The assignment for both your papers is simple (to state, not to implement!): Make and defend some interesting and substantive point about the human mind and brain. The point should be general enough to be relevant to a number of the topics we've discussed this semester and you should back it up by including evidence from a variety of the papers we've read (e.g., don't just write a paper about neglect). The goal is to help you integrate and consolidate much of what you've learned. Your papers should be typed, double-spaced, in 12-pt Times Roman font with 1 inch margins on all 4 sides and they should be 4-6 pages in length. The first paper will count 20% of your final grade and the second paper will count 30%. You should obviously choose different topics for the two papers!
Writing a good paper is very difficult. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to research your topic, organize your thoughts, plan your paper, write a draft, and revise your draft. Do not make the mistake of sitting down at a word processor the night before the paper is due and trying to come up with something! Instead, plan to spend a few hours researching and thinking about your topic before you commit any words to paper. Go back through the readings jotting down points that are relevant to your topic and noting evidence that you might include (both pro and con). Make an outline of your argument. Try to think of the major arguments against your point of view and consider how they affect your position. Once you've written a draft, put it away for a little while and then reread it with a critical eye being honest about its shortcomings. Revise it. Revise it again.
Grades will be based on the following criteria:
Topic: Is the topic interesting and substantive? Is it relevant to a number of topics we've discussed in class?
Argument: Is the argument compelling? Does it consider (and cite) all the relevant evidence that we've covered in class (including evidence that is problematic for the argued position)? Does it consider alternative points of view and provide a reasonable basis for preferring the argued position? Does it make any claims without substantiating them (if it's not obvious, this is not a good thing!)?
Writing: Is the paper clearly and appropriately organized (does it tell a compelling story)? Is the writing style clear, direct, and concise (specifically, does it follow the suggestions in Strunk & White's Elements of Style)? Is it grammatical and spelled correctly? Does it include a list of references providing full citations for all the papers cited? Does it conform to the specifications of length, typeface, etc.?
Here are some potential topics for the first paper just to get you thinking. Feel free to choose one of these, to choose a variant of one of these, or to choose an alternative topic of your own. I'm also happy to provide feedback about topics you're considering; just drop me an Email or come by my office hours (Tue 9-11 in 4428E East Hall).
What role does previous knowledge and experience play in perception?
Why is the brain's organization modular?
How do different features of a stimulus interact in perception?
Is what we consciously perceive an accurate reflection of the world?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of studying brain-damaged patients as a means of learning about the normal functioning of the brain?
Does brain-damage make you a different person?
Does the fact that brain damage can selectively impair cognitive processes that are learned in school (e.g., reading, math) imply that school-age experience can qualitatively change the brain?
Are feelings of fear, depression, and obsession anything more than physical processes?