Grade Details
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Assignment Details
Assignment Instructions
My Personality Theory Paper
Instructions:
For this assignment, you will write a paper no less than 7 pages in length, not including required cover and Reference pages, describing a single personality theory from the course readings that best explains your own personality and life choices. You are free to select from among the several theories covered in the course to date but only one theory may be used.
Your task is to demonstrate your knowledge of the theory you choose via descriptions of its key concepts and use of them to explain how you developed your own personality. It is recommended that you revisit the material covered to date to refresh your knowledge of theory details. This is a “midterm” assignment and you should show in your work that you have studied and comprehended the first four weeks of course material. Your submission should be double-spaced with 1 inch margins on all sides of each page and should be free of spelling and grammar errors. It must include source crediting of any materials used in APA format, including source citations in the body of your paper and in a Reference list attached to the end. Easy to follow guides to APA formatting can be found on the tutorial section of the APUS Online Library.
Your paper will include three parts:
I. A brief description of the premise and key components of the theory you selected. You should be thorough and concise in this section and not spend the bulk of the paper detailing the theory, but rather just give enough of a summary of the key points so that an intelligent but uniformed reader would be able to understand its basics. If you pick a more complicated theory, you should expect explaining its premise and key components to take longer than explaining the same for one of the simpler theories but, in either case, focus on the basics and keep in mind that a paper that is almost all theory description and little use of the theory described to explain your own personality will receive a significant point deduction as will the reverse case of the paper being largely personal experience sharing with little linkage to clearly described key theory components.
II. A description of how your chosen theory explains your personality and life choices with supporting examples.
III. A description of the limitations of the theory in explaining your personality or anyone else’s.
NOTE: Although only your instructor will be reading your paper, you should still think about how much personal information you want to disclose. The purpose of this paper is not to get you to share private information, but rather to bring one of the theories covered in the course to life by applying it to your own real world experience.
Your paper will be submitted as an attachment to the My Personality Theory Paper tab on the classroom Assignments page. Work that is copied and pasted into the assignment student comments box cannot be graded. When your paper is attached it is automatically submitted to Turnitin.com.
The grading rubric below details specific grading criteria.
My Personality Theory Paper
100 %Exemplary
4 ptsAccomplished
3.4 ptsDeveloping
3 ptsBeginning
2.6 ptsDid not attempt
0 ptsIntroduction
15 %
Exemplary
Clear introduction which summarizes the major points to be covered in the paper. Topic sentence is well developed.
Accomplished
Introduction satisfactorily summarizes the major points to be covered in the paper. Topic sentence is satisfactorily developed.
Developing
Introduction only partially summarizes the major points to be covered in the paper. Topic sentence is marginally developed.
Beginning
Introduction inadequately summarizes the major points to be covered in the paper. Topic sentence is not present.
Did not attempt
Student did not attempt this portion of the assignment.
Depiction of Personality Theory
23 %
Exemplary
Discussion of the chosen personality theory is clear, accurate, and related to the assignment. Reflects a good understanding of the theoretical framework and key concepts. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Accomplished
Discussion of the chosen personality theory is adequately clear, accurate, and related to the assignment. Reflects a satisfactory understanding of the theoretical framework and key concepts. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Developing
Discussion of the chosen personality theory is marginally clear, accurate, and/or tangentially related to the assignment. Reflects a marginal understanding of the theoretical framework and key concepts. Sources are credited and cited appropriately..
Beginning
If present, discussion of the chosen personality theory is unclear, inaccurate, and /or unrelated to the assignment. Reflects a poor understanding of the theoretical framework and key concepts. No sources cited.
Did not attempt
Student did not attempt this portion of the assignment.
Application of Personality Theory
39 %
Exemplary
Clear application of the chosen personality theory as a means of understanding drives, motivations, needs, reinforcers, etc., for the specific life experiences which are shared in the paper. Chosen personality theory is used to structure a narrative of how one’s personality developed, using the chosen theoretical framework and life experiences as an example. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Accomplished
Somewhat clear application of the chosen personality theory as a means of understanding drives, motivations, needs, reinforcers, etc., for the specific life experiences which are shared in the paper. Chosen personality theory is adequately used to structure a narrative of how one’s personality developed, using the chosen theoretical framework and life experiences as an example. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Developing
Marginally clear application of the chosen personality theory as a means of understanding drives, motivations, needs, reinforcers, etc., for the specific life experiences which are shared in the paper. Chosen personality theory is marginally used to structure a narrative of how one’s personality developed, using the chosen theoretical framework and life experiences as an example. Sources are credited and cited appropriately
Beginning
Poor application of the chosen personality theory as a means of understanding drives, motivations, needs, reinforcers, etc., for the specific life experiences which are shared in the paper. Chosen personality theory is not sufficiently used to structure a narrative of how one’s personality developed, using the chosen theoretical framework and life experiences as an example. Sources are not adequately credited and cited appropriately.
Did not attempt
Student did not attempt this portion of the assignment.
Strength of Conclusions
15 %
Exemplary
Conclusions about the broader implications of these topics are clear and thoughtful. Questions outlined in the assignment are answered. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Accomplished
Conclusions about the broader implications of these topics are somewhat clear and often thoughtful. Questions outlined in the assignment are satisfactorily answered. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Developing
Conclusions about the broader implications of these topics are marginally clear but lack a thoughtful. approach Questions outlined in the assignment are marginally answered. Sources are credited and cited appropriately.
Beginning
Conclusions about the broader implications of these topics are not provided, clear or thoughtful. Questions outlined in the assignment are not answered. Sources are insufficiently credited and cited appropriately.
Did not attempt
Student did not attempt this portion of the assignment.
Format/Writing
8 %
Exemplary
Work is presented in a logical and coherent way. Writing is clear, articulate, and error free. Citations are composed in proper format with few or no errors. The student uses a preponderance of original writing (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing) and uses direct quotations minimally and only when necessary/or appropriate.
Accomplished
Work is grammatically sound with a few minor errors. Citations are composed in the proper format with some errors. The student uses original writing (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing) and uses direct quotations minimally and only when necessary/or appropriate.
Developing
Work contains frequent grammatical errors. Citations are inaccurate or improperly formatted. The Assignment may reflect an underuse of original writing and an overuse of directly quoted content.
Beginning
Work does not demonstrate appropriate undergraduate level writing. It reflects an underuse of original writing and an overuse of directly quoted content.
Did not attempt
Student did not attempt this portion of the assignment.
