Assessment 2 - Essay – 40%

In this document you will find:

• Assessment details
• Task and assessment
• Submitting options
• Example
• Rubric

Assessment details
Due Date: Monday 20th March 11.59pm (week 4) via Turnitin (in the Assessment block).

Word Count:
1250 words +/- 10% (10-12 minutes for an audio submission – see submitting options).

Task and Assessment

In the week one workshop of this subject, you will be introduced to the concept of interpersonal
skills (the ability to communicate or interact well with other people). This task will give you the
opportunity to reflect on the interpersonal skills you would like to improve on in the process of this
subject, and your ongoing growth as a continuous learner. Whilst we have the capacity to master
most of these skills at some point in our lives, we don’t always have the opportunity to engage with
and strengthen them. Additionally, we can often misinterpret the meaning of certain interpersonal
skills. The best example of this is empathy, many people get empathy and sympathy confused, and
therefore this may impact on someone’s ability to be an effective empathetic listener.

Task
Choose 2-3 interpersonal skills you’ve identified as wanting to improve on (there is a list below and
resources in the Assessment block in LMS). Define each of the 2-3 skills and reflect on your own
personal interpretation of each skill, exploring why it is important for you to continue to grow and
develop these 2-3 skills, both in your own life and in your future professional career.

Instructions
• Introduction – identify the 2-3 interpersonal skills, define each (using credible sources - see the
Assessment block for resources) and briefly describe why you would like to improve on these
specific skills.
Approx. 150-200 words.

• Body – consider what you already know about each chosen skill, reflect on your understanding
of these skills and how this may have been expressed by yourself or others before undertaking
this subject (or alternatively, acknowledge that you have limited knowledge about the skill – this
is very reasonable). You should think about how your family or friends also interpret or express
these skills and consider what has influenced your perceptions/behaviour. Strengthen your
discussion with the use of examples.

You will need to include examples of:

o how this might have impacted on your interactions with others (family, friends,
customers, work/uni etc.).
 o what you have learned in the subject to date, E.g., what might be different to what you
knew before, explain why?
Approx. 650 - 600 words.
• SMART goals -what SMART goals might you put in place to assist you to expand on these skills?
Develop at least 1 SMART goal for each of the skills to you wish to improve on.
Approx. 350-450 words.

Submitting options
You have three options for submitting this assessment.
1. In essay format
2. Using the template provided
3. Audio recording

Format
Options 1 and 2 – Written
You can choose to write this piece as an essay or with subheadings or in the template (provided in
the Assessment block under Assessment 2), however, ensure you adhere to APA7 writing styles -
• 12-point font
• 1.5-2 line spacing
• Include a cover page (subject name, subject code, student name, student number, assessment
name, word count, facilitator/workshop number, also add screenshot of an extension here if
applicable), an example is available in the Assessment block under both Assessment 2 and 3.
• APA7 referencing for definitions in-text, and in the reference list.
https://latrobe.libguides.com/apa7
• Writing in the first person is necessary (e.g., I feel, I think, etc.).
• 1250 words +/- 10% (125 words)
• Submit to the Turnitin link in the Assessment block under Assessment 2 - Submit Written piece
here!

Option 3 - Audio
• Complete an audio recording using zoom recording, narrated PowerPoint (include a cover page,
and reference list within the recording, additional slides are optional), etc.
https://latrobe.libguides.com/apa7
• This should be approximately 10-12 minutes long.
• You can use the template provided to talk through and include this in a slide if you want to
guide the audio presentation.
• Speaking in the first person is necessary (e.g., I feel, I think, etc.).
• Submit under the Submission box in the Assessment block under Assessment 2 - Audio piece
here!
Interpersonal skills
• Verbal communication (speaking skills, body language)
• Non-verbal communication (listening skills, body language)
• Self-confidence (assertiveness)
• Conflict management
• Teamwork
• Responsibility
• Dependability
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Empathy
• Active listening
• Collaboration (negotiation, ability to compromise)
• Open to feedback
• Sense of humour

This is not the extensive or precise list of interpersonal skills, there are other skills that might also be
included or overlap, we will complete activities in class to consolidate your understanding.

An example the body of an essay with one interpersonal skill - Empathy

(Body) I have always thought empathy was the same as sympathy, so when I have tried to be understanding of
someone’s situation, I assumed I needed to have had the same experienced to really ‘empathise’. For example,
when my friend broke his leg, I used language like ‘oh you poor thing’ because I have never broken a bone and
couldn’t draw from my own experiences, so I just felt sorry for him. However, I have now learned that in fact I
might have actively listened to his frustration of not being able to move around independently. Being able to
use empathise effectively would have allowed my friend to have felt heard and supported. This previous
misinterpretation of empathy and sympathy may have impacted my interactions with family and friends when
they have confided in me regarding situation’s I thought I was not able to understand. I am now aware that
empathy is the ability to validate someone’s feelings and be present- actively listening without judgement and
using positive language, such as ‘I can imagine this is very difficult for you’.

I believe I have gained this interpretation of empathy from how my family show support. I have heard my
parents use the term ‘so sorry to hear that’ when talking to their own friends.

I believe my improved understanding of empathy will allow me to build rapport with my future clients,
enabling them to feel heard, supported and understood in any situation not just something I have also
experienced….

