Student Learning Outcome (SLO) #5: Demonstrate clear and effective writing in APA style

REFERENCING – 25% of Paper Score

Applies APA format referencing to review psychological topics, develop hypotheses, and support assertions and interpretations

Alignment: Effectiveness and APA Style

Writing demonstrates appropriate use of reference material to introduce, develop and defend ideas: references are properly formatted in the narrative with complete references to all cited sources in an APA formatted reference section

Writing usually uses reference material to introduce, develop and defend ideas; references usually show proper APA formatting in the narrative and reference section; references in the narrative nearly always correspond to those listed in the reference section

Writing inconsistently uses reference material to introduce, develop and
defend ideas; references sometimes show proper APA formatting in the narrative and reference section; references in the narrative do not always correspond to those listed in the reference section

ORGANIZATION – 25% of Paper Score

Ideas, topics, sections and paragraphs are sequenced to facilitate understanding by the reader; writing incorporates appropriate use of APA pagination, headings and sub-headings

Alignment: Clarity and APA Style

Writing shows a cogent sequence of ideas that facilitates reader understanding; APA format headings and sub-headings are used to organize topics within sections; research reports incorporate APA format sections, headings, page numbers and running headers

Writing generally sequences ideas to facilitate reader understanding; APA headings and sub-headings are usually used to organize topics within sections; research reports usually incorporate APA format sections, headings, page numbers and running headers

Writinginconsistentlysequences ideas to facilitate reader understanding; APA headings and sub-headings are sometimes used to organize topics within sections; research reports sometimes incorporate APA format sections, headings, page numbers and running headers

HYPOTHESISDEVELOPMENT – 25% of Paper Score

Psychological literature is critically reviewed to develop a hypothesis that can be investigated with additional literature or be empirically tested