Use the course book, class notes and library catalog to research one theory of personality. Write out the main points of the theory in a notebook. Write down your source citations following American Psychological Association (APA) format, the accepted academic style guide for social scientists.
Take notes on the theory and yourself by drawing two columns in the notebook. On one side, bullet all the particulars of the theory using an outline format. On the other, bullet your own experiences as they relate to the points and sub-points of the theory.
Write down ways this theory helps you understand your life experiences. Note any insight you have gained about yourself through this exercise of self-reflection. Consider what aspects or parts of your life the theory does not adequately explain and why. This will become the argument of your paper.
Write the rough draft of the personality paper using the word processor. Academic papers in psychology usually include a "Literature Review," which is a summary of the ways other theoreticians in the field have addressed your topic. In your rough draft, summarize the theory on personality you are using for your paper based on the secondary sources and outline notes.
Write the analysis section. Illustrate how the theory relates to your own life following the columns you made and your further thinking. Surmise the strengths and inadequacies of the theory in explaining your life.
Write the introduction and insert this at the beginning of the paper. Based on the analysis, write a strong thesis statement that concisely explains the analytical trajectory of the paper and what you plan to contribute to the theory of personality and to understanding yourself.
Write the conclusion and insert it at the end of the paper. Review here what the paper argues. Identify what further areas of research have emerged in your paper, if any.
Print the paper and edit for grammar, spelling and general clarity. Revise the paper based on your edits. Include a title page and a header with page numbers, and insert the bibliography, in APA style, at the end of the paper.
Print the final paper, staple it and submit it by the deadline.