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FOCUS
The purpose of this first paper is heighten your awareness of the social forces acting upon your parents and shaping their “Human Behavior.”
THE ASSIGNMENT
In the library, find a popular magazine article from the year of your birth (Woman’s Day, Bazaar, Mademoiselle, & etc.). Specifically, look for an article which was written to inform the reader of the proper, or desired behavior or personal qualities they should strive toward. For example, I found “How to be a girl” in Woman’s Day.
Critically analyze the article, looking specifically at the characteristics of the ideal man or woman. Some of these ideals will be stated explicitly, others will be implied. Examine not only the manifest content of the article but also the underlying (usually unstated) assumptions about proper male and female roles, aspirations, attitudes, patterns of thought, and behavior. Going yet one layer deeper, examine these explicit and implicit assumptions to determine the author’s view of what it means to be alive. What is the purpose of life, what gives life meaning, what’s it all about?
Finally, examine the article for hints about the ways in which deviance from the stated and implied ideals is punished or otherwise discouraged.
CONTENT
• the stated ideals
• the implied ideals
• the underlying assumptions
• the mechanisms of social control
FORMAT
Papers should be from 3 to 5 pages, no more, typed, double spaced with 1” margins. Cover page should include name, course and date. Staple paper please.
GRADING
Total = 100 points. Your paper will be evaluated on the basis of:
CONTENT (60):
Does your paper address each of the four content areas specified above?
ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY (30)
Organization of the Paper
Is the paper easy to follow and understand? Are points clearly made and backed up through quotes or specific examples?
Clarity of Writing
Do you use correct grammar, spelling, and non-sexist language according to APA style guide and Strunk and White Elements of Style.
REFERENCES (10)
Are references and citations in correct APA style?
FOCUS
The purpose of this first paper is to heighten your awareness of child development. Specifically, you will become more aware of child cognitive, psychological, moral, and physical development. Thorough observation of interactional patterns you will also learn to observe the ebb and flow of drives and defenses as evident in childhood and to be aware of the effects of race, class, ethnicity, and gender.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Choose a child
Because you will be making judgements about the child’s psychosocial development, you should not choose a child you are related to nor the child of a close friend or classmate.
Obtain informed consent
Pursuant to the NASW code of ethics, you must obtain informed consent. The informed consent should be in writing, explaining the nature and purpose of the observation, detailing what you will do with your observation notes (written or recorded), and how you will disguise all identifying information about the child (except gender) and the parent(s) in your write up. Attach informed consent to your paper, I will shred them.
Observe the child
Observe a child age 2 to 12 years old. You should allow yourself enough time to become immersed in the child’s world. Specifically, look for evidence of the child’s biological, cognitive/intellectual, psychological, moral, and social developmental state or stage. Note that a child’s age does not tell you about their stage of development. Watch especially for times of internal and/or external conflict (and their resolution) and observe the defense mechanisms which the child employs. Also consider the child's play development (e.g., for a younger child, the use of parallel play or symbolic play). Use either written or tape recorded notes to capture your impressions. In either case expand your notes within one or two hours after your observation.
The Write Up
You will gather a lot of information during your observation; your task is to analyze that overwhelming mass of data and to extract key information about certain developmental themes which you have studied.
As you write your paper remember the title of this course! Describe the child you observed in relation to physical, intellectual, psychological, moral, and social developmental milestones.
Be sure to address these areas within the context of the child-in environment perspective. You must demonstrate your understanding of the child with respect to the impact of gender, class, race, ethnicity, geography, and poverty. How does being of a particular class, ethnic group, or gender impact this particular child, as evidenced in their behavior and the social responses which you observed?
Connect your observations, thoughts, reflections to your readings on child development and relevant theory. Include appropriate citations and references in APA format.
FORMAT
Papers should be from 5 to 7 pages, no more, typed, double spaced with 1” margins. Cover page should include name, course and date. Staple paper please.
You should include an introduction outlining the topics you will cover. Use headings and subheadings to organize your paper. Back up your discussion with examples from your observations, but DO NOT include long descriptions of behavior or settings. The paper is to be an analysis of child behavior, referring to specific theories, supported by brief examples. Use APA reference and non-sexist language guidelines.
