Prenatal Development Reflection Essay Assignment Instructions and article attached
PSYC 210
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT REFLECTION ESSAY ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The purpose of this Prenatal Development Reflection Essay Assignment is to increase your
knowledge of prenatal development and to reflect on a question that is considered somewhat
controversial: “When does life begin?”
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Locate the article “When do human beings begin? Scientific myths and scientific facts,”
by Dianne Irving (found in the Jerry Falwell Library and the Resources section) and
download a PDF copy of it.You can read it online or save a copy to your computer.
2. Read the article, and identify two arguments for the position which states that life begins
at conception, and identify two arguments for the position which states that life begins at
a later point in development.
3. Write a brief essay (500-800 words) reflecting on what you have learned. Identify which
argument you believe has the greatest support from a scientific perspective. See the
suggested outline provided below.
4. Please note that while this issue does have significant moral and spiritual implications,
this essay should focus on the scientific arguments outlined in the assigned article.
Assignment Requirements:
1. Identify your sources! Current APA guidelines require that a citation be used to
identify any/all sources of information that are not considered common knowledge.
2. Do not include direct quotes; instead, paraphrase information about your chosen
theory. Remember that your source must be identified with a citation even if you
rewrite the information in your own words.
3. Your Prenatal Development Reflection Essay Assignment must include the
following:
• A current APA-formatted title page.
• 2–3 pages of text (at least 500, but not more than 800 words).
• Use current APA guidelines to include level-one headings to identify each
paragraph/section of your essay.
• A current APA-formatted reference page.
4. Please edit your work to stay within the assignment parameters. Stay on topic, and
write in a clear manner.
Outline:
1) In your first paragraph explain present the issue and explain why it is important to the
study of prenatal development.
Page 1 of 2
PSYC 210
2) In your second paragraph briefly describe at least two arguments that support the idea
that human life begins at conception.
3) In your third paragraph briefly describe at least two arguments that support the idea
that human life begins later in development
4) In your final paragraph, summarize and reflect on which position you believe has the
most support from a scientific perspective. Explain why you believe this is the
strongest argument.
Page 2 of 2
When do human beings begin? Scientific myths and scientific facts
Irving, Dianne N
The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy; 1999; 19, 3/4; ProQuest
pg. 22
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