Prerequisites: PSY 201, Introduction to Psychology, and PSY 202, Understanding Human Development, or their equivalents.

Course Outcomes

Upon the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1.       Prepare various forms of professional writing with appropriate supporting data and logical consistency;

2.       Trace the development of arguments from its proposition to its conclusion and analyze them for their accuracy, logical cohesiveness, and consistency;

3.       Evaluate various sources for their use in professional writing and presentations;

4.       Apply the principles of critical thinking to professional writing;

Course Content

To achieve the course outcomes, you will learn these specific concepts and skills:

1.    Information literacy;

2.    Differentiate between inferences and facts;

3.    Identify various types of fallacies in reasoning;

4.    Find, critically evaluate and apply for their use in professional writing and presentations;

Course Assessments

While the instructor will provide detailed instructions on assignments, general guidelines are below.

Course Activities

Students are expected to participate in weekly discussions and activities.

Annotated Bibliography

Students are expected prepare an annotated bibliography of the sources that you have found relevant for writing your major paper for any psychology class that you are currently enrolled or will take in a future. Students will have to find at least five different sources relevant to the topic of your paper – including articles from the scholarly journals, books, and the Websites.

Movie review

Students are expected to write a five- to seven-page review of the movie that deals with social issues.

Literature review

Students are expected to conduct a literature review on the work of selected psychological theorist.

Reflection paper on a writing process

The reflection paper will describe student experiences and reflections on the paper-writing process. In this project students may use their paper that they prepared in the past or the paper that they are currently working on for any psychology class that they are currently enrolled or will take in a future. In the very beginning of this process they should prepare paper proposal and annotated bibliography. After they have their paper ready, they will submit its first draft to www.smarthinking.com and www.turnitin.com for the review and feedback that will help them edit final version of the paper. Finally, students will prepare four- to five-page long Reflection paper on a writing process that describes and summarizes major aspects of their development as a writer and what they have learned during this process, incorporating the themes and topics discussed in the course. In order to receive a grade for reflection paper on a writing process, students also need to submit proposal, annotated bibliography, reports from Smarthinking.com and Turnitn.com, and first and final drafts of the research paper.

Course Grading

The City University grading scheme, which is provided for guidance only, is found in the City University Catalog.

Additional Course Information

Your instructor will provide the following information in your individual BlackBoard course, accessed through the City University Portal three days prior to the start of the class:

·       Welcome letter;

·       Specific course policies regarding assignment submission, participation, late work, etc.;

·       Detailed evaluation and grading information;

·       Schedule of course activities and due dates;

·       Miscellaneous information.

Library

As a City University student, you have access to library resources regardless of where and how you are taking this class. To access the resources that are necessary to complete your coursework and assignments, visit the library menu in the My.CityU portal at http://my.cityu.edu. 

A good place to begin your research is through the program or course resource sections that provide links to relevant journals, books, and Web sites.  Search the library's online catalog to locate books and videos, and place requests to have items mailed to you (services vary by location).  Search the online databases for journal, magazine, and newspaper articles. Articles that are not available full text in the library's collection can be requested from other libraries and delivered to you electronically.

For additional help, submit your question via the Ask a Librarian e-mail service available through the portal or call 800.526.4269 (U.S. or Canada) or 425.709.3444.

Other City University Links:

Smart Thinking

Online tutoring, writing services, and homework help available 24/7 at http://www.smarthinking.com.

Scholastic Honesty

Students are responsible for understanding City University’s policy on Scholastic Honesty and are required to adhere to its standards in meeting all course requirements. Please click on the following link and find the section titled Scholastic Honesty under Student Rights & Responsibilities.

Disability Resources

If you are a student with a disability and you require an accommodation, please contact the Disability Resource Office at 1.800.426.5596 ext. 7620 as soon as possible. For additional information, please see the section titled Students with Special Needs under Student Rights & Responsibilities.