Psy 376 Grading - Spring 08

C.V.,Background, & My Research

Teaching:
Psy 131
(Social Psych)
TA Info
Course Objectives
Textbook
Schedule of Topics & Readings
Assignments and Due Dates
Grading Scheme
Powerpoint Outlines
Links to Social Psych Info

Psy 138 (Stat 1)
Spring 04 Syllabus
Schedule of Topics, Due Dates
Grading Scale & Components

Psy 340 (Stat II)
TA Info
Course Objectives
Textbook
Assignments & Due Dates
Grading Scheme
Links to 340 Resources

Psy 376
(Org Psy)
Course Objectives
Textbook
Assignments
Grading Scheme
Outlines
Links to Org Psych Resources

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Your grade in this course will be based on three components (four for grad students): exams, writing assignments, and a final paper based on a consulting activity (and a proposal for grad students). There will be a total of 3 exams throughout the semester; all are non-cumulative. There will be 10 possible short writing assignments based on the sections “Case in Point” and "Points to Ponder ' in your textbook. You are allowed to drop or not complete TWO of the writing assignments without penalty. Finally, each person is responsible for completing a final paper based on a 'consulting activity' that will derive from group work (but the paper will be completed individually). Guidelines on this activity and resulting paper will be distributed early in the semester.

In addition, graduate students enrolled in this course must complete an additional assignment – a short proposal based on the consulting project topic. More details will follow. This component will add an additional 50 points to the graduate student grading scale.

There will also be the for bonus points (max pts = 10) throughout the semester based on web activities assigned during class.

For Undergraduates: The weighting of the components is:

3 Exams (100 points each) = 300 points
Writing Assignments = 80 points
Final Paper = 100 points
Total course points: 480 points

Undergraduate Students’ Final Grading Scale:
A = 432 - 480+ points
B = 384 - 431 points
C = 336 - 383 points
D = 288 - 335 points
F = below 288 points

For Graduate Students: The weighting of the components is:

3 exams (100 points each) = 300 points
Writing Assignments = 80 points
Final Paper = 100 points
Proposal based on consulting = 50 points
Total course points: 530 points

Graduate Students’ Grading Scale:
A = 477 - 530 points
B = 424 - 476 points
C = 371– 423 points
D = 318– 370 points

Exams:
The course has been divided into 3 content areas. There will be a 100 point exam covering each of these areas. The 3rd exam will take place during our scheduled final exam time. The exams will consist of both multiple choice and short essays. They will be designed to assess knowledge and understanding of assigned readings as well as lecture and class discussion information. Except in the case of verifiable illness (with a doctor’s excuse) no make-up exams will be given.

Writing Assignments:
These will be taken from the ‘Case in Point’ and 'Points to Ponder' sections at the end of each chapter of your book. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers will be penalized 2 points per day late. A total of 10 writing assignments are scheduled throughout the semester; however, you only need to turn in 8 of them. I realize that unexpected events occur and that some weeks are busier than others for you, so you may choose to not complete 2 of the assignments. If you miss more than 2 writing assignments, you will begin to lose points. Each assignment is graded on a 0-10 scale. Your final writing assignment point total is based on the sum of all 8 writing assignments for a total of 80 points.

Note: a reality of applied psychology is that there is no single correct way to solve many problems. Many of the applied writing assignments simulate this aspect of reality. To successfully complete the writing assignments, you must think critically about and realistically approach the assignments. If you can explain your answers and ideas and provide support and/or citations in your writing, you should do well. Check word usage, grammar, and spelling and consider the use of examples from either the book or your experiences to maximize your points.

Both the Case in Point and the Points to Ponder sections of your book include specific questions that you should address in your writing assignments. For Case in Point assignments, you should answer all questions; for Points to Ponder assignments, I will tell you a week in advance and post on the assignments weblink the specific questions you should answer. Your answers do not need to be very lengthy as long as you have adequately addressed each question, but they should be at least one typed, double-spaced page (11 or 12 point font and 1 inch margins).


Bonus Points (max of 10 pts) - you will be assigned 10 'web activities' throughout the semester during class. Each activity is worth one bonus point and you may choose to do as many as you like or none at all. Specific websites, questions to address, and due dates will be given in class at least 1 week in advance of the due date. These may be turned in during class only (not accepted via email or in my mailbox).

Final Paper (undergraduate and graduate students)
You will be assigned to small groups early in the semester with each group under the guidance of a graduate student. The paper will revolve around your observations and inferences related to interviews you will conduct with two employees in an organization with which you are familiar. Your group will be assigned a topic related to organizational issues (e.g., job stress, turnover, motivation) and you will work together to develop a short survey or interview that you will then conduct independently. There is time during the class schedule for your group to meet and for you to conduct interviews.

Shortly after conducting your interviews, you should write down your observations and these will be the basis for your final paper. Specific guidelines will be given in class early in the semester regarding paper structure. You should use APA format.

Proposal based on Consulting (Graduate Students only)
This component will include an in-depth analysis of the topic you investigated with your group (see above). You should include a short introduction that may review some current literature and focuses on problematic issues or new directions in the topic area. Your paper will then focus on a research idea or an applied project that you would develop based on your readings in the area and your observations during your employee interviews (see above). This proposal should be shorter than your final paper. More information to come...