Task

First, you will select one of the major early developmental stages: infancy/toddlerhood (0-3 years), early childhood (3-6
years), middle childhood (7-12 years), or adolescence (12-18 years). You will then explain the developmental stage in
terms of major developmental milestones.

Next, you will describe your significant event in developmental context by explaining what happened and any impacts
on your development during this time.

Then, you will define and apply two major concepts of development (1: nature and nurture, 2: continuity and
discontinuity) to your significant event.

Finally, you will define and apply one major theory of development (Erikson’s theory, Piaget’s theory, Vygotsky’s
theory, information processing theory, attachment theory, behavioral theory, observational learning theory) to your
significant event.

Please use this chart to help you organize your capstone:

Part Description Top Tips for Success

Part I. Developmental Stage

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Be specific in this para
Reflect on your development thus far. What stage
Developmental Stage). to be very clear when
of your development is most interesting to you?
explaining your chosen
Then, in one paragraph:
 Infancy/Toddlerhood (0-3 years) stage.
Articulate your selected developmental stage
 Early Childhood (3-6 years) Define and give concre
using a strong topic sentence. Then, in 3-4
each type of milestone
 Middle Childhood (7-12 years) sentences that follow, explain the major
physical, cognitive, em
developmental milestones (i.e., biological,
 Adolescence (12-18 years) social).
physical, cognitive, emotional, and social
Choose ONE stage to focus on for this capstone. milestones) that occur during your selected stage.
Part 2. Significant Event
First, create a header for this section (e.g., This part of the capsto
Think about your own experiences during your
Significant Event). two things. Be sure to
chosen developmental period (see Part 1).
event AND discuss how
Then, in one or two paragraphs:
What memorable events occurred during this several parts of your d
time? Explain the significant event in detail. What during this time.
happened? Tell the story of the event in 3-4
Select ONE significant event during this Be sure that the effect
sentences. Then, in another 3-4 sentences, explain
developmental period. make sense in the con
why this event was important to your own
chosen developmenta
development during this time by answering the
question, What impact(s) did it have on your
biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or
social growth?

Part 3. Major Concepts in Development

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Major The definition of each
Consider two major concepts in development:
Concepts in Development). AND discussion of how
 Nature and Nurture your significant event
Then, in one or two paragraphs:
3-4 sentences.
 Continuity and Discontinuity
Define both major concepts as they pertain to
You may wish to write
What do these concepts mean? How are these developmental psychology. After defining each,
3-4 sentences for EACH
concepts illustrated in your significant event discuss how each concept is illustrated in the
and/or its important effects on your development? event you described and/or the effects of this
event on your development.
Part 4. Developmental Theory
First, create a header for this section (e.g., Like Part 3, remember
Think about the major theories of development
Developmental Theory). requires you to define
you have learned about so far in this course:
theory.
Then, in one paragraph:
Erikson’s theory, Piaget’s theory, Vygotsky’s
Your theory definition w
theory, information processing Describe the major ideas of your chosen theory in
and will rely on textbo
theory, attachment theory, behavioral theory, 3-4 sentences.
discussion of how the
and observational learning theory.
Then, in another 3-4 sentences, discuss how this your experience will re
Which theory seems to have the most relevance theory (and its major ideas) relates to your creative thinking.
for your developmental stage and the significant significant event. Be specific in your discussion.
event you have discussed? Do any of the theories
help you understand why this significant event
was so important to your development?

Requirements

 Type your capstone using a word processing software program.

 Use a basic font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.), 12-point size, and 1-inch margins.

 Use full and complete sentences. Do not include bullet points or incomplete sentences.

 Do not use ANY artificial intelligence (AI) program to generate text for your assignment. Use your own voice to
explain the concepts.

 Do read your textbook to gather information for your assignment.

 Do not directly copy ANY information from your textbook or online sources.

 Cite the textbook for any information in your assignment that you did not discover yourself. Use parenthetical
(in-text) citations in APA style. A reference page is NOT required.

 Successful assignments will be between 500-750 words.

Resources
Make sure to review these helpful resources associated with this capstone:

 Capstone Rubric: Developmental Science and Me

 Example Capstone Outline: Developmental Science and Me

 APA Style Guidance for parenthetical (in-text) citations: APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) - Purdue
OWL® - Purdue University

Capstone Rubric: Developmental Science and Me

0 1 2 3 4

The essay names The essay names The essay names

The essay names the developmental the developmental the developmental
The developmental the developmental stage and provides stage and provides stage and provides
stage of interest stage, but limited details minimally moderately
for the essay is not provides no other about biological, adequate details developed details
Part 1. Developmental
clearly identified at information about physical, about biological, about biological,
Stage (20%)
the beginning of major cognitive, physical, cognitive, physical, cognitive,
the essay (section developmental emotional, and/or emotional, and/or emotional, and
is missing). milestones within social social social
it. developmental developmental developmental
milestones. milestones. milestones.

Part 2. Significant The essay does not The essay The essay The essay The essay names
Event (20%) include a describes an describes an describes an event, the developmental
description of an event, but it is not event, with with adequate stage and provides
event (section is sufficiently minimal details to details of a good contextual
missing). detailed and/or place the subject significant event to details about the
clearly linked with in developmental place the subject in subject in
the developmental context. developmental developmental
stage of interest. context. context.
 The essay
The essay discusses 2 issues The essay
discusses only 1 with minimal The essay discusses 2 issues
The essay does not issue with minimal accuracy and discusses 2 issues with accuracy and
address the 2 accuracy and clarity. with accuracy and clarity.
major concepts clarity. clarity.
(section is missing)
-or- -and-
-or- -and-
Part 3. Major Concepts
-or-
(20%)
The discussion of Linkage to the
The discussion of each issue Linkage to the anecdotal event is
The section does each issue is includes only anecdotal event is moderately
not include vague and/or minimal minimal and/or developed,
accurate unclear and no description and no missing. including some
information. linkage to the linkage to the detail.
anecdotal event is anecdotal event.
provided.

The essay
The essay does not The essay The essay
The essay identifies a theory
identify a identifies a theory identifies a theory
Part 4. identifies a theory, and provides an
developmental and provides a and provides a
Developmental Theory but does not adequate or
theory from the list minimal or only good or mostly
(20%) describe it moderately
provided (section is partially accurate accurate
accurately. accurate
missing). description. description.
description.

Writing, Citations, and The writer gives no Language use, Language use, Language use, Language use,
Formatting (20%) or very little syntax/grammar, syntax/grammar, syntax/grammar, syntax/grammar,
apparent attention spelling, spelling, spelling, spelling,
to language use, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation,
syntax/grammar,
citation, and/or citation, and/or citation, and/or
spelling, citation, and/or
formatting errors formatting errors formatting errors
punctuation, formatting errors
greatly detract somewhat detract minimally detract
citations, and/or detract from the
from the paper. from the paper. from the paper.
formatting. paper. Contains
Contains many Contains some Contains few errors
Contains numerous errors throughout.
errors throughout. errors throughout. throughout.
errors throughout.