| Assessment Item 3: Essay (30%) | High Distinction | Distinction/Credit | Pass | Fail |
| Essay discussion and structure
Task One: Identify a past or current controversial DSM diagnosis, and discuss the reasons why it is controversial.
Marks available: 10.5 (35%). | 10.5-8.5 Marks
-A controversial diagnosis is identified, and the grounds for it's controversial status are clearly established.
-The essay task is addressed with depth, and the arguments made are developed with clear reference to literature and scholarly sources. The discussion is developed as a result of scrupulously considering, integrating and comparing the referenced sources.
-The discussion is written with sentences that clearly relate to each other, and pargraphs that effectively consolidate meaning. Ideas and arguments are developed and strengthened throughout the paper, and a central thesis is clearly established. | 8-6.5 Marks
-A controversial diagnosis is identified, and the grounds for it's controversial status are clearly established.
-The essay task is addressed with clear understanding of the literature demonstrated, however the literature is not thoroughly compared or integrated; the majority of the discussion consists of independent claims, that do not involve a cross-comparsion of literature.
-The sentences and paragraphs are related in a general sense, but are not explicitly linked. | 6-5 Marks
-A controversial diagnosis is identified.
-The discussion is general in nature. Valid independent arguments are made using a variety of sources, but are not thoroughly integrated, compared or related.
-A discussion that largely employs highly nuanced language (language that is dependent on implied meanings) rather than specific claims will fall into this category*.
| 4-0 Marks
-The discussion is not clearly based on evidence or scholarly sources, AND/OR;
-The sources used are inappropriate, AND/OR;
-The essay primarily consists of superficial statements, the discussion is not developed beyond cursory mention or identification of significant concepts, and the sentences and paragraphs have no thematic development, AND/OR;
-Half, or more, of the references have an oblique relation to the claims referenced |
| Essay discussion and structure
Task Two: Discuss consumers' qualitative experience with receiving/having a mental health diagnosis.
Marks available: 10.5 (35%). | 10.5-8.5 Marks
-Consumers' experiences of receiving a diagnosis are clearly identified, and the discussion is a synthesis of the referenced literature.
-The essay task is addressed with depth, and the arguments made are developed with clear reference to literature and scholarly sources. The discussion is developed as a result of scrupulously considering and comparing the referenced sources.
-The discussion is written with sentences that clearly relate to each other, and pargraphs that effectively consolidate meaning. Ideas and arguments are developed and strengthened throughout the paper, and a central thesis is clearly established. | 8-6.5 Marks
-The discussion effectively identifies consumer experiences related to receiving/having a mental health diagnosis.
-The essay task is addressed with clear understanding of the literature demonstrated, however the literature is not thoroughly compared or integrated; the majority of the discussion consists of independent claims, that do not involve a cross-comparsion of literature.
-The sentences and paragraphs are related in a general sense, but are not explicitly linked. | 6-5 Marks
-Relevant consumer experiences are identified.
-The discussion is general in nature. Valid independent arguments are made using a variety of sources, but are not thoroughly integrated, compared or related.
-A discussion that largely employs highly nuanced language (language that is dependent on implied meanings) rather than specific claims will fall into this category*. | 4-0 Marks
-The discussion is not clearly based on evidence or scholarly sources, AND/OR;
-The sources used are inappropriate, AND/OR;
-The essay primarily consists of superficial statements, the discussion is not developed beyond cursory mention or identification of significant concepts, and the sentences and paragraphs have no thematic development, AND/OR;
-Half, or more, of the references have an oblique relation to the claims referenced
|
| Introduction and Conculsion Paragraphs. Marks available: 3 (10%) | 3 Marks
-The essay has a clearly written introductory paragraph and conclusion paragraph. The introduction and conclusion are clearly related to the specific discussion of the essay. | 2 Marks
-The essay has a clearly written introductory paragraph amd conclusion paragraph. The introduction and/or conclusion have little relationship with the specific discussion of the essay. | | 0-1 Marks
-The essay does not have clear introductory or conclusory paragraphs, AND/OR;
-The reader is not introduced to the issues being discussed in the initial paragraph, AND/OR;
-The discussion of the essay is not consolidated in the final paragraph. |
| Clear written language, adhering to academic conventions. Marks available: 3 (10%) | 3 Marks
-Written language is consistently clear, adheres to academic conventions, with minimal grammatical errors, and minimal errors in phrasing, AND;
-Use of first person language is minimal. | 2 Marks
-Written language is understandable, but grammatical errors and errors in phrasing are recurring, AND;
-The overall meaning of the essay is not obscurred by language used.
-Essays with slang AND/OR overuse of first-person language will fall into this category. | | 0-1 Marks
-Language used is consistently difficult to understand, AND/OR;
-Heavy dependence on quotes, AND/OR;
-Clear evidence of copying and pasting with minor revisions. |
| Referencing adheres to APA 7th or Harvard (UTS). Marks available: 3 (10%) | 3 Marks
-Referencing is consistent with chosen style (Harvard UTS of APA 7th), very few errors made, AND;
-At least 8 references have been used. | 2 Marks
-Referencing errors are made infrequently, but errors do not obscure author identity or source origin, AND;
-At least 6 references have been used. | | 0-1 Marks
-Referencing errors are frequent, AND/OR;
-The identity of authors/origin of 2 or more sources is unclear, AND/OR;
-Any dishonestly fabricated references will be awarded 0 in this category, AND/OR;
-Any discrepancies between in-text references and the reference list, AND/OR;
-Less than 6 references have been used. |
| Please note: Essays under 1000 words will not receive a passing mark. |
| *: Nuanced language and implied meanings should be avoided, as it conveys limited understanding. Consider the two example statements: |
| Statement 1: Vaccination is associated with good outcomes. |
| Statement 2: Vaccination mitigates the risk of infectionl, by pre-emptively supplying the body with T-Lymphocytes and B-Lymphocytes (*reference*) |
| The second statement is superior, as it is specific in it's claims, and relies less on implied/nuanced meaning. |