Autobiography and Research Synthesis Paper Instructions Rationale: The Autobiography and Research Synthesis Paper is the course benchmark assignment. It is to reflect (1) influences on your life that led you to become a teacher, (2) key thoughts about the teaching field, and (3) research related to your key thoughts. You will focus on your development as a learner and your decisions to choose teaching as a career. Ensure that context is relevant to the topic and does not digress from these topics.  As an academic paper, it is to be supported and illustrated by the body of knowledge in the field, which is to include references to the literature on educational topics.   Alignment with Measurable Learning Outcomes: This assignment aligns with the following outcomes:  · MLO: A – Demonstrate skills in writing in that incorporate biblical worldview principles. · MLO: C – Apply information from the knowledge base on teaching and learning to your own teaching and learning experiences. · MLO: E – As you convey your personal experiences, analyze them in light of principles related to individual differences. Specific Guidelines Current APA: The paper is to be formatted in current APA.  Number of Sources: Cite at least 3 sources throughout the paper and list them on the reference page. One of your sources must be the Sousa and Tomlinson (2018) textbook. The other 2 sources are to be research articles from academic journals . At least one of these two articles must be an article you have not used in a previous assignment for this or any other course. The other article(s) may be ones you have used in other assignments, such as the previous Research Article Review assignment that you have already submitted. All articles must have been published within the past five years.  Length: This paper must be 4–5 pages from the introductory paragraph to the conclusion, which does not count the title page or reference page. Per current APA, font is at 12 points, and the manuscript is to be double spaced without any additional space/lines between headings and paragraphs.  Structure: The structure and headings of your paper should align with the rubric and also with the description below.  1. Title Page Pagination: In current APA,      all pages are numbered. The title      page should be page 1. Running      Head:      The running head on the title page is different than the others. It should be left-justified,      capitalized, and worded as shown here:  Running head: ABBREVIATED ALL-CAPS TITLE  Note that the words “Running head” are inserted before the all-caps abbreviated title and that it is followed by a colon. Also, the “h” in the word “head” is not capitalized. Title: The title      should not be the name of the      assignment (i.e., Autobiography-Research Synthesis). Instead, it should be a phrase drawn      from the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. It should provide the reader a hint of      the topi.

1. Autobiography and Research Synthesis Paper Instructions
Rationale:
The Autobiography and Research Synthesis Paper is the course
benchmark assignment. It is to reflect
(1)
influences on your life
that led you to become a teacher,
(2) key thoughts
about the teaching field, and
(3) research
related to your key thoughts. You will focus on your
development as a learner and your decisions to choose teaching
as a career. Ensure that context is relevant to the topic and does
not digress from these topics. As an academic paper, it is to be
supported and illustrated by the body of knowledge in the field,
which is to include references to the literature on educational
topics.
Alignment with Measurable Learning Outcomes:
This assignment aligns with the following outcomes:
· MLO: A – Demonstrate skills in writing in that incorporate
biblical worldview principles.
· MLO: C – Apply information from the knowledge base on
teaching and learning to your own teaching and learning
experiences.
· MLO: E – As you convey your personal experiences, analyze
them in light of principles related to individual differences.

2. Specific Guidelines
Current APA:
The paper is to be formatted in current APA.
Number of Sources:
Cite at least
3
sources throughout the paper and list them on the reference
page.
One of your sources must be the Sousa and Tomlinson (2018)
textbook.
The other 2 sources are to be research articles from
academic journals
. At least one of these two articles must be an article you have
not used in a previous assignment for this or any other course.
The other article(s) may be ones you have used in other
assignments, such as the previous Research Article Review
assignment that you have already submitted. All articles must
have been published within the past five years.
Length:
This paper must be
4–5 pages
from the introductory paragraph to the conclusion, which does
not count the title page or reference page. Per current APA, font
is at 12 points, and the manuscript is to be double spaced
without any additional space/lines between headings and
paragraphs.
Structure:
The structure and headings of your paper should align with the
rubric and also with the description below.
1.

3. Title Page
Pagination:
In current APA, all pages are numbered. The title page
should be page 1.
Running Head:
The running head on the title page is different than the
others. It should be left-justified, capitalized, and worded as
shown here:
Running head: ABBREVIATED ALL-CAPS TITLE
Note that the words “Running head” are inserted before the all-
caps abbreviated title and that it is followed by a colon. Also,
the “h” in the word “head” is not capitalized.
Title:
The title should
not
be the name of the assignment (i.e., Autobiography-
Research Synthesis). Instead, it should be a phrase drawn
from the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. It
should provide the reader a hint of the topic and the main
idea supported throughout the paper and may be phrased in a
clever, unique fashion. The first letter of all words should be
capitalized except for articles (e.g.
a
,
an
,
the
), conjunctions (e.g.,

4. and
,
but
), and short prepositions (e.g.,
of
,
about
), unless they appear as the first word, which is always
capitalized. Center your title and position it near the
middle of the page or slightly above the middle. Do not use bold
font anywhere on the title page.
Other Information on Title Page:
Position the items below in the bottom third of the page.
o Student Name
o Course Number
o Liberty University
o Year
2.
Introduction:
Do
not
use the word “Introduction” as a heading for this section. Per
current APA, it is optional to insert the title again as the
heading above the introduction; however, no heading above the
introduction is required. If you choose to insert the manuscript
title here, it should be in non-bolded, centered font and should
be capitalized that same way as it is on the title page.

