EDUC 4303 Trends and Issues in School-Age Children

by

Humanities

Content Review

Directions:

  • Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and between 2–3 paragraphs in length.
  • Use MS Word to write your responses, and submit your answers to all three questions in one Word document.
  • Copy and paste each question into the document, so your Instructor can see which questions you are answering.
  1. Identify two specific themes regarding teen perspectives on romantic relationships. For each theme, identify and describe at least two specific findings relating to it.
  2. Explain two ways that the media and/or popular culture have influenced the way adolescent sexuality is perceived, by the public and/or adolescents themselves. Are these media portrayals accurate? Do you think they are potentially harmful? Explain your thoughts.
  3. Identify and describe two trends relating to the coming out process for gay teens. Then describe two challenges gay teens might face in coming out, and two characteristics that can increase their chances of overcoming these challenges.

Discussion: Adolescent Sexuality

Post a description of your perspective on adolescent sexuality, specifically the degree to which you consider it part of development and the degree to which you consider it a problem behavior. In addition, explain your stance on sex education, including if you favor abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education programs for adolescents, and why. Finally, explain when and where you think teens should first start being educated about sex—by parents in homes, by teachers in schools, etc. Be sure to use the Learning Resources to support your thinking.

Clemmitt, M. (2010, March 26). Teen pregnancy. CQ Researcher, 20, 265–288. Note: Retrieved from the CQ Researcher database.

Abbott, D. A., White, J., & Felix, D. (2010). Not ready for sex: An endorsement for adolescent sexual abstinence. International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 36(2), 159–179. Note: Retrieved from the SocINDEX database.

Assignment: Linking Trends and Issues Through Research

To begin this assignment, choose one specific trend or issue relating to adolescent health. It can be one that you studied in this course (i.e. eating disorders, obesity, depression, self-injury, substance abuse, suicide), or it can be another adolescent health trend or issue of interest to you. Using the Walden Library, Internet, and/or print resources, locate a recent article or research study that draws a connection between your chosen health trend/issue and the family or peer relationships of adolescents. (Note: You may want to look ahead to next week’s Learning Resources for additional ideas regarding peer/romantic relationships and adolescent sexuality.)

After you have chosen the article, write a 3- to 4-page summary and analysis of the article that includes responses to the following questions:

  • What specific connection(s) does the article draw between your chosen health trend/issue and a trend/issue related to adolescents’ family or peer relationships? Provide a brief summary.
  • Do these findings surprise you or confirm what you already suspected? Explain.
  • What are the implications of these findings for practice in schools, homes, youth programs, etc.? Identify and describe at least two specific implications, including at least one for professionals who work with adolescents in a setting of your choice.
  • Do you think further research is needed? If so, why, and what kind? If not, why not?