Developmental Psychology SS271 1

Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO OPTIONS:

OPTION 1: INTERVIEW A PARENT ASSIGNMENT

Assignment Objectives:
This is a 250-350 word paper. In this paper, you will demonstrate your ability to:
(1) Format your paper according to APA style (i.e., properly-formatted title page, Reference page,
double-spacing, font: 12 point Times New Roman or similar font).
(2) Paraphrase and summarize our textbook. Do not use direct quotations unless absolutely necessary.
(3) Communicate information to the reader in a conventional manner (i.e., complete sentences and
paragraphs – point-form or bulleting is not accepted)

For this assignment, you will interview your parent or grandparent. If you cannot interview your own
parent or grandparent, you may choose to interview another parent who has at least one child that is at least
18 years old or older. The main objective of this assignment is to ask him/her questions about:
 the transitional experience of parenting
 the impact of parenthood on his/her marital/intimate relationship satisfaction
and then compare his/her answers to the research that is cited in your textbook.

*If you are a parent yourself, you can reflect on your own experience instead of interviewing another parent

Structure:
Your paper will have the following two components:
(1) Introduction (including a clear thesis outlining the main objective for this paper and a brief
introduction of your interviewee)
(2) Main body paragraph

Part 1: Interview
As a guideline, ask the parent questions pertaining to various aspects of parenthood
1. Transitional Experience: Was the transition to parenthood stressful? If so, why? What did you do
to cope?
2. Impact of Parenthood: Discuss the impact of becoming a new parent. Did your marital/intimate
relationship satisfaction and general life satisfaction change during the years, particularly at
various points in development (e.g., after your first child; after subsequent children, if applicable;
during the teen years; after the nest emptied, if applicable)? If there was an increase in tension in
your marital/intimate relationship, what were some points of conflict? If your interviewee was a
single parent, describe some of the challenges. Were there sources of support (i.e., family,
friends)?
Please feel free to ask your own questions.

Part 2: Analysis
Compare your interviewee’s answers to the research that is cited in your textbook.
Please refer to your textbook for guidance:
 Pages 408-411, particularly Figure 14.4
 If applicable: Pages 454-458, 517-518
 Developmental Psychology SS271 2
Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

Weight: 5% of final grade

Due date: _________

You will be graded on the following elements:

Introduction: 10%
Summary of interview: 20%
Analysis (connections to text): 50%
Formatting:
Title Page &
Overall formatting: 5% - APA format (for a sample paper, go to:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/18/
*Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spacing, page numbers
Spelling & Grammar: 10%
Reference Page 5% - APA format --- pay attention to the details (title of page, double-
spacing, indenting, alphabetical order …)
__________________________________
TOTAL: 100%

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Please refer to the student handbook for guidance regarding
this matter
 Developmental Psychology SS271 3
Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

OPTION 1 Rubric

Introduction (10%)
Thesis 0 = no thesis 2.5 = thesis statement is 5 = clear thesis
statement statement included but it needs to be statement
(5%) clarified
Introduction 0 = no 2.5 = partial introduction of 5 = interviewee is
of Interviewee introduction of interviewee clearly introduced (1st
(5%) interviewee name, relation to you –
if any, age, # of
children, relationship
status)
Summary of 0 = no summary 5 = weak summary 10 = partial summary 15 = adequate 20 = a thorough
Interview summary summary
(20%)
Analysis 0 = no analysis 10 or 20 = minimal 30 = some connections to 40 =adequate 50 = a thorough
(50%) (no connection to connections to the the textbook (further links connections to the analysis where each
the textbook) textbook; also, required); some textbook; point is connected to
limited understanding of the subject considerable research cited in the
understanding of matter understanding of textbook; considerable
some of the subject subject matter understanding of
matter subject matter
Formatting (20%)
Title Page & 0 = no title page 2.5=somewhat conventional 5 = APA formatted, if
Overall or unconventional APA style (with errors); error(s), minimal;
formatting APA style; and/or and/or some overall appropriate overall
details - Times multiple formatting errors formatting
New Roman, formatting errors
12 point font,
double
spacing, page
numbers (5%)
Spelling & 2= poor grammar: 4=applies grammar 6=applies grammar with 8=few grammatical 10 = no significant
Grammar no evidence of with limited some accuracy; little errors: evidence of grammatical errors:
(10%) editing; jumbled: accuracy; no evidence of editing; editing; clear substantial editing;
difficult to evidence of editing; somewhat clear very clear
understand unclear
Reference 0 = no Reference 2.5=errors on Reference 5=appropriate
Page (5%) page page Reference page; if
error(s), minimal
 Developmental Psychology SS271 4
Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

