Quickstart tip: On a chapter page, click "Create" or "Edit" (if you haven't switched on the Visual Editor) or "Create source" or "Edit source" (if you have switched on the Visual Editor), add "{{subst:Motivation and emotion/Book chapter structure}}", and click "Publish". This will paste the template material and create an initial structure.
James Neill talking about the student-authored textbook exercise in 2010. From 2011, the focus turned to developing a self-improvement book which utilises psychological science about motivation and emotion.
Author an online book chapter up to 4,000 words about a unique, specific motivation or emotion topic. Topics must be approved by the unit convener. Includes a social contribution component. Worth 45%.
Overview
The purpose of this exercise is to author an interesting, professional, freely available, online book chapter about a specific, unique motivation or emotion topic.
The chapter should consider how an aspect of psychological theory and research knowledge can be used to help people live more effective motivational and emotional lives.
This exercise includes a social contribution component which involves providing online feedback about, and contributing to, the development of other book chapters.
Guidelines
Follow these guidelines in preparing a Book Chapter (and address the marking criteria):
Theme: Chapters should clearly contribute to the overarching theme of the motivation and emotion book which is "understanding and improving our motivational and emotional lives using psychological science". The target audience is a general (non-topic-expert) reader interested in personal growth and development based on knowledge in psychology science (theory and research).
Wikiversity: Present the chapter as a single page on the English Wikiversity website. A link to the chapter should appear in the Table of Contents along with the primary author's Wikiversity user name.
Topic development and chapter plan: The topic and a chapter plan must be approved. For more information, see topic development.
Collaboration and peer feedback:
Each book chapter will have one lead author. Chapters should be independently developed and written primarily by the lead author, but collaboration is strongly encouraged (e.g., by using feedback and incorporating useful edits and suggestions by others).
Lead authors are strongly encouraged to seek feedback about the chapter during the drafting process.
One way to request feedback is to create a thread in the Canvas discussion forum (use the chapter title and subtitle in the subject line and include a hyperlink to the chapter in the message).
Feedback is usually best placed on the chapter's wiki discussion page.
Length (Word count):
There is no minimum length.
Maximum 4,000 words per chapter + 10%. Words beyond this will not be considered for marking purposes.
How to count:
Count everything from top to bottom of the editable page (using page view, not edit mode).
Include the title, subtitle, table of contents, headings, text, tables, figures, references, and links.
Do not include the top and side navigation bars or content in linked Appendices (see subpages).
Submission: Submit the chapter URL (website address) and your Wikiversity user name via UCLearn.
Marking criteria
Book chapters will be marked according to four criteria:
Theory (30%): Identify, understand, and make effective use of key motivation or emotion theoretical concepts in exploring the topic and developing an answer to the question(s). Demonstrate critical thinking in application of the theor(ies).
Problem statement (5%): Explain the practical problem to be solved in a clear and engaging way. Examples can be helpful.
Breadth and depth (15%):
Provide a framework for understanding the topic. Explain the relevance of one or more psychological theories/models and how they apply to the problem.
Depending on the topic, this criteria could be met by providing in-depth examination of a single theory or, for other topics, might be best addressed by comparing and contrasting a few theories. The most important aspect is: has the chapter identified the key relevant emotion or motivation theory/theories pertaining to the problem and explained these, integrated them with research, and shown how they can be applies towards practical improvements in everyday life.
Utilise the best dozen or so peer-reviewed theory references about the topic.
Integration with research (5%): Integrate discussion of theory with review of research evidence and use this to help provide a critical consideration of the utility of the theory(ies).
Examples (5%): Consider including one or more practical examples, such as case studies. Try to apply the selected theory(ies) and research to everyday life situations that readers are likely to encounter.
Research (30%): Critically analyse key peer-reviewed research findings and explain their relation to theoretical and practical aspects of the topic.
Summary of key findings (20%):
Explain how key, peer-reviewed research findings apply to the problem.
Utilise the best dozen or so peer-reviewed research references about the topic.
Critical thinking (5%): Critically analyse the research discussed.
Integration with theory (5%): Integrate discussion of theory and research findings.
