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ZOOM
Unit 2 Assessment: Chapters 6-10
This Unit Assessment will require you to demonstrate your ability to carefully review, analyze, comprehend,
and apply the material you have consumed up to this point. It also will require you to integrate empirical
research within your written discussions.
This assessment consists of a standard essay format with five prompts from which you may choose. Your
answers should be VERY detailed and well-supported with textbook and research info. Inclusion of additional
empirical research to support your discussions is required (criteria ‘b’ below). Just as in any paper, if you are
referring to something specific in the research or textbook, be sure to cite it in your writing – for example (Lally
& Valentine-French, 2022, p. 81). Also, spend adequate time editing your answers to make sure you are clearly
communicating your ideas and your writing is free from errors.
Each essay prompt will have a minimum word count of 500. You will likely find that you far exceed this
minimum with a well-crafted essay. To be eligible for full-point consideration, your discussion must reach or
exceed that minimum. Additionally, the quality of each essay will be graded based upon the following general
criteria as also stated in the course syllabus:
a) Mastery and Application of Developmental Concepts
b) Inclusion of applicable Empirical Research
c) Integration of information and empirical research through effective Analysis
d) Reflection upon information and implications
Some final details regarding format and submission:
– Type your essay in a WORD or PDF document. No other formats will be accepted.
– You do not need to double-space your answers.
– Provide brief headings to your answers so I know which essay prompt I am reading about.
– You may approach your essay in whatever manner is easiest for you to effectively communicate your
ideas. The answers do not necessarily have to follow the order of the questions I ask. As long as you
address each point of discussion in your answer, you are fine.
– When you are ready to submit it, upload it into Canvas within the “Unit 2 Assessment Submission”
page.
– Provide a References page at the end appropriately identifying the empirical research you cited in your
written work, and please ensure it is in APA style formatting.
The Unit 2 Assessment is due no later than Monday, June 24th, 12:00pm.
Read this please: These discussions will be a mixture of both analysis of material in general and some personal
application to you as well. In the analysis of the material in general, as always, I am expecting sufficient
empirical review and support. When applying the material more personally, make sure you include some
empirical support justifying your answers; however, the research does not need to be as intense as in the general
discussion. Due to the nature of these prompts, you have quite a bit of freedom in the direction you want to take
these discussions. Remember, only ONE (1) prompt needs to be submitted.
1) Relationships (I’m leaving this term wide open to any form of relationship you want to focus on):
a. Convince me that relationships are absolutely critical for positive development outcomes through
adolescence and young adulthood. What that, what are the consequences for individuals who do
not establish positive relationships with others?
b. How can we best foster positive relationships in individuals in these life stages?
c. Be sure to defend your ideas and decisions with adequate text and research support.
d. How has this been exemplified in your own life?
e. Minimum word count: 500 (APA citations do NOT count toward this minimum)
2) A discussion on late childhood/adolescence and the ramifications into adulthood:
Alyson Stoner was a child actress in the early 2000s, and in this video she speaks out about the damage
she endured throughout the process (the toddler-to-trainwreck industrial complex). There is A LOT that
can be unpacked here but try to keep your discussion focused on the two or three main points that really
captured your attention compared to what we are learning. There is no need to provide an overview; you
may jump right into discussing your main points.
a. Provide a detailed discussion on 2-3 takeaways as they relate to child development:
i. Personality shifts due to acting out different characters.
ii. Recreating kidnapping and rape in front of a crew of strangers.
iii. Pressure from media conglomerates.
iv. Child labor.
v. Sexualization of minors.
vi. Any other points that caught your attention.
b. What are the ramifications in terms of emotional, biological, and psychological development?
How are they impacted or influenced in these situations?
c. Do you agree with Stoner’s solutions? If so, why? If not, explain and offer different solutions.
d. Explore the questions Stoner presented at the end of the video:
i. How might you as the outside audience or witness be connected to the toddler-to-
trainwreck industrial complex?
ii. What are the risks of viewing these documentaries and headlines as entertainment
without action?
e. Be sure to defend your discussion with adequate text and research support (the textbook AND at
least THREE empirical sources).
f. Minimum word count: 500 (This does NOT include APA citations)
3) A discussion on middle adulthood:
a. What are the most favorable aspects about reaching or being in this stage?
b. What are the biggest concerns for individuals during the middle adulthood stage?
c. What are ways to prevent or address some of these concerns to potentially foster better outcomes in
these areas? (in ‘a’, ‘b’ & ‘c’, be detailed with 2 or 3 rather than listing many)
d. What midlife ‘challenge’ or health issue do you believe may be of biggest concern to you once you
reach or are in this stage (or if you are already there)?
e. What are ways you can potentially prevent or intervene in regard to this specific concern to
potentially foster better outcomes in this area? (Here, don’t just think of in general – tailor your
ideas so they fit well for you)
f. Minimum Word Count = 500 (APA citations do NOT count toward this minimum)
4) A discussion on living a happy, healthy life:
a. Overall, after assessing all that we have reviewed this semester, what do you believe contributes to
living a long, satisfying life? Explain
b. In considering Erikson’s final stage- when reflecting back upon your own life, what would be the
things you will look for to determine whether you look back with “Integrity” or “Despair”? Explain.
c. What will be the biggest aspect of aging into Late Adulthood that you will look forward to the
most? Explain.
d. What will be the biggest aspect of aging into Late Adulthood that you fear or will dislike the most?
Explain.
e. Minimum word count: 500 (APA citations do NOT count toward this minimum)
5) For this prompt, consider your textbook material and the body of research out there to provide advice
from the perspective of a “professional” (not that of a biased, personal friend for example). Also, there
may not be a clear-cut answer here. Whatever advice you give just be able to justify it through providing
adequate support for your reasoning.
Different people have recently come to you for advice regarding their relationships and family
dynamics. Given your exposure to information in this course and your ability to critically consider
research, you can give them some advice on their dilemmas. Discuss how you would answer couples
who come to you with the following major dilemmas:
a. We want to cohabitate but have no plans of ever getting married. Should we cohabitate?
b. We want to get married. What can we do to hopefully have a long-lasting, satisfying marriage?
c. We want to start a family. How can we best prepare for this transition? What should we do to be
the best parents possible?
d. We are a same-sex couple and are thinking about either having a child biologically or adopting.
Will our type of relationship affect the child in any way? How can we make sure it doesn’t?
e. We are both divorced from other prior marriages, we each have our own children, and are
planning to get married. What are some challenges we might experience with this transition and
how can we help it go as smoothly as possible?
f. For this essay you can separate each of these dilemmas for discussion purposes – it does not need to
be one integrated, flowing essay.
g. Considering these 5 questions in light of the word count minimum, here you can get right to the
point on answering each question while still providing adequate support for your advice.
h. Minimum word count total: 500 (APA citations do NOT count toward this minimum)
