Final Paper TED talk
Overview of the assignment: You will find a TED talk on a topic you’re interested in (I have provided a list of TED talk examples later in this document). In 4 pages, you will critique the talk, explain the main psychological points that are discussed, and enhance the reader’s understanding of the talk’s topic by finding a peer-reviewed journal article related to the talk’s main psychological points. How to structure the paper and what to write:
1. A STRONG INTRODUCTION: In a short paragraph, introduce what you will be talking about in your paper. I like to know : a. the title of the TED talk b. the main psychological topics covered in the talk c. a brief description of how the article you chose relates to the talk. **Remember that you’re just touching on these three things in this paragraph to give me an overview of what to expect reading your paper. The detailed explanations of each should come later in your paper (continue reading for more info)
2. Summarize the key points of the TED talk, then critique it. In critiquing the talk, I want you to: a. ANALYZE the talk as CONVINCING or WEAK in what it claims. You must begin your analysis with YOUR OWN CLAIM—that the speaker has: • convinced you completely (you agree with what is being said, or • partially convinced you, or • you disagree or feel unconvinced about what is being said You must argue your position based on the following: • FACTUAL EVIDENCE – Are there enough facts in the talk? Is it the information that you need? What other information do you think you need to have? What’s been left out? • ORGANIZATION AND LOGIC – Is the speaker’s argument organized in a logical way? Are there logical fallacies or organizational weaknesses? Does the speaker have any biases?(explain) What does the bias hide? What does it reveal? • PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – Does the talk tend to challenge or validate your own point of view? If it VALIDATES it, are there parts of the argument that could be open to dispute? Which parts? Why? If it CHALLENGES it, does it lead you to change or modify your point of view? Why or why not? 3. Find the PSYCHOLOGICAL topics covered in the TED talk and explain how the talk extended your understanding of the topic(s). If the psychological topics that are discussed in the talk are not obvious, use your book and think about how the talk ties to psychology…look over chapters, areas and THINK…THINK… THINK…what behavior or cognitive process is the talk dealing with. Many will come out of social psychology: issues of attraction, aggression, prejudice or bias, many out of cognitive Psychology: issues about how our brain works, motivation and emotion. 4. SUMMARIZE the article that you found: a. STATE the author(s)’s CLAIMS or the POINTS of the article in two to five sentences. DO NOT USE THE ABSTRACT!!! Summarize in your own words! b. Clearly explain the link between what you found in the article and the Ted Talk. Does the article contradict the talk? Does it support the talk? Does the article add important information that was overlooked in the talk? ELABORATE! 5. End your paper with a brief reflection on what you have learned from this assignment. 6. Cite your references (for both the TED talk and the journal article). Use the « APA CITATION GUIDE
