected format for optimal communication of all critical elements, font chosen to best relay information clearly and effectively, images, charts,
graphs, etc. can be included but are not mandatory, citations in APA style.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Topic Meets “Proficient” criteria and
overview is comprehensive and
supported by skillfully selected
resources
Provides a clear and sufficient
overview of topic supported by
research
Overview of topic is insufficient,
unclear, and/or unsupported by
research
Does not provide topic overview 10
Thesis Meets “Proficient” criteria and
thesis is insightful, and skillfully
supported by research
Proposes an explicit and
effective thesis statement with
clear details to establish strong
argument central to topic
Thesis is unclear and/or
ineffective
Does not propose thesis 10
Assertions Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assertions are thoughtful,
astute, and well supported by
research
Logically and appropriately
articulates assertions to support
presentation topic and thesisdriven argument
Assertions are illogical,
inappropriate, and/or not
supported by research
Does not articulate assertions to
support topic or thesis
10
Issues Meets “Proficient” criteria and
presentation of issues related to
topic is insightful and well
supported with research
Accurately and thoroughly
presents issues related to topic
including misdiagnosis, overdiagnosis, and stigmatization
Presentation of issues related to
topic is inaccurate and/or
incomplete
Does not present issues related
to topic
5
Challenges Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis of challenges draws
conclusive insights
Accurately and effectively
analyzes challenges posed to
children or adolescents, and
their families
Analysis of challenges is
inaccurate and/or ineffective
Does not analyze challenges 5
Problems Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assessment is comprehensive,
insightful, and skillfully
supported by research
Effectively and logically assesses
additional problems related to
the topic
Assessment of additional
problems is ineffective and/or
illogical
Does not assess additional
problems
5
Treatments Meets “Proficient” criteria and
presentation is thoughtful and
thorough
Clearly and sufficiently presents
treatments and/or methods of
care available
Presentation of treatments
and/or method of care available
is unclear and/or incomplete
Does not present treatments
and/or other methods of care
10
Opportunities Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis is substantial and
detailed
Accurately, logically, and
sufficiently analyzes
opportunities for caregivers
Analysis of opportunities for
caregivers is inaccurate, illogical,
and/or insufficient
Does not analyze opportunities
for caregivers
5
Recent
Understanding
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
articulation of understanding is
insightful and well supported
with research
Clearly articulates the most
recent understanding of how to
move forward in relationship to
the disorder
Articulation of most recent
understanding related to
disorder is unclear
Does not articulate most recent
understanding related to
disorder
10
What Can Be Done
Now
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
conclusion of current
approaches to disorder is
insightful and well supported
with research
Effectively concludes current
approaches to disorder
Conclusion of current
approaches is ineffective
Does not conclude current
approaches
10
The Future Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assertions of future research
and knowledge are astute
Appropriately and logically
asserts possibilities of future
research and knowledge
regarding the disorder
Assertions of future possibilities
are inappropriate and/or
illogical
Does not make assertions of
future possibilities
10
Presentation/
Visual Appeal
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization, and is presented in
an easy to understand format;
shows visual creativity that
enhances understanding
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization;
visually appealing; images
enhance content
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
understanding of main ideas;
presentation lacks visual appeal
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas; visually unappealing
10
Total 100%