developmental letter

PSYC 231

Developmental Letter Assignment Instructions

Overview

Processing the rapid changes of puberty and adolescent development can be overwhelming, confusing, and lonely for some. The aim of this assignment is to use course material to inform and highlight information you deem most important for a young person to know and understand prior to and during this time. It may be helpful to reflect upon your own adolescent experience to write your letter. You may want to think of the specific individual you are writing to and tailor your letter to them.

While writing a letter may not be the best way to deliver such sensitive and important information in real life, you may consider the assignment an opportunity to organize thoughts prior to a face-to-face conversation. The goal is to be able to understand and communicate clearly with the adolescent concerning sensitive issues, both personally and professionally.

Instructions

This is a two-part assignment.

For this assignment, it is crucial that:

· You use and cite (in current APA format) information from the textbook and Scripture.

· Include at least 3 parenthetical textbook citations and 2 Bible citations within your letter.

· Include 2 parenthetical citations derived from either the Bible or the text within your reflection page.

· You do not need to have a cover letter for this assignment.

In part one, you will write a two- to three-page letter by choosing one of the following options:

1. Imagine that you are a parent and that you have a son or daughter who is about to enter adolescence. Because you will soon be leaving on a journey that will prevent you from having contact for the next 10 years, this will be your last opportunity to help your child deal with the changes he/she will be experiencing during puberty and adolescence. You are to write a letter to a son or a daughter before you leave on your journey. The letter should be worded so that it can be understood by the child and so that it will give him/her a positive attitude toward the changes to be experienced.

1. Imagine that you know a child who is about to enter adolescence (e.g., friend, friend of a friend, niece or nephew, youth group member). They have asked you for advice about the changes he/she might expect to experience during puberty and adolescence. You are to write a letter to the child that they can have for reference any time they need reassurance. The letter should be worded so that it can be understood by the child and so that it will give him/her a positive attitude toward the changes to be experienced.

1. Imagine that you know someone whose child is about to enter adolescence. They would like your advice about the important things they would need to know to help their child deal with the changes he/she will be experiencing during puberty and adolescence. You are to write a letter of advice that will enable the parent to easily understand and explain to the child. The letter should be worded so that ultimately the child will be encouraged to develop a positive attitude toward the changes to be experienced.

Letter Details to Include:

· You are to emphasize the physical changes that take place during puberty and any other “words of wisdom” that you feel are important as they embark on their journey toward adulthood.

· You also have an opportunity to impart some spiritual guidance as the child proceeds through this stage of life. Be strategic in your words. Focus on the points that you consider most important as he/she enters this stage.

· Write your letter using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation with well-organized content, supporting your thoughts and facts with information from the textbook and Scripture.

· You can write this assignment in the first person to maintain the natural flow of a letter.

In part two, you will write a one-page reflection essay by answering the following questions. Do not write in a question/answer format.

Write this portion out as an essay that is no less than one page long.

This page will follow your letter from part one of the assignment.

Questions:

1. What was the most important aspect that you wanted to convey about development? Why?

1. What developmental issue did you focus on from the textbook? Make sure to cite the text as appropriate.

1. How did you feel about this exercise? And why?

1. Did you see this letter as an opportunity for growth or a warning of peril ahead? Why?

1. As you wrote this, what was your greatest fear?

1. What is one area of development that you hope would be achieved during this period of the child’s life?

You should include a reference page which is in current APA format for any sources that you use in this assignment, including the Bible. The reference page should be located on a new page after the reflection.

This assignment assesses Course Learning Outcomes B, C, and D.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

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