ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES


Reflection Paper One - Your "Story" of Counseling

Reflection Paper Two - Your Values and Beliefs (Part One)

Reflection Paper Three - Your Values and Beliefs (Part Two)

Reflections on a Novel

Personal Theory of Counseling

Self Evaluation

Notes on Writing Assignments

APA Requirements

Return to syllabus


Reflection Paper One

Your "Story" of Counseling

Based on your current understanding of counseling, discuss your "story" about counseling by responding to the following:

a. What do you see as the purpose of counseling?

b. What do you see as your general style of counseling?

c. How do you envision the roles of counselor/client in counseling?

d. What do you envision as your areas of strength and limitation as a counselor?

2-4 pages

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Reflection Paper Two

Your Values and Beliefs (Part One)

Explore and examine your present values and beliefs and reflect on how they might influence your work with clients. Specifically, reflect on:

a. your view of human nature (e.g., do you see people as basically "good," "evil," or something else?), 

b. your view of human behavior (e.g. do people have free will or are they determined by genetics, environment, etc.?), 

c. your ideas about what gives meaning to life, 

d. other areas which seem relevant to you as a professional counselor, and

e. the origin of your values and beliefs.

2-4 pages

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Reflection Paper Three

Your Values and Beliefs (Part Two)

What types of client issues might conflict with your value system and how do you see yourself dealing with them?

Are there certain aspects of your value/belief system which you believe you would like to "work on" (reexamine) in order to become more unconditional as a counselor?

2-4 pages

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Reflections on a Novel

The novels on the attached list represent a variety of cultures -- choose and read a novel (from the attached list) about a culture other than your own. Each of the novels is contemporary and presents, in some fashion, the complexities inherent in living one’s life. Present your reflections on complexity which arise in response to the novel, and consider these notions in relation to the counseling process. (Note -- this is not to be a summary of the novel - take no more than one page to describe the plot.)

4-8 pages

Adapted from: Boughner/Logan, University of South Dakota, 1998

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Personal Theory of Counseling

One of the primary purposes of this course is to encourage you to do the critical thinking necessary to begin development of your own counseling model -- consistent with the person you are, fits your philosophy of life, and is your creation.

With this in mind, write a paper which articulates your conceptual model for helping others as it exists at this moment (realizing that it is sure to change). Indicate how your views on counseling are similar to and different than theories presented in your text and other resources your research (note -- you are expected to use a minimum of eight resources (professional journals/books) other than your text). Use the following outline for this paper.

I. Introduction

   A. Autobiographical link between you and what is coming

   B. Transition from autobiography to key concept

II. Key Concepts

   A. View of human nature
            1. View of human potential
           2. Issue of determinism
           3.
Influence of the environment upon behavior

   B. Assumptions about personality development which are important (your key concepts)

   C. Explanation of how you believe change in behavior can come about (your theory). How
      much information about antecedents of behavior is necessary?

   D. How have your culture and life experiences influenced your answers to A-C above?

III. What would the therapeutic process be like?

   A. How would you establish a therapeutic relationship?

   B. How would you establish goals and a treatment plan?

   C. Explain the counselor's role and functions.

   D. How would the clients experience therapy?

IV. What techniques and procedures would you apply?

V. Describe how your theory would assist in your anticipated work setting.

VI. How would you judge if your approach is working?

VII. How would your approach work (or not) with a variety of clients from various cultures.

Throughout your paper, compare and contrast your views with those expressed in the text and in the resources you find.

12-15 pages

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Self Evaluation

Review the course objectives, suggestions for getting the most from the course, and note about attendance. Thirty points are available for this portion of your grade. Consider your performance in the class and justify up to six points for each of these five categories: (a) meeting the course objectives, (b) preparation for each class, (c) in-class participation, (d) attendance, (e) an overall evaluation after reading "getting the most out of this class." If you do not clearly assign yourself points, you will not be given any. The instructor reserves the right to alter the self-rating.

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Notes on Writing Assignments

All writing assignments are to meet the criteria of the  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.

If you are in need of assistance to improve your writing, the English Department Writing Centers (Fanner 2281 and Trueblood) offer guidance in preparing assignments. You also may consider having someone who is skilled in writing review your assignments for organization, clarity, and basic grammar before you submit it.

Before completing the first writing assignment, review the following websites:

http://www.siu.edu/~write/   Writing Center website -- the "Handouts" have helpful writing tips, and the "Handouts from Other Writing Centers" have links to APA-related sites.

http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/explorer/lessons/plagiarism/    SIU's statement on plagiarism -- read all pages. Read about plagiarism in the APA manual, pp. 349-350.

                    NOTE THAT ANY ASSIGNMENT EXHIBITING PLAGIARISM WILL RECEIVE ZERO POINTS!!!

 

Writing Guidelines

For All Written Assignments

ALL assignments must be typed (12 point font, double spacing, 1" margins) and stapled.

Insert page numbers in the upper right hand corner of each page.

ALL assignments should have a separate cover page that includes: 1) name of the activity, 2) your name, 3) course title and section, 3) Mieling, and 4) the date that the assignment is due.

ALL assignments must be organized using the above ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES. 

Please do not use gender specific pronouns or sexist language, or promote prejudice by using language associated with -isms, e.g. sexism, racism, ageism, and heterosexism in your assignments.

Please do not use the word "thing" in the text of your assignments unless it is included as part of a quote. If you cannot name it, then think about it! 

Please edit your assignments before submitting them, e.g. spelling, paragraph structure, noun-verb agreement, complete sentences, punctuation, etc.

When using literature and research, please use current research (1990 - ).

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APA Requirements

Please use APA (American Psychological Association) style when citing authors within the text of your assignments and when creating your bibliography. Refer to the APA Publication Manual (fifth edition). This manual is available for purchase at the bookstore and can be accessed at the library.

When incorporating research, please summarize/integrate and use appropriate reference citations.

When a direct reference is made, you must use quote marks and include the page number from which the quote was obtained in your in-text reference citation.

If citations are used within the text of your assignments, please include a complete reference list at the conclusion of your assignment.

The reference list should be double spaced and in alphabetical order.


EXAMPLES OF APA STYLE

CITATIONS WITHIN THE TEXT

1. According to Smith and Jones (1997), .....

2. ..... (Watts, 1998) OR ..... (Watts, Upwith, & That, 1998)

3. First citation: ... (Wentha, Clufone, Rings, & Sirit, 1996)

Second citation: ... (Wentha et al., 1996)

4. Counseling techniques ... (Babs & Harmon, 1999, p. 72).

5. Babs and Harmon (1999) asserted that ... (p. 72).

 

REFERENCE LIST

JOURNAL

Savickas, M. L. (1995). Constructivist counseling for career indecision. The Career

      Development Quarterly, 43, 363-373.

BOOK 

Sharf, R. S.  (2000). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling: Concepts and cases (2nd

      ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1991). Healthy people 2000. Washington,

       D.C.: Author.

 

APA "CHEAT SHEET"

Subject                               Page               

Quotations                       117-120  
Quote Marks                     119
Citations                         120-122
Abbreviations                  105-111
Examples of pages           306-320
Spacing & punctuation      290-291
References                       215-281 
Electronic references         268-281   
Plagiarism                       349-350

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