PSYCHOLOGY 300- HONORS
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Instructor: Jennifer Merrill
Office: 1122. Office hours held MWF 9: 00 -10:00 a.m. and T
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Phone: (650) 738-4379
E-Mail: merrill@smccd.edu
Web site: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/merrill/index.html
COURSE INFORMATION:
Dept. number and section:
Psychology 300 AH, 91225
Hours: 3 hours lecture per week
Grading Method: Letter grade
Prerequisites: Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL
836.
Transfer and GE: Transfer credit UC; CSU (D3)
Required Text: Myers, D. (2002). Social Psychology (9th
Edition)
Gladwell, M. (2005). Blink:
The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.
Note: PSYC 300AH is part of the How You are Shaped by Society AND How Society
is Shaped by You Honors Learning Community with ENGL 100 AH. Students are
encouraged to enroll in both PSYC 300 AH and ENGL 100 AH (CRN 83877) to
maximize their learning experience and to receive Honors credit in both
courses.
Upon
successful completion of this class:
Students
taking Honors level courses should expect to be challenged. In an Honors course
you should expect:
-
the
course to be conceptually rigorous
-
to
prepare written and oral presentations of your work
-
the
instructor to act as a facilitator, with the student being primarily
responsible for learning
GRADING
Final
grades will be based on a percentage of total points. Student grades will be
based on the following:
EXAMS - a total of 170 points possible
Your first
two exams will consist of 40 multiple choice items, each question worth one
point and one short answer question worth 10 points. Your final exam will consist of 70 multiple
choice items, each worth one point, and is cumulative. For each exam you will need a Scantron 886 and a number 2 pencil. Make-up policy: Make-up exams consist of 5 short
answer/essay questions. Make-up exams will be given directly after your final
examination. Cheating policy:
Students caught cheating during any quiz will be subject to "Consequences
of Academic Dishonesty" as outlined in the Student Handbook. Please refer
to the Student Handbook for more information. Electronic
translation devices are not permitted. You may use hard copy translators, which
must be presented for inspection before each exam.
MOVIE
PAPER: 50
points possible
Films often illustrate social psychological concepts. Please
view the original 1957 version of the film 12 Angry Men. Your assignment
is to explain how various theories and research findings are illustrated in
this film. Your paper must be typed, double-spaced and must be a minimum of
three pages, maximum of five pages. This assignment will be available to print from the bulletin board page
of my web site and will be discussed more completely in the early weeks of
class.
GROUP PROJECT/ORAL
PRESENTATION –
50 points possible
Each group will decide on a current event that interests it.
Each group member will then apply a social psychological concept to that specific
issue. Assignment guidelines will follow, but please be aware that each group
member must submit a two to three page, typed, double-spaced paper (worth 30 points). Each group
member will then share their information with the rest of the class in a
presentation (worth 20 points). This assignment will be available to print from
the bulletin board page of my web site and will be discussed more completely in
the early weeks of class.
“BLINK” ASSIGNMENTS – 100 total points
possible
I have prepared questions for
specific chapters of “Blink.” After breaking into groups, each group member
will choose ONE question to answer for each chapter. Your answer to each
question should not exceed one page and must be typed, double-spaced. You will
then share your information with the rest of your group. These questions will
be available on the bulletin board of my web site. Due dates will be given at
the time of the assignment. Each chapter’s assignment is worth 20 points.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Throughout the semester I will be assigning material to be completed
outside of class. Due dates and points will be given at the time of the
assignment. These
assignments will be due at the beginning of class. After that time, and
for each day they are late, I will deduct 10%. For example, if an assignment is
due Monday and you turn it in Monday after class, 10% is deducted. If you turn
it in Tuesday, 20% will be deducted, Wednesday, 30%, etc. If things are due
Friday and you turn it in Monday, 30% will be deducted.
EXTRA CREDIT – 10 points possible
There are many ways to earn extra credit in this class. You
may attend workshops, campus sponsored events, read articles on reserve it the
library, or apply concepts learned in class to things presented in the media.
You may earn two points for each extra credit submission, and may earn no more
than a total of 10 extra credit points. Points earned will be added to points
already earned. EXTRA CREDIT MUST BE
COMPLETED BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008. Please see the Bulletin Board of
my web site for more specific information about extra credit opportunities.
*FINAL GRADE SCALE
Final
grades are based on a percentage of points earned. Please keep all graded work
until the end of the semester. Ninety percent of points earned is an A, 80% is a B, 70% is a C, 60 % is a D and 59% and
below is an F. You can keep track of your grade at all times by recording your
scores below. Also, please feel free to check your grade at any time during my
office hours.
Exam #1
_____/50
Exam #2
_____/50
Movie Paper
_____/50
Group Paper
_____/30
Oral
Presentation _____/20
Blink Intro _____/20
Blink Chpt 1
_____/20
Blink Chpt 2
_____/20
Blink Chpt 5
_____/20
Blink Chpt 6
_____/20
Homework
_____/_____
Homework
_____/_____
Homework
_____/_____
Homework
_____/_____
Final Exam
_____/70
Extra
Credit _____
*Points and
number of assignments are subject to change.
BASIC
INFORMATION
1. I will
shut the classroom door after taking roll. If the door is closed PLEASE DO NOT COME IN. Please contact a
classmate to get notes/assignments missed.
2. As
stated above, assignments are due at the BEGINNING
of class. If you are ill, have a work obligation or some other emergency, you
may e-mail your paper to me. It MUST be received during the class time when it
is due. After the beginning of class, and for each day it is late, I will
deduct 10%.
3. If
you are late to any exam you will be asked to take a make-up exam at the end of
the semester.
4. If you choose to withdraw you must do so via WebSmart.
5.
Attendance will be taken daily. Students missing more than five classes (T/Th class) or seven classes (MWF class) may be dropped by
the instructor.
6.
Please turn off all pagers and cell phones before class begins. In case of emergency - and only in these cases - the cell phone
may be placed in silent mode. At no times are cell phones to be answered or
used in class for any purposes.
7.
All submitted work must be typed (double-spaced) and stapled.
STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a disability and require accommodations,
please advise me during the first week of class. To be provided with the
appropriate accommodations, you will need to obtain a signed form from the
Disabled Students Programs and Services (650-738-4280).
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY
Academic
dishonesty is a grave mistake and one that I do not take lightly. It includes
cheating and plagiarism and should I find you doing either I will adhere to the
consequences as outlined in the Student Handbook. I strongly suggest you refer
to the Student Handbook for more information.
Below is
the assigned reading schedule. Specific due dates for homework and “Blink”
assignments will be announced in class, then posted on
the bulletin board of my web site.
8/18 – 9/19
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Social Psychology,
Introduction to Blink
Chapter
2 - The Self in a Social World, Blink chapter 1
Chapter
3 - Social Beliefs and Judgments, Blink chapter 2
9/22 EXAM #1
9/24 –
10/29 Chapter
6 - Conformity
Chapter 7 - Persuasion Blink chapter 5
Chapter
8 - Group Influence, Blink chapter 6
10/31 EXAM #2
11/3 – 12/8 Chapter
10 – Agression: Hurting Others
Chapter
11 - Attraction and Intimacy
MOVIE PAPER DUE
NOVEMBER 14
GROUP PROJECT PAPERS
DUE DECEMBER 1
ALL EXTRA CREDIT DUE
DECEMBER 5
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
BEGIN DECEMBER 8
FINAL EXAM TO BE HELD MONDAY,
DECEMBER 15, 2008,
11:10 - 1:40 P.M.
*Dates, contents and point
values stated on the syllabus are subject to change.