Midterm Exam Info
Accelerated Sociology
Your midterm will consist of the following 4 parts (details for each are outlined on the following pages).
I. Developmental Interviews (65 Points)
II. Timeline of Your Life (30 Points)
III. Autobiography (50 Points)
IV. Personality Profile (40 Points)
(Total: 185 Points)
At the beginning of your midterm exam period, you need to have
 conducted all 3 interviews,
 had 2 people complete the personality profiles,
 had your parents sign the form on page 9,
 and have completed at least two of the 4 parts.
By the end of your exam period, you will need to hand in the following in the order shown
1. Pages 9 and 10 of this packet, with the top half of page 9 completed (including a
parent/guardian signature)
2. Your summary of the interviews that includes your questions and the person’s responses
3. Your analysis of what you learned from the interviews
4. Your Timeline
5. Your Autobiography
6. Your 3 completed personality profiles (pages 6, 7,and 8 of this packet)
7. Your analysis of your personality profile.
The following need to be submitted to TurnItIn.com as 3 separate assignments by the end of your
midterm exam period.
1. Your analysis of the interviews AND your summary of the interviews (IF YOU TYPED THEM)
2. Your autobiography
3. Your analysis of your personality profile
You will have two class periods (Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27) and the entire
midterm exam period to work on these assignments, but you will need to do some of the work outside of
class. During the class time, I will have the laptops and the textbooks for your use.
If you complete all 4 parts before the end of the exam period, you will have to remain in the room but you
can work on anything else you have to work on, including your notes on Chapter 9.
1
Developmental Interviews

You need to interview three adults:
o one “young adult” (ages 22-39),
o one “middle aged adult” (ages 40 – 59),
o and one “older adult” (age 60 and up).

Before your interview, prepare 10-12 questions that you intend to ask each person.
o They should not be the same 10 questions for all three people; some can be the same, but
most should be personalized (based on age, gender, race, etc).
o They need to demonstrate knowledge of the life course as described in Ch 5 of your
textbook.
o You should avoid asking any “yes” or “no” questions; rather, you should ask open-ended
questions that solicit full, thoughtful responses.

During the interview, use the questions you prepared, but also respond to the stories you are
hearing, and ask clarification and follow-up questions as necessary and appropriate. You need to
do your best to get them talking.
o Your interview might touch up some subjects that can be emotional and painful. Be
respectful and treat these topics with respect and delicacy.

