Final Paper: Reexamining a Life of Development
Developmental Psychology – Fall 2010
45 Points – Due 12/7
This final paper is a culmination of the entire developmental psychology course. In it, you are required to
write about your individual one last time; but this time, you’ll be combining all of the topics that we’ve
discussed thus far into three mini-papers. For the papers, you need to pick three specific points in your
individual’s life (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and/or late adulthood) and summarize all of the
struggles and/or developments that your individual is currently going through. Each of the three summaries
should be approximately 1-2 pages and each is worth 15 points (for a total of 45 points). To earn full credit in
each section, you must include all of the information listed below.
Physical Development (Discuss information on at least 3 of the 4 topics listed below) (4 pts):
1. Their physical growth/concerns
2. Their neurological growth/concerns
3. Health problems/concerns that they are encountering
4. Motor/sensory skill growth/challenges that they are encountering
Cognitive Development (Discuss information on at least 2 of the 4 topics listed below) (4 pts):
1. Piaget related cognitive challenges that they are encountering
2. Attention and memory skill growth/challenges that they are encountering
3. Intelligence comparisons/information about them
4. Recent language related challenges/achievements
Socioemotional Development (Discuss information on at least 2 of the 4 topics listed below) (4 pts):
1. Emotional range and ability challenges and/or achievements
2. Description of their “self” and how it relates to their development
3. Gender/sexuality challenges/recent events
4. Current moral stage in development, and if applicable, religious focus/concerns
NOTE: You will earn an additional 3 points in each summary if your paper is well written, while also
containing enough depth to indicate to me that you understand the areas that we’ve covered.
Each of the three age summaries will be graded separately, so turning in three separate papers for each point
in life that you choose is strongly encouraged. Within each of the three mini-papers, you need smooth
transitions between the categories and the topics within the categories. You also need to present
information that is accurate. This requires indicating typical development for individuals at the age you are
addressing, and where your specific individual lies in comparison to those people.
Papers will be due at 1:30 on the 7th of December. It is meant as a replacement to your final exam, so put
work into this. No late papers will be accepted, but papers can be turned in at any point before the due date.
If you have any questions about the specifics or topics within the paper, don’t hesitate to ask me in class or
via email.
Please write several drafts, spell check, proofread and revise both your timeline and introduction before
handing in your assignment. You will not receive full credit if your assignment contains grammatical, spelling,
or stylistic mistakes.
A NOTE ON PLAGARISM
USE YOUR OWN WORDS! Plagiarism in this assignment will not be tolerated. Anyone caught plagiarizing on
this paper will receive a 0 on the paper and an entire grade reduction on their final grade. Plagiarism can
exist in many forms, but all versions of plagiarism involve using the intellectual materials of another without
making an acknowledgement of its source. Examples of plagiarism include:
1) Copying statements and writings of another without acknowledging their contribution (quotes,
reference, etc.).
2) Using the views and statements of others in your papers in a manner that makes them seem as if
they were your own original views and statements.
3) Constant paraphrasing and copying of statements throughout your paper (this can be considered
plagiarism even if you cite your sources if you are doing this too frequently).