you will write an essay that applies the developmental concepts we covered in cl

you will write an essay that applies the developmental concepts we covered in
class to an observation or interview of a child/teenager/adult OR detail your own development growing
up.
You will include a clear and concise thesis statement in your introduction and a conclusion that
summarizes the material in your essay. References will be required (APA format) in text and at the end
of your paper. You will be graded on content as well as writing proficiency. The following are key
components of your essay:
1. 5 pages double-spaced utilizing 12pt font (approximately 1500 words)
2. A title/cover page and reference page (not included in the word/page count)
3. Textbook/lecture information covered will include at least 10 concepts with definitions and
citations
4. An in-depth examination of the developmental stages including physical/cognitive/psychosocial
aspects of development in each stage (must include at least 3 stages for full credit) as they apply
to the subject of the paper
5. Inclusion and appropriate citation of at least 3 professional (i.e., journal articles and text)
references
6. Written in a Word compatible format (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs
As you prepare your final paper, please feel free to use the following ideas/concepts in your integration
of lifespan development concepts:
Prenatal
 Were there factors involved in your/subject’s prenatal development which may have influenced
physical/cognitive/psychosocial development?
Infancy
 What type of attachment did you/subject form?
 What type of temperament did you/subject have?
 What influenced the growth of fine & gross motor skills (e.g., toys, games, sports)?
 What language was spoken and how was language development influenced by familial and
other psychosocial factors?
 How was the stage of Trust vs. Mistrust navigated and/or influenced?
Childhood
 Was any of your/subject’s physical development influenced by sociocultural or psychosocial
factors (parenting, culture, economic, etc.)?
 How were things modeled for you/subject (social learning)?
 What type(s) of parenting style were present and how might it have influenced development in
early and middle childhood?
 Were there any instances where conditioning (classical or operant) played a heavy role in
development and/or behavior?
 How the cognitive concepts of animism, inductive reasoning, conservation (or lack thereof) play
a role in experiences and behaviors?
 How did you/subject navigate Erikson’s stages? What did this look like?
Adolescence
 What physical changes were occurring and how did you/subject handle them?
 How did cognitive changes affect behavior (egocentricism, imaginary audience, invincibility
fable, metacognition, abstraction, moral development, etc.)?
 How did you/subject navigate the search for identity? What did that look like?
 Did the relationship with parental figures change?
 Did parenting style influence relationships and/or behavior?
Early Adulthood
 What tasks are involved and to what extent (i.e., what has been navigated and what is still in
progress)?
 How have you/subject demonstrated postformal thought?
 How is/was the search for intimacy navigated and displayed?
 What components of love (Sternberg) are exemplified in various relationships?
 How is social exchange theory displayed and/or exemplified in your/subject’s relationships?
Note: The above is by no means an exhaustive list and obviously does not cover each of the life stages
covered (and upcoming). This is simply a guide to assist you in your writing so that you will be better
prepared to think about and examine the concepts covered in this course as you work to apply them to
your subject’s development. Please make sure to utilize terminology (including definitions) to tie in
concepts (at least 10 for full credit) to real life experiences and examples. Also, please be sure to cite all
materials utilized as appropriate in order to convey understanding as well as avoid plagiarism.