 How to contact me |
Course
Format |
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| Expectations |
Blackboard
Course |
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| Course
Calendar |
APA
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Office Hours:
Daily 8-5. You're welcome anytime but appointments will insure I am available to meet with you. Anytime is fine as long as the door is open. The sign on the door will tell you whether I am in a session and the dry erase board will give you an idea of when I will return if I'm out. If you don't see me please leave a note and I will get back to you. You may also talk with me anytime before or after class if it is more convenient for you. You are welcome to call me at home if you need to.
Required Text:
Myers, D. G. (2004). Exploring social psychology (3rd
ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
ISBN of our textbook: 0-07-284212-1.
Nier, J. (2005). Taking Sides; clashing views on controversial issues in social psychology. Dubuque: McGraw Hill/Dushkin.
ISBN 0-07-297879-1.
You may purchase the books at the bookstore or use the ISBN to shop around for the best price if you prefer.
Web Site:
To enhance learning and communication the course will utilize a Blackboard online course. The web site will include content to help with study and review as well as communication tools to help with interaction with other students and myself. Click here for a help getting started on Blackboard.
I encourage you to visit the Blackboard site often to check for news and updates on the calendar. I will use the Calendar or Announcement feature to post information and news about the course. When you log in it will tell you whether there is any news. Additionally, the chat rooms and bulletin board features are excellent ways to collaborate on study or to share information.
Valuable Resources for Research and Writing:
Rosnow, R., & Rosnow, M, (2001), Writing Papers in Psychology, (5th Ed.), Wadsworth Publishers. (An excellent little guide to help you write papers and format them in APA style, a good library item.)
Thaiss, C., & Sanford, J. F., (2000), Writing for Psychology, Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. (Wonderful guide to writing and formatting)
I have put a copy of the books on reserve in the library You may check them out for library use. Give the librarian my name and the class name when asking for the books.
Here are a few excellent additional links of value to you for writing in this and other courses. Do check these out and bookmark:
PSYCHOLOGY WITH STYLE - A Hypertext Writing Guide by Plonsky, M. (2000)
KCI Reader-Based Writing Style Guide by KCI (2000)
A Research Guide for Students by Lee, I. (2000)
The Elements of Style by Strunk, W. (2000)
Research and Writing from the Internet Public Library (1997)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus Online
APA's web site for help with APA style
A Guide for Writing Papers from Capital Community College in Hartford, CT
A Tip Sheet for Psychology from Psychweb
For assistance and examples of how to create citations and bibliographies from Internet information and web pages you may read or print helpful guides from http://www.psychwww.com/resource/apacrib.htm.
Course Description:
Social Psychology will build on the scientific thinking and understanding of behavior that you learned in General Psychology or Sociology. Social Psychology will look and explore the scientific study of how people think about, influence and relate to one another. This course will look at these principles from the perspective of individual behavior and how behavior is affected by those around him or her. We will discuss topics such as self image, attitudes, prejudice, stereotypes, interpersonal attraction, group dynamics and influence. The course assumes you have already completed Psy100 or Soc100 or equivalent transfer credit.
Objectives of the course:
The objectives of this class include exploration of the field of social psychology and how it explains human behavior. Additionally, discussion and presentations centering on significant issues in social psychology will foster critical thinking about researching and explaining human behavior. Successful completion of the course will increase curiosity, understanding and skills related to:
An important objective of the course is that it is flexible enough to encourage student participation in the learning experience. Student feedback and participation throughout the course is encouraged.
Attendance is expected. If you are unable to make a class please notify me in advance or as soon as possible after. Since I value your attendance, good attendance will result in a mark up of the final grade. Good attendance is defined as less than five missed classes. Any anticipated absences should be discussed in advance so necessary make-up work can be discussed and/or other alternatives decided upon.
If you require an accommodation in the classroom or for testing please notify me as soon as possible to discuss the necessary steps to grant the needed accommodations. Information and help with accommodations is available from Ms. Myrna McGaffin, Director of Student Support Services in South Hall.
Papers, tests and other assignments are due as indicated on the course calendar or as stated in advance during class. Make ups will be made available for tests missed because of circumstances beyond the students control if the student notifies the instructor of his or her inability to take the exam or meet the deadline. Make up work is your responsibility. Notify me as soon as possible and prior to missing the assignment if you wish to discuss work to be made up.
Participation is encouraged and helpful in understanding new concepts. Your active involvement and shared comments are important. Please ask questions, volunteer, and feedback to either students or instructor is expected. If at any time you find you do not understand material in the lecture or text or have suggestions for improving the course please share it in whatever way you are comfortable.
