APA Style Literature Review (Gen Ed Goals 1, 2, & 4):
Assignment Instructions: Current Issues in Police Officer Stress & Wellness Programming
OR Specialized Police Responses to Citizens Experiencing Psychiatric Crises
Objective: This assignment is designed to engage you deeply with an important issue in the field
of law enforcement and mental health. By exploring either the challenges of police officer
wellness or the complexities of responding to psychiatric crises, you will gain valuable insights
and contribute to ongoing discussions in this critical area of study.
Assignment Overview: You are required to write a 5-page essay focusing on a current issue
related to either police officer stress and wellness promotion/programming or specialized police
responses to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The essay
should offer a comprehensive synthesis of the latest research and literature on your chosen topic.
You are encouraged to explore and include relevant research and information from both the
United States and international contexts. The essay must be written in a formal, objective tone,
adhering to APA 7th edition formatting guidelines.
Essay Requirements:
Topic Selection
o Choose from one of the following topics:
Police Officer Stress and Wellness: Explore issues such as mental health
challenges, burnout, coping strategies, or wellness programs aimed at
supporting law enforcement personnel; OR
Copyright 2024-2025 by Michele P. Bratina as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking)
notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the instructor teaching this course.
Assignment Instructions: Current Issues in Police Officer Stress & Wellness Programming
OR Specialized Police Responses to Citizens Experiencing Psychiatric Crises
Objective: This assignment is designed to engage you deeply with an important issue in the field
of law enforcement and mental health. By exploring either the challenges of police officer
wellness or the complexities of responding to psychiatric crises, you will gain valuable insights
and contribute to ongoing discussions in this critical area of study.
Assignment Overview: You are required to write a 5-page essay focusing on a current issue
related to either police officer stress and wellness promotion/programming or specialized police
responses to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The essay
should offer a comprehensive synthesis of the latest research and literature on your chosen topic.
You are encouraged to explore and include relevant research and information from both the
United States and international contexts. The essay must be written in a formal, objective tone,
adhering to APA 7th edition formatting guidelines.
Essay Requirements:
Topic Selection
o Choose from one of the following topics:
Police Officer Stress and Wellness: Explore issues such as mental health
challenges, burnout, coping strategies, or wellness programs aimed at
supporting law enforcement personnel; OR
Copyright 2024-2025 by Michele P. Bratina as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking)
notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the instructor teaching this course.
P a g e | 15
Specialized Police Responses to Psychiatric Crises: Examine models such
as Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), co-responder programs, or other
specialized approaches to handling mental health crises in the community.
o Ensure your chosen topic is current, with substantial scholarly literature available
for review.
Research and Sources
o Include a minimum of 5 scholarly sources in your essay.
o Most of your sources should be from peer-reviewed academic journals published
within the past 3 years.
o You may include books or government reports but avoid any .com website
sources.
o You are encouraged to include research and perspectives from countries outside
the United States, offering a broader perspective of the issue.
Structure and Content
o Introduction
Start with a compelling hook to capture the reader’s attention and
emphasize the importance of the topic.
Provide essential background information that frames the issue being
discussed.
Conclude the introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines the
central argument of your essay.
Include a conceptual roadmap that briefly explains the direction and
structure of the remainder of the paper.
o Body
Organize the body of your essay into logically structured sections, each
focusing on different aspects of the issue.
Ensure that each section builds upon the previous one, contributing to a
cohesive and comprehensive discussion.
You MUST use subheadings where appropriate to enhance clarity and
flow.
Provide a synthesis of the literature, highlighting areas of consensus,
debate, and any emerging trends in the field.
Critically evaluate your sources and provide evidence-based analysis of
the topic.
Avoid excessive use of direct quotes. Instead, focus on paraphrasing and
synthesizing the research to demonstrate your understanding and ability to
critically engage with the material.
o Conclusion
Summarize the key points discussed in your essay, reinforcing your thesis
statement.
Offer insights or recommendations based on your research, discussing
potential implications for policy, practice, or future research.
Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion.
Copyright 2024-2025 by Michele P. Bratina as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking)
notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the instructor teaching this course.
Specialized Police Responses to Psychiatric Crises: Examine models such
as Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), co-responder programs, or other
specialized approaches to handling mental health crises in the community.
o Ensure your chosen topic is current, with substantial scholarly literature available
for review.
Research and Sources
o Include a minimum of 5 scholarly sources in your essay.
o Most of your sources should be from peer-reviewed academic journals published
within the past 3 years.
o You may include books or government reports but avoid any .com website
sources.
o You are encouraged to include research and perspectives from countries outside
the United States, offering a broader perspective of the issue.
