ADHD
Section I: Introduction
This section should provide a general introduction to the topic as well as an overview of the background and history of the disorder. Further, it should provide a succinct thesis statement of the purpose and overall direction of the paper. For instance, if your paper will have a large focus on the role of particular neurotransmitters in the etiology of the disorder as a rationale for treatment options, you should indicate this in the introduction. Finally, this section should provide demographic data that indicates the prevalence of the disorder in both general and specific populations.
Specific required components of the Introduction:
- Succinct thesis statement (one or more sentences detailing the focus of your Final Project and informing the reader about your topic and the scope of your paper)
- Define the type of disorder
- Neurological
- Psychological
- Neuropsychological
- Diagnostic criteria
- What components must be present for the disorder to be diagnosed?
- Include physical and psychological signs and symptoms.
- Reason(s) why you chose this topic
- Personal experience
- Professional experience
- Other reason
- Epidemiology
- Who is affected?
- Are they young/old?
- Male/female
- Rural/urban
- Ethnicities
Section II: Discussion
Here, you will expand upon the main aspects of the disorder and provide details relating to the disorder and its management. This section should provide specific and detailed information (Reminder: All statements of fact require an in-text citation). Cited/referenced sources should be used to support your analysis of the components of the discussion.
Specific required components of the Discussion section:
- Detailed description of the disorder
- Signs and symptoms
- Epidemiology
- Any subtypes of the disorder
- Detailed description of the natural history of the disorder
- How the disorder develops over time with treatment
- How the disorder develops over time without treatment
- Methods used to diagnose, evaluate, and manage the disorder
- Initial diagnosis (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation, psychometric testing)
- Ongoing management (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation, psychometric testing)
- Risk factors
- Genetics
- Lifestyle
- Environmental factors
- Other causative factors
- Known
- Theorized
- Nervous system structures and/or pathways involved in the disorder (detailed information regarding the underlying pathology as it applies to these structures and functional pathways)
- Neurotransmitter(s) and receptor system(s) involved in the pathology of the disorder
- Current treatment options
- Drug (pharmacologic) therapies
- Nonpharmacologic therapies (including psychological and other therapeutic services)
- Type of care providers (e.g., medical, nursing, therapists)
- Type of healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, home, outpatient, nursing facility)
- Future areas of research
- Treatment options
- Evaluation and diagnostic methods for initial diagnosis
- Increasing knowledge relating to etiology and pathologic processes
Section III: Conclusion
Provide a concluding summary of your findings regarding your selected disorder. The conclusion is a summarization of information that has already been presented. Typically, if you mention something in the conclusion section of an academic paper, you should have already mentioned this aspect of the topic earlier in the paper.
Specific required components of the Conclusion section:
- The conclusion reaffirms your initial thesis statement.
- The conclusion may be one or more paragraphs. Use the material you have discussed in the paper to support the validity of your synthesis and elaborate on the theme of your paper.
Writing the Project
- Must be 10 double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined
- Must include a title page with the following:
- Title of paper
- Student’s name
- Course name and number
- Instructor’s name
- Date submitted
- Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
- Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
- Must include section headings, formatted according to APA style, to organize your paper. Each paragraph must have a minimum of three full sentences.
- Must include in-text citations for all statements of facts obtained through your research.
- Remember that direct quotes (identical phrases or sentences taken from a source) require in-text citations with appropriate formatting.
- Statements of opinion should be clearly stated as such, and include a rationale to support why you hold this opinion (e.g., personal or professional experience, your research findings).
- Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
- Must use at least six to eight scholarly sources that were published within the last five years, including a minimum of four peer-reviewed original research studies.
- In general, dictionaries and encyclopedias are not considered appropriate resources for academic writing.
- Must document all sources in APA style as outline
- Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined