Human Development & Family Studies – Writing Process

Consider the audience of the paper.
- Is it professionals, parents, policy-makers, educators, or academia? The audience will dictate how you approach a writing assignment.
If writing a research paper, don’t establish a thesis until you have completed your research.
- Your perspective on a topic may change drastically after reading the available literature, so keep an open mind when doing your research and reading articles.
Use current research articles.
- The literature in human development is constantly changing because so is our world and how people develop. For example, ten years ago there was no research on how gender dysphoria affects the development of children; now there is a wealth of knowledge. Thirty years ago corporal punishment was a normal part of parenting; now almost all professionals strictly advise against it. Technology and the Internet have drastically altered how teens develop social relationships. So, stay current on your research to avoid sounding dated.
Use your peers as a valuable resource to bounce-off and brainstorm ideas.
- Since HDFS is such a small major, group work is an essential component of most courses. In this way you will likely become very close with your classmates and will feel comfortable having dynamic discussions about your thoughts and beliefs. Use these moments to generate and broaden your ideas about class concepts. Instead of viewing group work as a chore, view it as an opportunity to grow and explore novel ideas.

Incorporate class readings as well as new sources into your writing.
- Using class readings shows that you understand the material on a deeper level. This is especially important if you don’t often participate in class! Additionally, using new sources shows that you can apply class concepts to other ideas and make connections between readings.
Critique ideas and concepts.
- Understanding and being able to apply information in a paper is great, but being able to critique and understand the merits and pitfalls of research shows that you have a deeper understanding. Doing this in a respectful way means that you are becoming a develecologist with unique opinions and ideas about how the world should be and how we can help individuals and communities lead healthier and happier lives.
Use in-text citations and a reference list.
- Although most professors will simply ask for APA formatting and citations, some professors make specific requests for citing sources. For example, Professor Jackie Weinstock asks that her students use page numbers in in-text citations, even for information that is not directly quoted. Check your syllabus or ask your professor if you are unsure of what their specific requirements are.

Set aside your writing assignment for a day or so and come back to it with a fresh perspective.

It is very easy to finish an assignment, read it over once, and hand it in. However, you might find that a few days off will allow you to more easily identify the changes you should be making. Additionally, reading texts aloud will help you to catch small grammar and spelling errors.