Written expression (30%): Present and illustrate the problem and knowledge in an interesting and readable way (e.g., using images, tables, and/or applied examples) to an intelligent layperson, using a logical structure and clear layout, professional spelling and grammar, interactive learning features, and APA style.
Contribution to book theme (5%): The chapter should address a clearly defined topic which contributes to the book theme.
Style and readability (5%):
The writing style should be readable for an intelligent layperson who is interested in how to apply psychological knowledge about motivation or emotion to his/her own life. The chapter should be academically sound, but also strive to provide practical, science-based self-improvement information.
Important concepts should be clearly explained, with links to further information.
Use third person language, although specific sections or examples could be written in first person.
Write for an international audience (i.e., avoid adopting an overly local or national perspective).
Paragraph structure - A well-constructed paragraph is generally 3 to 5 sentences (opening sentence, body sentences, and a concluding/linking sentence)
Sections and headings (5%): Organise the chapter content using a logical heading and (optional) sub-heading structure. Sections and paragraphs should link and flow together. Include:
Title and subtitle: Accurate and descriptive title and subtitle (at the top of the page) which matches the Table of Contents. Note that the subtitle should be in the form of a question.
Multimedia link: Display the multimedia link directly below the subtitle
Table of Contents: Display an automatic table of contents directly below the multimedia link
Overview: Provide an easy to read and understand overview of the chapter. Bring the problem to life, outline key concepts, establish focus question(s), and explain the chapter structure. It can be helpful to conclude with a problem statement or list of questions that will be answered.
Main body headings (sub-headings optional) covering the main content of the book chapter. Each section should include at least one introductory paragraph before branching into sub-sections. A section should contain either 0 or 2+ sub-sections - avoid having sections which contain 1 sub-section.
Conclusion: Emphasise the key points and take-home messages, particularly in relation to the subtitle (question) and implications for personal growth and development. What is the "golden nugget" or "take-home message"?
Spelling and grammar (5%): Professional spelling and grammar:
Australian spelling
Correct grammar
Interactive learning features (5%): Invite interactivity, such as through in-text wiki links to related Wikiversity or Wikipedia material (e.g., see emotion (Wikipedia) - syntax for this link is [[w:Emotion|emotion]]) and external links to well-selected, key resources. Provide some additional learning features to the chapter, such as:
Examples: For example, one or more true or fictional case studies
Tables: Use relevant, accompanying tables to help organise information and communicate concepts to readers. Tables should be accompanied by APA style explanatory captions.
Figures: Use relevant, accompanying figures (e.g., photographs, drawings, diagrams) to facilitate readers' understanding of the concepts. Images should be accompanied by APA style explanatory captions. Existing images hosted on Wikimedia Commons may be used. Images can also be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons if the copyright holder allows such use and you provide the relevant licensing details with the upload. By using Google Images Advanced Search and filtering an image search by Usage Rights which are free to use, share or modify, even commercially, it is possible to identify images already uploaded to Wiki Commons and images which could be legally uploaded.
Wiki links: Use relevant wiki links. Add wiki links to other relevant Motivation and Emotion Book Chapters and/or Wikipedia articles. Wiki links can be added in-text and/or in a section called "See also" prior to the References. It is a good practice to provide in-text wiki links the first time that key words are mentioned.
Multimedia: Link to an accompanying multimedia presentation which communicates the main problem and solutions for the chapter topic. To add the link in a preformatted box, put {{MECR3|1=http://screenr.com/hrEs}} after the page title (replace link with your presentation link). The link should be added once the multimedia has been made available online.
Social contribution (10%): Social contribution is about editing which enhances the quality of other book chapters via direct editing of the chapter or discussion which helps other contributors to improve the chapter. The value of contributions is assessed by the quality and quantity of any improvements and the timeliness and insightfulness of discussion. Useful actions include, but are not restricted to, direct editing of chapter pages, providing comments on chapter talk pages, Canvas forum posts, and/or tweets using the #emot24 hashtag. Contributions may be about the content of specific chapters or about the project more generally. In order to be accepted for marking purposes, social contributions must be publicly logged (i.e., with a user name and time-stamp) and summarised on your Wikiversity user page (in a section called "Social contributions") using a numbered list with hyperlinks to direct evidence for each contribution. For more info about how to do this, see How to make and summarise social contributions.
