Psychology Midterm Essays

Essay/Extended Response

In complete paragraphs, answer 4 of the following questions for 10 points each.

• Discuss factors that may contribute to mental illness, and provide specific examples of at least two of these factors and how they may contribute to illness.  Discuss, too, the stigma that surrounds mental illness and how to change that in yourself and others.   
• Discuss the controversy of psychological medication, especially when it comes to children.  Refer to the documentary “The Medicated Child” from PBS’s Frontline and discuss both sides of the issue as well as your final opinion.
• Discuss the psychological approach that makes the most sense to you.  Explain why it makes sense to you and use it to begin to analyze your own behavior.
• Explain the concept of multiple intelligences and explain how it applies to you and your learning.
• Discuss one’s moral development.  Make specific references to Kohlberg’s theory of moral development.  You may discuss this theory in terms of your own life and/or other situations in the news/media/history/literature.  Discuss the stages and if you agree with Kohlberg’s classification. 
• Discuss Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs by defining and providing examples.  Describe what it means to be a “self-actualized person” both to Maslow and to you.  Discuss how self-actualization may occur.
• Discuss and define the terms “normal” and “abnormal” as they apply to psychology and day to day life.  Provide specific examples of each term to illustrate your definitions.

RUBRIC

• 10 points =  Student clearly answers all parts of the prompt, providing multiple specific and relevant examples from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction (thesis in which an original argument is asserted), body, and conclusion.
• 9 points =  Student clearly attempts to answer all parts of the prompt, providing some specific and relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction (thesis), body, and conclusion.
• 8 points =  Student answers most parts of the prompt, providing relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• 7 points =  Student attempts to answer the main part of the prompt, providing somewhat relevant evidence from his/her studies and/or observations.  Writing has a clear introduction and  body.
• 1-6 points =  Student’s answer lacks clarity and/or organization discussed above.