This assignment will give you the opportunity to research, analyze, and evaluate a program that has been designed to either prevent adolescent problems or enhance adolescent development. You will apply the theories and concepts you have learned throughout the term to this evaluation. You will use various sources of information, including empirical articles, review articles, and meta-analyses. All non-journal sources must be approved before use. The paper will be formatted in APA style, double-spaced and 5-7 pages in length (1- inch margins, 12-point font) excluding title page and references. The questions posed below should be used as a guide to your writing, but additions are greatly encouraged. You should also use the grading rubric as a guide for your writing.
Only papers with a plagiarism rate of less than 8% will be accepted for grading consideration; all others will be given a zero. Quotes are not allowed in this paper. If quotes are used, 5 points will be deducted from the overall grade.
The paper should include the following sections:
I. Introduction to the paper
II. Describe the program you have chosen for analysis in detail � include:
The context of delivery,
The population that it services (specific attention to cultural relevance),
The type of funding the program receives,
The goals of the program
III. Background on why this program is important for adolescent development.
What adolescent theories apply to this topic?
What adolescent concepts apply to this topic?
What developmental tasks does this program address?
What are the cultural implications of this issue?
How does this program help adolescents develop in healthy ways?
IV. Empirical research on this program and similar programs
What studies have been done on this program, if any?
What studies have been done on similar programs?
What studies say about how this type of program should be set up, etc.?
V. Your own evaluation of this program
What are the strengths of this program?
What are the weaknesses of this program?
How would you change this program to better service the needs of adolescents?
Competency Exceeds Expectation (7) Meets Expectation (4.5) Does Not Meet Expectation (2) No Evidence (0)
Terminology Accurately uses 3 or more adolescent psychology concepts Accurately uses 2 adolescent psychology concepts Accurately uses 1 adolescent psychology concept Uses no adolescent psychology concepts accurately or at all
Program Description Describes program using 3 or more explicit statements Describes program using 2 explicit statements Describes program using 1 explicit statement Either does not describe program or description is incoherent and not understandable
Application Correctly applies 2 or more relevant theories Correctly applies 1 relevant theory Correctly applies 0 relevant theories
Analysis Shows how the findings from 2 research articles support the conclusions in the paper Shows how the findings from 1 research article support the conclusions in the paper Fails to provide any evidence from any research article
Evaluation Offers a critique of the program, including at least 2 strengths and at least 2 weaknesses Offers a critique of the program, including 1 strengths and 1 weaknesses Offers a critique of the program, including 1 strength and no weakness Offers no reasonable critique of the program
Synthesis Integrates information from relevant sources to form a coherent evaluative statement about the program/topic; offers more than 2 suggestions for improvement to program Integrates information from relevant sources to form a coherent evaluative statement about the program/topic; offers 1 to 2 suggestions for improvement to program Integration of information from relevant sources to form an evaluative statement about the program/topic is either not relevant or is incoherent No evidence of integration of information or no evidence of an evaluative statement about the program/topic
Introduction The introduction describes the adolescent problem or the part of adolescent development to be enhanced clearly and concisely. The introduction describes the adolescent problem or the part of adolescent development to be enhanced somewhat clearly and concisely. The introduction describes the adolescent problem or the part of adolescent development to be enhanced in a vague and confusing manner. There is no introduction, or the introduction is irrelevant to the subject.
Description Description of the program includes all required components Some of the required components are included. None of the required components are included.
Empirical Research Includes detailed information on this program and similar programs Includes some information on this program and similar programs Includes little information on this program and similar programs Does not include information on this program and similar programs
Technical Writing Student uses APA style for references and citing with fewer than 2 errors Students uses APA style for references and citing with 3-5 errors Students uses APA style for references and citing with 6 or more errors Student fails to use APA style
Sources Cites/references 4 or more relevant sources total Cites/references 2 to 3 relevant sources total Cites/references 1 relevant source Cites/references no sources
Composition Paper has fewer than 2 grammatical errors and is organized and readable. Paper has 2 or 3 grammatical errors and is organized and readable. Paper has 4 or more grammatical errors and is somewhat organized and readable. Paper has many grammatical errors, shows little evidence of organization, and is not readable.
Component Paper length is 5 to 7 pages. Paper length is 4 to 4.5 pages. Paper length is 3 to 3.5 pages. Paper length is less than 3 pages.
Cultural Implications Integrates 2 or more relevant cultural implications Integrates 1 relevant cultural implication Mentions only irrelevant cultural implications No mention of cultural implications
