Final Project Theory And Topic Selection

 

• Think about the final project topic you selected in Week 1.

Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in . It is a key mechanism of , the change in the   characteristic of a  over generations.  popularised the term “natural selection”, contrasting it with , which in his view is intentional, whereas natural selection is not.

 exists within all populations of . This occurs partly because random  arise in the  of an individual organism, and  can inherit such mutations. Throughout the lives of the individuals, their genomes interact with their environments to cause variations in traits. The environment of a genome includes the molecular biology in the , other cells, other individuals, populations, , as well as the abiotic environment. Because individuals with certain variants of the trait tend to survive and reproduce more than individuals with other, less successful variants, the population evolves. Other factors affecting reproductive success include  (now often included in natural selection) and .

Natural selection acts on the phenotype, the characteristics of the organism which actually interact with the environment, but the  (heritable) basis of any phenotype that gives that phenotype a reproductive advantage may become . Over time, this process can result in populations that specialise for particular  () and may eventually result in  (the emergence of new species, ). In other words, natural selection is a key process in the evolution of a population.

Natural selection is a cornerstone of modern . The concept, published by Darwin and  in a , was elaborated in Darwin’s influential 1859 book . He described natural selection as analogous to artificial selection, a process by which animals and plants with traits considered desirable by human breeders are systematically favoured for reproduction. The concept of natural selection originally developed in the absence of a valid theory of heredity; at the time of Darwin’s writing, science had yet to develop modern theories of genetics. The union of traditional  with subsequent discoveries in  formed the  of the mid-20th century. The addition of  has led to , which explains evolution at the molecular level. While  can slowly change by random , natural selection remains the primary explanation for .

Final Project Topics

Choose one of the following:

· Habits (their development and/or perpetuation)

· Risk-taking behavior

· Academic achievement (success and/or challenges)

· Post-traumatic stress disorder

· Healthy intimate relationships

· Group affiliations (e.g., religious, political, friendships, special interests)

· Pain management

· Occupational success and/or challenges

· Stereotypes (e.g., gender, racial, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status)

• Select two theories you will address in your final project.
• When selecting two theories, consider whether each theory could:
  • explain the origins and development of your topic
  • be used to develop strategies or programs to benefit human development relevant to your topic
  • address cultural differences or diversity considerations relevant to your topic
  • meet the characteristics of a good theory relevant to your topic
• Keep in mind that the theories you select might not meet all these criteria; you will discuss the strengths and limitations of the theories as part of your final project.ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

  Discussion Questions (DQ)

  • Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
  • Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
  • One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
  • I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

  Weekly Participation

  • Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
  • In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
  • Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
  • Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

  APA Format and Writing Quality

  • Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
  • Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
  • I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

  Use of Direct Quotes

  • I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
  • As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
  • It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

   

  LopesWrite Policy

  • For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
  • Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
  • Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
  • Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

  Late Policy

  • The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
  • Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
  • If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
  • I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
  • As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

  Communication

  • Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
    • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
    • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.