Following your interview, you need to send each person a thank you note for their time and
efforts.
* You then need to compose two assignments
a) a summary of each interview that includes all of your questions and the basic ideas and phrases
shared by the person that you interviewed. Include any follow-up questions you asked that
were not part of your original 10-12 prepared questions. This portion is informal and can
be in note form, handwritten or typed.
b) a 3-4 page analysis of the ways in which their responses reflect what we have learned
about socialization and human development and what new insights you now have
in terms of your own upcoming journey through adulthood. This portion needs to be in
MLA format
* You will be graded according to following criteria
Summary of Interview
10 points: Questions are personalized and insightfully address the particular circumstances and
life stage of the interviewee.
10 points: Questions are interesting and address important topics related to the particular life stage
10 Points: Summary provides a clear and specific record of the conversation
Analysis
10 Points: Demonstrates insightful understanding of the Life Course and the major issues faced at
each stage
10 Points: Demonstrates insightful reflection on the three people’s experiences
10 Points: Provides a genuine sense of insight into your own journey through the life course
5 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format
2
Timeline of Your Life
Either typed or by hand, develop a neat, organized, colorful, and creative timeline of your life from birth
to death.
 From birth to present, you should include actual events (first steps, first words, best friends,
summer camp experiences, etc.).
 From now until death (We’ll make it 100 years old), you should include predictions about what
you think will happen (job, spouse, kids, vacations, etc.).
 You also need to place and label a clear, dark line at three different points:
o a) when you went from being a baby to a child,
o b) when you went from being a child to an adolescent, and
o c) when you went from being an adolescent to an adult.
 Please remember to be as honest as possible, and please know that I will be the only one to see it
and will keep all information completely confidential.
General Tips for Timelines. Remember- the purpose of a timeline is to visually represent the
passage of time. To do that accurately, there are certain things you need to keep in mind as you
design your time.
 Use consistent scale (one inch should always = a certain number of years). Plan carefully to make
sure you use the space efficiently and can fit all events on the timeline.
 Include time markers (see example below)
 Include the name of the event and the year (as well as day and month, when possible).
 Include start AND end dates when appropriate. Use brackets if you need to represent a span of
time
 Carefully place the event where it belongs on the timeline (If it happened in June of 2010, it
should be in the middle of the space you have for 2010)
 Include at least three images that help to illustrate the events. Be sure to include a caption. These
do not have to be hand-drawn.
 Please have it fit on a 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, or fold it to that size.
Grading
20 Points: Content
 Selection of events thoroughly covers and addresses the major events of a lifetime
 Selection of events gives me a sense of you
 Breaking points (between baby, child, adolescent, adult) are appropriately placed
10 Points: Appearance of Timeline
 Consistent scale, with time markers included (see example below)
 Events are correctly placed on the time line
 Is legibile, neat, and colorful
 Has a Title
 Includes relevant images with captions
Spanish American War
April-August 1898
1898
1899
Assassination of McKinley
Sep 1901
1900
1901
1902
3
Autobiography
* Compose a 4 – 5 page narrative autobiography (in MLA format) from birth until the present in which
you relate specific life experiences, changes, and perspectives to the developmental stages outlined by two
of the following three theorists:
o Carol Gilligan,
o Lawrence Kohlberg,
o and Erik Erikson.
 Basically, you should use your life story as a lens through which to examine the developmental
theories of your two chosen thinkers.
 Please remember to be as honest as possible, and please know that I will be the only one to see it and
will keep all information completely confidential.
Grading
10 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format.
20 Points: Accurate and insightful use of both developmental theories
20 Points: Genuine/honest inclusion of relevant specific life events
4
PERSONALITY PROFILE and SELF-CONCEPT
Directions:
A) Complete the personality profile on the opposite side.
B) After you have rated YOURSELF, have two other people who know you well rate your personality
using the attached sheets- pages 7 + 8 (Don't let them see your rating or the other person’s rating)
C) Write a 2-3 page analysis, in MLA format, of how your rating compares to that of your significant
others’ analysis. How accurate is your “looking glass”? (review Cooley’s idea of the looking glass
self on pages 122-3)
Grading of your Analysis
5 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format
15 Points: Analysis highlights significant similarities and differences between your own profile and
that of your significant others.
