Psychopathology
PYC4802
Assignment 3
Essay guide with example essays
2026
Perfectionist Notes
PRIVATE TUTOR FOR HONOURS IN PSYCHOLOGY
helping you achieve your best results
Document Contains:
Instructions broken down
additional resources
3 different example essay
all resources summarized
referencing tips
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Contents
1. Essay question ........................................................................................................................................ 2
2. Instructions .............................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1. Document Format: .................................................................................................................. 2
2.2. Document Structure: ............................................................................................................. 2
3. Tut 101 2026 information .................................................................................................................. 3
4. Detailed Instructions:........................................................................................................................... 3
6. Downloadable Resources.................................................................................................................... 5
6.1. Prescribed 2026 textbook ....................................................................................................... 5
6.2. Official DSM-5 textbook .......................................................................................................... 5
6.3. Prescribed/recommended journal articles: ............................................................................ 5
6.4. Additional Journal Articles ...................................................................................................... 5
7. Essay question analysed...................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION A ........................................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION B ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Here is an analysis of the prescribed articles and themes included: .......................................... 13
SECTION C ......................................................................................................................................... 15
9. Structure of the essay based on the 2026 rubric...................................................................... 16
10. Assignment template and ESSAY EXAMPLE ............................................................................... 19
11. Summarised Resources: .................................................................................................................... 42
11.1. 2026 Prescribed textbook: ................................................................................................ 43
11.2. DSM-5 Textbook summary:............................................................................................... 63
Points of interest from the prescribed articles: ................................................................................ 71
Article 2: ............................................................................................................................................ 73
Additional Articles and notes ............................................................................................................ 76
ESSAY EXAMPLES:......................................................................................................................................... 90
12. Essay Example 2: ............................................................................................................................... 104
13. APA 7TH EDITION REFERENCING GUIDE .................................................................................... 120
1
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
1. Essay question
ASSIGNMENT 3 - Theme: Borderline Personality Disorder
TITLE / QUESTION: (100 marks):
Discuss the challenges that are experienced by clinicians when assessing and
diagnosing borderline personality disorder and their applicability within the South
African context.
(100 marks)
a) Discuss the diagnostic criteria and hallmark features of Personality disorder
and Borderline Personality Disorder (20)
b) Critically discuss challenges that are experienced by clinicians in identifying and
diagnosing BPD and examine the relevance within the South African context (60)
c) Layout of the essay and using the correct APA referencing style and for
additional use of student’s own references (20)
2. Instructions
Kindly note that Assignment 03 consists of a comprehensive answer to the question on
Personality Disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder.
2.1. Document Format:
❖ Length of essay content: 15 max
❖ Number your headings and subheadings (ensure the table of contents reflects your
essay content – numbered headings and subheadings)
❖ Number your pages
❖ 12 font size, Arial/Calibri/Times New Roman, and double line spacing
2.2. Document Structure:
❖ Cover page
❖ Table of Contents page
❖ Content of essay (15 max)
❖ Reference list
❖ Plagiarism Declaration
2
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
3. Tut 101 2026 information
• Assignment 3 consists of an essay that will be marked. Feedback will be provided.
• The purpose of the first three formative tasks (assignments) involves the acquisition of new
knowledge and the demonstration of your capability to systematically order the new
information by making distinctions between the content and process literature, between the
general and specific information, and the implicit and explicit outcomes of your literature
study by applying your critical thinking skills to the selected literature sources.
• The tasks will be structured so that you are required to complete several steps that will
enable you to acquire new knowledge by studying the literature for every theme, analyse a
question on a theme.
• Secondly, compile a profile for a scholarly discussion (table of contents), comprehensively
reply to the question, or solve the problem statement (by writing an essay) within certain
limits by relating the new information to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for each disorder.
• Throughout the essay task, frequent in-text referencing in the latest American Psychological
Association (APA) 7th edition style of referencing regarding the literary material, indicates
that you are familiar with the literature.
• Based on this style of referencing, complete a reference list of the sources you have
consulted, referred to and cited in your essay. The list has to be included at the end of the
essay.
4. Detailed Instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Type of Assessment:
This is an open book assessment. Therefore, you can refer to the learning materials relating to
Learning Unit/Theme 2 on borderline personality disorder.
2. Language: Only documents submitted in English will be accepted and marked.
3. Answering Essay Questions:
Refer to the guidelines we shared on How to Answer Essay Questions – PYC4802, which you will
find under the Additional Resources in the Assessment Documents folder.
5. Maximum file size and length: Please note that the file size should not exceed 50MB. The
length of the essay should be informed by the marks allocated to each section and your level
of critical engagement with each section, including integration of the sources that have been
studied. These should include the prescribed book chapter and articles (See the marking
rubric below). Nevertheless, the essay should not be more than 15 pages.
