|
|||||||||||||||||||
PSY 350 Links Psych Resources Association for Psychological Science American Psychological Association The National Institute of Mental Health Computer & Web Training at Illinois State The IRB at Illinois State University |
Summer 2006 Course Syllabus The exams will feature a combination of question formats. An exam will typically include 10 True-False questions, worth 2 points each, for a total of 20 points; 16 "less difficult" multiple choice questions, worth 2 points each, for a total of 32 points; 16 "more difficult" multiple choice questions, worth 3 points each, for a total of 48 points (20 + 32 + 48 = 100 points). The text contains focus questions and summaries that are useful complements to the detailed review material on the course website. For each exam, an ESSAY VERSION will available as an option. To take the essay version of the exam, you must inform me prior to the day of the exam. Sample essay questions will also be available for your inspection. Essay exams will feature choices among a number of questions. These will be taken from an earlier version of the Casebook and Study Guide (one I prefer). Two representative cases have been selected. Each case has a list of Discussion Questions that follow it. For each assigned case, you will choose one of the Discussion Questions to answer. Your answer should be one-to-four paragraphs, about 1-2 pages long (typed and double-spaced). These assignments are designed to give you an opportunity to be exposed to additional real cases, reflect on the course material, and apply it in a thoughtful way. Grading will reflect the correctness of the factual information you use and the quality of the thinking and writing that goes into your answer. Because we may discuss some aspects of these cases in class after the assignments are due, late papers will only be accepted under very unusual circumstances. This is a way of earning course credit by thinking about the material and engaging your colleagues in scholarly discussion. Each week, you can earn ten (10) points. Because there are 4 weeks in the course session, this works out to 40 possible points for the entire course. Typically, these assignments will be due on Monday by class time (The final assignment is due on or before the Monday following the end of class meetings, June 19). Beginning the second week of class, I will randomly choose a few students each day to share their answers with the class, and we will begin with some discussion of those issues. If you are called on, you must answer to earn full credit for the assignment. If you are not called on, you will get credit by posting your contributions to the course WebBoard. These assignments will be done using WebBoard. RESEARCH PARTICIPATION AND EXTRA CREDIT: As you probably know, much of the research conducted by faculty and students in the psychology department is made possible by the participation of students in psychology courses. This is a very important system for those conducting research, and it is also supposed to provide you with an educational experience. In many courses, including this one, the opportunity to earn extra credit by participating in research is provided to students. When you participate, you should also learn something. After the experiment is over, ask questions if you are curious. If you ever feel that you haven't gotten at least a little bit of insight into the research process, you should alert the Teaching Assistant. "Instructions for Subjects," with details on how to sign up and participate, your rights and responsibilities, etc., are available at: http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/research/students.html You can navigate to this location from the course home page or via the Psychology Department web site at http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/ In this course, there are two ways to earn extra credit via research participation, Research participation Extra Credit, and In-Class Extra Credit. Research participation EXTRA CREDIT: You may earn extra credit by participating in studies registered with the Psychology Department. For this course, an hour's worth of participation is equal to two (2) points. You may earn as many as ten (10) extra credit points for the course. Extra credit must be handed in by the day of EXAM IV (JUNE 15). You are encouraged to hand in extra credit as soon as you earn it. IN-CLASS EXTRA CREDIT: There will be occasional extra credit opportunities DURING CLASS TIME in the form of brief pop quizzes and other instructional activities. These points will not count against your research participation extra credit. ALTERNATIVES: Students who desire extra credit but who do not wish to participate in research have the opportunity to do brief writing assignments. Alternatives for In-Class Extra Credit are only available to students who are either in attendance or have a verified (e.g., doctor's note) reason for absence on the day the activity is conducted. You must request an alternative assignment when the research is conducted--that is, during that class period. As an alternative to participating in research, you may summarize a website, magazine, or newspaper article that is relevant to any course topic. The following are acceptable sources: cnn.com, pbs.org, webmd.com, Psychology Today, Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report, Mother Jones, New York Times Science Section (Tuesdays), and the Utne Reader. These summaries earn you two (2) points. Thus, you may do as many as five, totaling ten (10) points. Here is what you must do: 1. Find an article that you find interesting and you think is relevant to a course topic. Use the course syllabus to determine if it is relevant. 2. Write a summary of the article. It ought to be typed, one page long, and double spaced. 3. Summaries may be handed in at any time up to the day of EXAM IV (June 15). 4. Ordinarily, any thoughtful, well-organized summary will earn two extra credit points. If it is poorly done, you may only earn one point. In rare cases, you may earn zero points. For example, a summary that makes very little sense, or consist of a haphazard amalgam of article quotes, will not earn full extra credit. A plagiarized summary, or one that was submitted for another assignment in this or a different course, will receive a score of zero and result in referral for academic dishonesty. GRADING: Grade totals will be based on percentage of total points out of a possible 480. Grade criteria are 90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D, 59% or lower = F. THERE WILL BE NO CURVE. I will endeavor to keep you apprised of the status of your grade as fully as possible. The following Table summarizes the Grading System:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Salvatore J. Catanzaro, Illinois State University, Department of Psychology |