Brain and Behavior: Final Topic Selection (Part 1)

Prior to beginning work on this assignment,

• Visit the PubMed Central website.
  • You may also consider reviewing the PMC User Guide and PubMed® Online Training to help you navigate the resource more effectively.
• Review the Final presentation preparationlearning activity in the Introduction section.

 | Write

For this assignment, you will start exploring the topic for your final project. You have two topic options for your final project:

• Option A: Your review of brain-based disease or disorder (e.g. PTSD, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, etc.). To find topics, review your text, choose items from the table of contents in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or choose from NINDS’ comprehensive list of All Disorders.
• Option B: Your review of brain process. (e.g., vision, audition, touch, memory, etc.)
  • Choose one of these options and remember to choose only topics that are clearly brain-based and that will allow you to cite original, peer-reviewed, neuroscientific research.
  • If you have questions about the suitability of your topic, contact your instructor right away.

The primary assignment is to create a PowerPoint presentation and accompanying script, which you will write in the Speaker Notes area of PowerPoint. Avoid using popular sources or non-peer reviewed information.

In your presentation,

• Examine the neural structures involved in your topic by choosing, naming, and explaining the roles of three or more specific and relevant regions of the brain or nervous system. For example, your topic might involve regions such as the frontal lobes, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, brain stem, spinal cord, or others.
• Describe the role each of those structures has in the disorder or process you have chosen.
• Explain the following for each region:
  • their typical function, and
  • what happens to those regions in your disorder or process of choice.
    • Write at least two paragraphs for each region.
    • Emphasize how your audience might use or apply the information.

 | Assignment Requirements

The Brain and Behavior: Final Topic Selection (Part 1) presentation,

• must be five to seven double-spaced slides in length (not including title and references slides) and formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation resource.
• must include a separate title slide with the following in title case:
  • title of presentation in bold font
    • Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
  • student’s name
  • name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)
  • course name and number
  • instructor’s name
  • due date
• must utilize academic voice and should be written into the Speaker Notes area of PowerPoint.
  • See the Academic Voice resource for additional guidance.
• must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph.
  • Your introduction paragraph should identify the topic, the benefits of learning about the topic to your target audience and needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
  • For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions and Writing a Thesis Statement, refer to the Writing Center resources.
• must use one slide per identified brain region and identify at least three brain regions related to your chosen process, disease, or disorder.
  • slides should have minimal text, use large font for text, and have one image per content slide.
• must use at least three peer-reviewed sources in addition to the course text.
  • The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source.
  • To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view Quick and Easy Library Research tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
• must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your Paper guide.
• must include a separate reference slide that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center.
  • See the APA: Formatting Your References List resource in the Writing Center for specifications.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.