Chapter 16 Choose your topic of interest, then Discuss it.

It is important to state that discussion entries can be as personal as you are willing to share; however, although I ask that what is shared during this semester be kept confidential, please be mindful that I cannot regulate if something is shared outside of us.

Discussion entries are opportunities to share what captured your interest from each chapter and how it relates to you. The topic of interest you choose should be chosen to provoke positive cognitive processing (positive thinking) that will eventually manifest in your behavior. Postings will respond to topics contained in the text, and it must be taken from the weekly chapter readings and express your personal understanding and/or experience with your chosen topic of interest. Furthermore, postings must be supported with peer reviewed journals, psychology related books (not the textbook), popular or scientific articles, poetry, music, or other media items that are related to weekly topic(s). Occasionally, I may post observations, opinions, and/or questions to which you may respond.

Postings should be seven sentences in length and should reflect your original thinking. If there are more than 1 chapter readings for the week (i.e. Weeks 7 and 8), you must write a topic of interest paragraph for each chapter (in the same discussion post; please, separate the chapters by paragraph). Correct grammar, syntax, and spelling are expected.

Discussion postings will be graded as follows:

1) Identify a topic in the chapter reading that interested you and provide your definition/explanation of it

2) Explain how this psychology topic relates to you or someone you know (do NOT give identifiable info)

3) Tell how/why the topic/information is relevant to you

4) Cite (i.e., provide the source) and discuss additional material (not the textbook) that is related to the week’s topic

5) You must respond to two of your classmates, respectfully agreeing or disagreeing, with an explanation, to your chosen classmates why you feel the way you do.

***missing any of the five portions will result in zero points for assignment

Discussion example

Hi All,

I hope this helps…

Chapter 1

A topic in this chapter reading that interested me would be the life-span perspective and life expectancy. I was shocked to discover that our life expectancy average in the United States has increased 32 years since 1900. That would be like an increase of another whole lifetime in the Middle Ages, England, when life expectancy was 33 years old. This really relates to me by showing me just how seriously lucky I am to have my grandfather, who raised me, alive at 86 years old and how unlikely that would have been a hundred years ago. “Highly educated adults in the United States have lower yearly mortality rates than less-educated people in every age, gender, and racial/ethnic subgroup of the population.”(Hummer).

Chapter 2

A topic that really caught my interest in Chapter two was the Adoption section of the chapter. This really broke my heart to know just how important it may be to be adopted at a very young age in order for them to have a positive outcome. I was also shocked to find out that even with abortion becoming legal, their are still over 100,000 children in the U.S foster care waiting to be adopted. This is very relevant to me because I was adopted at age 7 my life was saved for the best and I would like to say I’ve had a very positive outcome from where I was. “Adoption-related and other emotional challenges may be compounded by learning issues that can have an impact on an adopted teen’s self-esteem, self-confidence, or academic performance.” I have to say I really agree with this statement and also struggled myself through my early years of schooling after being adopted.

References:

Hummer, Robert A, and Elaine M Hernandez. “The Effect of Educational Attainment on Adult Mortality in the United States.” Population Bulletin, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4435622/ (Links to an external site.)

“College Choices for Adopted Teens.” C.A.S.E. – Nurture, Inspire, Empower, 15 Feb. 2018, adoptionsupport.org/general/college-choices-adopted-teens/.

Our textbook is The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View, 5th Edition, by Laura King, ISBN-13: 9781260500523