20 Points: Provides a genuine sense of insight into how you perceive yourself vs. how your try to
portray yourself to others, vs. how others perceive you.
5
Personality Profile
Circle the number which best describes your personality.
Neither extreme should be considered positive or negative.
QUIET/SHY
1
2
3
4
OUTGOING
SERIOUS
1
2
3
4
CAREFREE
CALM
1
2
3
4
TENSE
PRACTICAL
1
2
3
4
IMAGINATIVE
GIVE IN
1
2
3
4
STUBBORN
CAUTIOUS
1
2
3
4
RISK TAKER
FOLLOWER
1
2
3
4
LEADER
EMOTIONAL
1
2
3
4
UNEMOTIONAL
FAST PACE
1
2
3
4
SLOW PACE
DEPENDENT
1
2
3
4
INDEPENDENT
SELF FOCUSED
1
2
3
4
OTHER FOCUSED
AGREABLE
1
2
3
4
REBELLIOUS
THOUGHTFUL
1
2
3
4
IMPULSIVE
COMPETITIVE
1
2
3
4
NONCOMPETITIVE
LETHARGIC
1
2
3
4
HIGH ENERGY
SELF-CONSCIOUS 1
2
3
4
CONFIDENT
SAVER
2
3
4
SPENDER
1
6
Personality Profile
Name______________________________________________________________________________
Relation to student______________________________________________________________________
Please circle the number on the continuum which you think best describes _______________________’s
personality. Neither extreme should be considered positive or negative.
QUIET/SHY
1
2
3
4
OUTGOING
SERIOUS
1
2
3
4
CAREFREE
CALM
1
2
3
4
TENSE
PRACTICAL
1
2
3
4
IMAGINATIVE
GIVE IN
1
2
3
4
STUBBORN
CAUTIOUS
1
2
3
4
RISK TAKER
FOLLOWER
1
2
3
4
LEADER
EMOTIONAL
1
2
3
4
UNEMOTIONAL
FAST PACE
1
2
3
4
SLOW PACE
DEPENDENT
1
2
3
4
INDEPENDENT
SELF FOCUSED
1
2
3
4
OTHER FOCUSED
AGREABLE
1
2
3
4
REBELLIOUS
THOUGHTFUL
1
2
3
4
IMPULSIVE
COMPETITIVE
1
2
3
4
NONCOMPETITIVE
LETHARGIC
1
2
3
4
HIGH ENERGY
SELF-CONSCIOUS 1
2
3
4
CONFIDENT
SAVER
2
3
4
SPENDER
1
7
Personality Profile
Name______________________________________________________________________________
Relation to student______________________________________________________________________
Please circle the number on the continuum which you think best describes _______________________’s
personality. Neither extreme should be considered positive or negative.
QUIET/SHY
1
2
3
4
OUTGOING
SERIOUS
1
2
3
4
CAREFREE
CALM
1
2
3
4
TENSE
PRACTICAL
1
2
3
4
IMAGINATIVE
GIVE IN
1
2
3
4
STUBBORN
CAUTIOUS
1
2
3
4
RISK TAKER
FOLLOWER
1
2
3
4
LEADER
EMOTIONAL
1
2
3
4
UNEMOTIONAL
FAST PACE
1
2
3
4
SLOW PACE
DEPENDENT
1
2
3
4
INDEPENDENT
SELF FOCUSED
1
2
3
4
OTHER FOCUSED
AGREABLE
1
2
3
4
REBELLIOUS
THOUGHTFUL
1
2
3
4
IMPULSIVE
COMPETITIVE
1
2
3
4
NONCOMPETITIVE
LETHARGIC
1
2
3
4
HIGH ENERGY
SELF-CONSCIOUS 1
2
3
4
CONFIDENT
SAVER
2
3
4
SPENDER
1
8
Name______________________________________________________________Period____________
Accelerated Sociology Midterm
I have read and completed all of the requirements for the interview project as outlined on this sheet:
Student Name:
Student Signature:
My child has read and completed all of the requirements for the interview project as outlined on this sheet
– including interview three individuals within the parameters outlined above and writing and sending
appropriate “thank you” notes.
Parent/Guardian Name:
Parent/Guardian Signature:
Names of people interviewed, and how you know them
o “young adult”: ____________________________________________________________________
o “middle aged adult”: ________________________________________________________________
o
“older adult”: ______________________________________________________________________
Grading- Developmental Interview
Summary of each interview
______/10 points: Questions are personalized and insightfully address the particular circumstances and
life stage of the interviewee.
______/10 points: Questions are interesting and address important topics related to the particular life
stage
______/10 Points: Summary provides a clear and specific record of the conversation
Analysis
______/ 10 Points: Demonstrates insightful understanding of the Life Course and the major issues faced
at each stage
______/ 10 Points: Demonstrates insightful reflection of the three people’s experiences
______/ 10 Points: Provides a genuine sense of insight into your own journey through the life course
______/ 5 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format
Interview Score _______/ 65
9
Grading- Timeline
________/20 Points: Content
 Selection of events thoroughly covers and addresses the major events of a lifetime

Selection of events gives me a sense of you

Breaking points (between baby, child, adolescent, adult) are appropriately placed
________/10 Points: Appearance of Timeline
 Consistent scale, with time markers included (see example in packet)

Events are correctly placed on the time line

Is legible, neat, and colorful

Has a Title

Includes relevant images with captions
Timeline Score ______/ 30
Grading- Autobiography
________/10 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format.
________/20 Points: Accurate and insightful use of both developmental theories
________/20 Points: Genuine/honest inclusion of relevant specific life events
Autobiography Score ______/ 50
Grading- Personality Profile
________/5 Points: Writing is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Is in MLA format
________/15 Points: Analysis highlights significant similarities and differences between your own
profile and that of your significant others.
________/20 Points: Provides a genuine sense of insight into how you perceive yourself vs. how your
try to portray yourself to others, vs. how others perceive you.
Personality Profile Score______/ 40
Total Score _________/ 185
10