GRADING
Total = 100 points. Your paper will be evaluated on the basis of:
CONTENT (50 points):
Description of the child and her/his stage of development:
Do you adequately describe and give supporting examples of physical, intellectual, psychological, moral, and social development?
Impact of social forces:
Do you analyze the impact of gender, class, race, ethnicity, geography, and economic status.
Integration of theory with material from the observation
Do you demonstrate an understanding of development and the impact of sociocultural variables (age, sex, ethnicity, etc.) based on social and developmental theories.
ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY (40 points)
Organization of the paper
Is the paper easy to follow and understand? Are points clearly made and backed up through references to the literature and to specific examples of behavior?
Clarity of writing
Do you use correct grammar, spelling, and non-sexist language.
REFERENCES (10 points)
Relevance of references and correct use of APA reference style in your paper.
FOCUS:
The purpose of this assignment is to enable you to gain skills in the assessment of a community environment and its impact on individual, family, and social group functioning. This paper gives you an opportunity to demonstrate you ability to:
1. locate the boundaries (physical and psychological) of a community;
2. locate significant formal and informal resources and services within a community;
3. understand the interrelationships among the resources, boundaries and their impact on individual, family, and social group functioning.
RESOURCES:
1. Local community fact books located at the town hall, local library.
2. Brochures from community mental health agencies, other major social service agencies, local public housing offices, elementary and high schools, private schools, offices of state representatives/ senators, religious organizations, etc.
3. Observations from your community tour (walking and riding).
4. Two interviews with residents of the community.
5. Two interviews with professionals and/or store owners.
6. Local newspapers.
7. Community organizations.
8. Relevant readings from texts listed in the bibliography and found in library research.
9. Demographic data from the Census Bureau
CONTENT:
Your paper should include content on the following:
• a brief description of the community: name, boundaries, demography, relationship to larger city system or other geographic entities, relationship to the state, key political trends and figures;
• environmental factors (natural and person-made ( e.g., rivers, transportation systems);
• brief history of the community;
• community resources, including informal helping networks
• major population trends over the past 10 years and the effect of these trends on the community viability;
• trends in the functioning of the resource systems in the community (e.g., how well does the school system work?);
• trends in employment
• trends in housing (i.e., types of housing, location of housing in community subsystems, and the effects on interactions among various groups);
• health and welfare service systems (i.e., who are the major providers; what is their relationship to the community; how available and accessible to populations in need?);
• child care services (not-for-profit, proprietary, day care homes)
• assessment of community strengths and weaknesses from the facts you have gathered (i.e., who benefits from the strengths; who experiences the problems; what efforts are underway to address the problems?).
Your appendices should include:
• community map(s) identifying locations and service areas of the following:
zip code catchments
political boundaries
police districts
community mental health agencies and their catchment areas
public school districts (elementary and high schools)
private and parochial schools
religious organizations
political organizations and districts
significant social service agencies (public & private)
major employers (i.e., the paper mill)
major shopping areas
significant natural and person-made boundaries (i.e., rivers, bridges, principal roads, access to I-95, informally identified community areas)
other relevant brochures, materials, and data derived from your research.
FORMAT:
The paper is to be 7-10 pages, typed and double-spaced, not including supporting documents. Include a cover page and table of contents listing the major components of the paper and the items in the appendices. The body of the paper should include an introduction that summarizes the organization of the paper; each section should have a heading and subheadings where necessary to guide the reader. Maps and other supporting materials should be labeled, listed in the table of contents and located in the appendices. Use APA format for all citations and references, and use gender-inclusive language as indicated in the MSW Program Manual.
GRADING: Total points=100. Your paper will be evaluated based on:
1. CONTENT: (60 points). Identification of facts regarding the community, incorporation of interview material, linkages to readings, and use of theory to analyze and explain observations.
2. ORGANIZATION AND CLARITY: (30 points) Ease with which the reader can follow and understand the material presented; use of examples to illustrate points; use of correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, gender-inclusive language.
3. REFERENCES: (10 points) Appropriate use of reference material and correct use of APA format.