• Choose two age groups from different periods in the physical development process. Give some thought to the age groups you choose, as you will focus on them in later weeks and for the final project.
• Compare what you would expect to see in the classroom from each age group in terms of expected reading and writing development. How might this influence which reading and writing activities you would assign? What could you do to strengthen a student’s reading or writing skills in each developmental stage?
• Organize the information in a manner that allows for an easy comparison of the two age groups. (There are several organizational options available to you in Microsoft® Word: tables, columns, and formatting of text.)
This is the assignment. My question is what is the best way to go about organizing the information that I have? I wrote it down and now I need to figure out how to organize it. I am comparing ages 6-7 and 9-13.
Whenever you are writing a comparison/contrast paper (paragraph, essay, research paper), you need to plan it out very carefully on paper first.
Try this:
1. Write all the information about one of your topics on one page.
2. Write all the information about the other topic on another page.
3. Then put them together in this order:
1. Intro
2. All about topic A
~~~2A. detail 1
~~~2B. detail 2
~~~2C. detail 3
~~~2D. detail 4
~~~2E. detail 5
3. All about topic B
~~~3A. detail 1
~~~3B. detail 2
~~~3C. detail 3
~~~3D. detail 4
~~~3E. detail 5
4. Concl.
The number of details for each topic will vary depending on your main points. I would include comparisons (how they are similar) in the introduction and conclusion, but sections 2 and 3 and all those details will be stating and explaining how they are different.
There are two recognized patterns for writing comparison/contrast papers. One is casually referred to as "zig-zag,” but can be very confusing for the reader if you don’t use transitions effectively. The other is topic-by-topic (which is what I've outlined above) and is much easier for the reader to follow.
See http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html for further help with comparison/contrast writing.
Once you have organized your information, please re-post if you’d like feedback from someone here.
Thank you!
When organizing the information for your assignment comparing the physical development and expected reading and writing development of children aged 6-7 and 9-13, there are a few different ways you can present the information. Here are three options you can consider:
1. Table Format: Create a table with two columns representing the different age groups (6-7 and 9-13) and rows for each aspect you want to compare (e.g., physical development, reading development, writing development). Indicate the characteristics or expectations for each age group in the respective cells of the table. This format allows for a clear side-by-side comparison of the two age groups.
Example:
| Age Groups | Physical Development | Reading Development | Writing Development |
|------------|----------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| 6-7 | - Milestones | - Basic reading | - Simple sentences |
| | - Fine motor control | skills | |
| | - Limited vocabulary| - Simple spelling |
|------------|----------------------|--------------------|----------------------|
| 9-13 | - Advancement in coordination | - Reading fluency | - Expanded vocabulary |
| | - Gross motor skills | | - More complex sentences |
| | - Fine motor skills | | - Grammar and punctuation |
| | | | - Organization of ideas |
2. Paragraph Format: Write a separate paragraph for each age group, discussing their physical development, reading development, and writing development individually. This format allows for a more detailed and narrative approach, which can be helpful if you want to provide more explanation and elaboration for each age group.
Example:
Age Group 6-7:
Physical Development: At this age, children typically experience milestones such as improved coordination, fine motor control, and the development of gross motor skills. These changes enable them to engage in more physical activities and have better control over their bodies.
Reading Development: In terms of reading development, children in the 6-7 age range begin to acquire basic reading skills. They learn phonics, sight words, and basic decoding strategies. They also start building their vocabulary and may develop the ability to read simple texts with guidance.
Writing Development: At this age, writing involves simple sentences and focuses on developing basic spelling skills. Children may begin to express their ideas in writing, although organization and sentence structure might still be somewhat limited.
Age Group 9-13:
Physical Development: During the age of 9-13, children experience significant advancements in both coordination and fine motor skills. Their gross motor skills continue to improve, and they become more adept at physical activities and sports.
Reading Development: By this age, children have typically achieved reading fluency and can comprehend more complex texts independently. Their vocabulary expands, and they become more confident readers, able to tackle both fictional and informational materials.
Writing Development: In terms of writing, children aged 9-13 show improvements in vocabulary and the ability to construct more complex sentences. They begin to understand grammar and punctuation rules, and their writing becomes more organized and coherent. They can express ideas with more depth and sophistication.
3. Bullet Point Format: Summarize the key points for each age group using bullet points. This format allows for a concise and easy-to-read comparison of the two age groups' characteristics and developmental milestones.
Example:
Age Group 6-7:
- Physical Development: Milestones in coordination, fine motor control, and gross motor skills.
- Reading Development: Basic reading skills, phonics, sight words, limited vocabulary.
- Writing Development: Simple sentences, basic spelling, limited organization.
Age Group 9-13:
- Physical Development: Advancement in coordination, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills.
- Reading Development: Reading fluency, expanded vocabulary, comprehension of complex texts.
- Writing Development: More complex sentences, grammar and punctuation, organization of ideas.
Choose the format that suits your assignment requirements and personal preferences. Each option presents the information in a distinct manner, so consider which format will best convey your ideas and facilitate an easy comparison of the two age groups.