Explain how retrieval practice can be very powerful at improving memory, some research shows that pressure during retrieval can undermine some of the learning benefit.’’ (Weinstein et al., 2018, p.9) Discuss relevant psychological research papers and describe at least 3 of these studies in sufficient detail to demonstrate the relevance of the evidence to the argument. These papers might easily be sourced from the Weinstein et al. (2018) review paper, using cross-referencing from both cited references and subsequent citations of that paper as a good starting point. Dunlosky et al. (2013) also provide a good review of relevant literature. Some additional useful readings include papers by Roediger and Butler (2011) and Smith et al. (2016) on retrieval practice and long-term memory, and Clark et al. (2018) on test anxiety. These starting references are provided in the assessment module for this task on Canvas. You are encouraged to seek further useful resources to support your arguments.
Understanding the assessment criteria:
Some pointers
Title:
The title of the essay should be focused and succinct. Ensure that the title captures the main topic of your essay and that it includes only essential terms. Avoid using abbreviations in the title; instead, write out all terms in full. The title should also convey your position on the topic under consideration, thereby setting up readers expectations for what will be argued in the essay.
Introduction:
The introduction sets the focus of the essay by establishing what the topic is, why it is important or relevant, what the authors position on the topic is, and how that position will be argued for throughout the essay. As you write the introduction, you will need to define key terms and summarise essential background information, so the reader understands the broader context for the essay. You will also need to explain why the topic is important or relevant in a way that attempts to engage the reader and captures their interest. Finally, you will need to clearly state your own position with regard to the topic (i.e., your thesis) and provide a concise overview of the argument you will develop in support of it. Because the introduction as a whole needs to be concise, you should aim to include only essential information; that is, information that orients the reader to the purpose of your essay. Avoid material that is tangential, off-topic, or beyond the scope of the essay you have been asked to write.
Argument:
The body of the essay is dedicated to analysis. The aim of this section is to provide well-reasoned support for your stated thesisto develop a cogentargument. Your argument will most likely involve a few key points. Each one will need to be supported by credible evidence, drawn from relevant research, and you will need to explain how the point supports your thesis. Assessors will thus be paying attention to your ability to critically engage with the topic and to how you evaluate and use evidence throughout your essay.
Organisation:
As you present your argument, it is important to consider the progression of ideas. The reader needs to understand how the key points in your argument relate to one another and to the whole. For this reason, it is a good idea to sketch out your ideas before you start writing the essay. This process encourages you to think about the overall structure of your argument and the order in which points are presented. Because your argument likely has many points, it is important that they all fit together neatly. Assessors will be paying attention to whether your ideas are presented in a logical order and how you guide the reader through the main points in your argument.
Understanding:
Throughout the essay you will need to draw on relevant material from the literature to make your argument. This means you will need to refer to particular theoretical concepts, research methods, and empirical findings as you go about elaborating each point. In doing so, you show the reader your understanding of the topic and the associated literature. Assessors will therefore consider the accuracy of the information you have presented and whether it reflects an appropriate level of understanding.
Conclusion: The conclusion summarises and integrates the key points developed throughout the body to bring the essay to a satisfying close. This section is not intended as a repeat of the introduction; rather, you need to bring all the strands of your argument together to resolve the discussion with reference to your thesis. The conclusion also gives you the opportunity to reflect more broadly on the significance of your argument, such as the wider implications it might have, and to discuss directions that future research on the topic may wish to explore.
Writing and presentation:
Throughout your essay, readers will be paying attention to how you express yourself in writing, how you format the paper, and how you reference work from other authors. You can find advice relevant to these matters in the Publication Manual.
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