Examples of SMART goals will be demonstrated in your workshops.

Resources:
What are credible sources - https://www.latrobe.edu.au/library/assessment-thesis-support/find-
information

Writing reflectively - https://latrobe.libguides.com/reflectivepractice/writing

Study support - https://www.latrobe.edu.au/mylatrobe/3-study-support-services-you-need-to-

know-about/

Recording - https://lms.latrobe.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=6003871
 A - Excellent
10 marks Excellent organisation and
presentation of ideas, with
Academic minimal/no errors in grammar,
Writing sentence structure, paragraphing,
or formatting.
(For audio submission only - Speech
is comprehensive and clear).
Word count is within the limit +/-
10%
15 marks Comprehensive and clear
introduction with accurate
definitions of 2-3 interpersonal
skill, and a brief summary of why
you want to improve.
5 marks Highly accurate use of APA7 for in-
References text citations and reference list.
40 marks A comprehensive personal
reflection on what you already
Quality of knew about the 2-3 interpersonal
Reflection skills you want to improve on.
Excellent links are made to your
life experience to explore what
might have influenced your
understanding of the
interpersonal skills.
Comprehensive and clear reflection
on how your previous
understanding of each skill might
have impacted on your interactions
with others. With excellent
examples.
Comprehensive reflection on what
you have learned during the
B - Very Good
Clear organisation and
presentation of ideas with
minimal errors in grammar,
sentence structure,
paragraphing, or formatting.
(For audio submission only -
Speech is clear).
Word count is within the limit
+/- 10%.
Clear introduction with accurate
definitions of 2-3 interpersonal
skill, and a brief summary of why
you want to improve.
Very good use of APA7 for in-text
citations and reference list.
Well-developed personal
reflection on what you already
knew about the 2-3 interpersonal
skills you want to improve on.
Very good links are made to your
life experience to explore what
might have influenced your
understanding of the
interpersonal skills.
Clear reflection on how your
previous understanding of each
skill might have impacted on your
interactions with others. With
very good examples.
Clear reflection on what you
have learned during the subject
to assist you to improve on the
C - Good
Good organisation and
presentation of ideas with some
errors in grammar, sentence
structure, paragraphing or
formatting.
(For audio submission only -
Speech is mostly clear).
Word count is mostly within the
limit +/- 10%.
Good introduction with mostly
accurate definitions of 2-3
interpersonal skill, and a brief
summary of why you want to
improve.
Good use of APA7 for in-text
citations and reference list.
Good personal reflection on what
you already knew about the 2-3
interpersonal skills you want to
improve on.
Good links are made to your life
experience to explore what
might have influenced your
understanding of the
interpersonal skills.
Good reflection on how your
previous understanding of each
skill might have impacted on your
interactions with others. With
some good examples.
Good reflection on what you
have learned during the subject
to assist you to improve on the
D - Satisfactory
Lacks the necessary organisation
and presentation of ideas with
errors in grammar, sentence
structure, paragraphing or
formatting.
(For audio submission only -
Speech is somewhat clear).
Word count is somewhat within
the limit +/- 10%.
Some attempt to include an
introduction, limited definitions
on the 2-3 interpersonal skills,
with some mention of why you
want to improve.
An attempt to use APA7 for in-
text citations and reference list.
Minimal personal reflection on
what you already knew about the
2-3 interpersonal skills you want
to improve on.
Minimal links are made to your
life experience to explore what
might have influenced your
understanding of the
interpersonal skills.
Minimal reflection on how your
previous understanding of each
skill might have impacted on your
interactions with others. Lacks
examples.
Minimal reflection on what you
have learned during the subject
to assist you to improve on the
F- Unsatisfactory
Poor organisation and presentation
of ideas with many errors in
grammar, sentence structure,
paragraphing and/or formatting.
(For audio submission only - Speech
lacks clarity).
Word count does not adhere to the
limit.
Lacks an introduction and/or
definitions of interpersonal skills
and/or lacks a clear summary to why
you want to improve.
APA7 referencing not applied in-text
or reference list.
Little/no personal reflection on what
you already knew about the
interpersonal skills you want to
improve on.
Limited/no links are made to your
life experience to explore what
might have influenced your
understanding of the interpersonal
skills.
Limited/no clear reflection on how
your previous understanding of each
skill might have impacted your
interactions with others. With
limited/no examples.
Limited/no reflection on what you
have learned during the subject to
 subject to assist you to improve on
the interpersonal skills.
Excellent use of examples.
30 marks Excellent development of at least 1
SMART goals SMART goals per skill you want to
improve on in your work with
clients in the future.
interpersonal skills. Very good
use of examples.
Very good development of at
least 1 SMART goals per skill you
want to improve on in your work
with clients in the future.
interpersonal skills. Some good
use of examples.
Some good development of at
least 1 SMART goals per skill you
want to improve on in your work
with clients in the future.
interpersonal skills. Lacks
examples.
Lacks development of at least 1
SMART goals per skill you want to
improve on in your work with
clients in the future.
assist you to improve on the
interpersonal skills. No examples.
Little/no Excellent development of at
least 1 SMART goals per skill you
want to improve on in your work
with clients in the future.