Application Paper

Purpose:

This paper gives you the opportunity to use what you have learned in Child Development to think about a particular problem and to develop solutions based on that learning.  For example, you may want to consider the role of TV in children's lives, or how to best manage tantruming, or bullying.  What makes the best school?  Is daycare bad for children?  

These questions, and many others are addressed in your textbook, which should give you a good starting point.  Some additional research will be necessary. The main point of your paper is to show me that you can use what you have learned (about attention spans at different ages, for example) to make judgments about issues with which parents and teachers typically must grapple. 

Preparing to write the paper:

• Select an issue that interests you
• Think about what age group is most effected
• Think about how the issue may influence physical, intellectual and emotional development
• Which theories and concepts need to be considered?
• What additional information would be helpful to you?
• Decide on the best rules or strategies for parents or teachers to follow

Think about these issues, read the textbook, do additional research at the Library, and make an outline.  See me at this stage for help as needed.

Writing your paper:

• Begin by clearly articulating the issue you have chosen.  Why is it an issue?
• Describe the relevant characteristics of the age group that is most effected, using concepts fro the textbook accurately.
• Discuss the various issues as they relate to children (What's good about TV for 3-5 year olds, What's bad about it, for example)
• Describe the guidelines you have decided are best

 Many students do not realize the seriousness of plagiarism.  Writing about complex material is difficult, and often it seems that the author has said it so well that your own words will be inadequate.  There are however two important reasons for doing it the hard way.  

1.  If you can’t put something in your own words, it usually means you don’t understand it yet.  If you don’t understand it, it has no business in a paper you are writing.  Please see me for help understanding difficult articles. 

2.  Plagiarism is theft.  

It can result in an “F” for the assignment, being dropped from the class, or even dismissed from school. 

Grading: