Reaction Paper 1 Guidelines

Adolescent Stage of Human Lifespan Development

Be sure to review the overall Reaction Paper Guidelines provided on the web page and VSERVE.

Name your paper like this:

Yourlastname_reaction1.doc

Email your paper to bsnodgrass@visibleschool.com

The sources for this assignment are the following:

Myers Text, Chapter 4

Newton Ch 2 reading

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/piaget.htm

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/erickson.shtml

http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm

Where the Wild Things Are

Class discussion

YOUR life experiences

This assignment includes 2 parts. Be sure to do BOTH and to label them clearly.

DUE before class begins October 13.
Part I (25 pts)

Newton makes the argument that the adolescent developmental stage follows a general pattern of withdrawal, isolation, and re-entry with regards to family interactions. Focusing on pages 26 to 30 in the Newton Ch 2 reading, discuss your reactions to Newton’s model.

Be SURE to tie in some of the OTHER sources and be SURE to connect to YOUR life experiences.

A pretty good outline would be something like this:

I. Newton says...

II. This is like (or unlike) what Myers/Piaget/Ericson/Kohlberg say.

A. He says...

B. This is like (or unlike) because...

III. Newton’s idea fits (or does not fit) my experiences...

A. Newton says...

B. This is like (or is not like) my experiences...

IV. Overall, Newton’s model works (or doesn’t work) for me...

DON’T use MY wording! You can follow the map, but pick your own words!

This will be at least two or three pages in length.

Part II (25 pts)

It was argued that Where the Wild Things Are is a metaphor for Newton’s model of the adolescent stage.

Refer to this copyright-stealing link if you need help with the story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cOEFnppm_A

Compare the story to Eric Erickson’s adolescent and young adult stages, and to Miller’s model (pages 26 to 30). Discuss:

What is your overall reaction to using the Wild Things metaphor?

Based on what you have seen of adolescent development, what might be the metaphorical link between the wild things saying, “Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!”?

(To which Max said “No!”)

How might the metaphor be extended to include spiritual formation? (c.f. Luke 15: 11-20 and following.)

Project what you’ve learned into the future. Imagining yourself in your future ministry or job, what (drawn from Newton and Ericson) might you watch out for in the developing lives of youth and young adults with whom you might find yourself working?

This will be at least two or three pages in length.