This paper is somewhat open in its requirements. After all, only you can decide

This paper is somewhat open in its requirements. After all, only you can decide
This paper is somewhat open in its requirements. After all, only you can decide what is meaningful from your reading. I recommend that you read the book at your own pace, with a notepad or sticky notes handy, or use the Option B Organizer provided for tracking this information. When you read a passage that causes you to reflect on an experience from your own life, mark the passage and make a brief note about the experience. Include the positive psychology construct(s) that apply (e.g., resilience, joy, optimism, self-compassion, etc.).
Once you have finished reading, you should have a number of passages marked. If there are two or more passages that relate to the same PP theme/construct, “group” them together. For example, I marked several passages related to self-compassion, as I experienced a lot of guilt when my mother passed away in 2017.
You should have at least two positive psychology constructs (e.g., self-compassion, empathy, gratitude, etc.) to discuss in your paper, each supported by at least two passages from the book.
ANCHORING PROCESS: Connecting Passages to Personal Experiences and Research
Write a personal reflection for each construct you have identified, connecting your passages to the PP research:
State the passage(s).
Use the “block quote” APA format for the passage [i.e., direct quote, indented, no quotation marks, followed by the page number(s) in parentheses]. The length of your excerpts will be determined by how much you need to extract in order for the passage to be meaningful within the context of the connections you are going to make. We are going to violate APA slightly, as I would like you to place the passage in italics. If you are connecting to a group of passages, you may find it logically makes more sense to cite one passage at a time, with your reflection and research connections interspersed between the passages.
Reflect on the passage(s).
Explain why you chose the passage(s). Questions you might consider: What made this particular passage stand out to you? Why is this important or meaningful to you? How does the passage shape the way you think about facing challenges?
Connect other readings from the course to the passage(s).
What does the research say about the PP theme/construct that you are writing about? How does it connect to the passage and/or your personal experience? For example, I could connect self-compassion to research from the Howell (2017) article, as he discusses self-affirmation theory, which has elements of self-compassion. You don’t need to go overboard on your research connections—these connections can be brief. However, do go beyond a vague or superficial level. In other words, don’t use the research to state the obvious. As an illustration, consider this statement: According to Neff, Kirkpatrick, and Rude (2007), increasing self-compassion increases well-being. This is a superficial (and obvious) statement unless followed with more specific details about the mechanisms of the increase and the aspects of well-being that are affected.
Essentially, the passages serve as an anchor for related research and personal experiences and reflection. But because there is an interrelationship among these three components (passage, research, personal experience), the order that you write about each component is flexible. You might cite the passage, describe your related personal experience, and then connect to related research. Or, you might cite the passage, connect to the research, and then describe your experience. Or, you might synthesize (intertwine) all three components. The key is that your paper should flow. You decide the best way to present your thinking about the positive psychology concepts from Option B in relation to your personal experiences and the research.
Paper Format
Your paper should include the following:
A title page
A one- or two-paragraph introduction that introduces the book and briefly defines or describes (with proper citation) the themes/constructs of PP that you will discuss in the paper
A section for each PP construct, clearly introduced with a heading that corresponds to the construct; each PP construct must be supported by at least TWO passages and THREE research connections
A two-paragraph conclusion that addresses what, in general, you learned from reading this book and the ways in which it has enhanced your understanding of PP. In other words, what are the “big takeaways” for you? This should also be introduced with a heading.
A references page
A few other guidelines to keep in mind:
There is no specific length requirement for this paper. Your passages will vary in length, so there is no way for me to determine an expected page range. Be thorough and specific when discussing each PP construct.
Because this is about your impressions and thoughts, it is perfectly acceptable to use personal pronouns like “I” and “my” and “me.” Just be careful that you are not overly informal. You still want to maintain an academic tone.
Other than the use of italics for your passages and the use of first-person language, your paper should be written according to the APA Publication Manual. This includes double-spacing, using 1” margins and a standard 12 pt. font like Times New Roman, and accurately citing and referencing resources.
Other than the use of italics for your passages and the use of first-person language, your paper should be written according to the APA Publication Manual. This includes accurate format for citations and references, double-spacing, proper heading levels, and using 1” margins and a standard 12 pt. font like Times New Roman. You do not need to include an abstract.
You will be directly quoting, of course, from Option B. However, all other sources cited must be paraphrased. Directly quoting from your text or articles will lower your score.