Parenting today

  
Applied Final Project- “Your Lot in Life” Assignment 
You will be writing a paper about one of these scenarios.  You will select the scenario!  

You      are expecting your first baby and are thinking about sleeping      arrangements. You have heard of the concept of “the family bed”      and are considering having the baby sleep with you and your spouse.
You      are expecting your first child and are interested in breastfeeding your      baby. You would also like to return to work relatively soon. You have to      decide how valuable breastfeeding is and whether you can work and      breastfeed.
You      are extremely concerned because your 11-year-old son has been suspended      from school numerous times for fighting. He just can’t seem to get along      with other children.
You      and your spouse have just decided to divorce. Your 7-year-old is very      upset about this change.
Your      parents were over for dinner the other night. Your 6-year-old did not want      to eat the beans you served, or the fish. Your parents said that you      should have insisted that he/she should have had some, and that you should      insist on this as a regular practice in your home.
Your      9-year-old is frequently sad and feels that nobody likes him/her. A friend      has just suggested that maybe he/she is suffering from childhood      depression.
Your      daughter is having a great deal of difficulty in school. You think she may      have learning disabilities. You would like to get the school system to      evaluate her and help plan a program for her.
Your      2-year-old has not begun speaking yet.
Your      6-year-old still wets the bed almost every night.
Your      6-year-old has just been diagnosed with  Attention Deficit      Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Your      9-year-old daughter has begun menstruating and you are concerned about the      effects of early puberty on her social development.
Your      children are all adults and have moved out of the family home. Your      youngest daughter is 24, a single parent, and has just asked to move back      into your home because she has been laid off at work.
Your      five-year-old’s birthday is just one month before the age cut-off for      kindergarten. You are considering having him/her start school a year      later.
Your      son/daughter has always struggled with school. Your third grader’s teacher      has just suggested that he/she repeat the third grade.
Your      12-year-old daughter who has never had a weight or eating problem is now      worrying that she is too fat. The mother of one of her friends has just      told you that she thinks your daughter may be bulimic.
You      have noticed behavioral changes in your 14-year-old and are concerned that      he/she may be using drugs or alcohol.
You      are expecting your first child. You and your spouse are beginning the      search for good daycare.
You      are considering home-schooling your child. You need to get enough      information to actually start home-schooling your child.
Your      14-year-old daughter accidentally leaves her purse open in the family room      and you see a package of birth-control pills.
You      have discovered that your 12-year-old has been downloading and viewing      pornography on the Internet.  
Your      16-year-old has decided to go on a diet.  While you want your child      to be healthy, you notice that s/he frequently skips meals, exercises 3-4      times daily, and refers to herself/himself as “fat”. 
While      putting away laundry, you find a box of condoms in your 15-year-old’s      room.
Your      17-year-old brings her/his friends to the house frequently.  You      notice that many of these friends are openly homosexual. 
It is      February.  Your 18-year-old, who is graduating in May, has not      completed any college applications or expressed any plans for life after      high school.
You      overhear a conversation your 14-year-old is having and every other word      out of his/her mouth is profanity.
You      find a bottle of vodka under your 18-year-old’s bed. 
Your      16 year old comes into the house after attending a party, smelling of      cigarettes and marijuana.
Your      15-year-old is student council president, captain of the lacrosse team,      plays the piano, teaches Sunday school, volunteers at the local soup      kitchen, is taking 5 Advanced Placement courses, and is a member of      National Honor Society.
Your      18-year-old insists on marrying his/her high school sweetheart at      graduation, although receiving several full scholarships to various      colleges, as well as several promising internships.  In addition, the      sweetheart is a LOSER!
Your      17-year-old announces that s/he is about to become a parent.
You      and your spouse do not agree about whether parents can argue in front of      their children.

Part 1: Setting the Scene (25 points, 5%)
Choose one of the Lot of Life scenarios above. You should elaborate on the scenario by writing a letter to a relative or close friend or a diary/journal entry from the perspective of a parent writing about his or her child. Your letter/diary should explain what happened in detail, identify the issues you will need to consider and research in coming up with a solution, and a plan of action for how you will deal with the situation.
Your paper should have a cover sheet that lists your name, and the scenario you have chosen. Your paper should be double spaced and use a standard font (e.g. Times New Roman, 12 pt). Written as a letter or diary/journal entry. Meets 1-2 page single spaced length requirement
Part 1 Grading Rubric
  

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Missing
 
Description of what happened

5 points
Excellent, detailed, and clear description of parenting   scenario

4 points
Good description of parenting scenario with some minor   omissions or problems in clarity

3 points
Fair description of parenting scenario with several minor   omissions or problems in clarity

2 points
Poor description of parenting scenario with major   omissions or problems in clarity

0 points
No description of parenting scenario
 
Identification of parenting issues that need to be   explored

10 points
Comprehensive and clear analysis of what issues need to be   researched or explored

8 points
Good analysis of what issues need to be researched or   explored with some minor omissions or problems in clarity

6 points
Fair analysis of what issues need to be researched or   explored several minor omissions or problems in clarity

4 points
Poor analysis of what issues need to be researched or   explored with major omissions or problems in clarity

0 points
No identification of parenting issues that need to be   explored
 
Plan of action for dealing with the situation

5 points
Comprehensive and detailed description of plan of action   for dealing with the situation

4 points
Good description of plan of action for dealing with the   situation with some minor omissions or problems in clarity

3 points
Fair description of plan of action for dealing with the   situation with several minor omissions or problems in clarity

2 points
Poor description of plan of action for dealing with the   situation with major omissions or problems in clarity

0 points
No plan of action identified
 
Format

2 points
Meets all three of the following criteria:
Written as a letter or diary/journal entry
Meets 1-2 page single spaced length requirement
Has a cover sheet with name, course and section number

1 point
Meets 2 of the following criteria:
Written as a letter or diary/journal entry
Meets 1-2 page single spaced length requirement
Has a cover sheet with name, course and section number

0.5 points
Meets 1 of the following criteria:
Written as a letter or diary/journal entry
Meets 1-2 page single spaced length requirement
Has a cover sheet with name, course and section number

0 points
Not written as a letter or diary/journal entry
-and-
Does not meet page length requirement
-and-
Missing cover sheet with name, course and section number
 
Writing Quality

3 points
Writing is clear, concise, and descriptive. No mechanical   or grammatical errors.

2 points
Writing is clear, concise, and descriptive. Some minor   mechanical or grammatical errors present.

1 point
Writing is not always clear or sufficiently descriptive.   Several mechanical or grammatical errors that may interfere with meaning.

0 points
Writing is unclear and confusing. Many mechanical or   grammatical errors that interfere with meaning.