Breadth, depth, and timeliness (10%):
Breadth refers to the scope and quantity of contribution, including:
the number of different chapters contributed to
range of communication channels used
Depth refers to the quality of contributions in terms of their:
insightfulness
practical value
Timeliness recognises that there is:
greater value in earlier contributions
lesser value in "last minute" feedback
Bonus marks may be awarded for exceptional levels of contribution.
Rubric
This overall book chapter marking rubric describes typical characteristics of chapters at each grade level, based on the marking criteria.
Grade
Description
HD (High Distinction)
A professional, near-publishable, interesting, informative, insightful, readable explanation of relevant psychological theory and research about a well-defined, unique motivation or emotion topic. The chapter has a well-organised layout and headings, with relevant and well-captioned accompanying images, tables, and/or figures. Excellent spelling, grammar, and APA style is used. The chapter makes effective use of wiki links to other relevant chapters and/or Wikipedia articles. Additional interactive learning features are included. Substantial social contributions are made to the development of other chapters, such as particularly useful peer review comments on several chapter talk pages across at least half of the semester.
DI (Distinction)
A very good chapter, with several professional-level aspects. The chapter is informative, accurate and insightful, covering key relevant theory and research. The material is very competently handled and well-written, with minimal spelling and grammar issues. Layout is clear and effective. Good use is made of wiki links, tables, and figures. References are in very good APA style. The chapter includes additional learning features. Helpful contributions were made to some other chapters over at least a month.
CR (Credit)
A competent chapter with reasonably informative and insightful content which includes moderately good coverage of relevant theory and research. Some aspects of the theory or research coverage may be missing, limited, or problematic. Integration of theory and research is less assured than at higher levels. Layout and headings are reasonably useful, but could probably also be improved (e.g., by being more detailed). References are in reasonable APA style, but often several corrections are needed. Some wiki links, images and/or additional learning features are provided, but could have been developed further. Some helpful contributions were made over at least a couple of weeks to at least a couple of other chapters.
P (Pass)
The chapter provides a satisfactory, basic explanation of relevant theory and research, but lacks the depth and/or comprehensiveness that is characteristic of higher grade chapters. The chapter may struggle to clearly conceptualise the topic, organise the structure and layout, contribute to the book theme, and/or may lack depth and originality. Spelling and grammar problems are often prevalent. Citation and referencing tends to be limited in scope and quality, often with reliance on only a few (or less) high-quality peer-review references. There may relatively little meaningful use of images or additional learning features. These chapters typically have a brief edit history (e.g., less than 2 weeks) and often read like an early draft which would benefit from more drafting to address feedback, and better proofreading. Often chapters of this standard are noticeably shorter than chapters which attract higher grades. Chapter authors often haven't sought or acted upon feedback. Some useful social contributions to at some other chapters are made, but this tends to be fairly basic and made towards the end of the drafting period.
F (Fail)
The chapter does not demonstrate a satisfactory grasp of key psychological theory and research which pertains to the a specific, unique motivation or emotion topic. Major gaps and/or errors in content are evident, sometimes with little to no use of peer-reviewed references. These chapters typically have under-developed heading structures and the content of often brief or incomplete. Layout and readability is often poor and the quality of written expression is often undermined by poor spelling and/or grammar. Sometimes plagiarism may be evident. Generally, there is a lack of sufficient effort (e.g., these chapters often have short tend to have last-minute editing histories) and have attracted little, if any, peer review. Little to no social contribution is made to the development of other book chapters.
Making and summarising social contributions
Social contributions are assessed by reviewing the summaries provided on Wikiversity user pages. The better the summary, the more likely it is that the marker can find, assess, and reward your social contributions.
If no summary of social contributions is available on the user page at the time of marking then no marks will be awarded for this part of the marking criteria.
