WRITING ESSAYS FOR PAPER 1 B and Paper 2

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WRITING ESSAYS FOR PAPER 1 B and Paper 2
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• Paper 1 A

• Paper 1B

• Answer all three SAQs
• One hour
• App.. 250 words

• Choose one of the three essays
• One hour
• App.. 800 words

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Same assessment criteria as for paper 1 B

• Paper 2 SL

• Paper 2 HL

• Choose one essay from three possibilities for
  each option

• Choose two essays, each from different options

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Assessment objectives for SAQs and EAQs

• Students will be expected to demonstrate the
  following
• 1 Knowledge and comprehension of
• A specific content
• B key terms and concepts
• C psychological research methods
• D a range of appropriately identified
  psychological theories and research studies
• E the biological, cognitive and sociocultural
  level of analysis
• F one option (SL) and two options (HL)

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Assessment objectives for SAQs and EAQs

• 2. Application and analysis
• A demonstrate an ability to use examples of
  psychological research and psychological concepts
  to formulate an argument in response to a
  specific question
• 3 Synthesis and evaluation
• A evaluate psychological theories and empirical
  studies
• B discuss how biological, cognitive and
  sociocultural level of analysis can be used to
  explain behaviour
• C evaluate research methods used to investigate
  behaviour
• 4 Selection and use of skills appropriate to
  psychology
• A write an organized response

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WRITING ESSAYS FOR PAPER 1 B and Paper 2

• Have a look at the assessment details for paper 1
  B and paper 2 (SL HL)
• A knowledge and comprehension
• Total of 9 marks
• B Evidence of critical thinking application,
  analysis, synthesis, evaluation
• Total of 9 marks
• C Organization
• Total of 4 marks

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The traditional structure of an essay

• The Introduction introduce the essay question
  and your line of argument
• The main body present information in a clear and
  logical manner build an answer to the essay
  question
• Each paragraph should contain an argument and
  include relevant knowledge to support it (maybe
  also counter-argument)
• The conclusion relate directly to the question
  raised your ultimate answer based on your
  argument

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Before you start writing

• Read the essay question very carefully
• Identify command terms and content (what are you
  suppose to do and with what?)
• Make an outline (e.g. mind-map) spend ten
  minutes planning and you will have 50 minutes
  to write and check your answer

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General advice about writing in psychology

• Focus on the question
• Clear structure
• Apply critical thinking skills
• You have to argue! ( persuasion)
• Write for an audience
• Your job is to convince by solid arguments and
  evidence
• Dont let the reader be left to guess!

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An EAQ example

• Discuss the use of one research method (e.g.
  experiments, case studies) in the cognitive level
  of analysis. Use relevant research studies in
  your response. 22 marks
• Now, with eight steps, create an outline
• Step one identify command terms
• Step two identify content
• Step three find one relevant research study
• Step four what argument?
• Step five consider the argument
• Step six make an outline
• Step seven write according to your outline
• Step eight read through your essay

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Eight steps

• identify command terms discuss
• identify content one research method is the
  experimental method
• find one relevant research study Loftus and
  Palmer (1974) on the role of leading questions on
  recall (memory)
• what argument? 1. Why the experimental method is
  used in the cognitive level of analysis 2.
  possible reasons for using it in Loftus and
  Palmer 3. Was it a good choice - evaluation
• consider the argument could other methods be
  used instead? And why do they use the
  experimental method?
• make an outline structure of your essay
• write according to your outline
• read through your essay

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Possible outline

• Introduction explain why the experimental method
  is used in the cognitive level of analysis and
  how this is illustrated in Loftus and palmer
  (1974)
• Paragraph 1 The cognitive level of analysis
  discuss why the experimental method is used in
  some studies
• Paragraph 2 characteristics of the experimental
  method, including strengths and limitations
• Paragraph 3 why the experimental method was used
  in Loftus and Palmer (1974) rather than another
  method
• Paragraph 4 Briefly describe the study, focusing
  on the experimental features to justify the use
  of the experiment
• Paragraph 5 evaluation
• Conclusion how the experimental method has
  proved useful in research studies on memory, but
  it is important to be aware of the limitations of
  the method, especially when generalizing to
  real-life memory