PSYC Human Sexuality
CURRENT EVENT PAPER
Students are tasked to write a 4-5 page paper on the current politics, policies, and general goings-on related to gender, race, and sexuality. While the paper should include a brief summary of the current event (1 page MAX), the bulk of the paper should include an application of current course concepts and analysis of the implications of such changes.
You will incorporate 3 peer reviewed journal articles and a reference page in APA style.
You can include non-scholarly sources, such as magazine, newspaper and web sources IN ADDITION to the three scholarly sources. You will need to use 3 scholarly journal articles in your paper.
The paper should include in-text citations and a reference page according to APA format.
You will be using APA format for your paper. *You do not need to include a cover page and abstract as you see in APA guidelines.
Fine Tuning:
4-5 pages (NOT including the reference page)
Reference Page
12 pt. font
Times New Roman
1’ Margins all around
APA Formatting
PAPER CONTENT:
What is the event? What happened? Explain in detail and answer all of the questions: wo, what, when, where, why, and how.
Next, give some history behind your event. What are some factors that may have led up to this event? Think about who or what is involved (a company, a country, individuals). Were there factors involved (political/social events, laws, etc) that were made or happened years ago that led through a chain of events up to this event happening?
Finally, write about why this event is important. Who will it impact? You will have to think about this. What will happen? You will have to think about everyone involved, what their role is, and what they might have to do to change things. Who will be impacted by this event? (HINT: PROBABLY EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.)
DEADLINE:
The paper is due by 5 pm date indicated on the syllabus. There is a “late penalty†of 10% if you turn your paper in 1 day late. Papers will not be accepted beyond that point without discussion with the professor.
TOPIC IDEAS:
Gender and topics related to it have always created a debate that never ends. Most people think of feminism and women whenever gender is mentioned. However, there is more to gender than focusing on inequalities between men and women. Some ideas to think about:
1. Masculinity and feminine norms: The society has dictated masculine and feminine roles and expectations. Anyone who strays from those norms is frowned upon.
2. Gender identity: There are so many topics in gender identity that students can focus on – gender roles, co-modification and advertisement. When it comes to advertising, men and women are assigned different roles. Women will be given roles that match the traits ascribed to them. The same case applies to men.
3. Sexual orientation: With the recent rising cases of lesbianism, gay-ism, same sex marriage and sexual reassignment, such concepts offer viable essay topics.
4. Gender expression and the social norms: Gender states that you are either man or woman. Anything outside the social norm is considered outcasts.
5. Gender role development: This is an important area when it comes to human development.
6. The male and female gender constructs: Cultural beliefs dictate that there are two biological sexes – male and female. There are a lot of stereotypes and ascribed associated with each gender.
7. The relationship between sex and gender roles: There is a correlation between the sex and gender roles of men and women as per the societal and cultural expectations.
8. Gender mainstreaming. This basically deals with ensuring that gender needs of men and women are met in a manner that is fair and just.
9. Changing gender roles: In the past, there were specific roles for men and women. However, the trends are changing.
10. Gender socialization process: The socialization process begins at birth and total compliance is expected from both genders.
11. Race, gender and ethnic groups: There are different expectations for different genders.
12. Family, marriage and gender roles: How families and marriage relate to gender roles
13. Gender roles and literature: How literature depicts women and men
14. Gender roles and sports: The different games and roles played by men and women
15. Infanticide: It is a gender issue that affects women
16. Political affiliations: The roles and positions of women and men in the political arena
17. Gender inequalities: Gender inequalities exist in all spheres of life.
18. Gender stereotypes: Gender stereotype is basically the overgeneralization of characteristics of a group based on their gender.
19. Professional inequalities: Women face inequality in their professional lives.
20. Gender roles and films: how do movie producers depict women and men and their respective roles?
SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES:
When searching the database for articles, do not type in whole sentences. Pick out key words in your assigned topic:
Nature vs Nurture on Personality Development of Separated Twins
Those will be your KEYWORDS to use when searching for sources: e.g., search Nature vs Nurture AND Personality AND Twins
Think of other terms that can be used to describe the event you are researching and try those also: e.g., Nature: Genes, Heritability; Nurture: Environment, Psychosocial Factors.
Be careful of words with multiple meanings, use alternate or additional words to clarify:
(e.g. Viking (Norse warrior); Viking (moon lander); Viking (football team); Viking (WCC Student newspaper)
You might need to search multiple times in a single database before deciding it does not have any useful articles.
Use the asterisk * to truncate words and widen your search. Child* will search for Child, Children, and Childhood.
Use quotation marks to keep phrases together: e.g., “Nature vs Nurture†e.g. “Nature vs Nurture†AND Twins* AND Personality or Nature AND Nurture AND Twins* AND Behavior or Environmental Factors AND “Personality Development†AND Twin*
Try your search terms in different combinations to get the greatest number of results
CITING YOUR WORK: