Self and Identity

In your Learning Journal you will:
• Describe the theories, concepts and evidence related to your chosen sub­topic;
• Draw relevant examples from work, family and/or your everyday life;
• Incorporate readings prescribed for the sub­topics you have chosen, including the textbook;
• Refer to learning exercises from tutorials and content from lectures.
• Reflect on your learning as represented in your Learning Journal.
To complete your Learning Journal you will need to:
• Prepare for tutorials through completion of the Workbooks;
• Read the relevant readings and sections of the textbook;
• Attention and participate in tutorials;
• Reflect on tutorials in relation to your chosen sub­topics.
A discussion forum will be set up in vUWS for questions about this assignment.
Format and structure of Reflection (Learning Journal) 2
The format for your ‘Learning Journal’ is prescribed – you must stick to the format provided below.
You must replicate the headings listed below as your headings. That is, you type (or copy and paste) the
questions below for each section.
Address each heading in turn and in the order provided. These headings are not counted in the word
count. Do not delete these headings before submitting to Turnitin. We understand that by using the
same headings as everyone else your similarity index in Turnitin will be higher than other units. This will
be taken into account by your marker.
The total word count (excluding headings and the reference list) must not exceed 2,000 words.
Reflection (10% ­ 250 words maximum)
1) What did you learn from completing Reflection (Learning Journal) 1 that you have now applied to
writing your Learning Journal 2?
2) Summarise the feedback you got on Learning Journal 1 and how you have applied it to Learning
Journal 2.
Western Sydney University Learning Guide 17 of 22
Reflective Learning Journal entries (80% ­ see marking sheet for breakdown in allocation of these
marks.) Marks will be averaged over the three entries ­ i.e. there will not be a separate mark for each
entry. Word count ­ 500 words maximum for each entry, excluding headings ­ equals 1,500 words in
total.
This section of your Reflective Learning Journal will contain three entries, one each for: Self and Identity,
Prejudice and Discrimination and Attraction and Close Relationships. Address the following headings in
turn.
Topic: Self and Identity
1. Why you chose the sub­topic.
2. Summary of the sub­topic including a short quote that that illustrates the sub­topic.
3. Relevance of the sub­topic to your social world.
Topic: Prejudice and Discrimination
1. Why you chose the sub­topic.
2. Summary of the sub­topic including a short quote that that illustrates the sub­topic.
3. Relevance of the sub­topic to your social world.
Topic: Attraction and Close Relationships
1. Why you chose the sub­topic.
2. Summary of the sub­topic including a short quote that that illustrates the sub­topic.
3. Relevance of the sub­topic to your social world.
Conclusion & Reflection (10% ­ 250 words maximum, excluding question headings)
In the conclusion you will reflect on, and evaluate your learning of social psychology topics and scholarly
writing by answering the following questions:
1. What value has this Learning Journal been for your learning of social psychology and scholarly writing?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your Learning Journal (how could you improve it)?
Reference List (Not counted in word limit)
Note that there is no separate criterion for referencing and readabiitiy, these are incoporated in the
marks for each topic.
Guidance on completing the Reflection (Learning Journal) 2
An example of a topic and sub­topics
The topic for each tutorial (e.g. ‘Self and Identity’) is too large to be covered in your Learning Journal.
Therefore, you need to reflect on a sub­topic, not the whole tutorial topic.
Below is an example of a ‘topic’ and ‘sub­topics’ taken from the Tutorial 2 Workbook.
The topic for Tutorial 2 is ‘Self and Identity’.
The sub­topics related to this topic are:
a. Spotlight Effect & the Illusion of Transparency
b. Self­Concept ­ Self and culture
c. Self­esteem
d. Self­presentation
Your Learning Journal entry for the topic ‘Self and Identity’ will focus on only one of the above ‘subtopics’.
There is a similar format for Tutorials 3 and 4 in the relevant Tutorial Workbooks.
There is a model Learning Journal entry in the Tutorial 2 Workbook to provide you with guidance on what
is expected.