Overview
Endocrine Disease Capstone Paper – Final Exam Assignment Purpose The goal of this capstone project is to bring together everything you’ve learned in Endocrine Physiology. By writing a research-based paper on a specific endocrine disorder, you will: • Apply knowledge of normal endocrine physiology to a disease state. • Practice critical reading of scientific literature. • Strengthen scientific writing skills essential for graduate or professional school. • Learn to connect lab findings, physiology, and clinical outcomes. Task Choose one endocrine disorder not already used in case studies. Write an 8–10 page paper, double-spaced, 12 pt font, 1-inch margins. Use at least 8 peer-reviewed sources such as journal articles, review papers, or textbooks. Organize your paper using these sections: 1. Introduction – overview of the gland/hormone and the disorder’s importance. 2. Normal Physiology – how the gland/hormone normally functions. 3. Pathophysiology – what goes wrong and why. 4. Clinical Presentation – symptoms, labs, diagnosis. 5. Treatment & Management – current therapies, prognosis, future directions. 6. Conclusion – summarize significance and future outlook. 7. References – APA format.
Criteria for Success Category Points (out of 20) Understanding of Normal Physiology Thorough and accurate explanation, uses correct terminology. / 20 Pathophysiology & Clinical Connection Explains mechanism of disease clearly, links to signs and symptoms. / 20 Use of Literature & Sources At least 8 scholarly sources, well-integrated and cited properly. / 20 Organization & Clarity Logical flow, professional writing style, minimal errors. / 20 Critical Thinking & Depth Goes beyond summary, compares treatments, discusses controversies, highligh / 20 s recent research.
Grade Scale 90–100 = Excellent 80–89 = Good 70–79 = Fair <60 = Needs Improvement