How to Write Brilliant Psychology Essays. Paul Dickerson
why? You are making an attribution and you probably do so all the time. This essay will provide the answer to these mysteries of human interaction.
4 Kelley’s covariation model of causal attribution outlined the way in which we decide whether a cause is internal or external. Kelley argued that we assess the consensus, consistency and distinctiveness of an event that we are trying to make an attribution about.
5 Kelley’s covariation model of causal attribution could be understood as representing a particularly important example of applying a rational framework to understand human cognitive functioning. This essay will first outline the rational, deductive principles which Kelley’s covariation model suggests that we use in calculating causality.
Making sense of the sample orientating sentences
Perhaps start by identifying the strongest of these opening sentences. It is extremely likely that you, like I, would choose sample e. But let’s dig deeper here. Without getting bogged down in Kelley and covariation, why not characterise what these sentences are actually doing? Try the quick exercise below.
Exercise
Characterising opening sentences
Look through the sample opening sentences again. What is each one actually doing?
Here are some of the ways in which you might characterise what the sample sentences are doing:
1 Launches into a description of Kelley’s covariation model
2 Provides a chatty sense of what attribution might look like in everyday life
3 Demonstrates a clear conceptualisation of what Kelley’s model means in psychology
4 Tries to emphasise the importance of the topic for humanity
5 Tries to give a very global sense of attribution’s relevance
How would you fit these characterisations to the samples that we have just looked at? Please note, some do overlap (for example, 4 and 5).
Sample (a) – I think this __________________________________
Sample (b) – I think this __________________________________
Sample (c) – I think this __________________________________
Sample (d) – I think this __________________________________
Sample (e) – I think this __________________________________
The less effective sample opening sentences could work in other contexts. The chatty style of sample c could be a reasonable opening to a relationship-focused magazine article. Similarly, sample b’s emphasis on the importance of attribution could be relevant for introducing attribution to a non-specialist audience who were not previously familiar with it. Perhaps it could work for a very general psychology-orientated website? But the academic essay is a special form of writing. Your reader does not seek the chatty examples or the emphasis on global significance; they want to see your scholarly understanding.
Let’s look at reader feedback on the above sample orientating sentences:
1 Attribution is all around us… This is just so generalised. The essay is about Kelley’s Covariation Model, not life, the universe and everything. More precision is needed here.
2 Human beings are cognitive creatures for whom thinking is crucial… This is generalised and involves truisms, why should we be told that thinking is important to humans? A more precise focus on the significance of Kelley’s work for psychology, not attributions relevance for humanity, is what is needed.
3 Your friend blanks you – why?… I can almost see the colour photos that could accompany this text in a magazine article. For an academic essay, you don’t need to draw in your reader in this way. Show them a scholarly understanding of the topic of the essay and its relevance for psychology.
4 Kelley’s covariation model of causal attribution outlined the way in which we decide whether a cause is internal or external… Where is the orientating sentence? Where is the introduction for that matter? This has simply launched in with a description of Kelley’s Covariation Model. It is true that it is not over-generalised, but it is also not an introduction.
5 Kelley’s covariation model of causal attribution could be understood as representing a particularly important example of applying a rational framework to understand human cognitive functioning… This is not perfect, but it does address Kelley’s work by conceptualising what it has brought to psychology. This really conveys a sense of a mind at work – there is thinking and understanding about the focus of the essay title and its significance within psychology.
What makes it good?
A strong orientating sentence provides a sense of really grasping the relevance of the essay topic for psychology. It conceptualises the topic – in this example, Kelley’s Covariation Model – showing an understanding of the distinctive contribution that it makes within psychology or a subdiscipline of psychology (such as social, developmental or cognitive psychology) or a field of research within that subdiscipline (neuro-imaging, children’s cognitive development or prosocial behaviour). Your orientating sentences are an opportunity to impress your reader straight away with your grasp of the essay topic. A simple sentence or two – if carefully thought out – can convey a real depth of understanding. Your first sentences will do something – look through these examples and try to ensure that yours do the job of communicating a focused, clear understanding of the distinctive features and relevance of the essay topic.
The statement of intent
‘Statement of intent’ is an unusual term, with a somewhat legalistic ring to it. The statement of intent is the programme guide, street map, menu or orientating briefing for your essay. A clear statement of intent improves the reader’s experience of your essay and that really is important. With a statement of intent, your reader will know what is coming next and so the essay starts to feel well structured. If your statement of intent is really good, then the reader can see the rationale for what you have included and for the order in which you are addressing different ideas in your essay. A strong statement of intent can even help to convey a sense of critical thinking as it can highlight what you identify as some of the key points of discussion and debate that are relevant for the essay topic.
Ace your assignment Think about your reader’s experience – from the beginning
Tables 3.1 and 3.2 present a weaker and a stronger example of some introductory paragraphs and how a reader might interpret them. Look at each example first and pause to think how it made you feel before checking the reader’s reactions.
Table 3.1
Table 3.2
A strong statement of intent can tick so many boxes, conveying an understanding of the relevant literature, a sense of clear structure and some critical awareness, but a typical statement of intent falls short of this. Many essays do not have a statement of intent or have something so generic that it is neither sign-posting a rationale nor demonstrating evaluative thinking. To get a clearer grasp of this, let’s return to the sample essay title used above and see how a statement of intent could be written.
Example
Essay