answered: The purpose of the developmental paper is to apply developme

  

The purpose of the developmental paper is to apply developmental conceptual material to a “real life” individual. The paper (8-10 pages long, excluding the Title page and the References page) will emphasize the influence of social structures expressed as risk or protective factors and any traumatic experiences that have shaped the developmental experiences and outcomes of an individual. If you have been working on the paper in sections throughout the course, for this final push, the most important things to do are 1) add a Conclusion 2) check for APA formatting 3) check for grammar and spelling.
Important Information:
Number of pages for each section is an estimate.
Each section provided in bold (below) should correspond to a subheading in the paper. These are the only subheadings that you need in the paper.
Paper Structure:
Introduction (about a paragraph … “The purpose of this paper is …”)
Summary of relevant biographical information (2-4 pages)
Includes factual information from birth to current
Includes information on key life events and/or turning points relevant to understanding the individual’s trajectory.
Includes information that provides a “backdrop” for subsequent discussion of two key developmental experiences (see #3 and #4).
Includes information that provides evidence for identification of narrative theme(s) (see #5).
Developmental Concept #1 (3-5 pages)
Presentation of concept
Defines and explains the concept and is consistent with the textbook definition/explanation.
Includes information about the concept’s relevance to its corresponding developmental stage.
Includes a discussion of the concept’s relevance to other concepts/information.
Significance of concept to developmental outcomes is included.
Presentation of developmental experience
Describes the developmental experience exemplifying the concept above and clarifies age/stage when experience occurs.
Includes other information about experience relevant to subsequent analysis (e.g., cultural/contextual information).
Includes how experience is indicative of continuity or change in an individual’s life (Or, could do this in part “c”)
Analysis: Linkage of developmental experience with the concept
C. Analysis: Linkage of developmental experience with the concept
Includes information about what aspects of experience illustrate dimensions of the concept presented in 3a.
Includes an explanation of how/why story and conceptual information provide insight and increased understanding of individual change within a developmental framework.
Developmental concept #2 (3-5 pages)
Structured exactly like #3 but with a different concept and experience/story
Summary of individual’s narrative using developmental information from #3 and #4 as evidence/support for observations/conclusions. (1-3 pages)
Includes identification/discussion of narrative identity based on information presented (e.g., “As can be seen in the previous discussion, my aunt is the kind of person who ….”)
Includes information about how an individual’s experience of a relevant issues/concepts contributed to the individual’s understanding of self.
Includes information about how student’s assessment or understanding of a person’s narrative as illustrated, in part, by discussion of two developmental issues is similar to or different from an individual’s perception, and why.