Structure and Content
o Introduction
Start with a compelling hook to capture the reader’s attention and
emphasize the importance of the topic.
Provide essential background information that frames the issue being
discussed.
Conclude the introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines the
central argument of your essay.
Include a conceptual roadmap that briefly explains the direction and
structure of the remainder of the paper.
o Body
Organize the body of your essay into logically structured sections, each
focusing on different aspects of the issue.
Ensure that each section builds upon the previous one, contributing to a
cohesive and comprehensive discussion.
You MUST use subheadings where appropriate to enhance clarity and
flow.
Provide a synthesis of the literature, highlighting areas of consensus,
debate, and any emerging trends in the field.
Critically evaluate your sources and provide evidence-based analysis of
the topic.
Avoid excessive use of direct quotes. Instead, focus on paraphrasing and
synthesizing the research to demonstrate your understanding and ability to
critically engage with the material.
o Conclusion
Summarize the key points discussed in your essay, reinforcing your thesis
statement.
Offer insights or recommendations based on your research, discussing
potential implications for policy, practice, or future research.
Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion.
Copyright 2024-2025 by Michele P. Bratina as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking)
notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the instructor teaching this course.
P a g e | 16
Formatting:
o Your essay must be formatted in APA 7th edition style.
o Include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference list (which does not count
towards the 5-page limit).
o No abstract is required.
o Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1-inch margins on all
sides.
o Ensure that all citations and references are correctly formatted according to APA
guidelines.
Writing Style:
o Write your essay in third person, maintaining an objective and academic tone
throughout.
o Avoid using hypothetical questions ANYWHERE in the paper.
o Avoid using colloquialisms, slang, metaphors.
o Avoid first-person pronouns or subjective language.
o Focus on clarity, coherence, and the logical progression of ideas.
o Incorporate subheadings for organization and transition between sections.
o Proofread your essay carefully to eliminate any grammatical, spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Additional Instruction/Guidance:
o Academic Integrity
Your work will be evaluated for originality and adherence to academic
integrity standards. Plagiarism, including the use of uncredited sources or
excessive quoting, will result in penalties according to WCU policies.
Additionally, your submission will be reviewed for potential AI-generated
content. Ensure that all writing is your own, reflecting your understanding
and analysis of the topic.
o Submission Guidelines:
Submit your essay as a Word document (.docx) through the designated
course platform AND to the e-portfolio (see below).
You must upload this paper to your General Education Google Sites
E-Portfolio so you will have it to reflect upon during your Capstone
course. If you took FYE at WCU your first year, you should have
created your portfolio then. If you have not previously created your
portfolio in Google Sites for any reason, please follow these
instructions for creating your Portfolio using Google Sites.
Include a title page with your name, course number, instructor’s name, and
the submission date.
Ensure that your essay is exactly 5 full pages in length, not including the
title page and reference list.
Adherence to the due date is required; late submissions will be penalized
according to the course’s late work policy.
Formatting:
o Your essay must be formatted in APA 7th edition style.
o Include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference list (which does not count
towards the 5-page limit).
o No abstract is required.
o Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1-inch margins on all
sides.
o Ensure that all citations and references are correctly formatted according to APA
guidelines.
Writing Style:
o Write your essay in third person, maintaining an objective and academic tone
throughout.
o Avoid using hypothetical questions ANYWHERE in the paper.
o Avoid using colloquialisms, slang, metaphors.
o Avoid first-person pronouns or subjective language.
o Focus on clarity, coherence, and the logical progression of ideas.
o Incorporate subheadings for organization and transition between sections.
o Proofread your essay carefully to eliminate any grammatical, spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Additional Instruction/Guidance:
o Academic Integrity
Your work will be evaluated for originality and adherence to academic
integrity standards. Plagiarism, including the use of uncredited sources or
excessive quoting, will result in penalties according to WCU policies.
Additionally, your submission will be reviewed for potential AI-generated
content. Ensure that all writing is your own, reflecting your understanding
and analysis of the topic.
o Submission Guidelines:
Submit your essay as a Word document (.docx) through the designated
course platform AND to the e-portfolio (see below).
You must upload this paper to your General Education Google Sites
E-Portfolio so you will have it to reflect upon during your Capstone
course. If you took FYE at WCU your first year, you should have
created your portfolio then. If you have not previously created your
portfolio in Google Sites for any reason, please follow these
instructions for creating your Portfolio using Google Sites.
Include a title page with your name, course number, instructor’s name, and
the submission date.
Ensure that your essay is exactly 5 full pages in length, not including the
title page and reference list.
Adherence to the due date is required; late submissions will be penalized
according to the course’s late work policy.