Psychology and Disability

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Psychology and Disability
Essay Guidance
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Essay Title

• Choose a disability (not deafness) and 4000
  words incorporating the following elements
• 1. A description of its functional limitations
• 2. A discussion of its psychohistory
• A discussion of its psychological aspects
  (including personal reactions to the disability
  and coping strategies used)
• 4. A discussion of its social aspects (societal
  attitudes and environmental barriers)

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Essay Plan Version 1
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Creating Mind Maps

• Although Ive used a linear style (old habits die
  hard!) on my Mind Map (previous slide), I was
  limited by the chart available for the
  powerpoint. Think about moving away from this
  style use colour, underlining and/or
  highlighting.
• Try and create a spidergram so linear notes
  then become a diagram.
• The main advantage of this is that you can easily
  see if there are any links between themes and
  ideas.

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Essay Plan Version 2
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General points to consider(not in any particular
order)

• Have you used quotations?
• What purpose do they serve?
• Are you saying something yourself?
• Does all the information relate to the essay
  title?
• Have you just tacked things on at the end to meet
  the word count
• Are you worried about choosing the right side
  of the argument?
• Have you become wishy washy?
• Is there something you dont understand?
• Have you decided to leave it out?
• How many examples are you using?
• Do they confuse the issue?
• What case are you making?

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General points to consider

• Originality
• Is your argument more interesting than
  interesting?
• Do you confidently express ideas that relate well
  to primary sources?
• Can you demonstrate a thorough understanding of
  the principles and theories?
• Conclusion
• Does your conclusion provide a reasoned summary
  of the points you have made and the argument you
  were hoping to demonstrate?
• Referencing
• Is this perfect!!!

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Reflexive Essay

• You are required to produce a 1000 word reflexive
  essay in which you reflect upon your
• own understandings, presuppositions, and
  reactions to disability, and, where appropriate,
• how this has changed during the duration of the
  course.
• The following questions may assist you to
  generate thoughts and ideas for your personal
• narrative. They are not intended to be
  comprehensive, nor should you feel you have to
• answer all or even any of them.
• What do you know and understand having completed
  this module that you didnt know before? 
• What has been your experience in relation to
  people with disabilities?
• What were your previous reactions to disability?
• Have you questioned your original ideas and
  assumptions surrounding disability?
• In what ways will involvement in this course
  inform the way in which you interact with people
  with disabilities in the future?
• What emotions were generated in choosing your
  contribution to the Course Review?
• How do you account for those emotions?
• Can you think of ways in which you can personally
  make a difference?
• Can you think of ways in which society can make a
  difference to the lives of disabled people?
• Is it an area you are interested in working in
  the future?

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Good Luck