Analysis and Application Paper Instructions
To
successfully complete this assignment, you will:
·
Analyze 3 scenarios (based on actual
events) and identify developmental
characteristics of a child aged 2–6 that are evident in the behavior of the
children described.
·
Apply knowledge from the field of
developmental psychology to provide a basis for the legal system’s
determination that children should not be held responsible for crimes
committed.
·
Present this information in a
professional manner, implementing current APA guidelines for style and
formatting.
Scenario One:
One
day at school in a small town in Michigan, two children had a disagreement on
the playground. This was not an unusual occurrence as anyone who has spent time
with six-year olds can attest. However, the next day a terrible tragedy
resulted. While the teacher led the class through the hall to the computer lab,
one of the children pulled a loaded pistol from his backpack, pointed it at his
classmate shouting, “I don’t like you,” and then shot her. She died soon after
at the hospital.
Scenario Two:
Six-year-old
Michael and Bill* lived in the hills of Kentucky. One day, Michael found some
scrap metal that he hoped to sell for a few cents. When Bill (who was older)
slapped Michael and took the metal for himself, Michael ran home, took his
father’s shotgun down from the wall, then went outside and shot his playmate
dead. *Not their real names.
Scenario Three:
In
a hot, overcrowded apartment in Kansas City, a sixteen-year old girl fell
asleep while baby-sitting several young children. She did not awaken when an
18-month old boy in her charge began to cry. When a six-year old girl grew
tired of listening to him, she took the younger child to the bathtub, and held
him under water until he died.
Each
of these stories represents a tragic and senseless loss of life. While an adult
in any of these circumstances would certainly have been charged with
first-degree murder, none of the children described were punished because
standards within our legal system indicate that young children cannot be held
responsible for crimes such as these.
For
this assignment, imagine that you are a developmental psychologist asked to
defend this policy. Your arguments must describe developmental characteristics
found in children at this age. You will apply concepts and theories used in
developmental psychology to explain why our legal system is justified in ruling
that young children are not responsible for criminal actions. Use only
information provided in this document and in our textbook. Do not make
assumptions about home life, parenting, environment, etc.
Content
Requirements:
Your paper must
include 3 main sections (in addition to your introduction and conclusion):
·
First, describe a biological argument for this policy. What physical or biological
characteristics do we find in a child under six years of age that would excuse
them from responsibility for their actions? (Focus on development within the
brain, not myelination or motor skills).
·
Second, describe a cognitive argument for this policy. What is it about the way a
child processes information during this stage of life that would lead us to
believe that they are not capable of understanding the consequences of their
actions (focus on the work of Piaget).
·
Third, provide an argument for this
policy based on the child’s emotional
and/or social development. What characteristics do we find in a child of
this age in terms of emotional and moral development?
·
In your conclusion identify which of the
3 factors provides the most compelling argument for this legal standard.
Research and Formatting Requirements:
·
Proper APA
formatting is required for this assignment. Current APA resources have been
made available for you and can be found in the Addition Information folder.
·
Using
only yourtextbook
as a resource, include concepts to support your arguments. Identify any information
used with in-text citations.
·
Your paper must include 750–1,000 words.
·
You are a professional in training.
Remember to check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before submitting your
paper.Clickhere
for tips on writing at the college level.
DO NOT include
the following in your paper:
·
Legal definitions of criminal intent or
culpability.
·
Environmental factors related to
parenting, neglect, socio-economic status, or role-models.
·
Spiritual interventions that might have
prevented these tragedies.
A
Word about Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is
serious academic offense with serious consequences. Listed below are some common
errors that could lead to problems with plagiarism:
1.
Copying
words or phrases and using them in your paper without identifying the source.Note
that if you choose to include copied words or phrases, points will be deducted
as direct quotes are not allowed in this paper. However, if you choose to
include copied text (a direct quote) you must include these 3 things: 1)
quotation marks, 2) in-text citation, and 3) a corresponding reference.
2. Improper paraphrasing. Sometimes,
students mistakenly believe that by copying text and then substituting words or
changing the order of words is the proper way to paraphrase. This is not
correct. To paraphrase, you must rewrite the text entirely in your own words.
3. “Recycling” a paper. Obviously,
you are not allowed to use another person’s paper to write your own. Even if
you use it as a guide but modify the text, it is still cheating. In addition,
you may not re-submit work which retains essential elements of an assignment
used for another course. Your work must be 100% original in this term.
For more information or to review the
Online Honor Code, clickhere.
Refer
to the grading rubric provided for this assignment. Submit your assignment by
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 3.
