Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. It is a spectrum disorder, which means that it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Some individuals with ASD may have difficulty communicating and interacting with others, while others may have more mild symptoms.
ASD is typically diagnosed in childhood, and the exact cause is unknown. Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role in the development of ASD.
Symptoms of ASD may include difficulty with social interactions, problems with communication, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity. Individuals with ASD may also have difficulty with language and may have trouble understanding social cues.
Treatment for ASD typically involves a combination of therapies and interventions. These may include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior therapy. Medications may also be used to help manage certain symptoms.
It is important for individuals with ASD and their families to receive support and education to help them navigate the challenges of living with the disorder. This can include support groups, education programs, and other resources to help individuals with ASD and their families manage the disorder and improve their quality of life.
Title of the Paper in Full
Student Name
Program Name or Degree Name (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Psychology), Florida National University
COURSE XXX: Title of Course
Instructor Name
Month XX, 202X
Title of the Paper in Full
When you download a Walden template, the first action is to save it locally to your computer using the Save As command. You will want to make sure that you are moving the document to a new location on your computer when you Save As. Documents should not be maintained in the Download folder. When you are ready to use the template for a paper, you will open the template, and immediately Save As giving the document a new name. Once you have renamed the document, you can safely use the Save command for saving the document as you write.
APA format and college-level writing can be difficult for many students returning to school after several years away from academia. An abstract is typically not required for the short papers that undergraduates write, so an abstract page is not included in this template but can be added if needed (you can find a version with the abstract on our General Templates page). The references page shows some sample references for sources such as webpages, books, journal articles, and course videos. Below follows some advice for writing your paper and adhering to APA standards.
Your introductory paragraph and every paragraph that follows should have a minimum of three sentences, with an average of four to five and no more than seven sentences. The last sentence of your opening paragraph should be the thesis statement, which summarizes the purpose of the assignment and how you intend to address it. The sentences preceding your thesis statement should simply provide background that contextualizes your thesis for readers.
Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, which summarizes the paragraph’s main argument or idea. Also, the last sentence (or lead-out) of each paragraph should be a transition statement that connects what you discussed in that paragraph and what is to come in the next one. In the middle of each paragraph, you should cover something with your own thoughts, and in a separate sentence, provide a sentence paraphrased from a source with an in-text citation at the end. The source may back up your opinion, or give an alternative viewpoint, or even simply provide some background. See the Writing Center’s webpage on paragraphs for further advice.
Try to use paraphrases instead of direct quotations when possible, only quoting when the meaning of the idea or excerpt would be lost if you paraphrase it. All information from sources, whether paraphrased or quoted, need to be cited. Citations should be in parenthetical or narrative citation format and include the last name(s) of the author(s) or name of the organization that published the material, year of publication, and a page or paragraph number for quoted material. Each source cited in your paper, unless it is a personal communication, should include a corresponding reference list entry. If no date is given for a source, write “n.d.” in place of the year (it stands for “no date”). This sentence does not come from a source, but I will end it with an in-text citation so you can see an example (Author, n.d.). If you have more than two sentences of information from one source, ensure that it is clear to the reader where the information in each sentence is from, using citations or other cue phrases (e.g. The authors also stated…). For more information and examples, see APA 7, Section 8.
Many websites that information comes from are suspect in terms of factual and unbiased information. In a nutshell, avoid using Wikipedia, About.com, Answers.com, or similar websites, as the Writing Center explains in the “Why You Shouldn’t Wiki” blog post. Though some .com sites are acceptable, most undergraduates have trouble identifying whether they can be trusted, so an easy guideline to follow is to avoid them. Websites ending in .gov, .net, .edu, .org, and so forth are typically more trustworthy than a .com source. See the Library’s Evaluating Resources webpage for more tips on finding reliable sources.
The body of your paper should have a couple of paragraphs or more. Your conclusion paragraph should briefly summarize the main points of your paper and place the paper in the context of social change. While your conclusion should not introduce new topics, you may suggest a direction for future research. Generally, you should not write anything in the conclusion that would require you to cite a source; instead, the conclusion should represent only your own thoughts and analysis.
Make sure you follow directions, and we recommend you download the grading rubric from Doc Sharing that breaks down how an assignment is graded. A one-page essay means a full one page of writing and does not include elements such as references, tables or figures, or the title page. The requirement of using two sources in your assignment directions does not mean simply providing two in-text citations for the same source; the sources themselves must be different. Lastly, if you have any questions about writing a paper or properly citing sources, feel free to contact the Writing Center at writingsupport@waldenu.edu or through our Live Chat Hours.
References
(Note that the following references are intended as examples only. These entries illustrate different types of references but are not cited in the text of this template. In your paper, be sure every reference entry matches a citation, and every citation refers to an item in the reference list.)
American Counseling Association. (n.d.). About us. https://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca
Anderson, M. (2018). Getting consistent with consequences. Educational Leadership, 76(1), 26-33.
Bach, D., & Blake, D. J. (2016). Frame or get framed: The critical role of issue framing in nonmarket management. California Management Review, 58(3), 66-87. https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2016.58.3.66
Burgess, R. (2019). Rethinking global health: Frameworks of Power. Routledge.
Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225–229. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225
Johnson, P. (2003). Art: A new history. HarperCollins. https://doi.org/10.1037.0000136-000
Lindley, L. C., & Slayter, E. M. (2018). Prior trauma exposure and serious illness at end of life: A national study of children in the U.S. foster care system from 2005 to 2015. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 56(3), 309–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.06.001
Osman, M. A. (2016, December 15). 5 do’s and don’ts for staying motivated. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/5-dos-and-donts-for-staying-motivated/art-20270835
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Wiley.
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Anatomy of a research article [Video]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/instructionalmedia/tutorials#s-lg-box-7955524
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). Writing literature reviews in your graduate coursework [Webinar]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/webinars/graduate#s-lg-box-18447417
World Health Organization. (2018, March). Questions and answers on immunization and vaccine safety. https://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/
