Purpose The essay is intended to give you an opportunity to focus deeply on a topical area of sociological research into mental illness, and will build your analytical skills and insights and benefit future careers and life experience, in general. Task details 2,000 word essay, topics related to key issues in sociology of mental illness. SILOs Apply sociological concepts to understanding and analysing mental health and illness (SILO 1) Critically analyse key concepts and theories in the sociology of mental health and illness (SILO 2) Summarise and evaluate research and arguments on a specific topic in the sociology of mental health and illness at the appropriate level (SILO 3) Demonstrate awareness of lived experience of mental ill-health and family care-giving (SILO 4). TOPIC: The power-threat-meaning framework What is the power-threat-meaning framework (PTMF), and why was it developed as an alternative conceptual framework to psychiatric diagnosis? What are its strengths and weaknesses? In developing your analysis, you will need to explain the aims and assumptions of the PTMF and explain how it is different from the (dominant) biomedical model of mental illness. Articles by Harper & Cromby (2022) and Johnstone & Boyle (2018) offer a good starting point. EXPLANATION OF GRADING CRITERIA Structure – 20% Good essay organisation and structure supports the logical development of a discussion or argument (includes clear, purposeful introduction and conclusion, and clearly organised paragraphs of approximately 150-200-words). An essay should be coherent; there should be a degree of integration or ‘flow’ running through the ideas you present. Coherence is supported by sound sentence and paragraph construction. Your introduction should introduce the topic you wish to discuss, the specific aspects you will cover, your argument, and the organisation of your essay (i.e., the order in which you will discuss the different aspects). Your conclusion should sum up the essay’s discussion and draw conclusions (note that a conclusion is not a repeat of the introduction); you might also suggest future areas for research. • How well have you planned and organised your essay? • Is your essay presented systematically and logically, with clear connections between sentences and smooth transitions between paragraphs? • Have you included a clear, purposeful introduction and conclusion? Content/Discipline-specific skills – 50% Your essay should address the topic sociologically and demonstrate a clear understanding of key sociological concepts appropriate to the chosen topic, i.e., focuses on “the social”, not the biological or the psychological realms. You will need to use sociological language and ideas in your essay — remember that this essay focuses on “the social” – it is not focused on symptoms and medical explanations (though these might be mentioned if relevant to your discussion) *** Examples of sociological explanations – Sandell & Bornas (week-8) focus on neoliberal subjectivity and the broader question of how the social environment shapes selfhood in an effort to explain the rise in depression; Eckersley (week-7) discusses cultural change in terms of the qualitatively different pressures on younger generations because of rapid social, economic, and cultural changes >>> and this, he argues, contributes to increased rates of mental health problems • Have you answered the essay question? • Have you demonstrated a good understanding of the topic? • Have you focused primarily on the social/sociological dimensions of the topic? • Are you within 10% of the required word length (excluding the reference list)? Inquiry/research – 10% In your essay, you need to demonstrate adequate use of relevant research material, including readings from the SOC3001 subject reading lists (i.e., from the SLG, lecture slides, and/or the Supplementary Reading List) *** You may also use relevant A/V resources from the subject as sources for your essay *** 50-100% of your sources (i.e., 5-12 sources) must come from the SOC3001 readings and A/V resources (as defined above) • Have you used 10-12 credible and appropriate sources? • Are 50% (or more) of your sources from the subject reading lists? • Have you used your sources effectively? That is, have you engaged with your sources, and used them accurately and purposefully to advance your discussion or argument? Presentation – 10% • Is your essay expressed in clear language? • Is your writing free of grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors? • Have you proofread your work before submission? Referencing – 10% You may use Harvard, APA-6, or APA-7 for referencing. Have you referenced your sources correctly? • Are in-text references correct and consistent and follow LTU-Harvard, APA 6, or APA-7 conventions? • Have you included page numbers for all quotes? • Are all relevant details included for each source in the Reference list? • Are your sources listed alphabetically, according to author surname? • Are claims/evidence adequately supported by sources? Number of sources Please aim for 10-12 sources. Their inclusion as source material will be judged on how well they earn their place in your essay. In other words, you are expected to use reference material to further your discussion, not just to get to the required number of sources. Source material can help you to show your command of such concepts such as medicalisation, but usage should be followed by discussion. So, please remember that your reason for using a reference should be specific and purposeful. On using the personal pronoun ‘I’ Be judicious. Use ‘I’ to clearly show your hand in your work i.e., when you state an informed opinion or make a conclusion. Avoid saying “I feel”. Best to say, “I consider” or “I suggest” or “I argue”.
