This document outlines the requirements for a final paper assignment. Students must synthesize all previous assignments into a 15-20 page paper following APA style. It must include an introduction analyzing the chosen topic and related policies, a literature review of the topic and policy impacts, an application of theory to analyze the topic and policy, recommendations for improving outcomes, a description of an advocacy plan and actions, and a conclusion summarizing what was learned. The paper aims to evaluate research on a policy impacting children/adolescents and analyze developmental consequences to propose best practices.

1. Final Paper
In this final assignment for your course project, write a paper in
which you synthesize all of the previous assignments and
incorporate revisions based on instructor feedback you have
received throughout the course.
In the overall paper:
Evaluate research in a major content area of policy or
legislation related to children and adolescents.
Analyze how social, political, or public policies and legislation
impact the daily lives of children and adolescents.
Analyze child and adolescent developmental research to
examine the consequences of policies and legislation that
impact child or adolescent development in relation to your
chosen topic.
Apply policy research to child and adolescent developmental
issues in the context of Bronfenbrenner's systems theory
framework, or another relevant theory, in order to analyze how
policies will impact children and adolescents.
Synthesize information about policies and legislation related to
your chosen topic with selected child and adolescent
developmental issues.
Develop best practices or policy recommendations on behalf of
your chosen child or adolescent issue.

2. Participate in advocacy action based on your chosen child or
adolescent topic and related policies and legislation.
Apply the feedback from your instructor on your assignment in
Unit 8 to revise your draft description of proposed advocacy
actions.
Describe your goals, or what you hope to accomplish by your
advocacy.
Describe completed or planned actions.
Describe any follow-up plans.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen advocacy actions.
Project Elements
Prepare a final paper that includes the following sections, in
this order:
Title Page
.
Table of Contents
.
Abstract
.
Introduction

3. (1–2 pages):
Identify the topic you have chosen and explain why you chose
it. What do you hope to learn from this paper? Base your
writing on the Unit 3 assignment, Topic and Policy or
Legislation Selection.
Literature Review of Topic, Policy or Legislation
(1–2 pages):
Review the literature related to the topic you selected.
Review the literature related to the topic you selected. Analyze
how policy or legislation impacts child or adolescent
development.
Theory and Synthesis
(1–2 pages):
Apply theory related to the topic and legislation or policy.
Basing your writing on the Unit 5 assignment, apply
Bronfenbrenner's systems theory or other relevant theory.
Synthesize policies and legislation in relation to a selected child
and adolescent developmental topic in the context of
Bronfenbrenner's systems theory framework, or other relevant
and child and adolescent developmental research.

4. Recommendations and Best Practices
(1–2 pages):
Given policy research and your developmental knowledge of
theory and research, make policy or best practice suggestions
for improving the lives of children or adolescents. Offer
recommendations based on the research and knowledge you
have gained to show how child and adolescent developmental
issues and outcomes can be improved upon. Base your writing
on the assignments in Units 3, 5, and 8: Topic and Policy or
Legislation Selection; Analysis of Legislation or Policy and
Theory with Topic; and, Advocacy and References.
Advocacy
(4–5 pages):
Explain your plan for advocacy and any actions taken. What do
you plan to accomplish by your advocacy? What have you
learned or hope to learn as a result of this advocacy? Base your
writing on the Unit 8 assignment, Policy, Legislation, and
Advocacy Proposal.
Summary and Conclusion
(2–3 pages):
Summarize what you learned and draw your own relevant
conclusions.

5. References
.
Project Requirements
Written communication
: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the
overall message.
APA formatting
: Your sources and citations must be formatted according to
current APA style and formatting. Refer to the Capella Writing
Center for more information.
Number of resources
: Minimum of 8 sources.
Length of paper
: 15–20 typed, double-spaced pages.
Font
: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Note
: Your instructor may also use the Writing Feedback Tool to
provide feedback on your writing. In the tool, click the linked
resources for helpful writing information.
Resources

6. Final Paper Scoring Guide
.
APA Style and Format
.
Capella Writing Center
.
Capella University Library
.
Writing Feedback Tool
.