Exercise, a treatment for depression

Psychology of Physical Activity

Essay 2 Assignment Specification 2020-21

Section

Expected Content

1

Action on Prior Feedback

Standard feedback item where staff comment on whether previous feedback advice has been acted on [Click for student guidance]

2

Introduction 15%

This section should give a clear background to the essay topic and why it is important within a public health agenda. This section should also provide the reader with a clear understanding of the structure and context of the material to follow.

For example – highlight the physical inactivity problem, the prevalence of mental health issues/ importance of mental health, and how the essay will be structured

3

Critical synthesis of current relevant literature 50%

This section should make use of recent relevant research to support the arguments being created to answer the essay question.

For example – draw from recent papers in order to evaluate the evidence that PA influences mental health

4

Application to the general public 25%

This section should creatively use the information covered in the synthesis of literature to create an applied evidence-based resource to effectively communicate and promote PA/SB to the general public. Resources should be clear, engaging and accurately reflect the evidence presented in previous section.

For example for essay 2 – Create a resource that highlights the potential benefits of PA for mental health. This could be an infographic, video, animation – be creative!

5

Good Academic Practice

10%

Standard feedback item about presentation and writing quality & the extent to which academic & scientific reporting conventions are followed. Specifically, the essay should be presented in a logical and literate manner, using at least 1.5 spacing and 11 point font. Referencing should be accurate and follow APA 7th edition style, with a well-constructed reference section (see Referencing folder in Learn and guidance for assistance with this in Academic Scholarship page on MSc PA4H Learn Page)

Section

%

(E) 0-39% - Fail

(D) 40-49% - Pass

(C) 50-59% Good

(B) 60-69% Very Good

(A3) 70-79% Excellent/Distinction

(A2 & A1) 80-100%

Excellent/Distinction

Introduction

15%

Demonstrates little or no understanding of issues relating to the essay topic and there is limited evidence of drawing on appropriate evidence. Clear misunderstanding and omissions in places.

Demonstrates understanding of the issues relating to the essay topic and draws on limited evidence to justify the importance of the topic within a public health agenda. Some evidence of misunderstanding and omissions in places.

Demonstrates understanding of the critical issues relating to the essay topic and draws on some evidence to justify the importance of the topic within a public health agenda, although some evidence of misunderstanding/lack of clarity in places.

Demonstrates very good understanding of the critical issues relating to the essay topic and draws on evidence to justify the importance of the topic within a public health agenda

Demonstrates excellent understanding of the critical issues relating to the essay topic and draws on recent and relevant evidence to justify the importance of the topic within a public health agenda

Demonstrates outstanding understanding of the critical issues relating to the essay topic and draws on recent and relevant evidence to fully justify the importance of the topic within a public health agenda.

The introduction does not provide insight into how material to will address the question.

The introduction provides limited insight into how the structure of material to follow and the rationale as to how the introduction will address the question is unclear.

The introduction provides an overview of the structure of material to follow but with only limited evidence of a rationale as to how the introduction will address the question.

The introduction provides a good overview of the structure of material to follow with some evidence of a rationale as to how the introduction will address the question.

The introduction provides a very good overview of the structure of material to follow with a rationale as to how the introduction will address the question.

The introduction provides an excellent overview of the structure of material to follow with a very clear rationale as to how the introduction will address the question.

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates lack of understanding of the theory selected, with inaccuracies in places and with very limited evidence of critical evaluation

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates some understanding of the theory selected, but inaccurate in places and with limited evidence of critical evaluation.

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates a generally accurate understanding of the theory selected, but with limited evidence of critical evaluation.

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates a very good and generally accurate understanding of the theory selected, with some evidence of critical evaluation.

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates an excellent, accurate and critical understanding of the theory selected

Essay 1 only – Demonstrates an outstanding, accurate, and critical understanding of the theory selected

Critical synthesis of current relevant literature

50%

Demonstrates lack of understanding of the issues, draws from limited evidence and shows no critical evaluation and synthesis.

Demonstrates some understanding of the issues, drawing from evidence to address the essay question but with limited evidence of critical evaluation and synthesis.

Demonstrates a good understanding of the issues drawing from evidence to address the essay question, with some critical evaluation and synthesis.

Demonstrates a very good understanding of the issues drawing from and synthesising recent, relevant, quality (i.e., peer reviewed) evidence to address the essay question with some critical evaluation.

Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the issues, drawing from and synthesising recent, relevant, quality (i.e., peer reviewed) evidence to critically address the essay question

Demonstrates an outstanding understanding of the issues drawing from and synthesising recent, relevant, quality (i.e., peer reviewed) evidence to critically address the essay question

Section

%

(E) 0-39% - Fail

(D) 40-49% - Pass

(C) 50-59% Good

(B) 60-69% Very Good

(A3) 70-79% Excellent/Distinction

(A2 & A1) 80-100%

Excellent/Distinction

Application to the general public

25%

Demonstrates a poor level of communication and creativity skills to produce a resource that is not appropriate to target the general population. Limited use of appropriate IT resources.

Demonstrates a low level of communication and creativity skills to produce a resource to target the general population, drawing from IT resources.

Demonstrates good communication and creativity skills to produce a resource to target the general population, using appropriate IT resources.

Demonstrates very good communication and creativity skills to produce an appropriate resource to target the general population, using appropriate IT resources.

Demonstrates excellent communication and creativity skills to produce an appropriate resource to target the general population, using appropriate IT resources.

Demonstrates outstanding communication and creativity skills to produce an appropriate resource to target the general population, using appropriate IT resources.

The resource is very unclear, and not engaging for the target population.

The resource is unclear and not very engaging.

The resource is somewhat clear and engaging.

The resource is clear and engaging.

The resource is clear and engaging, reflecting a near-professional standard.

The resource is exceptionally clear and engaging, reflecting a professional standard.

Demonstrates no application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource.

Demonstrates some application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource, but room to more clearly demonstrate this.

Demonstrates good application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource.

Demonstrates very good application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource.

Demonstrates excellent application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource.

Demonstrates outstanding application of evidence-based knowledge to the production of the resource.

Good Academic Practice

10%

Assignment adheres very poorly to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing. The written work is confused or undeveloped and doesn’t conform to the conventions of academic writing.

Assignment adheres poorly to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing). The work is written in an appropriate way but in places the ideas are confused, or undeveloped.

Assignment adheres in places to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing). The work is written in an appropriate way but is unclear or undeveloped in places and there is room to develop the coherence and clarity of writing style.

Good presentation, that mostly adheres to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing). The work is written in an appropriate way and is mostly logical, coherent and clear.

Excellent presentation, that adheres to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing). The work is written in an highly appropriate way and is generally well-structured, coherent and clear

Excellent presentation, that adheres to the guidelines provided (e.g., APA referencing). The work is written in a highly appropriate way, expression of ideas is coherent and clear, and consistent with quality required for a publication.