HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE- WEST LOOP CAMPUS
FALL 2010
________________________________________________________________
Gracie A. Roberts, M.A.
Psychology 2314- Human Growth and Development Lifespan
CRN: 50316 8-WK TTH 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Link to syllabus and objectives: http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/courses/social-behavioralsciences/psychology/sample-model-coursesyllabi/MODEL%20SYLLABUS%20PSYC%202314.doc/view
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: (713) 517-6958
E-mail address: gracie.roberts@hccs.edu
TEXTBOOKS
The textbook is required for this course.
Berger, K. (2008). The Developing Person Through the Life Span (7th ed.). New York: Worth
Publishers.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A developmental psychology course designed to provide an understanding of human behavior and
characteristics from conception through death. This course includes information on physical,
cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout the lifespan. Theory, research, and applications
are covered.
GRADES
Grades will be based upon a point system where you are able to obtain a maximum of 300 points
as follows:
11 Quizzes (Quizzes 1-10, 15 pts; Quiz 11, 10 pts)—150 pts.
1 Observation activity—50 pts.
Project and Paper—100 pts.
You will have the option of dropping the lowest quiz grade for a final total of 10 quizzes.
Final grade will be converted into letter grades as follows:
300 – 270 pts. = A
269 – 240 pts. = B
239 – 210 pts. = C
209 – 180 pts. = D
179 pts. & below = F
Quiz 1
Quiz 5
Quiz 9
Observation 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 6
Quiz 10
Quiz 3
Quiz 7
Quiz 11
Project and Paper
Quiz 4
Quiz 8
QUIZZES
For each section listed on the class schedule there will be a quiz. The quizzes will cover only the
section covered the previous week and will be approximately 10-15 questions. Each question will
require a short answer, rarely more than 2 sentences. For example, we will cover theories the first
two weeks. At the beginning of the next week, you will have a quiz only over theories. The
quizzes will come from the outlines for the section. Anything on the outline should be expected to
be on the quiz, so be sure to take very good notes!
MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON TIME FOR ALL QUIZZES.
***Make-up exams: There are no make-up exams. You will be allowed to drop the lowest
quiz grade in place of a make-up exam.
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY
You will be given 1 observation activity during the semester. For the activity, you will be required to
take notes to write a paper on your observation. In the paper, you must state the age-appropriate
concepts that you observed, including a description of what you observed. The paper must be 1-2
pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and with 1-inch margins. You will also need a
title page with your name, date, and class day and time.
NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!
PROJECT/PRESENTATION AND PAPER
For this course, you will be required to complete a project and paper. Each person will be given a
section from the schedule to write about. You are to identify a problem/dilemma that occurs for
each section. For example, if you have to cover Infants and Toddlerhood (1st 2 years), you have to
identify a dilemma or problem that affects infants and toddlers. The dilemma must be clearly
stated in the paper and the presentation.
You will also need to find 2 research articles stating a solution to the problem. These articles must
be obtained from a peer-reviewed source from the campus library. You will need to turn in the
articles along with a citation for each article. You must formulate your own solution to the problem.
You can’t simply reiterate what the research states if you agree with the solution. You must have
an original solution, possibly expounding on the current research.
Lastly, you must defend your solution. Why is your solution better than what has already been
done?
Requirements for paper and presentation:
--2-3 pages in length (text only)
--Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
--Reference page in APA format
--Citations within text in APA format
--Title page with name, date, and class day and time
--Paper and at least 2 articles used must be turned in in a light-colored folder with pockets
and prongs. Hole-punch the paper and place in the prongs. The articles should go in the pockets.
--Visual aid required in the form of presentation board, Power Point presentation, poster
board, etc. Be sure your presentation is collegiate level as it will affect your grade if not.
--Your presentation must be 5 minutes in length
--The topic chosen must be turned in by the date specified by the instructor.
--Index cards are allowed during the presentation (everyone gets nervous and forgets!! );
however, you are not allowed to use regular paper, even if it is cut down to size.
--Be sure to maintain professionalism during the presentation (no gum, leaning on the wall,
etc.)
Additional requirements will be given during the semester so be sure to stay up-to-date!!!
REMEMBER THAT NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED! PREPARE EARLY TO AVOID
BEING LATE!
ATTENDANCE AND DROP POLICY
It is very important that you attend and participate in class. If you have to miss a class, it is your
responsibility to get the material/notes that you missed. Please do not contact me for the notes. I
do not give out my notes to students. It is your responsibility to take good notes or obtain them
from another student in the class if you are absent. It is also important that you arrive to class on
time to avoid being marked absent or missing important information or announcements usually
given at the beginning of class. I do not drop students so it is your responsibility to drop the class
if you are unable to continue in the class.
PLAGIARISM and HOW TO CITE INFORMATION
Plagiarizing is taking someone’s ideas and/or writings as if they are your own. The penalty for
plagiarizing is an “F” for this course. You must give credit when using someone else’s work. It is
best to paraphrase the quote or place the quote in quotation marks if it is three words or longer.
To avoid any misunderstandings, the best way to cite information for this course will be using APA
format where you give the author’s last name, the year the work was published, and the page
number all in parentheses. When you paraphrase, you are taking the author’s idea or statement
and putting it in your own words. You are not allowed to simply use synonyms in place of the
author’s words. This is still considered plagiarism. It may be best to read the information, and
without looking at the information, put it in your own words. That way you are less likely to repeat
the author’s exact words or wording. Also, even though you paraphrase something, you must
include the citation at the end of the sentence.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 -
October 26 - 28
Introduction
Theories of Development
Week 2 -
November 02 - 04
Quiz 1 – Theories of Development
Heredity and Environment
Quiz 2 – Heredity and Environment
Prenatal Development and Birth
Week 3 -
November 09 - 11
Quiz 3 – Prenatal Development and Birth
Infants and Toddlerhood: The First 2 years
Quiz 4 – Infants and Toddlerhood
Early Childhood: The Play Years (2-6 years)
Week 4 -
November 16 - 18
Quiz 5 – Early Childhood
Middle Childhood: School Years (6-11 years)
Quiz 6 – Middle Childhood
Adolescence
Week 5 -
November 23 - 25
Quiz 7 – Adolescence
OBSERVATION PAPERS DUE!!!
Early Adulthood
NO CLASS NOVEMBER 25 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!
Week 6 -
November 30 – December 02
Quiz 8 – Early Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Quiz 9 – Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
Week 7 -
December 07 - 09
Quiz 10 – Late Adulthood
Death and Dying
Quiz 11 – Death and Dying
PAPERS DUE!!!!
Week 8 -
December 14
PRESENTATIONS
***This schedule is tentative and may be changed during the course of the semester. You are
responsible for getting the changes if you miss a class.***