Human Development

Portfolio Part IV: Reflection

Part IV requires you to critically reflect on Parts I-III of the portfolio in addition to course

content. You will synthesize the information you have gathered throughout the course to

demonstrate an understanding of human development and how it impacts individuals, society,

and culture.

• Goal: Create an essay to demonstrate your ability to:
o Think critically about the content learned in the course
o Make connections between various stages of human development
o Explain the role that society and culture have on development

• Requirements: Make sure that in structuring your essay, you:
o Write in first person to explain what you have learned in the course (i.e.

Throughout the course, I have learned a lot about Iaget…).

o Explain how the content in the course connects to your life
o Write in an organized way, including transitions and separate paragraphs
o Make sure the essay is 700-1000 words.

• Writing the essay:
1. First, think back on the first three parts of your portfolio in which you learned

about:

a) Part I: Prenatal Development and the harmful effects of teratogens
b) Part II: The different stages of infancy and toddlerhood and how

cultural differences play a role

c) Part 3: Adolescence and how theories describe risky behavior and style
of dress

2. Then, reflect on the different stages of development and make connections
between the stages using theories and content from the course.

3. Be sure to include information about the role that society and culture have had
on human development.

4. The following questions are possible areas to include in your reflection essay.
Use these as a guide. You do not need to include responses to all of these

questions.

a) How has the knowledge of different stage(s) of development and
behavior impacted your understanding of what it is that makes us

human?

b) How has an understanding of behaviors associated with developmental
stages allowed you to be more understanding, tolerant, or to take a

particular action?

c) How has the knowledge of the impacts of global influences on
development impacted your behavior (think about the actions

suggested in your brochure)?

d) How has research you conducted supported and furthered the
knowledge you have about human behavior and development (think

about your infancy and toddlerhood paper)?

e) Why might you feel that it is important to people to understand human
development and the associated behaviors?

f) How has research you conducted supported and furthered the
knowledge you have about issues pertaining human behavior and

development and why society needs to be aware of these issues?

g) How has human development impacted other individuals, institutions
such as schools and government agencies, our culture as demonstrated

in the media, or the retail sector?

Grading Criteria
20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Global

Learning

Context of

and purpose

for writing

Core

Assessment

Rubric

Demonstrates a thorough

understanding of

context, audience, and

purpose that is

responsive to the

assigned task(s) and

focuses all elements of

the work.

Demonstrates adequate

consideration of context,

audience, and purpose

and a clear focus on the

assigned task(s) (e.g.,

the task aligns with

audience, purpose, and

context).

Demonstrates awareness

of context, audience,

purpose, and to the

assigned tasks(s) (e.g.,

begins to show

awareness of audience’s

perceptions and

assumptions).

Demonstrates minimal

attention to context,

audience, purpose, and to

the assigned tasks(s)

(e.g., expectation of

instructor or self as

audience).

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Critical

Thinking

Explanation

of issues

Core

Assessment

Rubric

Issue/problem to be

considered critically is

stated clearly and

described

comprehensively,

delivering all relevant

information necessary

for full understanding.

Issue/problem to be

considered critically is

stated, described, and

clarified so that

understanding is not

seriously impeded by

omissions.

Issue/problem to be

considered critically is

stated but description

leaves some terms

undefined, ambiguities

unexplored, boundaries

undetermined, and/or

backgrounds unknown.

Issue/problem to be

considered critically is

stated without

clarification or

description.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Critical

Thinking

Evidence

Core

Assessment

Rubric

Information is taken

from source(s) with

enough

interpretation/evaluation

to develop a

comprehensive analysis

or synthesis. Viewpoints

of experts are

questioned thoroughly.

Information is taken

from source(s) with

enough

interpretation/evaluation

to develop a coherent

analysis or

synthesis.Viewpoints of

experts are subject to

questioning.

Information is taken

from source(s) with

some

interpretation/evaluation,

but not enough to

develop a coherent

analysis or synthesis.

Viewpoints of experts

are taken as mostly fact,

with little questioning.

Information is taken

from source(s) without

any

interpretation/evaluation.

Viewpoints of experts

are taken as fact, without

question.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points
Critical

Thinking

Conclusions

and related

outcomes

(implications

and

consequences)

Core

Assessment

Rubric

Conclusions and related

outcomes (consequences

and implications) are

logical and reflect

student’s informed

evaluation and ability to

place evidence and

perspectives discussed in

priority order.

Conclusion is logically

tied to a range of

information, including

opposing viewpoints;

related outcomes

(consequences and

implications) are

identified clearly.

Conclusion is logically

tied to information

(because information is

chosen to fit the desired

conclusion); some related

outcomes (consequences

and implications) are

identified clearly.

Conclusion is

inconsistently tied to

some of the information

discussed; related

outcomes (consequences

and implications) are

oversimplified.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Grammar,

spelling, and

punctuation

Response contains 700-

1000 words and

contains 0-2 errors in

grammar, spelling, and

punctuation

Contains 3-5 errors in

grammar, spelling, and

punctuation, or may

contain above 1000 or

below 700 words

Contains 6-10 errors in

grammar, spelling, and

punctuation and may not

meet word requirement

Contains more than 10

errors in grammar,

spelling and punctuation