PURPOSE: The objective of this paper is: 1. To choose a topic that fascinates you and about which you want to know more. 2. To have a specific question or argument in mind, which you’d like to investigate (e.g., “which brain areas are involved in eye movement?”) 3. To research available empirical evidence that supports or disputes your argument. 4. To summarize and discuss these empirical findings and draw your own conclusions and interpretations as to how your argument is or is not supported. 5. To have fun and learn more about one [extra] topic in the field of vision science. CONTENT: The paper must include the following: 1. A description of a topic (phenomenon, model, pathology, or illusion) that you have researched (e.g., “neural correlates of eye movement”) 2. A specification as to what the focus of your interest/argument/question is (e.g., “eye movement is mediated by activity of the frontal eye fields in conjunction with activity of the superior colliculus”) 3. A discussion of empirical evidence that you are bringing in to explain and/or support your topic (i.e., briefly discuss the objective [hypotheses] of the studies and how they tie to your topic, briefly discuss the way the researchers tested the hypotheses, the results, the authors’ conclusions and how those link/relate to your topic/argument) Note: you are required to provide at least 3 empirical sources from peer-reviewed journal articles (i.e., more are, of course, encouraged, but the 3 should be discussed per instructions above) – a primary research study, NOT a review article 4. An explanation of why the evidence is actually relevant to your topic (e.g., “proves/disproves your argument, explains the phenomenon…”). Own opinion is essential!!! 5. In-text citations of all sources. 6. References of all used sources in APA format, on a separate page. Note: an example of a proper reference – Smith, A.L. (2004). Eye movement and the frontal eye fields. Vision Science, 45, 58-65. 7. You must turn in your proposal with the final paper. FORMAT: 1. The paper should be 5-7 pages long, double-spaced (references and appendices [if any] excluded). 2. Your font must be no smaller than 11-points. 3. You must write in prose using complete sentences. Do NOT just make an outline or a list of bullet points. 5. Do NOT use covers, binders, folders, plastic sleeves, etc. Just staple your paper. THE TOPIC: Make sure that the topic is one that genuinely interests you. The premise of this assignment is to have fun and to enjoy the entire experience of researching the topic, putting ideas together, and writing it out in a concise manner. Do not try to figure out what kind of a topic I want you to write about. Look for a topic that you actually find interesting. If you are genuinely interested in your topic, it will be a lot easier for you to motivate yourself to do the necessary research and you will probably write a better paper too. MARKS: Your final paper will be marked out of 30. The majority of your mark will come from the content (discussed above). The quality of your writing will also contribute to your mark.