Paper 3: 16-marker Booklet

Hints and Tips for Essay Writing

You will have approximately 20 minutes to write 16-mark questions.

Don t spend too long planning but have a good idea of the structure and order of the paragraphs.

Write in clear paragraphs!

Use effective sentence starters.

Don t include introductions or conclusions get straight to the point.

There are 6 A01 marks available.

There are 10 A02/A03 marks available.

A01 marks = describe/outline (e.g. studies, theories, models, explanations). Include lots of detailed and specialist terminology.

A02 marks = Application and links to a stem/scenario given to you by the examiner.

A03 marks = Evaluation: Strengths and weaknesses and/or supporting and challenging research/ explanations (this depends on the question).

A02/A03 part of essay: 4-5 well-detailed evaluation paragraphs are needed to get into the top-level band. You must use the NAME APPLY ELABORATE format name the strength/weakness apply that weakness to the study or explanation (give a very specific example) elaborate on the weakness by explaining exactly how it is a weakness.

If a stem is given, you must refer to it and apply your knowledge to it. Don t ignore it or marks will be capped.

Have essay plans for all 16-markers and for all topics.

Practice writing these up under timed conditions.

Practice writing quickly.

Practice writing these up under timed conditions. Again!

v Outline and evaluate questions = easiest types of questions outline and then give strengths and weaknesses and/or supporting and challenging research.

v Discuss questions very similar to evaluation but students are encouraged to include counter-comments in paragraphs.

v Discuss what research has shown us about questions = focus here is on findings and conclusions of research. Use the phrase this study has therefore shown us that . (findings/conclusions of the research).

v Stem questions must be applied to the stem, i.e. use quotes from the stem, use names of people in the stem, use phrases like, as can be seen in the stem throughout your answer:

A01 = 6 marks A02 = 4 marks A02 = 6 marks

Aggression

Outline and evaluate the role of neural mechanisms in aggression (16)

Outline and evaluate the role of hormonal mechanisms in aggression (16)

Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression (16)

Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression (16)

Outline and evaluate a biological explanation of aggression (16)

Outline and evaluate biological explanations of aggression (16)

Discuss the ethological explanation of aggression (16)

Describe and evaluate evolutionary explanations of human aggression (16)

Describe and evaluate the social learning theory of human aggression (16)

Describe and evaluate de-individuation as an explanation of aggression (16)

Discuss the frustration-aggression hypothesis as an explanation of aggression (16)

Discuss one social psychological explanation of aggression (16)

Discuss social psychological explanations of aggression (16)

Discuss explanations of institutional aggression in the context of prisons (16)

Discuss an explanation of institutional aggression in the context of prisons (16)

Describe and evaluate research into the effects of computer games on aggression (16)

Discuss media influences on aggression. Refer to desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming in your answer (16)

John was arrested for fighting with supporters of a rival team after a football match. He explained to the police officer why he was aggressive. The police officer noted John s comments in her notebook. Table 5 below shows some of John s comments.

The players were fighting on the pitch

Our team lost again it s not fair

Supporters of the other team ganged up on us

I was with my mates we were all punching at once

Everyone else was fighting, so I just joined in

Discuss one or more social psychological explanations for aggression. Refer to some of the comments in Table 5 in your answer (16) 2018 paper