Download and review the Assignments
The assignments are briefly described below. Before beginning Week 1 activities, please review the accompanying directions and scoring tool for each assignment. Reminders and tips for assignments will appear in the weekly activity directions in the weeks that the assignments are introduced and in the weeks that they are due. Because the Course Engagement assignment is worked on throughout the course, it is introduced below, but will not be included in weekly directions.
To assist with planning your time, please refer to the Appraisal and Testing for Counselors Assignment Matrix document, which contains a breakdown of assignments in a matrix format for easy reference.
Sample Papers
Below are two sample papers. They are student papers, and not perfect, but are good examples of "A" work. Be sure to use your own information, writing style, and conclusions, and do not merely change the information from these papers. You may not use this particular assessment for your paper.
Individual Referral Sample Paper
Assessment Evaluation Sample Paper
Assignment List:
Assignment #1: Weekly Quizzes – Weekly quizzes will be available, and you are expected to complete a minimum of ten quizzes during the semester. The quizzes are open book, multiple choice, and approximately 20 questions each. They reflect the content of the book and are focused on the course objectives for the week.
Introduced: First day of each week (Tuesday)
Due: The last day of each week (following Monday)
Assignment #2: Assessment Evaluation – The final paper will be an evaluation of a psychological test. It will follow a specific format, and will include a detailed report on a breadth and depth of information regarding the assessment chosen. A group of assessments will be available for choosing during approximately the second week of the course. They will be mailed to each student. The specific assignment sheet and rubric is posted.
Introduced: Week 2
Due: Week 8
Assignment #3: Individual Referral – As mental health professionals, it is imperative that we know and understand ourselves, and that we understand the ‘character variables’ that we as individuals present in subsequent helping relationships with clients. This course will provide you with the opportunity to engage in the process of your own individual assessment. This assignment has two objectives: First, you will complete an assessment battery of selected assessments and will analyze the results; and second, you will formulate a professional assessment report. This assignment will be uploaded directly to the instructor for privacy reasons.
The increasing emphasis on accountability has led to an expanding need for counselors to document and substantiate the value of their work. A survey of administrators of mental health agencies indicated that “ability to write clearly, concisely, and in a professional style” was one of the three most important skills they sought in masters level counselors (Seligman, 1996, p. 299).
Psychological reports provide the mental health practitioner with a comparable in-depth view of the subject. The report can clarify personality dynamics and explain overt behavior. It is capable of providing answers to differential diagnostic issues and pointing a finger at possible etiology. A good report can explain the effects of the interaction of cognitive and intellectual factors upon personality – it provides a perspective on the dynamic factors that exist below the overt behavior of the client. The report also provides for a normative comparison concerning the functioning of an individual and an integrated and coherent presentation of relatively objective data. The hypotheses and recommendations can be formulated from the information provided from a psychological report.
These reports are typically 3-4 single spaced pages in length. They are in clear, concise, and short sections that are technically written in short succinct sentences. They are written in the third person always and are person-focused, and not test- or theory-focused. Usually components of the psych report include information on who the client is, the reason for referral, presenting problems, the assessment instruments, background information on the client, behavioral observations during the assessment, the client’s intellectual and cognitive functioning, personality (cognitive, intrapsychic, and interpersonal), diagnostic impressions, recommendations, and a summary. Related Resource: Sample Report.
Introduced: Week 5
Due: Week 13
Assignment #4: Course Engagement – You are expected to have an active presence in course discussions, and complete course activities as noted in the activity directions to maximize your learning. Participation in activities should be consistent, of high-quality, and reflect both a high level of academic thinking and your own personal perspectives, opinion, and ideas.
Introduced: Overview
Due: Work on throughout the course (ongoing)
Beck Youth Inventory Tables A1-A3
Download the Beck Youth Inventory Tables that are referred to in your Beck assessment. After the assessment is scored, you will use the Tables here to convert your raw score to a standard score. If your score is lower than the scores shown, it is subclinical, and should not be a concern. If you have any questions, please post in the Discussion Forum. You will not have your assessments until they are mailed to you, so please wait to ask questions until after you have had time to review the assessment, take it, score it, and then have problems.
Grading
Below is a chart that represents the graded elements of the course and the percentage distribution for each assignment, followed by the grading scale.
Graded Elements:
|
Assignments
|
Point Distribution |
|
Assignment 1: Weekly Quizzes |
100 |
|
Assignment 2: Assessment Evaluation |
100 |
| Assignment 3: Individual Referral | 100 |
| Assignment 4: Course Engagement (includes contributions to team activities) | 130 |
| TOTAL | 430 |
| A | 94-100% |
| A- |
90-93% |
| B+ |
87-89% |
| B |
84-86% |
| B- |
80-83% |
| C+ |
77-79% |
| C |
74-76% |
| C- | 70-73% |
| F | 69% or below |
The grades of D+, D, and D- are not awarded at the graduate level. An average below 70 is an F.
Points will be totaled and a percentage will be calculated to determine a final grade.
Scoring tools will be provided to guide you as you complete activities and to promote self-assessment. The instructor will use the scoring tools to grade assignments and assist in providing feedback and an overall grade.
Students are expected to submit assignments when due and must negotiate any exceptions with the instructor prior to the due date. A grade reduction of one increment (e.g., from an A to an A-, from an A- to a B+, etc.) may be applied on any assignment that is submitted after the due date without the instructors’ prior consent.
The conventions of English in written assignments, exclusive of online discussions, either threaded or real-time, should be at a level appropriate for graduate students. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition, is the definitive source for information pertaining to conventions of English.
