Student Writing Exercise/Activities
Middle Adulthood

Physical and Cognitive Development

Debate: Pregnancy After Age 40

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

Research:

Although your instructor will assign one side of the debate to you to argue, your paper should cover both sides. Use books, journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles, and the internet to find information on the advantages and disadvantages of pregnancy for a woman who is over 40 years old.

Write a Reaction Paper:

Write a 4-6 page paper on your findings. Your paper should include an introduction, a summary of the main points, and a concluding summary paragraph. Consider various scenarios, such as a woman having her first child after age 40 or a woman in a second marriage who wants to have children again after age 40.

The paper:

 Plan Your Presentation:

Meet with the other student(s) on your side of the argument Share your ideas and determine your strongest arguments. Decide who will give the presentation and make some notes.

Class Debate:

Each side will be given 5 minutes to present their side of the argument. Those arguing that the benefits outweigh the potential harm to the mother or the child will present their side first. There will be a 3 minute break after the two sides have presented their cases. During this 3 minute break the rest of the class will write individual a one page reaction papers describing their own position on the issue. The two groups will spend the 3 minutes outlining their rebuttal statements. Each group will have 3 minutes to give a rebuttal statement, with the those supporting pregnancy after age 40 presenting first.

Class Vote:

When the debate has ended the class will vote on their position:

  1. As a general rule the benefits outweigh the risks of pregnancy after age 40..

  2. As a general rule pregnancy after age 40 is not recommended and should not be encouraged.

Survey: Daily Hassles and Stress

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

Preparation:

You will need to locate several research articles which investigate the types of stresses and daily hassles adults face. In addition to checking the text book and other books it might be useful to check in the Psychological Abstracts, or use the electronic version PsychLit, to find research articles. Read the various articles and write down all the stressors and daily hassles mentioned in the articles.

Collect Data:

Type up the list of daily hassles and stressors. Interview 6 males and 6 females between the ages of 35 and 60 by asking them to pick from the list the sources of stress that area common in their lives. When they have finished searching the list ask them if there are other stressors they face that are not on the list. Finally, ask them how they cope with stress.

Analyze Your Data:

  1. What were the most common stressors?

  2. What were the most common coping methods?

  3. Did you notice any differences in the responses given by the males and females regarding the kinds of stressors they face or in the ways they cope with stress?

  4. Were there any other interesting observations you made?

Write up Your Report:

  1. Introduction: Introduce the topic of stress in middle adulthood.

  2. Participants: Give the age and sex of the twelve participants.

  3. Methodology: Explain the interview and how you administered it.

  4. Results: Give answers to the questions listed under Analyze Your Data.

  5. Conclusions: Summarize your findings regarding the outstanding sources of stress in middle adulthood and the most popular coping methods.

Specifics of the paper:

Research: Intelligence Testing

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

This project is designed to give you an overview of the colorful history of intelligence testing.

Collect Data:

Survey books, journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and internet sources to find information on the history of intelligence testing. A book on the history of the psychology or a handbook of human intelligence might be particularly useful.

Write the Paper:

Your paper should begin by introducing the topic of intelligence testing. The body should trace this history of intelligence testing by describing the reasons for and uses of the tests along with some basic descriptions of the tests themselves. Conclude the paper with a consideration of the most current uses and types of intelligence tests.

Specifics of the paper:

Survey: The Nontraditional Student

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

Create a Questionnaire:

Type up the following questions in a questionnaire format. At the top of the page ask for the individual'

s sex and age, but do not ask for a name.

  1. Do you feel accepted on this campus? Why or why not?

  2. Do you feel any discrimination on this campus because of your age?

  3. Do you have a place to hang out between classes? Is it adequate?

  4. Does your advisor understand your special needs as a nontraditional student?

  5. What special hassles do you face as a nontraditional student?

  6. Can you think of anything this institution can do to make the nontraditional student's experience any better?

Collect the Data:

Give your questionnaire to a minimum of 6 nontraditional students, that is students over 26 years old.

Analyze the Data:

For each of the six questions, what were the most common responses?

Write up Your Report:

  1. Introduction: Introduce the topic of returning to college as a nontraditional student..

  2. Participants: Give the age and sex of the participants.

  3. Methodology: Explain the interview and how you administered it.

  4. Results: Give answers to the questions listed under Analyze Your Data.

  5. Conclusions: Summarize your findings and give your reactions to your findings. Do you think your college or university is doing enough to accommodate nontraditional students?

Specifics of the paper:

Reference all your sources using APA format

"Psychosocial Development

Debate: Grandparents' Rights

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

Research:

Although your instructor will assign one side of the debate to you to argue, your paper should cover both sides. Use books, journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles, and the internet to find information on the growing debate over grandparents' rights.

Traditionally parents are the gatekeepers between grandparents and grandchildren. Some grandparents, however, who claim that their children are harming their grandchildren, want the right to step in and take action. Also, when a divorce occurs in a family, the grandparents do not get visitation rights and sometimes lose contact with the grandchildren they love. On the other hand, some parents do not appreciate the ways in which the grandparents influence their children and prefer to keep some distance between their own parents (the grandparents) and their children (the grandchildren).

Write a Reaction Paper:

Write a 4-6 page paper on your findings. Your paper should include an introduction, a summary of the main points, and a concluding summary paragraph. The paper should be typed and double spaced with one inch margins. The cover sheet should include your name, the title of your paper, your ID#, course name and section number, and the date. Reference all your sources using APA format.

