Life Span Reflection Paper

A self-reflection paper that examines the ways that the issues, identified in the term paper, interact and relate to one another to impact their development. The self-reflection will also include an interview with two adults in two different stages of life about how the issues identified in the term paper play out, interact, and affect the person’s life at different points in development. The self-reflection should be at least three pages (750 words). This assignment addresses: GE Learning Outcome #2​– Recognize the interrelation of the physiological, social/cultural, and psychological factors on their development across the lifespan.

Guidelines

Overview​: Research clearly demonstrates that our well-being at one developmental stage of life has a strong impact on our well-being at later developmental stages. This appears to be true not only in childhood but also in adolescence and adulthood. Thus, in this assignment you will be exploring how developmental experiences (e.g., interrelations of the physiological, social/cultural, and psychological factors) at your age continue to shape and influence development at later ages.

Specifically, in this assignment you will complete a self-reflection and interview two different adults who are in later stages of development than you. For the purposes of this assignment, you will use the topic you wrote about in your term paper.

The assignment should be ​at least​ 750 words (approximately 3 pages) and is worth 40 points.

[A] ​Introduction​: Start the assignment by providing a brief over-view of your term paper (what the topic was and describe in one sentence each the factors you examined in the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains). Indicates what the paper will do (e.g., self-reflection and two interviews about the topic of your term paper).

[B] Self-Reflection​: You will need to refer back to your term paper to address the following questions. You may want to refer back to your textbook to help you think about the kinds of changes that occur cognitive, socially, emotionally, and physically as you move across the lifespan. Please write this in an essay format using good grammar and spelling. Make sure you organize the self-reflection in such a way that it is clear, cohesive, and obvious where you are addressing each question. Aim for one paragraph for the self-reflection.

1. How old are you, where do live, what is your major, and when will you graduate.(​Please ignore this question)

2. How do you think the {topic of your term paper} will influence or be influenced by the inter-relations of the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive factors you identified in the term paper as you move into the next stage of development (e.g.,

young adulthood, middle adulthood, or late adulthood)? {​If you have not personally experienced the topic, reflect on the topic in the context of someone (not named) who is experiencing the topic​}.

3. What kinds of changes will occur in the {topic of your term paper}given the kinds of changes that are likely to occur in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive factors you identified in the term paper, as you move into the next developmental

stage (e.g., young adulthood, middle adulthood, or late adulthood)?

4. What kinds of things can you do at your age to help promote a successful transition to the next stage of development in the context of the {topic of your term paper} and the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive factors you identified in the term paper.

[C] Interviews​: You will need to find ​two adults at different life stages from each other and who are both older than you​. Use the following questions for your interviews. However, in your write-up you should summarize their responses (in essay format) rather then reporting verbatim what they said in the interviews. Here too, you will need to use good grammar, spelling, and organization that makes the essay cohesive, and obvious where you are addressing each question. You should summarize each interview separately. Note you may have to adapt the questions and/or the way you describe the topic of your term paper in these interview questions. Be sure to probe for specific answers to your questions. Aim for one paragraph for each interviewee.

1. What is your age, occupation, and education? Where did you live when you were my age? What were you doing (occupation, family, school, hobbies) when you were my age?

2. Did you experience {topic of the term paper}when you were my age? What was that experience like? How did the {topic of the term paper} and the way you experienced it shape your life as you moved into{the next stage of development – provide a specific period here that is relevant to the person you are interviewing}. {Note: if they did not experience the topic of your term paper: (a) ask them why they think it was not an issue for them; (b) ask them to describe a developmental experience that was influential when they were your age.}

3. Provide them with a little information about the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical factors you reviewed in your paper and ask them about the influence of

these factors specifically in the context of {your term paper topic OR the topic they identified for themselves} as they moved into the next stage of development.

4. Is the {topic of your term paper OR the topic they identified for themselves} still influencing your well-being today? How? Why do you think that? What kinds of things can a person do at your age to promote well-being cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically in the context of this topic? {​If this topic is no longer influencing their well-being: (a) ask what topic is currently influencing their well-

being; (b) ask them to explain why and how; and (c) ask them to indicate what kinds of things a person can do at their age to promote well-being cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically in the context of this new topic?​}

5. At the end of the interview ask them if they have any words of wisdom for you.

[D} ​Conclusion​: Sum-up and draw some conclusions about, by looking across the self-reflection and two interviews, the ways that cognitive, social, emotional, and physical factors inter-relate to influence development now and in the future. Provide one or two suggestions for promoting well-being now so that you transition to the next stage of development successfully.

