ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY – SUMMER, 2005
THEORIES OF PERSONALITY - PSY
2210 - Miguel Roig, Ph.D.
Homepage: http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm Phone: 718-390-4513
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday 9:30 am to
10:30 pm, DaSilva Hall, Room 338.
REQUIRED TEXT: Burger, J. M. (2004). Personality.
Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES: This course
will provide you with a critical overview of the theories and associated
research related to the study of personality.
We will explore the important figures in the field, their respective
theories and relevant research. A major emphasis of the course will be on your
assimilation of the material covered in class and the hope that the knowledge
obtained will improve your understanding of your own personality and behavior,
as well as the personality and behavior of those with whom we share our lives.
CLASS EXAMINATIONS (15% for
each of 5 exams for a total of 75%): There will be 5 examinations and each exam will be
given during the second hour of the class held on Thursdays. All exams will
consist of a combination of short answer, definitions, true/false, and
multiple-choice items and will cover material readings and course lectures from
that week. If you miss an exam for
whatever reason, you may make it up on the last day of classes. Only 2 make-up exams will be allowed. Most lecture material and all exam questions
will be derived from the textbook readings.
However, certain sections of textbook material will not be covered in
class lectures. Please note that if, for whatever reason, you fail to take one
of the exams at the end of the semester that exam will be counted as a 0 in the
computation of your final grade and you will likely fail the class. I do not drop the lowest grade, thus you
must take all 5 examinations. For
practices exams go here
SHORT
ESSAY (25%): There will be a 5 to 8 page, typed,
double-spaced, essay due on the last day of class. The essay will consist of a
formal review and evaluation of a personality test. Pick a personality test,
such as one of several mentioned in the textbook and write a brief review of
the test. Your review should be based on scholarly sources, such as entries in
Buro’s Mental Measurement Yearbook or journal articles. The essay should be
structured as follows: Description of the test, theoretical basis, empirical
studies (i.e., validity and reliability), conclusions/recommendations. For
other specific instructions for handing in this paper, point your browser HERE. Please note that you may NOT use direct
quotes from the sources you consult. That is, your paper must consist of
information that has been summarized and paraphrased from scholarly sources. In
addition, you are NOT to use Internet sources for your paper other than those
identified through professional data bases such as Psychinfo or ScienceDirect
for downloading scholarly papers. For each deviation of the above
requirements a half of a grade will be automatically deducted from the final
grade you would normally get on the paper.
For some guidelines to how I grade papers, go HERE.
DISSEMINATION
OF GRADES: The professor
will retain all exam papers and answer sheets.
As soon as the exams are graded, grades will be posted on the web at
this LINK. Your grade will be listed according to a 4
digit letter-number combination that you will supply to me via e-mail at the
beginning of the semester. Any student
who may be uncomfortable with this grade dissemination procedure should see me
privately to arrange another means of receiving grades. Please keep in mind
that my policy is NOT to give grades over the phone or via e-mail under
any circumstances.
EXAM REVIEW PROCEDURE: If
you wish to review the exam you are to make an appointment with me and I will
give you access to the exam for as long as it is necessary. I will generally be available every day
before and after class and I encourage all of you to come to the office at some
point and review your exams. If you want to double check an answer, or find the
correct answer to a question that was marked wrong, bring your textbook to the
office and look up the answer there. I
will be happy to explain a particular answer if you are not clear about it, but
only after you have searched for the answer in the textbook.
E-MAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT- As a St. John’s University student, you are automatically given an
e-mail address. For example, if your
name is Juan Gonzales and you entered St. John’s in 2003, your e-mail address
would be juan.gonzales03@stjohns.edu. To use your e-mail address you need to go to
St. John’s Central. I will be using your St. John’s U. e-mail
address to communicate course relevant information. Because potentially important information about the course will
be distributed via e-mail, you are required to check your St. John’s University
e-mail on a daily basis. For ALL e-mail
correspondence with me, you must indicate your full name and course number and
section (e.g., 10:00am to 11:00am) in your signature. Also, please avoid using cyberlingo (e.g., “dat’s for u 2 know”
which translates to “that’s for you to
know”) as I do not acknowledge nor respond to messages using such language or
messages without an identifying signature.
