Course Requirements

There will be a total of 435 points possible in this course.  Assignments and point values are described below.  Letter grades will be determined in the following manner: A = 390 - 435; B = 346 - 389; C = 303 - 345; D = 259 - 302; F = 258 and under.  Please note that these grades are determined by points, not by percentages. 

There will be no extensions, make-ups, or rewrites permitted on assignments.  Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date.  E-mailed assignments will NOT be accepted.

Please use the contents of the syllabus as a guideline.  You are responsible for knowing any changes that are announced during class.  Please check website often as announcements may be posted there as well.

 Attendance     You will not be graded on attendance, but it is recommended that you come to class regularly in order to more fully understand the course material (and do well in the class).  Lectures will often provide background for and extend material covered in the textbook.  At other times, lectures will involve material beyond the scope of the textbook.  You are responsible for catching up on any missed information or assignments given during class time.  I will not give out my lecture notes, please find a classmate who can lend you notes if you must miss a class.      

Class Participation (25 points)   All students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss and apply the readings.  Periodically, in-class assignments will be given and collected.  These may include group projects, quizzes, and class discussion.  There are no make-ups, re-writes, or extensions accepted on these assignments.  If you are absent on a day that an in-class project was assigned you will lose the points.      

Reaction Papers (10 points each, 50 points total) In addition to the textbook readings, you will also be assigned readings from the supplemental reader, Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Adolescence.  It is likely that we will be using these readings as a springboard for discussion in class so it is important to read and think about them before coming to class.  To aid in this, I am asking that you write a 1-2 page (typed, double-spaced) reaction paper on five of these sets of readings.  I do not want a summary of the articles.  Instead, what I am looking for is critical thinking of the pieces. Since each set of readings is taking a side in an argument, you are to read both articles on the topic and come to a conclusion on the question posed.  Support your argument based on the empirical and methodological evidence and critique presented in the readings.   There will be eight sets of the readings assigned throughout the semester (see reading list for due dates) and you should read all eight of them for your own learning, participation in the class, and for exam preparation.  However, you only need to write a reaction paper on five of these topics. Please plan ahead as there will be no extension or make-up allowed on this assignment. You may earn extra credit for extra reaction papers you turn in (1 pt. per extra paper). See extra credit policy.