| Unit title & code | Problem Solving PSY007- 3 |
| Assignment number and title | Assessment 1 – Write an essay indicating how the academic study of problem solving and thinking relates to everyday life |
| Assignment type | Essay |
| Weighting of assignment | 50% |
| Size or length of assessment | 2,500 words (this is a maximum word count – not +/- 10%) |
| Unit learning outcomes | 1. Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the theories and
models of problem solving and the cognitive processes involved.
2. Relate those theories and models to everyday experience
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| What am I required to do in this assignment? |
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You are required to write an essay where you demonstrate understanding of theories of problem solving and relate them to everyday life. You need to provide examples of where and how the theories are found in everyday life. Examples can be from personal experience and real world events. Aim to come up with examples other than those discussed in lectures and tutorials. You are to create your own suitable essay title. |
| What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF) |
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Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the theories and models of problem solving and the cognitive processes involved.
Relate those theories and models to everyday experience. |
| How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade? |
| The aim of the essay is to apply what you have learned in lectures and in your readings to everyday life. The essay should therefore explain and critique various theories you have come across and illustrate them with your own examples. I don’t want to specify too much here since it really is up to you how you tackle the essay – as such every students essay should be quite different. |
| How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions? |
| The essay is designed to allow you to relate the contents of the unit (the various theories, models and general approaches to problem solving) to examples in everyday life. |
| How will my assignment be marked? |
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Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page. You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit. |
| 3rd Class – 40-49% | Lower 2nd – 50-59% | Upper 2nd – 60-69% | 1st Class – 70%+ | |
| 1 | The Introduction to your essay is generally fine but try to focus more on outlining the issues to be discussed and indicate the line of argument you are going to take. | The Introduction to your essay is generally fine but try to focus more on outlining the issues to be discussed and indicate the line of argument you are going to take.
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The Introduction is good. You manage indicate the line of argument you are going to take. | An excellent introduction. It is succinct and expounds your arguments very clearly. |
| 2 | The body of the essay lacks relevance to the essay and there is little evidence that the topic has been understood. There may be irrelevant parts or areas where the writing is unclear. | The body of the essay is mostly relevant to the question and there is evidence that the topic has been understood. There may still be irrelevant parts or areas where the writing is unclear. | The body of the essay is generally accurate, well informed and relevant showing the topic has been understood. | An excellent essay showing clarity of argument & expression and illustrated well with examples
The body of the essay is highly relevant to the question and a discursive/evaluative element makes it clear that the topic has been understood. |
| 3 | There is little evidence of criticism and/or discussion of the topic. It needs to show more development of the arguments and/or expand on the evidence presented. | There is some evidence of criticism and/or discussion of the topic. It needs to show more development of the arguments and/or expand on the evidence presented.
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It has a good structure and is generally clearly presented.
Improve by including some of the following – critique from primary sources, more experimental details, greater comparison of theories. |
Excellent integration of a range of evidence and with critical evaluation |
| 4 | Your conclusion is weak, try to make sure it draws your argument together and reflects what you said you were going to do in the Introduction. | Your conclusion is fine but try to make sure it draws your argument together and reflects what you said you were going to do in the Introduction.
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Your conclusion is good and provides an answer to the essay question. | An excellent conclusion. You draw together conflicts and diverse material to present a unified conclusion. |
| 5 | Your APA referencing is needs to improve there are several errors. | Your APA referencing is generally fine but there are some glitches.
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Your APA referencing is generally good with few errors although there are some minor ones. You demonstrate a range of background reading. | Well done. You have used a range of relevant primary sources and your APA referencing is excellent. |
