Locke and Rousseau Overview

'In what ways do Locke and Rousseau differ in their prescriptions for developing reason in children?'

First Assignment: an essay of 2000-2500 words.  To be submitted by Tuesday, week 6: return date Tuesday, week 10.

This is a Level 5 assignment, so you need to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

Learning Outcomes:

Show engagement with texts and ideas concerned with the development and the nature/nurture debate

Show engagement with primary sources

Show a knowledge of theoretical perspectives and/or works

Show an understanding of abstract concepts and ideas within theoretical perspectives

Show an ability to work with theorists and their concepts in various forms of assessment as appropriate

Your task is to show that you

· know the relevant parts of Locke’s and Rousseau’s primary texts relating to children’s capacity for reason

· understand the differences between the two theorists’ ideas

· understand how each theorist believes adults should act in order to enable children’s capacity for reason to flourish

This means using lots of quotations and references to the primary texts to show that you have done your research! The essay has a straightforward structure:

Important questions to help you with your essay preparation

1. What is a child’s nature at birth?

2. What is the process and sequence of a child’s cognitive development? (And how might this interact with other aspects of that development?)

3. What are the responsibilities of the adult towards this infant?

4. What techniques should the educator employ to support the child’s development of reason?

The Essay Structure

Introduction

· Set out aims and organisation of essay

· Keep comments about similarities/differences between the two men to a minimum so that you don’t pre-empt what you are going to argue in the essay

Locke section

· Set out his ideas about human capacities at birth and a person’s development in early childhood in order to present his view about the significance of early childhood, education and care

Rousseau section

· Set out his ideas about human capacities at birth and a person’s development in early childhood in order to present his view about the significance of early childhood, education and care. You may want to start identifying similarities and contrasts with Locke as you do this.

Discussion

· Identify the similarities between the two educators regarding the young child’s lack of reason

· Discuss how their differing perspectives on this aspect of childhood generate contrasting views about adults’ responsibilities and strategies in the education/care of young children

Conclusions

· Briefly summarise what you have said and end with a flourishing statement!