Plan Your Presentation:

Meet with the other student(s) on your side of the argument Share your ideas and determine your strongest arguments. Decide who will give the presentation and make some notes.

Class Debate:

Each side will be given 5 minutes to present their side of the argument. Those arguing for grandparents' rights will present their side first. There will be a 3 minute break after the two sides have presented their cases. During this 3 minute break the rest of the class will write individual a one page reaction papers describing their own position on the issue. The two groups will spend the 3 minutes outlining their rebuttal statements. Each group will have 3 minutes to give a rebuttal statement, with the those supporting grandparents' rights presenting first.

Class Vote:

When the debate has ended the class will vote on their position: (1) Grandparents should have the right to see and make some decisions for their grandchildren, or (2) Grandparents should not have the legal right to see and make some decisions for their grandchildren.

Research: Life Satisfaction

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

This project is designed to (1) acquaint you with the most recent data on life satisfaction and (2) compare the scientific literature to popular literature.

Gathering Data:

For this project you will need two sets of materials. For the scientific research you should search for the term life satisfaction in the most recent volumes of Psychological Abstracts or the electronic version called PsychLit. You can also use academic books for the scientific data. For the review of popular literature you should search the most recent volumes of the Readers' Guide for magazine articles. You can also search for newspaper articles and popular self-help books.

What do I turn in?

You will turn in a 7 - 9 page paper which gives the following information:

  1. Introduce the topic of life satisfaction. Give reasons why the reader should be interested and/or concerned by what most people in the United States look toward for life satisfaction.

  2. According to the scientific community (psychologists and other social scientists), what variables contribute to life satisfaction?

  3. According to the popular literature (magazines, newspapers, and self-help books), what variables contribute to life satisfaction?

  4. Are the authors of the popular literature and the research articles saying similar things? At what points to they seem to agree and disagree?

  5. For the conclusion summarize the variables that contribute to life satisfaction.

Specifics of the paper:

Research: Mid-Life Crisis

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

This project is designed to (1) acquaint you with the most recent data on mid-life crisis and (2) compare the scientific literature to popular literature.

Gathering Data:

For this project you will need two sets of materials. For the scientific research you should search for the term mid-life crisis in the most recent volumes of Psychological Abstracts or the electronic version called PsychLit. You can also use academic books for the scientific data. For the review of popular literature you should search the most recent volumes of the Readers' Guide for magazine articles. You can also search for newspaper articles and popular self-help books.

What do I turn in?

You will turn in a 6 - 8 page paper which gives the following information:

  1. Introduce the topic of mid-life crisis. Give reasons why the reader should be interested in and/or concerned about mid-life crisis.

  2. Give the characteristics of mid-life transition and mid-life crisis.

  3. Compare earlier writings about mid-life transition/crisis to later, more current writings.

  4. According to the scientific community (psychologists and other social scientists), what variables contribute to life satisfaction?

  5. According to the popular literature (magazines, newspapers, and self-help books), what variables contribute to life satisfaction?

  6. Are the authors of the popular literature and the research articles saying similar things? At what points to they seem to agree and disagree?

  7. For the conclusion summarize ways to prevent and/or cope with mid-life crisis.

Specifics of the paper:

Research: Coming Out

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

This project is designed to acquaint you with the concerns that are unique to gay and lesbian couples.

Gathering Data:

Survey books, articles in magazines, journal, and newspapers, and items on the internet to find information on the history of the gay and lesbian movement in the United States and to research the stresses and concerns that are unique to gay and lesbian couples living in the United States today.

What do I turn in?

You will turn in an 8 - 10 page paper which gives the following information:

  1. Introduce the topic of special issues concerning gay and lesbian couples by describing the process of coming out.

  2. The body should contain a section which briefly summarizes the history of the gay and lesbian movement in the United States. How has mainstream society responded to these groups?

  3. The body should also contain descriptions of the concerns and stresses faced by gay and lesbian couples today because of their sexual orientation.

  4. Conclude the paper with a summary of the most pressing concerns of the gay and lesbian communities in the United States today.

Specifics of the paper:

Survey: The Typical Magazine for Adults Over 50

Due Date: _________________________

Name: __________________________________________ ID# _______________________

Course: __________________________________ Course/Section # __________________

Buy a magazine targeted for adults over the age of 50. The goal of this project is to use the magazine as an indicator of what is important in the life of an adult in this age range.

Survey the Magazine:

Keep a tally of articles and advertisements as you look at each page of the magazine. How many articles and how many advertisements focus on the following:

Religion Money Social Life
Depression/Suicide Peers Medical Illnesses
Friends Substance Abuse Nutrition/Dieting
Hearing Aids Make-up/Hair Products Basic Hygiene
Fashion Travel Love
Music Sex Exercise/Sports

Are there other topics emphasized that are not mentioned here?

Write up Your Observations:

  1. Introduce your survey and give the purpose of the paper.

  2. What topics were most popular among the articles?

  3. What topics were most popular among the advertisements?

  4. Was the magazine specifically targeted at men or women?

  5. Was the magazine specifically targeted to an ethnic group?

  6. Conclude with an summary of your observations about how the magazine you surveyed reflects the world of the adult over age 50 living in the United States.

Specifics of the paper: