Overall Description of Reciprocal Causation: 3 (the author should offer a more extensive and comprehensive definition of the term. In fact, the author repeats the word "reciprocal" in the definition of reciprocal causation. An ensuing sentence makes no sense either: "Each one of the these variables influences each other in a cycle that can start on any of the variables.")

Differentiating from Behaviorism: 1 (the author does not adequately define behaviorism, which makes the comparison between the two theories a poor one. The author mistakenly states that behaviorism is about "trial and error.").

Using Student as...to elaborate on reciprocal causation: 4 (the example used is too long and verbose. However, the author does address each of the three parts of the cycle in detail, and discusses how teachers could have intervened at various...

Moreover, the author should try to explain behaviorism in greater depth to show how it differs from social cognition. The author's description of the three parts of the cycle is the strongest aspect of this essay. Building on that strength, the author can clean up the writing by avoiding too much anecdotal rambling. Half the paper reads like a memoir instead of as an explication of social cognition theory. Furthermore, the author started the examples mid-paragraph and the paper therefore lacks flow. This author has grasped the essence of the theory but simply needs to learn how to communicate that understanding better.