First, you will select one of the major early developmental stages: infancy/toddlerhood (0-3 years), early childhood (3-6 years), middle childhood (7-12 years), or adolescence (12-18 years). You will then explain the developmental

Jamez

15 Aug 2025 • 6 min read

Task

First, you will select one of the major early developmental stages: infancy/toddlerhood (0-3 years), early childhood (3-6 years), middle childhood (7-12 years), or adolescence (12-18 years). You will then explain the developmental stage in terms of major developmental milestones.

Next, you will describe your significant event in developmental context by explaining what happened and any impacts on your development during this time.

Then, you will define and apply two major concepts of development (1: nature and nurture, 2: continuity and discontinuity) to your significant event.

Finally, you will define and apply one major theory of development (Erikson’s theory, Piaget’s theory, Vygotsky’s theory, information processing theory, attachment theory, behavioral theory, observational learning theory) to your significant event.

Please use this chart to help you organize your capstone:

Part

Description

Top Tips for Success

Part I. Developmental Stage

Reflect on your development thus far. What stage of your development is most interesting to you?

Infancy/Toddlerhood (0-3 years)
Early Childhood (3-6 years)
Middle Childhood (7-12 years)
Adolescence (12-18 years)

Choose ONE stage to focus on for this capstone.

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Developmental Stage).

Then, in one paragraph:

Articulate your selected developmental stage using a strong topic sentence. Then, in 3-4 sentences that follow, explain the major developmental milestones (i.e., biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social milestones) that occur during your selected stage.

Be specific in this paragraph—make sure to be very clear when articulating and explaining your chosen developmental stage.

Define and give concrete examples of each type of milestone (biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social).

Part 2. Significant Event

Think about your own experiences during your chosen developmental period (see Part 1).

What memorable events occurred during this time?

Select ONE significant event during this developmental period.

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Significant Event).

Then, in one or two paragraphs:

Explain the significant event in detail. What happened? Tell the story of the event in 3-4 sentences. Then, in another 3-4 sentences, explain why this event was important to your own development during this time by answering the question, What impact(s) did it have on your biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social growth?

This part of the capstone asks you to do two things. Be sure to fully explain the event AND discuss how it impacted several parts of your development during this time.

Be sure that the effects you discuss make sense in the context of your chosen developmental stage.

Part 3. Major Concepts in Development

Consider two major concepts in development:

Nature and Nurture
Continuity and Discontinuity

What do these concepts mean? How are these concepts illustrated in your significant event and/or its important effects on your development?

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Major Concepts in Development).

Then, in one or two paragraphs:

Define both major concepts as they pertain to developmental psychology. After defining each, discuss how each concept is illustrated in the event you described and/or the effects of this event on your development.

The definition of each major concept AND discussion of how it is illustrated in your significant event will require at least 3-4 sentences.

You may wish to write one paragraph of 3-4 sentences for EACH major concept.

Part 4. Developmental Theory

Think about the major theories of development you have learned about so far in this course:

Erikson’s theory, Piaget’s theory, Vygotsky’s theory, information processing theory, attachment theory, behavioral theory, and observational learning theory.

Which theory seems to have the most relevance for your developmental stage and the significant event you have discussed? Do any of the theories help you understand why this significant event was so important to your development?

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Developmental Theory).

Then, in one paragraph:

Describe the major ideas of your chosen theory in 3-4 sentences.

Then, in another 3-4 sentences, discuss how this theory (and its major ideas) relates to your significant event. Be specific in your discussion.

Like Part 3, remember that Part 4 requires you to define AND discuss a theory.

Your theory definition will be academic and will rely on textbook content. Your discussion of how the theory applies to your experience will require your own creative thinking.

Requirements

Type your capstone using a word processing software program.
Use a basic font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.), 12-point size, and 1-inch margins.
Use full and complete sentences. Do not include bullet points or incomplete sentences.
Do not use ANY artificial intelligence (AI) program to generate text for your assignment. Use your own voice to explain the concepts.
Do read your textbook to gather information for your assignment.
Do not directly copy ANY information from your textbook or online sources.
Cite the textbook for any information in your assignment that you did not discover yourself. Use parenthetical (in-text) citations in APA style. A reference page is NOT required.
Successful assignments will be between 500-750 words.

Resources

Make sure to review these helpful resources associated with this capstone:

Capstone Rubric: Developmental Science and Me
Example Capstone Outline: Developmental Science and Me
APA Style Guidance for parenthetical (in-text) citations: APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

Capstone Rubric: Developmental Science and Me

	0	1	2	3	4	5
Part 1. Developmental Stage (20%)	The developmental stage of interest for the essay is not clearly identified at the beginning of the essay (section is missing).	The essay names the developmental stage, but provides no other information about major developmental milestones within it.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides limited details about biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social developmental milestones.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides minimally adequate details about biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social developmental milestones.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides moderately developed details about biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social developmental milestones.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides well-developed details about biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social developmental milestones.
Part 2. Significant Event (20%)	The essay does not include a description of an event (section is missing).	The essay describes an event, but it is not sufficiently detailed and/or clearly linked with the developmental stage of interest.	The essay describes an event, with minimal details to place the subject in developmental context.	The essay describes an event, with adequate details of a significant event to place the subject in developmental context.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides good contextual details about the subject in developmental context.	The essay names the developmental stage and provides a well-developed, detailed description of the subject in developmental context.
Part 3. Major Concepts (20%)	The essay does not address the 2 major concepts (section is missing) -or- The section does not include accurate information.	The essay discusses only 1 issue with minimal accuracy and clarity. -or- The discussion of each issue is vague and/or unclear and no linkage to the anecdotal event is provided.	The essay discusses 2 issues with minimal accuracy and clarity. -or- The discussion of each issue includes only minimal description and no linkage to the anecdotal event.	The essay discusses 2 issues with accuracy and clarity. -and- Linkage to the anecdotal event is minimal and/or missing.	The essay discusses 2 issues with accuracy and clarity. -and- Linkage to the anecdotal event is moderately developed, including some detail.	The essay discusses 2 issues with accuracy and clarity. -and- Linkage to the anecdotal event is well developed and detailed.
Part 4. Developmental Theory (20%)	The essay does not identify a developmental theory from the list provided (section is missing).	The essay identifies a theory, but does not describe it accurately.	The essay identifies a theory and provides a minimal or only partially accurate description.	The essay identifies a theory and provides an adequate or moderately accurate description.	The essay identifies a theory and provides a good or mostly accurate description.	The essay identifies a theory and provides an excellent, fully accurate description.
Writing, Citations, and Formatting (20%)	The writer gives no or very little apparent attention to language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citations, and/or formatting. Contains numerous errors throughout.	Language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, and/or formatting errors greatly detract from the paper. Contains many errors throughout.	Language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, and/or formatting errors detract from the paper. Contains errors throughout.	Language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, and/or formatting errors somewhat detract from the paper. Contains some errors throughout.	Language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, and/or formatting errors minimally detract from the paper. Contains few errors throughout.	Language use, syntax/grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, and/or formatting errors do not detract from the paper. Contains only very minor or no errors throughout.

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