OPTION 2: PERSONAL REFLECTION

Pick a topic pertaining to Adolescence and make connections to your own personal experiences.
*If you are a mature student, please feel free to make reference to a topic pertaining to another
developmental stage (Early, Middle or Late Adulthood).
Some ideas:
 Experience of puberty
 Teen pregnancy
 Teen substance use or abuse
 Mental health & suicide, self-esteem
 Transitional experiences (e.g., to high school, college/university)
 Early school leavers
 Working teens
 Social relationships in adolescence (with peers, family)
 Romantic relationships in adolescence (heterosexual and non-heterosexual
experiences)

Assignment Objectives:
This is a 250-350 word reflection. In this essay, you will demonstrate your ability to:
(1) Format your paper according to APA style (i.e., properly-formatted title page, Reference page,
double-spacing, font: 12 point Times New Roman or similar font).
(2) Paraphrase and summarize our textbook. Do not use direct quotations unless absolutely necessary.
(3) Communicate information to the reader in a conventional manner (i.e., complete sentences and
paragraphs – point-form or bulleting is not accepted)

Structure:
Your paper will have the following two components:
(1) Introduction (including a clear thesis outlining the main objective for this reflection)
(1) Main body paragraph

The Introduction will offer a “hook” and provide the reader with a statement that outlines the paper’s
objectives and indicates the structure of the reflection.

For the main body paragraph, the student will present his/her personal experience and make connections to
research cited in our text.
Some questions to ask yourself:
 Is your experience consistent with past research cited in our textbook on the topic?
 Can you tie your experience to developmental theory?

Weight: 5% of final grade

Due date: Friday August 9th by midnight – Dropbox on E-learn

You will be graded on the following elements:

Introduction: 10%
Summary of your experience: 20%
Analysis (connections to text): 50%
Formatting:
Title Page &
 Developmental Psychology SS271 5
Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

Overall formatting: 5% - APA format (for a sample paper, go to:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/18/
*Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spacing, page numbers
Spelling & Grammar: 10%
Reference Page 5% - APA format --- pay attention to the details (title of page, double-
spacing, indenting, alphabetical order …)
Conclusion: 5%

TOTAL: 100%

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Please refer to the student handbook for guidance regarding
this matter
 Developmental Psychology SS271 6
Assignment #2 (worth 5% of your final grade)

OPTION 2 Rubric

Introduction (10%)
Thesis 0 = no thesis 2.5= thesis statement is 5 = clear thesis
statement statement included but it needs to be statement
(5%) clarified
General 0 = introductory 2.5 = weak “hook” or 5 = clear introduction
introduction paragraph not general introductory
(5%) provided statement
Summary of 0 = no summary 5 = weak summary 10 = partial summary 15 = adequate 20 = a thorough
Experience summary summary
(20%)
Analysis 0 = no analysis 10 or 20 = minimal 30 = some connections to 40 =adequate 50 = a thorough
(50%) (no connection to connections to the the textbook); some connections to the analysis where each
the textbook) textbook; also, understanding of the subject textbook; point is connected to
limited matter considerable research cited in the
understanding of understanding of textbook; considerable
some of the subject subject matter understanding of
matter subject matter
Formatting (20%)
Title Page & 0 = no title page 2.5=somewhat conventional 5 = APA formatted, if
Overall or unconventional APA style (with errors); error(s), minimal;
formatting APA style; and/or and/or some overall appropriate overall
details - Times multiple formatting errors formatting
New Roman, formatting errors
12 point font,
double
spacing, page
numbers (5%)
Spelling & 2= poor grammar: 4=applies grammar 6=applies grammar with 8=few grammatical 10 = no significant
Grammar no evidence of with limited some accuracy; little errors: evidence of grammatical errors:
(10%) editing; jumbled: accuracy; no evidence of editing; editing; clear substantial editing;
difficult to evidence of editing; somewhat clear very clear
understand unclear
Reference 0 = no Reference 2.5=errors on Reference 5=appropriate
Page (5%) page page Reference page; if
error(s), minimal