RYERSON  UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

CPSY 105  —  ESSAY
WORTH:    25% of your final mark

Select one behaviour, characteristic, attitude, emotion, or habit of yours (e.g., being late, shyness, your selection of your particular programme at Ryerson, your quick temper, brushing your teeth every night).  Describe the behaviour/trait of yours in detail.  Do you have this characteristic in all or a few situations?  In what situations?  With whom?  How do other people respond when you exhibit this characteristic?

LENGTH:    1-2 paragraphs

Then, describe how your behaviour/trait would be explained by any two of the following approaches:  Biological, Learning, Cognitive, Social, Psychodynamic.

LENGTH:    about 4 pages

Finish your assignment by indicating whether you agree with either of the interpretations you have discussed and why or why not.

LENGTH:    1-2 paragraphs

References to sources outside the required course reading and lecture material will be needed for this essay.  You must use at least two references.  (Popular magazines such as Psychology Today and introductory psychology textbooks will not be accepted.)  You will receive an F if you use an introductory psychology textbook as a reference.

You must use a formal essay style with APA style of referencing.  This essay must be typed, double-spaced.  You may not use any quotations in this essay; all of it must be in your own writing.

5% will be deducted for each day that this essay is late.

MARKING SCHEME:    Grammar, spelling, APA style of referencing    10%
Knowledge of the Approaches            45%
Application of approaches to yourself        45%