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Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course number: PSY 3331.501 www.turnitin.com
Course title: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Class ID: 2792708
Term: FALL 2009 Password: situation
Meeting times: Tuesdays, 7-9:45pm, GR 4.428
Course Description
This course presents an introduction to the field of social psychology. We will examine theory and research
as well as practical applications to social problems. In addition to learning how social psychologists do research, we
will learn about how we think about the social world, how we come to understand other people and ourselves, self-
justification and the need to maintain self-esteem, influencing thoughts and feelings, influencing behavior, influence
in social groups, interpersonal attraction, why people help, why people hurt other people, and causes and cures of
prejudice. Special attention will be paid to what social psychology can offer to the solving of social problems in
these areas and in the areas of health-related behavior and beliefs and the law.
This course is appropriate for students interested in psychology, the health professions, law, political science,
business, advertising, human services, education, communications, gender studies/women's studies, history, public
administration, and sociology—essentially, this course will be interesting to all who are or live among human
beings. Course requirements will include class attendance and participation, exams, and multiple writing
assignments. Satisfies the Core Curriculum Social and Behavioral Science requirement.
IMPORTANT: I want to help you do well in this class! To get the most benefit from your time in this class, read
the material to be discussed before we discuss it in class. You will find classes to be much more interesting and
involving if you come prepared to discuss each day's topic.
Notice that there may be times when you have more than one assignment due on a particular day. You will need to
plan ahead so that you do not fall behind.
"Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of the learners."
—John Holt
MY job is to support your learning activity.
TUESDAYS
AUG 25
Course overview; how to write the research summary
Ch. 1: Introduction to social psychology
SEP 1
Ch. 1: Introduction to social psychology (Journal entry for Chapter 1 accepted)
Ch. 2: Research methods (Journal entry for Chapter 2 accepted)
SEP 8
Ch. 3: Social cognition (Journal entry for Chapter 3 accepted)
Ch. 4: Social perception (Journal entry for Chapter 4 accepted)
SEP 15
EXAM 1 (Chs. 1-4)
Ch. 5: Self-knowledge
CPR Assignment 1 Text Entry Window closes; Calibration & Review Window opens TODAY
SEP 22
Ch. 5: Self-knowledge (Journal entry for Chapter 5 accepted)
Ch. 6: Self-justification (Journal entry for Chapter 6 accepted)
SEP 29
Ch. 6: Self-justification (continued)
Ch. 15: Social psychology and health (Journal entry for Chapter 15 accepted)
CPR Assignment 1 Calibration & Review Window closes TODAY; Results Available
Assignment 2 Text Entry Window opens TODAY
OCT 6
Ch. 7: Attitudes and attitude change (Journal entry for Chapter 7 accepted)
OCT 20
Ch. 8: Conformity and compliance (Journal entry for Chapter 8 accepted)
Ch. 9: Group processes (Journal entry for Chapter 9 accepted)
CPR Assignment 2 Text Entry Window closes; Calibration & Review Window opens TODAY
OCT 27
Ch. 9: Group processes (continued)
Ch. 16: Social psychology and the law (Journal entry for Chapter 16 accepted)
NOV 3
Ch. 13: Prejudice (Journal entry for Chapter 13 accepted)
CPR Assignment 2 Calibration & Review Window closes TODAY; Results Available
Assignment 3 Text Entry Window opens TODAY
NOV 10
EXAM 3 (Chs. 8, 9, 16, 13)
Ch. 12: Aggression
NOV 17
Ch. 12: Aggression (Journal entry for Chapter 12 accepted)
Ch. 11: Prosocial behavior (Journal entry for Chapter 11 accepted)
CPR Assignment 3 Text Entry Window closes; Calibration & Review Window opens TODAY
NOV 24
Ch. 10: Attraction, friendships, and relationships (Journal entry for Chapter 10 accepted)
DEC 1
EXAM 4 (Chs. 12, 11, 10)
Review exam
CPR Assignment 3 Calibration & Review Window closes TODAY; Results Available
I want to help you be successful in this course in every way I can BEFORE the end of the semester. After December
1, the course is over. At that point, I simply cannot just give you extra points or additional assignments.
Course grades will be ready Dec. 16.
Midterm grades will be calculated by dividing the total number of points earned by the total possible
points that could have been earned on Exams 1 and 2.
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.
