APA TOPSS Scholars Essay Competition

The APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is pleased to announce the topic for the 2007 APA TOPSS Scholars Competition. There will be three winners, each of whom will receive a $500 award. Submissions must be postmarked by March 1, 2007.

2007 Essay Topic

Prejudice and discrimination seem to underlie many social issues. Societies have dealt with prejudice and discrimination throughout history and continue to do so today. Psychologists have worked hard to develop research programs that explore the underlying causes of prejudice and discrimination. In recent years, psychologists have also examined the factors which lead people to embrace diversity and to behave tolerantly toward others.

Conduct a literature review of no less than 5 peer-reviewed journal articles that explore the nature of and/or expression of tolerance for others. The review should specifically focus on prejudice and discrimination in one particular area (i.e. racial/ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, religious, national origin, disability, etc). Be sure to discuss the major conclusions researchers have drawn about the ways in which people would be most likely to behave tolerantly towards those from different backgrounds.

Rules

Eligibility
Entrants must be high school students.
Entrants must have been enrolled or be presently enrolled in a high school psychology course.

The Paper
Papers must be typed or word-processed.
Papers must be no more than 3,000 words in length. Papers exceeding this length will be disqualified.
Papers must be in APA style.
Papers must be submitted in triplicate.
Papers must each be bound (staple, binder or paper clip).
Papers that are word-processed should include a copy of the entry on a computer disk.
The word-processing program must be identified.
Papers must include an abstract, not to exceed 120 words.
No identifying information should be included in the body of the essay (i.e., students should not list their name as a running head or mentioning school name in body of paper in any place EXCEPT the cover page). Papers not following this rule will be disqualified.
Students should be aware that essays will be screened for originality.

The Procedure

No more than TEN papers per school may be submitted.

All entries must include a cover sheet with the following information:
-Student's name
-Student's year in school (e.g., junior, senior)
-Name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the TOPSS sponsor
-Student's school name, address, phone number, and e-mail address

Applicants should submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with essay submission so that Scoring Rubric may be returned.

Psychology faculty at the college level will serve as judges.

Send the paper to:
TOPSS Scholar Competition
c/o Jewel Beamon, Education Directorate
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Submission deadline is March 1, 2007.

Rubric*

Literature Review (10 points per item) – A good literature review will include a(n):

• Comprehensive review of the topic using a minimum of five print-based sources
• Synthesis of research articles rather than a summary of individual articles
• Clear focus on one area of diversity
• Relevance of articles to the topic (clear the student is not just choosing the first five articles he or she seemed to find – seemed to make a reasoned choice about which articles to include)
• Clear discussion of the major conclusions regarding the research
• Accurate use of APA style (i.e., language usage, headings, and citations)

*Scoring Rubric from the judges will be returned to applicants. Applicants must submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with essay submission.

Questions? Contact Jewel Beamon or phone (202) 336-6076.