Structuring answers to 'evaluate x theory' questions
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redinthegrey
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Say you had to write a 1000 word essay evaluating two psychologists' theories with regard to a particular area of psychology, how would you structure it? I struggle with essays like this because when I've done my research I end up feeling like I have too much to write and can't do it justice with the maximum word count I have. I worked out that I could perhaps do a 50 word intro and then a body consisting of three 133 words paragraphs and a 50 word conclusion, then repeat (with the end conclusion linking both theories together)? Idk I'm just worried that I won't be covering enough ground by only making three points (with evidence for and against each)? I'm doing an Access Diploma btw, so not sure how much the essay-marking differs from A Level Psychology.
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Findlay6
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Google search your exam board and course title and you should find all of the mark schemes from previous papers.
This will give you an idea of how they mark you. A-Level has 3 Assessment Objectives they have to meet in essays (depending on what the essay is asking from you), so I'm not sure if the same would apply to your course.
A comparison essay should go something like this:
Intro
Theory 1 outline
Theory 1 evidence (research to support/oppose)
Theory 1 evaluate +link back to your question
Within the evaluation you should introduce theory 2
Theory 2 outline + evidence that supports/oppose
Theory 2 evaluate + link back to your question.
Conclude/establish your main points.
OR
You could intertwine and evaluate/compare as you go through the essay instead of breaking it into 2 sections.
This will give you an idea of how they mark you. A-Level has 3 Assessment Objectives they have to meet in essays (depending on what the essay is asking from you), so I'm not sure if the same would apply to your course.
A comparison essay should go something like this:
Intro
Theory 1 outline
Theory 1 evidence (research to support/oppose)
Theory 1 evaluate +link back to your question
Within the evaluation you should introduce theory 2
Theory 2 outline + evidence that supports/oppose
Theory 2 evaluate + link back to your question.
Conclude/establish your main points.
OR
You could intertwine and evaluate/compare as you go through the essay instead of breaking it into 2 sections.
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redinthegrey
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#3
(Original post by Findlay6)
Google search your exam board and course title and you should find all of the mark schemes from previous papers.
This will give you an idea of how they mark you. A-Level has 3 Assessment Objectives they have to meet in essays (depending on what the essay is asking from you), so I'm not sure if the same would apply to your course.
A comparison essay should go something like this:
Intro
Theory 1 outline
Theory 1 evidence (research to support/oppose)
Theory 1 evaluate +link back to your question
Within the evaluation you should introduce theory 2
Theory 2 outline + evidence that supports/oppose
Theory 2 evaluate + link back to your question.
Conclude/establish your main points.
OR
You could intertwine and evaluate/compare as you go through the essay instead of breaking it into 2 sections.
Google search your exam board and course title and you should find all of the mark schemes from previous papers.
This will give you an idea of how they mark you. A-Level has 3 Assessment Objectives they have to meet in essays (depending on what the essay is asking from you), so I'm not sure if the same would apply to your course.
A comparison essay should go something like this:
Intro
Theory 1 outline
Theory 1 evidence (research to support/oppose)
Theory 1 evaluate +link back to your question
Within the evaluation you should introduce theory 2
Theory 2 outline + evidence that supports/oppose
Theory 2 evaluate + link back to your question.
Conclude/establish your main points.
OR
You could intertwine and evaluate/compare as you go through the essay instead of breaking it into 2 sections.

There's assessment criteria given to you in a booklet that apply to every assignment you do. As far as I know you're not given marks. Rather, your teacher makes a holistic judgment about the essay and makes sure that it meets certain criteria, e.g. "analyse the concept of intelligence". I've not found anything on the internet re: how they mark it.
Btw I was talking about a question that simply asks you to evaluate two theories. Our teacher said you should compare them at the end but that isn't the *point* of the essay if that makes sense.
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