Kelly / AP Psych

Psychological Disorders Final Assessment

In the quest to increase our knowledge and awareness of the state of mental illness in our
society and the effects of these disorders on human behavior, we have looked at a variety of
examples with the goal of shedding light on the true nature of living with a psychological
disorder. We have looked at the stigma our society holds against those suffering from mental
illness as well as testimonials about how certain disorders effect specific individuals.
For your final assessment of this unit, you will be asked to take what you have learned
about psychological disorders as well as additional research, and use that information in a
creative way. For each of the options below, you are creating a story about mental illness. You
are using information learned during the unit to describe what it is like to live with mental
illness. Below are your options, which are essentially looking at mental illness from three
different perspectives.
1. Create a Dialogue
Create a dialogue between someone suffering from a psychological disorder and a mental health
worker or close friend. Describe several situations the patient went through that exemplify that
they have (or do not have for those hypochondriacs in the mix) the disorder you choose for them.
Describe how the mental health worker/friend might respond, perhaps explaining how some
symptom or event was common for a certain disorder.
2.

Create a Diary (Patient)

Assume the role of someone suffering from a psychological disorder. Write a series of diary
entries from this person that describe situations that illustrate a person dealing with some mental
illness. Entries should include descriptions of particular events, symptoms, feelings of
stigmatization, reactions to treatments, etcetera and should vary in length, tone, and detail so as
to accurately reflect the life of someone living with
disorder.
3.

Create a Diary (Doctor)

Assume the role of a mental health provider (therapist, psychologist, school counselor) and write
a series of diary entries that describe interactions with one or more patients. Comment on
specific events described to you by your patient(s). Describe any issues you may have with
patients that are a result of mental illness and offer insight into the disorder(s) they are dealing
with.
Guidelines
No matter what option you choose, you will be asked to deal creatively with a variety of
information. Be sure to create vivd, detailed stories that realistically show how one is affected by
psychological disorders. Make sure the symptoms expressed by your characters are linked to the
disease you are trying to portray. That is, if your character is suffering from multiple disorders,

Kelly / AP Psych

you must make that clear in your write-up. Use at least 4 outside sources (your textbook can be
ONE of your sources) to support your clams/symptoms/diagnosis.
In addition, each set of entries must meet the following rubric requirements:
4

Content

Entries clearly
reflect the
existence of one
or more specific
psychological
disorders

Entries reflect the

existence of one
or more
psychological
disorders

Entries somewhat
reflect the
existence of
psychological
disorders

Entries do not
clearly reflect a
specific
psychological
disorder (general
symptoms; vague
descriptions)

Creativity

Entries
incorporate
creative stories
that reveal the
causes,
symptoms, or
effects of a
psychological
disorder

Most entries
creatively reveal
the existence of
specific
psychological
disorders

Some entries
incorporate
creative stories,
others do not.

Little or no use of
create stories to
reveal
psychological
disorders
(character simply
describes
symptoms)

Evidence

Entries
incorporate at
least four sources
as evidence for
their claims

Entries
incorporate three
sources as
evidence

Entries
incorporate less
than three
relevant sources

Little or no
evidence used to
support claims

Sources/
Citations

Entries include a
variety highly
relevant sources
which are properly
cited in-text.

Entries include
adequate sources,
most of which are
properly cited intext

Entries include
few sources; relies
heavily on the
textbook, or has
missing/incomplet
e citations

Entries make little

use of source
material

Mechanics

Capitalization,
punctuation, and
spelling are
correct throughout
the poster.

There are few

errors in
capitalization,
punctuation, or
spelling.

There are more

than three errors
in capitalization,
punctuation, or
spelling.

There are many

errors
capitalization,
punctuation, or
spelling.

TOTAL: