Evaluation Methods:
Your grade in this course will be based on your performance on 3 exams, 2 discussion boards, 13 homework assignments, research participation, and a research paper.
1. Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three exams (worth 100 points each) to evaluate your knowledge of the material being covered. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice and matching questions based on the course readings, lectures, and assignments. Every exam for this class will be online at the testing center. These will be closed book/closed notes exams. Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed. It is up to my discretion to approve all makeup exams and I reserve the right to deny a makeup exam request for any reason. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you do not miss any exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score. (See #6 below for more information.)
2. Homework Assignments: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete 13 homework assignments. All homework assignments will be posted to canvas at least one week before the due date. All homework assignments must be completed on your own. Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50% point deduction. For example, if you turn something in one day late you will receive 10% off your grade for that assignment. If you turn something in 5 days late or 50 days late you would receive a 50% deduction from your grade on that assignment. All late homework is due by December 11th at midnight. Any assignments turned in after this will not be graded. Assignments cannot be turned in again once they have received a grade.
3. Discussion boards: There will be 2 discussion boards in this class due the week before exam 1 and 2; (see schedule below for specific dates). You will be required to post on a class discussion board describing a psychological concept on your study guide and reply to at least one classmate. No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.
4. Research Participation: Given that the topics we will be covering in psychology often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected firsthand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in research occurring here in our department by signing up for studies through the online research system called SONA. A total of six credits will be required for this class. More information on how to register for SONA will be posted to canvas in the next few weeks. All research participation must be completed by Friday December 11th at midnight. No late research participation will be accepted. It is your responsibility to make sure you are checking SONA early and often to receive full credit. Waiting until the last week to contact SONA with any issues or to try and earn your credit may result in you not being able to receive full (or any) credit for this assignment.
5. Research Paper: You will be required to write a 2-3 page paper reflecting on the research studies you participated in and what you gained from this experience. You will find more information about this paper on canvas at the end of the semester. This paper will be due by December 11th at midnight.. No late research papers will be accepted.
6. Optional Final Exam: The final exam for this class will be optional. If you choose to take the final, it will replace your lowest exam score. If you do not do better on the final than your previous three exams, you will not be penalized. This will be a 50-question, multiple choice, cumulative exam. There will be no makeup optional final exams offered under any circumstances.
Note: ALL assignments must be turned in by December 11th