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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 Ground Rules: You are all adults; you are free to come
and go as you please; to read newspapers when you like; to talk
with friends when you like. On the other hand, by registering
for this course and choosing to remain in this course, you enter
into a contract to abide by certain minimal rules that are necessary
to ensure that you and your fellow students get the best
educational experience in this course as possible. The following
rules are designed to keep disruptions of class to a minimum.
The rationale for these rules is taken from the principle that
if you want a less than optimal experience in this class that
is your business, but I cannot allow anyone to disrupt the experience
for others (see Student Code of Conduct, available at the
Dean of Students
webpage): 1. This course syllabus is a contract. I suggest you print a copy for reference or at least bookmark the syllabus. If you don't like the course, you are free to drop it. If you foresee problems, please see me as soon as possible. You should assume in the absence of other information that we will adhere to the attached schedule. Exams will be given as scheduled whether you hear me announce them or not. If the course schedule gets disrupted, changes will be announced with at least a week's notice. All changes will be posted on the course web page (What's New) and I will endeavor to make these announcements in more than one class period, and more than once in any given period. However, missing such announcements does not in itself constitute a valid excuse for missing an Exam. You must provide documentation of a legitimate reason for missing class (see Missed Work, below). 2. I believe in common courtesy. Therefore, when I am lecturing, I expect no one else to be talking. When a student is asking a question or participating in discussion, I expect no one else to be talking. Students who disrupt the class will be asked to leave. After a second offense, disruptive students will be barred from lectures (but not exams). 3. Common courtesy also suggests that it is extremely rude to read a newspaper (or anything else) while someone is talking to you. In a classroom situation, it is also rather ill-advised. There is simply no way that you can get anything out of a lecture or discussion if you are not paying attention to it. If you want to read the Vidette, you might as well not come to class. You choose how much you want to learn in this course. 4. This class is scheduled for 1:25 to 4:15. We will begin promptly at 1:30. I will try to introduce variety into our meetings and include breaks as needed; you should expect that class will usually run until 4:15. If you are running late, please find a seat as quickly and quietly as possible. If you must leave early, I ask that you sit near a door and leave as quietly as possible. Often, the most important parts of a class meeting are the beginning and the end; key material is often presented, and an opportunity for earning Computer-based assignment points could arise. Remember, exam questions will be based on material presented or discussed during the entire class meeting. 5. I encourage each of you who has a question to visit my Office Hours. You MUST bring your notes and textbook to office hours (unless you are coming for reasons other than asking questions on the material). This requirement is made for two reasons. First, I have limited time and energy; therefore, I will only provide assistance to students who provide evidence that they working in the course. Second, I can be of much more help to you if I can observe, first hand, how you are taking notes, how you are reading, etc. 6. It is important to note that, even though the course only lasts four weeks, it is a three-credit, upper division course. The material can be challenging, and I have structured the course so that you can expect to learn about as much about psychopathology as you would if you took the course in Fall or Spring. I recognize that within a compressed schedule, there are reasonable limits to the number of assignments and amount of reading, and I have made adjustments in these regards; nonetheless, you will probably have to work hard to earn a good grade in this course. E-mail: E-mail is a wonderful communication tool that is easy and inexpensive to use. I welcome you to contact me via e-mail; in fact I prefer it. To ensure that you get a prompt reply, I require that you use the following conventions. BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF E-MAIL I RECEIVE, FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES COULD RESULT IN YOUR E-MAIL BEING DELETED WITHOUT BEING READ.
Cheating: Failure of the course will be the usual outcome of cheating, plagiarism, and the like, in addition to any further action that might be taken by the University upon referral to the Dean of Students Office. Students who appear to be cheating during exams (e.g., those exhibiting "wandering eyes"), will be asked to turn in their exam and immediately complete the essay version of the exam as an independent test of their mastery of the material (assuming the individual has initially taken the true-false/multiple choice version). The exams in this course, whenever I have taught it and whenever I will teach it, are not intended to be distributed to the University community. Use of an old exam as a "study guide," from whatever source, is use of a stolen exam for unauthorized purposes. Similarly, taking a copy of an exam is stealing. These are serious forms of academic dishonesty. Discovery of either of these violations of the Student Code of Conduct will also result in failure of the course and referral to the Dean of Students Office. Cuts: Class attendance is expected, as is punctuality. Attendance will not ordinarily be taken, but cuts are discouraged. This is especially important in a course in which each class meeting represents a week's worth of material (in a regular semester schedule). The alert student will note that punctual class attendance is likely to be rewarded--either through Exam questions based on lecture or discussion material, Computer-based assignments, and the occasional Extra Credit opportunity. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain the notes from a classmate. I will not answer questions pertaining to a lecture unless you can produce the notes from it, except in very special circumstances (see number 5 above). Missed work: It is the student's responsibility to make up missed work. If possible, I should be alerted before an exam or assignment is due, and alternative arrangements MAY be made. The course policy on missed exams is that makeup exams are essay exams. Reasons for makeup exams will typically include only relatively uncommon and disruptive health, family, or other personal problems (e.g., illness requiring hospitalization, death in the immediate family). You will be required to produce credible confirming evidence (e.g., a doctor's note). Missing the class in which an exam or other assignment is announced, and thereby missing the exam or deadline, is not an acceptable excuse. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain the notes from a classmate. I will not answer questions pertaining to a lecture unless you can produce the notes from it, except in very special circumstances. Life problems: If you are experiencing problematic life circumstances that are affecting your performance in the course, please see me as soon as possible, so we can work together to help you improve your performance. The course requirements will not be rearranged for life problems, but I can work with you to maximize your learning and performance in the course as you deal with your problem. http://www.cas.ilstu.edu/psychology/catanzar/Psy350Syl/Su03_3.html |
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Salvatore J. Catanzaro, Illinois State University, Department of Psychology |