Introduction (0-4 Points):

0 Points 1 Point 2 Points 3 Points 4 Points

Does not provide an

introduction.

Provides a very brief, vague or

general introduction..

Provides an introduction that either

describes the term paper

topic or provides an over-view of

the assignment.

Provides an introduction

that does two of the following: describes the term paper

topic; describes the four

domains; provides an

over-view of the assignment .

Provides an introduction

that: describes the term paper topic; describes

the four domains;

provides an over-view of the

assignment.

Self-Reflection (0-9 Points)

0-1 Points 2 Points 3-5 Points 6-7 Points 8-9 Points

Questions are given shallow

responses, and many aspects are neglected.

Yes-or-no answers. Little to no use of

explanations, details, or

examples. Little or no evidence of attempts to

analyze personal

development in the context of the topic and domains over time. May not

have a self-reflection.

Questions are addressed

superficially, with some aspects

neglected. Only occasional use of explanations,

details, and examples.

Some attempts to analyze personal

development in the context of the topic and domains over

time

All aspects of most questions are addressed, or most aspects of all questions are addressed.

Frequent details,

explanations, and examples. Clear attempts

to analyze personal

development in one of the

following: the context of the

topic; the domains; or over time.

All aspects of the questions

are addressed. Each answer

includes details, explanations, or examples that demonstrate

understanding of personal

development. Analyses two of

the following: the context of the topic; the domains; or over time.

All aspects of the questions

are addressed. Answers are thoroughly

fleshed out with details,

explanations, and relevant

examples that clearly illustrate understanding

of personal development.

Analyzes personal

development in the context of the topic; the domains; and

over time.

Interview #1 (0-9 Points)

0-1 Points 2 Points 3-5 Points 6-7 Points 8-9 Points

Provides verbatim transcript of the

interview. Does not attempt to analyze development over time, the topic, or the domains May

not have the interview.

Briefly summarizes

the interview in vague or

general terms. Minimal

attempt to analyze

development over time, the topic, or the domains.

Clearly summarizes the

interview. Analyzes one of

the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains

Clearly and effectively

summarizes the interview.

Analyzes two of the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains.

Clearly and effectively

summarizes the interview and

provides examples and explanations. Analyzes all of the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains.

Interview #2 (0-9 Points)

0-1 Points 2 Points 3-5 Points 6-7 Points 8-9 Points

Provides verbatim transcript of the

interview. Does not attempt to analyze development over time, the topic, or the domains May

not have the interview.

Briefly summarizes

the interview in vague or

general terms. Minimal

attempt to analyze

development over time, the topic, or the domains.

Clearly summarizes the

interview. Analyzes one of

the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains

Clearly and effectively

summarizes the interview.

Analyzes two of the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains.

Clearly and effectively

summarizes the interview and

provides examples and explanations. Analyzes all of the following: development over time; the topic; or the

domains.

Conclusion (0-4 points)

0 Points 1 Point 2 Points 3 Points 4 Points

Does not

provide a

conclusion

Provides a very

brief one to two

sentence vague

summary.

Provides a clear

but general

conclusion about

how

development

influences

well-being now

and in the future.

Provides a clear

conclusion about

how

development

influences

well-being now

and in the future

by drawing on

the reflection

and the

interviews and

the domains OR

provides

suggestions for

promoting

well-being.

Provides a clear

conclusion about

how development

influences

well-being now

and in the future

by drawing on the

reflection and the

interviews and by

examining the

four

developmental

domains. Provides

suggestions for

promoting

well-being.

Writing Quality and Formatting (0-5 Points)

0 Points 1-2 Points 3 Points 4 Points 5 Points

Thoughts are

not organized

and presented

weakly.

Significant

grammatical

errors. Paper is

not double

spaced, with

one-inch

margins, and

12-point font

Organization is

cluttered or

scattered.

Thoughts are

difficult to

follow. Many

grammatical

errors. May not

meet all of the

formatting

requirements.

Thoughts are

mostly

well-organized,

but occasionally

hard to follow,

OR errors in

spelling and

grammar distract

from the content.

Meets all the

formatting

requirements.

Thoughts are

presented clearly

and strongly, in

the student’s

own voice. Minor

errors in spelling

or grammar.

Meets all of the

formatting

requirements.

Thoughts are

presented clearly

and strongly, in

the student’s

own voice.

Personal style

adds to the

presentation.

Virtually no

errors in spelling

and grammar.

Very

well-organized

and meets all the

formatting

requirements.