PSYC 2130 Lifespan Development Psychology
Module 3 Research & Writing Activity (RWA 3)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Students are to view the free streaming video documentary Adult Under
Construction (2017, 52:20) on the MSCC Library Films on Demand website.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: Some students may consider some of the
language in this video to be objectionable. Students may request an alternate
video for this assignment by emailing the professor but must do so at least two
weeks (14 days) before the due date of the assignment.
Students may click directly on the hyperlink above or, alternately, may enter the
documentary title on the MSCC library Films on Demand website, using their
MSCC login and password if prompted to do so. If technical difficulty accessing
the video is encountered, students should contact the MSCC Library at (931) 393-
1670 or the D2L Help Desk at (931) 393-1510 or by email at D2LHelp@mscc.edu
2. After viewing the program in its entirety, students are to write an essay of a
minimum of one thousand (1,000) words in length addressing the two sections
described below. Points will be deducted if this length requirement is not met.
To earn the maximum points (100) for this writing assignment, both of these
sections must be addressed fully:
Section 1: Program Summary (50 points maximum)
In this section the student should provide, in their own words, a
reasonably detailed summary of the salient information presented in the
program.
Section 2: Analysis, Concept Identification, and Personal Reaction (50 points
maximum)
In this section the student should include the following:
1. The student’s analysis of the information presented in the program
including the correct identification of a minimum of three (3) concepts
(or theories or other relevant scientific information from the textbook)
presented in the video using correctly formatted in-text citations and
how viewing the video enhanced their understanding of those
Page 2 of 3
concepts (see Deliverables Completion Instruction and Examples
document in the Getting Started section on the Content page under the
Course Materials tab in D2L for in-text formatting instructions and
examples).
2. The student’s personal reaction to the information in the video.
Additional Instructions:
1. The student’s RWA should be typed single-spaced, pages numbered
consecutively, in 11-point Lato or Arial black font only and in one of the following
file formats: .docx (preferred), .doc, .pdf, or .rtf. If assistance is needed with file
conversion, please contact the D2L Help Desk.
2. Student’s full name, course name, and RWA number should be on the first page
at the top left. Pages should be numbered consecutively.
3. No sources beyond the video and textbook are necessary to complete the RWA
assignment. A corresponding correctly formatted reference (source) for each intext citation in the RWA must be listed under a heading titled References at the
end of the RWA. Most commonly the reference will be the textbook (see
Deliverables Completion Instruction and Examples document in the Getting Started
section on the Content page under the Course Materials tab in D2L for References
page formatting and examples).
4. Students should proofread and spell-check their RWA carefully before submission
as points will be deducted for errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and
grammar. Students may view these corrections on the Grademark tab in TurnitIn.
5. The student’s RWA should be uploaded to the designated folder on the
Assignments page in D2L by the designated due date on the Course Calendar.
Submissions by email attachment will not be accepted.
6. Late RWA submissions after the designated due date may still be uploaded to the
RWA folder. However, a late penalty of ten (10) points per day late will accrue
after grading.
7. When an RWA is received in the designated folder on the Assignments page, D2L
automatically sends the student a confirmation email that the RWA was received.
If this confirmation message is not received then the RWA was not correctly
submitted. The student bears the full responsibility for checking to ensure that
their RWA was submitted correctly.
Page 3 of 3
The TurnitIn Program:
Upon uploading to the designated folder on the Assignment page, all RWAs will be
automatically evaluated through the TurnitIn. The TurnitIn program generates a
Similarity Report that calculates the Similarity Index—the percentage of the content in
the student’s RWA that matches content in the database that is not the student’s
original work. This may take 30 minutes or more after submission to complete.
Students should view the TurnitIn Similarity Report for their RWA by clicking on
the colored box next to their submission in the folder. If the TurnitIn box is blue
or green, the Similarity Index is within acceptable limits. If the TurnitIn box is a
color other than blue or green, students MUST revise and resubmit their RWA so
that the box is blue or green. Students should look at all the highlighted content
in their RWA Similarity Report and remove or paraphrase that content. Using
direct quotations, even if correctly attributed, will elevate the Similarity Index. For
this reason, students should avoid using direct quotes and always paraphrase the
information in their own words.
Students are encouraged to seek assistance from the Writing Center at the MSCC
campus nearest to them if help writing the RWA is desired. Students may revise and
resubmit as many times as desired as long as it is received by the specified due date on
the printable Course Calendar. The grade will be based on the last submission.
A finding of plagiarism is determined only by the professor’s professional judgment
after examining the student’s paper. RWAs found to contain plagiarism will receive a
grade of zero and may subject the student to additional disciplinary actions including a
report to the Dean of the student’s academic misconduct and the assignment of a final
letter grade of F (Failure) for the entire course (see Academic Misconduct section on
Course Syllabus and Course Outline).
