Discuss why it is important to look at childhood from the perspectives of both childhood studies and child psychology.

Part 3: Essay
Part 3 is worth 60% of the total EMA score. The word limit is 2000 words.

This essay offers you a broad question, allowing you to draw on any of the material covered in two of the four blocks in the module.

You should write your essay in response to the following prompt:

Discuss why it is important to look at childhood from the perspectives of both childhood studies and child psychology. Using evidence from the module, evaluate how these different perspectives can have an impact on policy and practice.

Guidance notes

Instruction words

In this essay you need to argue why it is important to look at childhood from the different perspectives of both childhood studies and child psychology. Remember, once again, that ‘discuss’ requires you to explain something, in this case why these different perspectives on childhood are important. ‘Discuss’ indicates that this essay must go beyond description. It should not just list the major features of the different approaches but should consider the ways in which they are similar and also how they differ. Once you have done this you should think about how these different perspectives might have an impact on policy and practice.

Note that you are also instructed to use material from two of the four blocks in the module and to draw on policy and practice in your response. You can bring in brief references to other blocks of the module but your answer should concentrate on two.

This should be an academic essay, which includes an introduction, the main body paragraphs and a conclusion. You may use subheadings if you wish. Remember that, in the first paragraph, you should introduce your main terms and argument. Each paragraph of the main body should include a reference or example that supports your argument. The concluding paragraph should restate your argument and summarise the evidence you have presented in the main body to support your argument. Don’t forget: marks will be gained for clearly combining evidence from the E102 materials. Remember that, to demonstrate this use of evidence, you will need to reference the E102 materials (see Section 6 of the Assessment Guide
[Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)
] for guidance on referencing).

Relevant material

Part 3 of the EMA requires you to use examples from policy and practice to support the claim that it is important to look at childhood from the perspectives of both childhood studies and child psychology. To answer this question, you need to ensure that you consider the following instruction prompts:

Identify the main features of, and the main methods used in, child psychology and childhood studies. You did similar work in TMA 01, but your understanding should have deepened by now so please do not simply copy and paste from this earlier TMA. You should focus on the features and methods of both disciplines that are most relevant to the rest of your essay.
Select material from just two of the four blocks of study in E102:
Block 1 Perspectives on childhood
Block 2 Supporting children’s lives
Block 3 Diverse childhoods
Block 4 Transitions beyond childhood
It may help if you choose the two blocks that you have found most interesting, and use these as a basis for refreshing your knowledge with the essay question in mind.

Identify one or two particular broad topics you are interested in: for example, education, infancy, adolescence or disability.
Outline how academics in childhood studies and child psychology have understood these topics, noting, in particular, any differences between them.
The essay question asks you to draw on policy and practice in your answer. To do this, you should give relevant examples of how these perspectives have contributed to understanding or solving any issues of policy and practice. You do not need to pay equal attention to both, but you must ensure that you address each of them to meet the requirements for the EMA.
When preparing your response, keep in mind that you should develop an answer that responds to the question. You are expected to show that it is important to look at childhood from different perspectives and should find examples to support that claim.
In preparing to write your essay, the module team suggests that you consider the assignment-writing process discussed in Week 17, ‘Writing academic essays on childhood’, and that you think about developing a detailed essay plan to guide your response. You do not need to submit your essay plan, but this will help you in writing your final essay and is good practice. Before you start, consider your tutor’s feedback on previous assignments and think about how you can build on these comments in this part of your assignment to help improve your grade.


Last Completed Projects

# topic title discipline academic level pages delivered
6
Writer's choice
Business
University
2
1 hour 32 min
7
Wise Approach to
Philosophy
College
2
2 hours 19 min
8
1980's and 1990
History
College
3
2 hours 20 min
9
pick the best topic
Finance
School
2
2 hours 27 min
10
finance for leisure
Finance
University
12
2 hours 36 min