5. · The running head on the abstract and subsequent pages is
different from the running head on the title page. The only
difference is that it omits the words “Running head,” so that it
looks like this:
ABBREVIATED ALL-CAPS TITLE
· The purpose of this paragraph is to introduce the thesis
statement that will be developed throughout the paper. The
thesis statement is the main idea you are presenting. All other
ideas will serve to support the thesis statement.
It is best to place the thesis statement at the end of the
introduction. It is typically one or two sentences that serve as a
transition into the rest of the paper. Some writers choose to
place it as the first sentence of the introduction. Either option is
acceptable as long as the introduction is well written and has a
logical progression of thought.
3.
Life Influences:
This required heading should be centered and in bold. You have
a great degree of latitude to explain the life experiences that led
you to consider teaching as a career. However, you may use the
questions below to help you think about how to proceed. Do not
simply answer the questions; instead, use them to spark your
thought.
· How would you describe your personality/character traits and
to what would you attribute them?
· What life experiences helped develop you as an individual
who has come to consider teaching as a profession?
· What abilities and skills have you developed that may help

6. you serve as a teacher?
· Has there been a role model that has influenced you?
4.
Learner and Future Teacher:
This required heading should be centered and in bold. As with
the ones above, use the questions below as
suggestions
. This section would be a good place to cite some ideas from
your sources, especially as they address your own learning
processes and thoughts about becoming a teacher.
· What learning and teaching experiences have influenced you?
· How have work experiences impacted you as a learner and
future teacher?
· Have you set goals for yourself as a learner and/or a future
teacher? What influenced you to decide on those goals?
· How has your university coursework so far influenced you as a
learner and future teacher?
· How would you reflect on your own learning preferences?
What implications does your learning profile have for your own
teaching?
5.
Research Considerations:
This required heading should be centered and in bold. In this
section synthesize your life experiences and thoughts about
education with related concepts in research. Consider topics
from Sousa and Tomlinson (2018) and also include at least two

7. research articles from academic journals that address your topic
of interest. The questions below might help:
· How does research address life experiences you have had in
your own educational experience?
· Is there research that addresses your own educational and/or
professional goals?
· What research have you read that has influenced your thoughts
as a learner and a future teacher?
· What research is there on your own learning preferences and
the implications your own learning profile has for your future
teaching?
6.
Conclusion:
This final required heading should be centered and in bold.
Although your conclusion should include concepts from the
thesis statement in the introduction and should have some
alignment with the title of the paper, you should not simply
restate the thesis statement. Wrap up the paper by emphasizing
your main idea and draw a clear conclusion. Typically, a good
conclusion does not introduce new information. The conclusion
is where you are to discuss implications for the future about
what you have already shared. Draw together the strands from
your life experience, thoughts about teaching, and relevant
research that addresses your thoughts about teaching.
References:
You are to have at least
three
academic sources. One of them must be the required textbook
for this course. The other sources are to be research articles

8. from academic journals. Although this is an autobiography, you
are to support principles mentioned in the paper with legitimate
sources. Below is a list of considerations regarding references:
· Textbooks from your other courses may serve as additional
references.
· The Bible may be cited in the body of the paper, but it is not
to be listed on the reference page. To cite it in the body of the
paper, simply use the Scripture reference. If you quote a
Scripture directly, you must parenthetically enter the translation
for the first quotation. Examples:
John 3:16 states, “For God so loved . . .” (NIV).
Our class recited in unison, “For God so loved . . . “ (John
3:16, NIV).
· Books you have read that have influenced your development as
a learner and/or your decision to become a teacher.
· Do
not
use Wikipedia as a source in an academic paper. Because it is
an open platform, the information is constantly being changed
by registered users and is not always reliable.
· A variety of resources should be represented: books, journals,
online, Christian, secular, etc.
Point of View:
Because this is an autobiography, you may use first person
pronouns such as “I” and “me,” but do
not

9. overuse them. Do
not
refer to yourself in third person.
Pronoun Usage:
Two problems students frequently have in their writing tend to
be (1) pronoun-antecedent agreement and (2) the gender issue of
“he or she.”
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement:
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. It is
incorrect to write, “Each
teacher
[singular] should manage
their
[plural] own classroom.”
Gender Issue:
It is considered sexist if you repeatedly use singular
antecedents and follow them up with masculine pronouns. For
example, “Each teacher should manage his own classroom.” It is
also problematic if you redundantly use “he or she” and “his or
her.” (Please don’t use “he/she” or “his/her.”) There is a
solution!
To assist in avoiding both of the problems above, it is
recommended that you write in plurals as consistently as
possible. For instance, use
students, principals, teachers, parents, schools
, etc., instead of their singular counterparts. Follow these
antecedents up with “they” or “their.” This avoids the gender
issue altogether. When you find that you must use a singular,
you may periodically use “he or she” or simply restructure the
sentence to avoid the “he or she” if possible. Rare use of it is
fine.

10. Academic Integrity:
Every paper will be evaluated for originality by SafeAssign,
which reports to the professor the degree to which your paper is
suspected of plagiarism. The following tips will help you avoid
plagiarism:
Direct Quotes:
No more than 10% of your paper should be made up of direct
quotes. Therefore, do more summarizing and paraphrasing than
quoting. Short quotes should be in quotation marks and longer
quotes should be indented (see current APA). If you do not set
off direct quotes in this manner and/or do not cite them, it is
plagiarism.
Ideas and Facts:
If the idea or fact is not your own, you must cite its source.
When not directly quoting, summarize or analyze the idea in
your own words.
Submit the Autobiography & Research Paper by 11:59 p.m. (ET)
on