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PSY 234 Syllabus, Spring Semester, 2008
Great Basin College - Nevada
Course Syllabus
PSY 234: Psychology of Adolescence
Section E01
Spring Semester, 2008
(3 Credits)
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Marie Laxalt
Office Location: Elko Campus, McMullen Hall, Room #120
Phone: (775) 753-2340
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Email Address:
Location of Class & Time: McMullen Hall, Room #221 (Live format)
7:00 – 9:45 p.m.
Class Length: Thursday, January 24th through Thursday, May 15th
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Catalog Description: This course examines the psychological development during adolescence with emphasis on special problems in American society including drug abuse, pregnancy, and familial problems.
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Required Texts
Hersch, Patricia, A Tribe Apart; A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence,
Random House Publishing, New York, N.Y., 1998.
(ISBN# 0-345-43594-X)
Rice, F. Philip & Dolgin, Kim Gale, The Adolescent: Development, Relationships,
and Culture, 12th Edition, Allyn & Bacon, Boston, MA, 2008.
(ISBN# 0-205-53074-5)
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Course Design
Methods of Instruction: Instructional formats will include: lecture, small group activities, and student presentations.
Course Emphases: This course has been designed across three primary learning focuses.
#1. Students will be actively engaged in developing an in-depth knowledge base across the entire realm of Adolescent Psychology.
#2. Students will be actively engaged in examining the real world experience of the
American adolescent (as seen through the eyes of a renown journalist) as well as through modern elements of culture (i.e. media, music, etc.).
#3. Students will be actively engaged in the studying an actual adolescent by
conducting a PEPSI evaluation on a local adolescent.
Miscellaneous Classroom Policies & Procedures:
Ø Respect each person, treat each other with dignity, and encourage one another to actively participate.
Ø Active listening is essential – please listen while others are speaking.
Ø Come prepared with a positive & energetic attitude (no whining allowed!).
Ø Be on time to all classes & attend the entire class session.
Ø Participate appropriately. Activities or interruptions such as side conversations, working on other class assignments during class, sleeping, or demonstrating any other distracting activities are unacceptable.
Ø Please communicate with the professor as soon as possible if you are having specific problems or concerns with the class.
Ø All cell phones must be turned off before entering the classroom.
Ø No text-messaging is allowed during class.
Ø No late assignments will be accepted (unless extenuating & documented circumstances occur). (This is a formal policy of the English Department here at GBC).
Attendance Policy: Research tells us that learning becomes greatly improved when
students attend class. Therefore consistent and punctual attendance will be a requirement of this class. Any special/ “excused” absence will require documentation. Depending on the severity of the situation these may also count toward your total absence “count”. Per the GBC attendance policy students may miss 1 class (that meets on a weekly basis). Should you miss more than 1 class you must meet with me to discuss your options. Withdrawal from the course might be an appropriate choice. The most important thing to remember is to communicate with me regarding any absences! Attendance will be taken in class.
Absence Grid
Total Number of Formal Class Sessions = 15
Minus 1 “Freebie” ______- 1
Total days required = 14
1 additional absence = 1 drop in grade
2 additional absences = 2 drops in grade
More than 3 additional absences = automatic failure of class
PSY 234 ~ Course Outcomes and Assessments/Measurements
Learner OutcomesThrough the process of and upon completion of this course the student will be able to: / Assessments/Measurements
The instructor will measure the student’s required outcomes by evaluating the:
#1. Demonstrate knowledge of the primary approaches to studying adolescence & how this age group fits into the present social context of our times. / Quizzes
Classroom discussions/activities
Book club
#2. Demonstrate knowledge of the major theories of development & learning and how these theories apply to the educational process. / Quizzes
Classroom discussions/activities
Book club
#3. Recognize the unique impacts of diversity issues & socioeconomic issues on the adolescents. / Quizzes
Film Review
PEPSI Evaluation process
Book club
#4. Comprehend the many sexual maturation issues & physical growth issues that occur during adolescence. / Quizzes
Classroom discussions/activities
Book club
#5. Recognize a variety of health-related issues impacting the adolescent (such as body image issues, weight issues, & eating disorders). / Quizzes
Classroom discussion/activities
Film review or Research Project
#6. Demonstrate an understanding of the major cognitive development processes that occur during adolescence. / Quizzes
Classroom discussion/activities
Book Club
#7. Evaluate the development of self-concept, self-esteem, & gender identity during adolescence. / Quizzes & Book club
Classroom discussion/activities
Film review & PEPSI
#8. Acquire a sound knowledge base of the sexual value & sexual behavioral issues that occur during adolescence. / Quizzes & Book club
Classroom discussion/activities
Film review
#9. Examine the impacts of parenting models & parent-adolescent tension on the development of the adolescent. / Quizzes
Classroom discussion/activities
Book club
#10. Compare & contrast the many familial patterns that adolescents are being raised in & how each impacts the adolescent. / Quizzes
Classroom discussion/activities
Final Research Project
#11. Demonstrate knowledge of the social development processes that occur during adolescence. / Quizzes & Book club
Classroom discussion/activities
PEPSI
#12. Examine the cultural role that an adolescent plays in his/her subculture & the majority culture in which he/she resides. / Quizzes
Classroom discussion/activities
Film review
#13. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of moral development that an adolescent experiences. / Quizzes & Book Club
Classroom discussion/activities
PEPSI
#14. Examine the educational & workplace impacts on the adolescence. / Quizzes & Book club
Classroom discussion/activities
#15. Recognize the indicators of adolescent alienation, substance abuse, addiction, etc. / Final Research Project
PEPSI
Great Basin College Official Statements:
I. Disability Access:
“Great Basin College supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at (775) 753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.”
II. Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic dishonesty is defined as “an act of deception in which a student claims
credit for the work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or
fabricated information in any academic work.” Academic dishonesty is a violation of the GBC Student Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated in this class. Any evidence of academic dishonesty/plagiarism in this course will result in a failing grade on the assignment and/or a failing grade for the course. Appropriate institutional consequences
will also be employed if necessary such as academic probation or suspension. This is a very critical offense. If you are ever uncertain about your use of another person’s work (ideas, language, data, etc.) you must come to see me about it.
Acts of “Academic Dishonesty” include, but are not limited to the following:
CHEATING – unauthorized copying or collaborating on a test or assignment, or the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials.
TAMPERING – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and/or documents.
FABRICATION – falsifying experimental data or results, inventing research or laboratory data on results for work not done, or falsely claiming sources not used.
PLAGIARISM – “Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own. When a student submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references; and if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or speaking, the students will acknowledge the source whenever:
v Another person’s actual words are quoted.
v Another person’s idea, opinion or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own words.
v Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge.
Assignments & Point Grid
Assignment Points Earned/Points Possible
#1. Class Participation/ In-Class Activities
NOTE: These points can not be made up for any absence.
(15 @ 10 points each) ______/150 points
#2. Written Responses for Book Club (15 @10 points each) ______/150 points
Completion of Reading Journal on Adolescence
#3. Film Review Paper (3 pages) ______/100 points
#4. Four Quizzes (all different formats) on Primary Text ______/400 points
4@100 points each
#5. PEPSI Report on an actual adolescent ______100 points
#6. Final Research Project: “Can you see me?”
Understanding adolescents at risk. ______/100 points
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TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: ______/1000 POINTS
PSY 234
Grading Scale:
Percentage Letter Grade
94-100% A
90-93% A-
87-89% B+
83-86% B
80-82% B-
77-79% C+
73-76% C
70-72% C-
67-69% D+
63-66% D
60-62% D-
<60% or less F
*The student will receive a W grade if he/she withdraws before the withdrawal deadline (procedure noted below).
**There will be no curve used to calculate the grades in this class.
***There is no such thing as “extra credit” in this class.
****Don’t forget absence policy when determining final grade.
Withdrawal Procedure: Should you decide to withdraw from this class, it will be your responsibility to fill out the appropriate forms, etc. by the 13th week of the semester in order to make this happen. These forms can be obtained at Student Services (753-2184).
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PSY 234 Syllabus, Spring Semester, 2008
Great Basin College - Nevada
PSY 234: PSYCHOLOGY OF ADOLESCENCE ~ Instructor: Dr. Kevin Marie Laxalt - Spring Semester, 2008
~TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF COURSE READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS~
Week/Date(each class is held on Thursday evenings) / Textbook Reading Assignments:
Skill Work
Rice & Dolgin
The Adolescent / Book Club Assignments
Hersch Text:
A Tribe Apart
(Reader Responses due
every week) / Other Assignments
Week #1:
January 24th / Review of Syllabus, Introductions, Inventories
Week #2:
January 31st / Chapters 1:
Adolescents in Social Context
Chapter 2:
Theoretical Constructs / Intro., Chapters 1 & 2
Week #3:
February 7th / Chapter 3:
Adolescent Diversity: Socioeconomic Status and Ethnicity / Chapters 3 & 4 / Film Review Due
Week #4:
February 14th / Chapter 4:
Body Issues: Sexual Maturation & Physical Growth
Chapter 5:
Body Issues: Health-Related Behaviors & Attitudes / Chapters 5 & 6 / Quiz #1
Week/Date / Reading Assignments:
Rice & Dolgin / Analysis of Writing Assignments:
Hersch Book / Other Assignments
Week #5:
February 21st / Chapter 6:
Traditional Approaches to Cognitive Develpt.
Chapter 7:
New Approaches to Cognitive Develpt. / Chapters 7 & 8
Week #6:
February 28th / Chapter 8:
Self-Concept, Identity, Ethnicity, & Gender / Chapters 9 & 10
Week #7:
March 6th / Chapter 9:
Sexual Values & Behavior / Chapters 11 & 12
Week #8
March 13th / Chapter 10:
Adolescents & Their Families / Chapters 13 & 14 / Quiz #2
Week #9
March 20th / Chapter 11:
Divorced, Parent-Absent, and Blended Families / Chapters 15 & 16
March 25-29th
SPRING BREAK / *********************** / ******************************* / ****************************************
Week/Date / Reading Assignments:
Rice & Dolgin / Analysis of Writing Assignments:
Hersch Book / Other Assignments
Week #10
April 3rd / Chapter 12:
Social Develpt.:
Friendship & Romance / Chapters 17 & 18 / PEPSI Reports Due
Week #11
April 10th / Chapter 13:
Adolescent Society, Culture & Subculture / Chapters 19 & 20
Week #12
April 17th /
Chapter 14:
The Development of Moral Values / Chapters 21 & 22 / Quiz #3
Week #13
April 24th / Chapters 15 & 16:
Education & the Workplace
Week #14
May 8th / Chapters 17 & 18:
Adolescent Alienation, Substance Abuse, & Addictions / FINAL RESEARCH PROJECTS/SHOWCASE
Week #15
May 15th
FINALS WEEK / Quiz #4