Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Controversies

Always Out of Their Seats (and Fighting): Why Are Boys Diagnosed With ADHD More Often Than Girls? Valerie Charat Department of Psychology, Harvard University Psychology 1806: Developmental Psychology Professor Lauren Korfine November 8, XXXX Analytical Paper Assignment The analytical paper assignment will have two parts: Part A is the actual analysis, and Part B is where you reflect on what you need to do to revise your own synthesis paper to comply with and fulfill the requirements of that first paper assignment. Analytical Paper: Part A 1) Analyze the paper written by Valerie Charat entitled “Always Out of Their Seats (and Fighting): Why Are Boys Diagnosed With ADHD More Often Than Girls?” To do so, you must read her paper carefully, multiple times, taking notes on what you are reading about, what you are learning about research writing style, and MAKE A FIRM DECISION on whether she was effective or not in presenting her main argument/thesis and supporting it throughout her writing. 2) Once you have come to your decision on how effective you believe Charat was in her writing, find evidence in the essay of what helped you make up your mind. Make notes for yourself on some of the following: What are some of the things in the essay that convinced you to agree with her main argument? Why did those things work? She provides background information and context before stating her main argument/thesis at the end of her introduction. Is that helpful or distracting? Why? Would the paper be as convincing with fewer or more sources? Was it the type of sources she used that helped you decide on her effectiveness as a writer? Are there things that were not convincing enough or not convincing at all? Why didn’t those things work? Are there things you wish she had addressed in her writing on the subject matter, but she left out? Did she do a poor job of anticipating some of the things you would want to know about the subject that may have left you confused or questioning, or did her paper provide a focused, complete picture on what she said it would be arguing? Did she only present information that supports her point of view, or did she also present one or more counterarguments? Did she give a response to a counterargument that left you agreeing or disagreeing with her point of view?  These are questions to help you think through an analysis of Charat’s paper and not questions you must write and give answers to in your own analytical essay. These questions are just a nudge in the right direction, and you should make notes of some of the ideas you come up with of what to say to critique the strengths and weaknesses you see are in Charat’s paper. 3) Now that you have some notes of things you can discuss in your analysis, write the analytical essay and post it in Achieve under the Analytical Paper Assignment section. Write a 500-600-word essay (that is about a 2-4 paragraph essay) where you analyze Charat’s essay writing skills. Your analytical essay does not need a title page, abstract, nor reference page. It does need a title that summarizes the what criticism you are going to give in analysis. Essay titles such as analytical essay (or synthesis paper) are inadequate, and tells your reader nothing about the subject matter you are discussing in your own writing. A title should summarize your essay’s main focus.  Your essay’s introductory paragraph should summarize Charat’s essay and end with YOUR JUDGEMENT on whether or not Charat’s essay was effective or ineffective in persuading her readers to agree with her and why. Unlike other essays you have to write for this course, you are permitted to use words like “I believe,” “I think,” “I feel,” etc. However, it will show your strength as a writer if you are able say what you think and feel without actually referring to yourself. For example, instead of writing “I believe the essay is effective because it is well-researched with multiple sources,” you could instead write “The essay is effective because it is well-researched with multiple sources.” Leaving out “I” and any other references to yourself makes your writing sound more professional and objective. After the introduction, use the rest of your essay to provide the evidence of why you feel Charat’s paper was effective or ineffective, put in a counterargument to your main point if you can make one, and write your conclusion, summarizing why YOU think she did or did not do a good enough job. Always remember to check your work for grammar mistakes and typos before submitting it for anyone else to read.