Critical Book Assignment

Length: 3-5 Pages.
MUST bring actual book to class when you turn it in, I have to actually SEE the book you read. This paper is short, and it needs to demonstrate that you have read it. If you have gotten your information online, I will see it. If I suspect that it isn't your review or if you have not read the book, you will have to make an appointment with me. Make references to page numbers in your paper, use quotes.

Papers will not be accepted if the book is not with you on the due date. Early papers are accepted, you will just need to bring it by my office when I am in.


After reading your chosen book, critically think about the major character. The goal of this assignment is to evidence mastery of the course material by applying a theory that explains the behavior of the major character of the book that you read. Special attention should be given to the impact that diversity has had on the major character. Students should analyze the character within a person-in-environment framework and discuss the relevance of the various theories studied in HBSE I .

Questions that should be addressed in the written paper include, but need not be limited to the following:

A. How does the character display typical issues of that stage of human development?
Freud – Stage of psychosexual development
Erickson – Stages of psychosocial crises
Kohlberg – Stage of moral development

Use any material from the text that describes your chosen theory, and compare it to the character. For example, discuss the importance of peer groups to an adolescent, discuss the effect of school competence to a child in middle school, or discuss the career crisis of a woman in mid-life who develops a disability, etc. What other conflicts are evident in the role (race, gender, ethnicity, age, class, color, disability, family structure, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, religion) or norms of the character? Is the character’s behavior in conflict with group, cultural or ethnic norms of his/her family or community system?

B. What is the nature of the interactions of the character with other systems (i.e. family, community, formal organizations, and society)? How does this shape his/her development and functioning? What is the socioeconomic status of the family or character? How does that impact the character’s development? Are there patterns of abuse, neglect, and/or addiction on the part of the character or his/her family members? How does that affect the character’s development? How does your chosen theory explain this?

C. Think of another theory that may offer explanation to the behavior of the client in your chosen book. How is this theory similar/different than your previous theory? Provide excerpts from text to help support your argument.

The paper can be organized into the three sections described above. Further directions for this paper will be discussed in class.