Application Journal
1. You will have 15 opportunities to earn up to 30 points toward your final grade by submitting, in person and
on the day they are due, a personal experience journal or scrapbook entry corresponding to each of the
assigned readings. Each entry will demonstrate how some event from your personal experience can be
understood using a specific theory or concept from the chapter (bold-faced terms). BE SURE TO
UNDERLINE THE CONCEPT (e.g., informational social influence) IN YOUR PAPER THE FIRST TIME
IT APPEARS. You also may collect magazine articles and newspaper clippings that illustrate social
psychological concepts. For each scrapbook entry, write a paragraph explaining how the article illustrates a
specific theory or concept from the chapter. You need not limit yourself to articles—editorials,
advertisements, and even cartoons may be illustrative as well. Even the “Try It!” exercises and critical
thinking questions in the book can give you good ideas to get started. Important Note: Select a concept
relevant to a specific MAIN IDEA of the chapter. If you’re not sure what I mean, ask me (the term “social
psychology” is much too broad to be useful here, for example, as are “aggression” and “conformity,” but you
could select the more specific terms “instrumental aggression” or “minority influence”).
2. The goal of the journal is to provide you with an opportunity to elaborate on and apply ideas presented in the
reading. Give a real-life example of something that you read about, for example. In the process, you might
also share your reactions to the reading material, critically evaluate an issue, or relate a personal concern or
experience to course content. Journals will be graded on thoughtfulness and thoroughness, but not on the
specific views you express. About one-half to one full page, double-spaced, will be sufficient—please do
not write more than one page. You can receive 0-3 points per entry (0=incorrect or incomplete; 1=complete
but lacking depth or organization; 2=adequate; 3=complete, organized, and demonstrates insight/critical
thinking). The quality of your writing DOES COUNT. Please use correct grammar and punctuation, and a
clear, coherent writing style. You will lose points for failing to proof-read (and correct!) your work. A paper
with errors cannot earn more than 1 point.
3. Higher quality entries typically include critical thinking, which could incorporate any combination of the
following elements:
Identifying values, biases, and assumptions;
Analyzing arguments and counterarguments;
Analyzing the kinds and quality of evidence;
Critical thinking about research, critical writing and reading;
Drawing conclusions.
4. Each entry must be typed. You may include articles, clippings, or cartoons, but they should be photocopied
or mounted onto an 8½x11” sheet of paper, with appropriate (informal) indication of the source.
Handwritten entries will receive zero credit (part of the assignment is that you must plan ahead and type
your entry in advance). Late (or early) entries, whether submitted in person or via e-mail, will receive NO
credit (please don’t try to e-mail me attached files—I can’t download them). This is true for all late (or early)
entries, regardless of the excellence of the reason why they were late (or early). This is why you only have to
Note: Dropping off your paper at the beginning or end of class, but not staying for a full class period, also will
receive zero credit. If you are late on the day that papers are accepted, your paper cannot be accepted for that
day. To receive full credit for this assignment, you need to arrive for class prepared and on time—i.e, seated
when I ask for journals to be turned in.
6. I understand that sometimes, things happen that you cannot possibly predict or control. Because of this
reality, you may skip up to five journal entries before your grade is affected.
7. Journal entries cannot be accepted if they are late, early, longer than one page, single-spaced, handwritten,
typed in very large or very small font (use 12-point Times Roman or equivalent font), or in any way difficult
to read.
8. You may submit as many journal entries as you wish until you have your full 30 points.
I will give you the contact information for the TAs in class—please write it down and keep it safe! You also can
email the TAs using eLearning.
Remember: You will need to complete two Research Exposure Credits for each core course
in which you are enrolled this semester.
It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades, so that you know where you stand at all times. Feel free to
verify your grades with the TA or with me, at my office (not in class), any time until the last exam. I can help you
more effectively if you check your grades in eLearning first, then come see me for any verification or clarification
(or anything else).
Journal grades:
Ch. 1 ____ Ch. 5 ____ Ch. 8 ____ Ch. 12 ____
Ch. 2 ____ Ch. 6 ____ Ch. 9 ____ Ch. 11 ____
Ch. 3 ____ Ch. 15 ____ Ch. 16 ____ Ch. 10 ____
Ch. 4 ____ Ch. 7 ____ Ch. 13 ____
Accuracy in assigning and recording grades is of utmost importance. I encourage you to keep
track of your grades and let me know when you would like for me to check over the grading of
any exams or assignments within THREE WEEKS of when the grade was assigned. It
becomes much more difficult to verify your grades as time goes on, so please do not wait until
the semester is over.