Use proper English and follow correct grammatical practices and
spelling.
ATTENDANCE: While class attendance and punctuality are
expected, you are free to decide whether to come to class or not. With that freedom, however, comes
responsibility. You are responsible for
controlling your own behavior and with managing its consequences. I will hold you accountable for all material
covered in class as sometimes we will cover material that is not emphasized in
the textbook or that needs elaboration. I do not repeat lectures and I do not
answer questions like “Did we cover anything important?” Although class
participation is not going to be formally graded, it is strongly
encouraged. Please note, however, that
class participation constitutes asking a question or making a comment when the
student raises his or her hand and the instructor calls on the student. No other interaction between students will
be tolerated. Keep in mind that I will
exercise my right to dismiss from class any student who talks to other
classmates while I am lecturing or who, in my opinion, is otherwise
disruptive. If you want to ask a
question or make a comment in class, raise your hand before speaking. Also, please note that during class
participation, the words "prove", "proven", "sort
of", "like a" and "society" (the latter should not be
used as an explanatory psychological construct) should be avoided.
GRADING SYSTEM AND FINAL
GRADE RANGE:
The average of all multiple-choice exams and paper will constitute your final
grade. It is strongly recommended that
students monitor their grades during the semester. The following may be used as a guideline in computing the final
grade.
00.00 - 56.99
----- F 57.00 - 65.99 ------ D 66.00 - 69.99 ------ D+
70.00 - 72.99 ----- C- 73.00
- 76.99 ------ C 77.00
- 79.99 ------ C+
80.00 - 82.99 ----- B- 83.00
- 86.99 ------ B 87.00
- 89.99 ------ B+
GENERAL CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: It is expected that
students conduct themselves as respectful adults and in accordance with
university tradition: to remain silent and attentive while I am lecturing or
while a fellow student is asking a question; to clean up your area if you have
littered it, etc. No smoking, food, or
beverages are allowed in class. Please
note that I am particularly sensitive about class disruptions, such as students
talking to each other while I am lecturing or engaging in other academic work
not related to the class. Such behavior
will not be tolerated as I consider it to be rude and disrespectful not only to
me but also to your classmates.
CELL
PHONE USE AND LAPTOP POLICY: I consider any use of cell
phones during class to be highly distracting and disrespectful. Thus, the use of cell phones is not
permitted during class time for any purpose and they are to be kept turned off
and out of view inside pocketbooks, knapsacks, etc. Any student whose phone rings during class is hereby asked to
leave the class (no need to wait for me to ask you to leave). For the second offense, the matter will be
forwarded to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. With respect to laptops, you are welcome to
use your laptop in this class, but only for class-related purposes (e.g.,
note-taking). No other use of the
laptop (e.g., instant messaging, internet surfing) is allowed. Violation of this policy will result in
penalties, such as those given for inappropriate cell phone use.
WARNING: IN THE EVENT THAT AN INCIDENT OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY COMES TO LIGHT AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE COURSE, THE ABOVE RULES WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY AND, IF WARRANTED, THE COURSE GRADE WILL BE RETROACTIVELY ADJUSTED.
If you have any questions about the course, consult your course outline first, particularly the online version. If you need further clarification then see me. You should always bring the course outline to class (you should staple it to your notebook) and refer to it from time to time to remind you of deadlines, policies, etc. If lose your course outline, however, you can always download one from my home page.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sign
and return to the professor by the first Monday of the semester. Note: You may not be given credit for this
course unless I have this portion of the syllabus in my possession (Cut with
scissors along the dotted line; ripped stubs are not acceptable). CHANGES: I reserve the right to change or
add to assignments and make changes to this course outline, for good reason and
with adequate notice.
I
_____________________________________ have received a copy of the course
outline for Introductory to Psychology (PSY 2210). I have read the course outline and the expanded on-line version
at http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm. I have been given an opportunity to discuss
and ask questions about the content of these documents and understand and agree
to the requirements of this course.
Student’s
signature: _______________________________
Date: _________ Student No.: ____________
Parent
or guardian’s signature (if student is not 18 years old): ________________________Date: ___________