Check-list

Before you submit, did you…

• Review the Written Assignment Instructions and Rubric
• Write a cohesive, organized (at least) 500-word response to the prompt above and addressing the literacy objective
• Include 1 course reference (i.e., the textbook or lecture)
• Include 1 credible, outside source (i.e., something that you find on your own and not provided through the course site or prompt)
• Use in-text citations
• Include a reference list

Prompt

In this day and age, parenting can be as divisive as politics! For Written Assignment 3, let’s explore this through anecdotal experiences and then look at best practices with empirical evidence.

Part One: Find a parenting issue you are interested in that seems to have two “camps”. Here are some ideas of highly divisive parenting issues. Please don’t let this list limit you. If you want more ideas, ask a parent what they feel “judged” about and then dive into what interests you!

• Gentle parenting/spanking
• No technology/lots of screen-time
• One stay-at-home parent/dual-income family
• Co-sleeping/cry-it-out
• Fast food/Organic food only
• Private school/public school/homeschool

Then interview a parent you know who is strongly on one side of each “camp” and summarize what you learned from each interview [6 points for Content rubric criteria; 3 points for summarizing each parent’s interview]. Here are some questions to ask them:

• Why do you choose to parent that way?
• What are the factors you consider when making parenting decisions?
• Is there anything that may alter your decision-making process?
• Why do you think society judges parents and parents’ decisions so intensely?

Note: You are welcome to include your own experience but your interview should be of two other parents. Don’t be lazy 😉

Part Two: What does research say about this parenting issue? Find a peer-reviewed academic journal article on this parenting issue (video on how to find these articles available under APA & Library Resources). Make sure to answer all of the following [6 points for Content rubric criteria] :

• What is the summary of the article?
• What are the outcomes associated with this parenting issue?
• What does research suggest is “best” practice?
• How does the research align with the interviews you conducted?

Notes:

• You do not have to have an abstract or appendix
• You do not have to incorporate a course reference for Written Assignment 3 to allow for creativity and broader parenting issues to be explored
• Remember to use in-text citations when referring to information from the interview. It would be considered a personal communication:

Interviews, Email, and Other Personal Communication (Links to an external site.)

No personal communication is included in your reference list; instead, parenthetically cite the communicator’s name, the phrase “personal communication,” and the date of the communication in your main text only.

(E. Robbins, personal communication, January 4, 2001).

A. P. Smith also claimed that many of her students had difficulties with APA style (personal communication, November 3, 2002).