Any topic (writer’s choice)

Select one topic from either Ch. 11 or 12 that you would like to learn more about.  Next, either visit the LibGuides link to the left to get to the CCP library databases or log on to My CCP and navigate to the  library link.  You can also use Google Scholar if you can find full-text articles there.
Locate  2 scholarly articles based on your topic and read them, thoroughly.  Using your textbook and these 2 articles, write an essay that is structured with an introduction & thesis, body, and conclusion.
The intro. paragraph should be fairly short, concise, and direct; 4 to 5 sentences at the most.  Its goal is to directly introduce your reader to your topic as succinctly but broadly as possible. Your very first sentence should directly name your exact phenomenon under investigation and explain why the issue is urgent or important, not some generic idealistic statement (ie., parents are critical to child development is both obvious and unnecessary).  The intro. should end with a direct thesis that tells your reader the main goal, objective, or components to your essay.  For example, are you trying to persuade the reader about something or communicate information about a topic? 
The body paragraphs of your essay should synthesize the information you gained from your textbook and 2 scholarly articles.  Be sure that how ever you decide to structure your essay supports the thesis you develop.  Also be sure you in your discussion of the scholarly articles that you include information about their methods: how did they do their study (think back to ch. 1 and the types of research methods presented).
End with a conclusion that sums up what you presented.  You can also discuss questions that are still unanswered and/or the direction future research needs to take.