This examination will be available for you to take beginning at 12:00 AM EST on Monday morning of Module 4 and will close promptly the following Sunday evening at 11:55 PM EST. It is suggested you write or print out the essay questions for handy reference as you develop your responses. Be sure to submit your essay exam in one WORD document and place it in the appropriate assignment drop box. There is no set word limit for this exam, but keep in mind that you will be graded on how detailed and complete your responses are.

Please select and answer comprehensively any 5 questions. This midterm covers the first ten chapters of Development through the Lifespan. Any supplemental professional journal articles can also be used to support your answers. Each answer must be at least two type-written pages double-spaced (500 words). Font type should be Times New Roman 12.

1. As a child’s overall size increases, different parts of the body grow at different rates. Discuss the two growth patterns that describe these changes. Describe the two types of brain development and give examples of appropriate stimulation for each.
2. Define public policy and discuss how Americans fare on key measures of childhood health and well-being and policies for the elderly. Then explain how both affluence and poverty can negatively affect development.
3. Explain the core knowledge perspective of cognitive development, noting research that both supports and challenges its assumptions. Describe the information-processing view of cognitive development, including its contributions and limitations.
4. Describe Bowlby’s ethological theory of attachment and trace the development of attachment during the first two years. Be sure to give specific examples.
5. In addition to the cerebral cortex, which other parts of the brain make strides during early childhood? Identify the applicable brain structures, and discuss their impact on development. Explain in detail using examples from your readings.
6. What is the most successful child-rearing style? Describe the characteristics of the approach and explain why it is effective. Provide specific examples of demonstrate each style.
7. Describe the characteristics and signs of high-quality education in elementary school. Describe the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act, and discuss the pros and cons of high-stakes testing.
8. Discuss age and sex differences in children’s adjustment to remarriage and entry into blended families. Describe the benefits and challenges of being reared as an only child. How does the development of Chinese only children compare to U.S. only children?

Around age 6, IQ becomes more stable than it was at earlier ages, and it correlates well with academic achievement. Intelligence tests provide an overall score (the IQ), which represents general intelligence, as well as an array of scores measuring specific mental abilities. In this discussion we will explore these concepts further.

As you create your discussion post, consider the following:

• At what age did you take your first IQ test (consider standardized academic tests)? Should children be shown their IQ scores? What impact could that have on overall academic performances throughout their lifespan?

By the end of this discussion, you will be able to:

• Summarize findings on intelligence, including academic, cultural, and environmental implications.

Complete the following:

First, visit the website http://iqtest.com, which contains an online intelligence test. After taking the test, answer the following questions: Do you think your performance on the IQ test is an accurate assessment of your intellectual ability? Why or why not? How might your educational experiences, culture, and home environment have influenced your performance? Do you believe this test would accurately predict academic achievement? Explain, using examples from the IQ test and research presented in the textbook (Chapter 9).

Evaluation Criteria

Please Note:

Your initial post is due by Thursday at 11:59 PM EST. Your responses to other posts are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST.

Moral reasoning is expressed throughout all stages of life, and is often below a person’s actual capacity because they use practical considerations with intense emotions. In this discussion we will explore the concepts of moral reasoning further.

As you create your discussion post, consider the following:

• Why do some individuals behave in opposition to their own morals? How morals affected by an individual’s culture? Has your own moral reasoning ever dramatically shifted?