Class Format:
The nature of the class will be primarily interactive lecture with computer presentations and additional visual aids. Group participation will be used in the form of student teams presenting a controversial issue in social psychology. Students will be asked questions and also asked for comments. Guest speakers and demonstrations will be used as indicated on the syllabus or when made available to us.
Class activities and discussions will relate to the reading. Not all material in the lecture will be found in the book as it is presented to help clarify or enhance the studied concepts. Conversely, I will not lecture on all material found in the assigned chapters. You are responsible for reading this material and for discussing any questions you have. It will be expected that you will be prepared for discussion.
You will find annotated lecture notes on Blackboard to help with study and to clarify missed material. If you need extra help please see me and we can work together to improve study. Please note that online notes are brief summary notes and do not include content from our discussions, student comments, class demonstrations or asked questions and there respective answers.
Evaluation:
Your grade in the class will depend on total points accumulated during the semester. You will accumulate points from the required examinations, assignments, attendance and from any optional extra credit options you choose. The final grade is based on the total points you have earned. Extra credit points earned will be added to your total before the letter grade is assigned.
Point Values for Required Tests/Assignments:
3 Examinations @ 100 points = 300
Taking sides presentation, paper and feedback =
100
_______________________________________________
Total maximum points = 400
Examinations will consist of questions of varied format. The final exam will not be comprehensive.
Taking Sides Presentation/Paper
Students will form dyads to develop an argument and presentation around one of the controversial issues in Taking Sides, Clashing Views on Contemporary Issues in Social Psychology, for presenting in class. Pro and con teams will be given an opportunity to present their point of view and evidence to support that view on the chosen issue. Class members will provide feedback, and ask question of the team position.
Students will deliver an oral presentation on their issue and will also submit a position paper to support their point of view. Teams may choose to use Power Point slides or other visual aids in support of their point of view. Teams are encouraged to do outside research in preparation for their presentation. The position paper should be written in APA format and should include both in-text citations and a list of references. Papers should be about 4 -6 pages and should clearly state the issue, the significance of the issue, the controversial nature of the issue and will provide evidence and a rationale to support the teams position on the issue. Papers will be typed and due within one week of the classroom presentation.
Extra Credit:
All points are added to your total points to determine the final grade. On occasion special events of educational value will be available locally and extra credit points will be offered for attendance or participation. These special event opportunities will be announced in class.
1.) Human Subjects Experience - 10 points
You may elect to participate as a research participant in any University Review Board approved research project sponsored by students, faculty or staff. Please document your participation and provide verification by providing the researcher's name and the title of the study. This may include completion of research surveys conducted by faculty, staff or students in which you completed the required informed consent form.
2.) Volunteer Experience - 10 points
You may elect to participate as a volunteer by donating your time and energy to a charitable or community organization. You must conclude one event or action, or volunteer the equivalent of at least one day of time. Provide the name of the organization, a summary of the purpose of the event,the name of the contact person coordinating the event and a brief reflection essay on the value of the experience for you.
3.) Visit my office - 6 points
Yep, bring this page to my office for my initials within the first two weeks of the semester and receive 6 (six) extra credit points. If you know where I am hopefully you will visit with questions, comments or concerns. You must present in person to receive these points. Besides, the rocking chairs provide a nice break from a hectic day. Notice you only have two weeks.
Final Grade
Will be determined according to the following scale:
| A =372-400 | A-=360-371 | B+=348-359 | B-=336-347 | B=320-335 | C+=308-319 |
| C=296-307 | C-=280-295 | D+=268-279 | D=256-267 | D-=240-267 | F=<240 |
Student Academic Integrity Policy:
It is expected that all student work is his or her own. Using work from another source is to be cited appropriately in writing using the APA style. Plagiarism is not acceptable in written assignments regardless of source or intent. Please see the university policy on academic integrity for a more thorough discussion of plagiarism.
From the university web page:
“Any student who directly/indirectly, overtly/covertly, or singly/collectively claims another's work as their own, aids others in doing so, or does other's work is guilty of plagiarism. Any student found to have plagiarized will be subject minimally to professor determined sanctions which can range from assignment failure, course failure or referral to the university conduct code for further actions. The full university policy is available at http://www.umpi.maine.edu/stulife/stacintp.htm”
Other Psychology Faculty Web Pages (UMPI):
Dr. Alice Sheppard -
http://www.umpi.maine.edu/~sheppard/index.htm
Dr. Allen Salo - http://www.umpi.maine.edu/~saloa/index.htm
Other Faculty Pages of Interest(UMPI):
Dr. Ken Petress (helpful essays
for students about success in college)- http://www.umpi.maine.edu/~petress/index.htm
To visit my Counseling Center web site with additional information and links:
Counseling Center - http://www.umpi.maine.edu/acad/counselling/index.html
