CSDI-305 Development of Language in the Young Child

Fall 2014
Assignment: Review of a Childrens TV Show
Watch one half-hour or hour-long show designed for a preschool age child. You may pick from
any channel, as long as the show is designated for young children.
In a two page essay (word-processed, double spaced), comment on the following:
1. Name of show, date watched
2. Age group for which show seemed to be designed. What characteristics support your
belief that this show is designed for this age group? Provide a short description of the
show.
3. Support the following with examples of language from show:
a. What was the theme of the show? ( Was there a moral to the show? Was the
purpose to teach a concept?)
b. What was the sentence length? Do not calculate MLU. Discuss/describe the
average length of the utterances used by the characters
c. Give examples of vocabulary used and if they were defined/explained.
d. Discuss prosody/tone of the language produced (music, humor, sarcasm,
sincerity)
e. What was the overall rate of speech and language? Why do you think this rate
was produced?
4. State your overall thoughts about the show and the suitability of the language for this age
range. Give your reasons.
Examples: Curious George, Daniel Tigers Neighborhood, WordGirl, Arthur, Dora the Explorer,
Blues Clues, Doc McStuffins, Backyardigans, Bubble Guppies
Do NOT use a show for older kids e.g., The Magic School Bus, Sponge Bob Square Pants
POINTS:
Total Number of Points: _______/30
_____/1 Age group for which show seemed to be designed. Why?
_____/4 Provide a description of the show that you watched.
_____/4
_____/4
_____/4
_____/4
_____/4
_____/5

Examples from the show:

Theme (moral to the show? Teaching Concept?)
Sentence length
Examples of vocabulary used
Prosody/tone (music, humor, sarcasm, sincerity)
Rate of speech and language
Overall impression of the language and its suitability for the age range. Provide
reasons.

THIS PAPER WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITH NUMBERED PARAGRAPHS you need to
write it in the form of an essay. Make sure to use your own words when writing this paper.
Internet sources are not necessary. If you plagiarize, you will receive zero points for this
assignment.