Psychology Department Statement on Writing

One core value held by the Department of Psychology is the importance of effective writing. Our expectation for students in all Psychology courses is that written assignments be prepared according to accepted college-level standards for English usage, including grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and composition. That is, students will be expected to proofread, edit, and correct their own work in these areas prior to submitting assignments for grading and evaluation. Examples of these assignments may include, but are not limited to, research papers, article summaries, group projects, class papers, take-home essay examinations, and independent study projects. Assignments that do not appear to have been proofread, edited, and corrected prior to submission may be returned to the student for revision before grading, at the discretion of the instructor, or may receive a lower grade that reflects the level of writing skills demonstrated. Experience suggests that writing clearly, concisely, and compellingly requires thought and organization. Give yourself time to organize, draft, revise, and proofread.