Reading Assignments, Participation, & Attendance (50 points): You are expected to participate actively in this honors seminar style class. In addition, you will get much more out of this class when you participate positively in class discussion and have gone over the material you have read before coming to class. Be prepared to read material more than once. Study guides will be accessible on the web page for the class. Note that text readings will complement material we cover in class. There is a lot of material to overview and not all text material assigned for tests will be covered in class. If you have questions, please ask. Read assignments before coming to class, so that as we discuss text and related material in class, it will make more sense to you.
Short reactions in class will be part of your participation score. These may be at the beginning or end of class and typically consist of 1-2 short questions based on recent material. There may also be assignments related to class discussion that you will bring to class, and present to others. If you are assigned a reaction/project to bring to class, it is due at the beginning of class (unless stated otherwise in class).
Also included as reactions will be your responses/questions/comments related to Taking Sides discussions.
Missed or late reactions are not scored and cannot be made up; the score is 0. I will drop at least two of your lowest scores.
Please note: if health or personal problems arise that necessitate your missing several classes, contact me prior to the missed class or as soon as possible afterwards. You are responsible for finding out from me or a classmate any assignments, announcements, instructions, etc., that were discussed in class.
Delve Deeper Papers (75 pts): You will have a three short project papers. The paper is always due at the test for that unit- at the beginning of the period. However, you are welcome and encouraged to turn it in earlier! Choose your topic to help you study for your test. Each paper is worth 25 points.
For the first one, you need to search the internet for a site related to one topic covered in the first test section of material. You will summarize, EVALUATE, and compare the information on the site to any text or class info. There is so much on the internet, and you want to know what information you can trust. I have a set of guidelines for evaluation that will be on the website. Length: 2-3 pages, double-spaced, TYPED.
For the second paper, you need to read an empirical scientific research article related to one topic in the second test section of material. You must pick an article published in the Journal of Sex Research, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Family Planning Perspectives, Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, or Evolutionary Psychology. You will summarize and evaluate the research article. If you find an article from another source, please just clear it with me first. Guidelines will be on the website.
Length: 2-3 pages, double-spaced, TYPED.
For the third project, you can either evaluate another empirical article or another internet site related to the last unit of material that you’ll be tested on.
Taking Sides (25 pts): We will cover several of the Taking Sides issues in class, and you will be responsible for leading discussion on one occasion (25 pts). As discussion leader, you will a) present the basics of the YES or NO side with another student(s), b) present info from at least 1 other reference source, c) provide an outline for the class, d) facilitate discussion, and e) turn in a typed reaction to leading the discussion. I will have a separate handout on this as we decide which topics to cover.
Extra credit reactions: There may be opportunities for extra credit reactions to campus or community events related to the topics in the class and an opportunity to review a film for the class will be discussed as we go through the semester. (Night at the Movies guidelines will be on the web after Spring Break.)
Tests: There will be two tests during the semester, and a test during exams. Material builds on each other (thus is cumulative), but the focus of each test will be on the "new" material since the last test. Test items will cover both classroom and text material. Tests will consist of short answer and objective items (true-false, multiple choice, fill-in, matching, labeling). In the event of an emergency (contact me before a scheduled test), make-up tests are essay in format.
Grading:
|
Test 1 |
100 points |
|
Test 2 |
100 points |
|
Test 3 |
100 points |
|
In class participation, reactions, & attendance |
50 points |
|
Taking Sides (1-2)** |
25 points |
|
Delve Deepers: 3 @ 25 points each |
75 points |
TOTAL 450 points possible. I use +/- with % ending in 7 or 8 as + and % ending in 9 or 0 as -.
**Code for Checks....on your questions for TS articles
check ++ = 10/10
check + = 9/10
check = 8/10
check - = 7/10