3
PYC4802
Assignment 3
Essay guide with example essays
2026
Perfectionist Notes
PRIVATE TUTOR FOR HONOURS IN PSYCHOLOGY
helping you achieve your best results
Document Contains:
Instructions broken down
additional resources
3 different example essay
all resources summarized
referencing tips
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Contents
1. Essay question ........................................................................................................................................ 2
2. Instructions .............................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1. Document Format: .................................................................................................................. 2
2.2. Document Structure: ............................................................................................................. 2
3. Tut 101 2026 information .................................................................................................................. 3
4. Detailed Instructions:........................................................................................................................... 3
6. Downloadable Resources.................................................................................................................... 5
6.1. Prescribed 2026 textbook ....................................................................................................... 5
6.2. Official DSM-5 textbook .......................................................................................................... 5
6.3. Prescribed/recommended journal articles: ............................................................................ 5
6.4. Additional Journal Articles ...................................................................................................... 5
7. Essay question analysed...................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION A ........................................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION B ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Here is an analysis of the prescribed articles and themes included: .......................................... 13
SECTION C ......................................................................................................................................... 15
9. Structure of the essay based on the 2026 rubric...................................................................... 16
10. Assignment template and ESSAY EXAMPLE ............................................................................... 19
11. Summarised Resources: .................................................................................................................... 42
11.1. 2026 Prescribed textbook: ................................................................................................ 43
11.2. DSM-5 Textbook summary:............................................................................................... 63
Points of interest from the prescribed articles: ................................................................................ 71
Article 2: ............................................................................................................................................ 73
Additional Articles and notes ............................................................................................................ 76
ESSAY EXAMPLES:......................................................................................................................................... 90
12. Essay Example 2: ............................................................................................................................... 104
13. APA 7TH EDITION REFERENCING GUIDE .................................................................................... 120
1
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
1. Essay question
ASSIGNMENT 3 - Theme: Borderline Personality Disorder
TITLE / QUESTION: (100 marks):
Discuss the challenges that are experienced by clinicians when assessing and
diagnosing borderline personality disorder and their applicability within the South
African context.
(100 marks)
a) Discuss the diagnostic criteria and hallmark features of Personality disorder
and Borderline Personality Disorder (20)
b) Critically discuss challenges that are experienced by clinicians in identifying and
diagnosing BPD and examine the relevance within the South African context (60)
c) Layout of the essay and using the correct APA referencing style and for
additional use of student’s own references (20)
2. Instructions
Kindly note that Assignment 03 consists of a comprehensive answer to the question on
Personality Disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder.
2.1. Document Format:
❖ Length of essay content: 15 max
❖ Number your headings and subheadings (ensure the table of contents reflects your
essay content – numbered headings and subheadings)
❖ Number your pages
❖ 12 font size, Arial/Calibri/Times New Roman, and double line spacing
2.2. Document Structure:
❖ Cover page
❖ Table of Contents page
❖ Content of essay (15 max)
❖ Reference list
❖ Plagiarism Declaration
2
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
3. Tut 101 2026 information
• Assignment 3 consists of an essay that will be marked. Feedback will be provided.
• The purpose of the first three formative tasks (assignments) involves the acquisition of new
knowledge and the demonstration of your capability to systematically order the new
information by making distinctions between the content and process literature, between the
general and specific information, and the implicit and explicit outcomes of your literature
study by applying your critical thinking skills to the selected literature sources.
• The tasks will be structured so that you are required to complete several steps that will
enable you to acquire new knowledge by studying the literature for every theme, analyse a
question on a theme.
• Secondly, compile a profile for a scholarly discussion (table of contents), comprehensively
reply to the question, or solve the problem statement (by writing an essay) within certain
limits by relating the new information to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for each disorder.
• Throughout the essay task, frequent in-text referencing in the latest American Psychological
Association (APA) 7th edition style of referencing regarding the literary material, indicates
that you are familiar with the literature.
• Based on this style of referencing, complete a reference list of the sources you have
consulted, referred to and cited in your essay. The list has to be included at the end of the
essay.
4. Detailed Instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Type of Assessment:
This is an open book assessment. Therefore, you can refer to the learning materials relating to
Learning Unit/Theme 2 on borderline personality disorder.
2. Language: Only documents submitted in English will be accepted and marked.
3. Answering Essay Questions:
Refer to the guidelines we shared on How to Answer Essay Questions – PYC4802, which you will
find under the Additional Resources in the Assessment Documents folder.
5. Maximum file size and length: Please note that the file size should not exceed 50MB. The
length of the essay should be informed by the marks allocated to each section and your level
of critical engagement with each section, including integration of the sources that have been
studied. These should include the prescribed book chapter and articles (See the marking
rubric below). Nevertheless, the essay should not be more than 15 pages.
3