Although there is no standard format, here are some suggested ways of summarising evidence, ranging from basic to fantastic:
Basic: Link to chapters to which you contributed e.g., Health behaviours The link goes to a chapter. The marker would need to go to this page's history tab and then trawl/search to find and examine the user's contributions.
Reasonable: Link to the history of a chapter to which you contributed to e.g., Added to health behaviour chapter This link goes to the chapter's edit history, but the marker would still need to trawl/search to find and the examine users' contributions.
Go the page you edited and click "View history" (towards top-right)
Select the left radio button for the version of the page before you edited
Also select the right radio button for the version of the page after you edited
Click "Compare selected revisions"
Copy the website address from the web browser address bar
Go to your user page. Click "Edit". Insert an external link in the "Social contributions" sections, pasting the website address - this link will directly compare the page before and after your contribution and provide easy to see evidence of exactly what you contributed.
Types of social contributions might include
Feedback added to chapter discussion pages (e.g., especially about chapter plans and/or drafts)
Direct editing to improve chapter pages (e.g., adding new info/content, fixing errors, improving layout/formatting) - changes could be to current year chapters and/or chapters developed in previous years - examples.
Canvas forum posts related to book chapters
Tweets about book chapters using the #emot24 hashtag etc.
Social contribution rubric
Grade
Description
Bonus marks
Up to 5 bonus marks are available in exceptional circumstances where wiki contributions to the book are above and beyond those required for HD-level. Such contributions could include very substantial contributions across multiple chapters. This could include extensive copyediting, regular feedback, and support on multiple chapter discussion pages. It may also involve substantial activity on the Canvas forum and/or Twitter #emot24 hashtag.
HD (High Distinction)
Very significant contributions are made to development of other book chapters (beyond one's target chapter). The contributor clearly embraced the collaborative nature of the online book task. This is indicated primarily by the user's edit history on Wikiversity which shows significant and regular contributions to the development of at least several chapters via discussion page comments and probably also chapter edits. Such contributions are likely to have occurred across at least half of the semester. It is also quite likely that contributions extend across more than one channel of electronically logged communication (e.g., wiki contributions, Canvas discussion, and/or twitter hashtag contributions). Helping to significantly improve at least four other chapters is likely to be worth a HD.
DI (Distinction)
Significant contributions are made to other book chapters (beyond one's target chapter). The contributor embraced online collaboration as indicated by the user's wiki edit history. Notable contributions are made to the development of several chapters via discussion pages and chapter edits. Contributions are spread over at least a month. Contributions are likely to have extended across more than one publicly logged electronic communication channels (e.g., wiki contributions, Canvas discussion, and the twitter hashtag). Helping to significantly improve at least three others chapters is likely to be worth a DI.
CR (Credit)
Moderate contributions to other book chapters (beyond one's target chapter). The contributor embraced some aspects of online collaboration by providing many wiki edits beyond the contributor's target chapter, Canvas discussion posts and/or use of the twitter hashtag. These contributions are made over a period of at least a couple of weeks and in sufficient time for other authors to incorporate the feedback into the final drafting process. As a guide, helping to significantly improve at least two other chapters is likely to be worth a CR.
P (Pass)
Basic contributions are made to other book chapters (beyond one's target chapter). For example, at least one other chapter in the book is significantly enhanced because of the user's contributions. This might involve some helpful comments on several occasions about at least one other book chapter - or perhaps a single, substantial proofread with several useful comments about a full draft could be sufficient for a Pass.
F (Fail)
Either no contributions are made or contributions were limited. A lack of collaborative effort is evident, as indicated by minimal, if any, wiki contributions beyond one's primary chapter, Canvas forum, and/or twitter hashtag. For example:
comments lacked detail and/or depth;
comments were not timely (e.g., were provided very late in the drafting process)
Learning outcomes
How this assessment exercise addresses the learning outcomes:
Learning outcome
Description
Be able to integrate theories and current research towards explaining the role of motivation and emotions in human behaviour.
This exercise requires use of selected theories and peer-reviewed research to address a specific motivation or emotion topic. Use of images, illustrative examples, and/or interactive learning features are encouraged to help explain how motivation and emotion theories and research can apply to understanding human behaviour in everyday life.
