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Although Kent was affected by the need to provide for his family, he was also getting his GED to prove to himself that he was capable. In my interview with Vissilios the same idea of “proving oneself” became evident. Vissilios told me that he was not pushed by his mother to stay in school when he was younger, and was not pushed to go back to school. He explained that he wanted his GED to prove to people that it wasn’t lack of ability that kept him from getting a high school diploma; rather it was his own laziness as a kid. After talking with Mrs. Cooper about the issue of motivation for adult learners, I gained a new insight into the field. Mrs. Cooper explained to me from the beginning that this is a GED class, and that her students are adults. They are not required to show up to class; they come by choice. She explained that there is an attendance policy and if the students are falling below the amount of hours they are required to attend, it is the teacher’s choice whether or not to drop the student from the class. Mrs. Cooper said that in her 15 years of teaching at the Literacy Center she has never officially dropped a student. She explained that in order to keep her students motivated she feels that focusing on their personal needs is the most effective. She makes a point to make herself available for extra help as often as possible. Mrs. Cooper also tries to make the class interesting by discussing current events when relevant. [Writer presents the point of view of one of her students and then quotes an authority to help her assess his motives]

The second example is a case study in which psychology students were asked to analyze data suggestive of particular kinds of mental illnesses as they are represented in contemporary films. The difference between the following case study and the preceding one is that the psychology case study has prescribed categories (subheads) under which the information is recorded. The assignment here is to give examples of some of the behaviors exhibited by the character Roy in Matchstick Men that might lead to a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Matchstick Men

Patient Evaluation: Roy

Presenting Problem:

Patient describes extreme discomfort when placed in outdoor settings. He fears dirt, germs, insects, and pollen. He becomes extremely distracted by these fears when he is outdoors. Patient also reports that he feels the need to open and close each door through which he enters or leaves a room three times while counting out loud (often in a language other than English). He reports extreme anxiety at the thought of his home being anything less than perfectly clean and is plagued by constant thoughts of cleanliness. Patient fears shoes on the carpet of his home and is at times overwhelmed by anxiety if in fact someone walks on the carpet with shoes on. Patient reports muscular ticks in his face, neck and head in certain situations. These often become prominent when he is nervous, outdoors, or in a new or unfamiliar setting.

History of Present Illness:

Patient reports that he has noticed his symptoms and has attempted to self-medicate utilizing illegally obtained prescription drugs. He does not know the name of this medication. Symptoms seem to have been present for at least fifteen years but may stretch as far back as adolescence. Patient reports that on one occasion he felt suicidal because of his overwhelming feelings about his symptoms but that fear of staining his carpet prevented him from taking his own life with a handgun.

Past Psychiatric Illness, Treatments, Outcomes:

No known history

Medical History:

Patient reports anxiety-induced spells of hyperventilation and lightheadedness.

Psychosocial History:

Patient reports that his last romantic relationship ended nearly fifteen years ago. He describes this relationship as abusive and states that he was physically aggressive toward his ex-wife Heather. At the end of this relationship Heather was pregnant; patient knows nothing about the whereabouts of the child. Patient’s