PASSAIC COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HS-204 Group Dynamics
WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE SYLLABUS—SPRING 2013
INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Gasparino, MSW, LSW
PHONE: 973-619-2375
EMAIL: jmgasparino@pccc.mailcruiser.com
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
OFFICE: Human Services Office
COURSE LIBGUIDE: http://pccc.libguides.com/hs204
PREREQUISITES - HS 203 – Counseling Techniques
Writing Intensive courses also carry a prerequisite of EN 101 with a grade of “C” or better; EN
102 as a pre- or co- requisite is strongly recommended.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus primarily on acquiring the skills to facilitate a group, understanding the
group process and factors involved in group cohesions and conflicts, communication styles, and
role identities within the group. Screening, Intake, Orientation, Assessment, Treatment Plan,
Case Management, Intervention, and other core functions of the counseling process are also
reviewed.
WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE DESCRIPTION
A writing-intensive course incorporates discipline-specific writing extensively into the course,
and the writing contributes significantly to each student's grade. The instructor uses writing
assignments to promote the learning of the course content, as well as to increase the students
critical thinking and information literacy skills. Instructors use both formal and informal writing
assignments.
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Identify group problems or conflicts and institute strategies for problem and conflict
resolution.
2. Facilitate a group.
3. Complete a Psychosocial Assessment including a diagnosis on 5 axes of the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
4. Demonstrate acquisition of core functions of the counseling process.
WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE OUTCOMES
Upon completion of a writing-intensive course, students should be able to:
 Use the process of writing, including pre-writing and revision strategies;
 Support their ideas in writing with specific details and evidence;
 Structure their ideas in an organized format;
 Edit their writing according to the rules of standard academic English;
 Evaluate their sources for credibility and academic appropriateness;
HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
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Employ techniques for integrating information, such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and
quoting;
Exhibit the ability to think critically;
Demonstrate, through their writing, familiarity with the College’s standard, evaluative
writing rubric; and
Cite sources using an appropriate documentation style.
Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability, and believe you need accommodations in this
class, please contact the Office of Disabilities Services (ODS) at 973-684-6395, or email ods@pccc.edu,
to make an appointment. You should do so as soon as possible at the start of each semester. If you require
testing accommodations, you must remind me (the instructor) one week in advance of each test.
REQUIREMENTS
Texts
Scheel, K. (2009). The fundamentals of addiction counseling: a primer. (6th ed.) Santa Fe,
New Mexico: Distance Learning Center, LLC.
and
Dash, L. (1996). Rosa Lee: A Mother and Her Family in Urban America. New York, NY:
Plume.
Highly Recommended Manual:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) which is available in the
PCCC Bookstore or at a link on the Human Services Program homepage.
Writing Center
Students may take any writing assignment to the Writing Center for extra help. The Center also
offers a series of workshops designed to help students with general writing concerns. The
Writing Center’s libguide (website) is located at http://pccc.libguides.com/writingcenter and
gives information about the Center, scheduling appointments, and upcoming workshops.
You do not need to make an appointment to use the Writing Center, but it is highly
recommended. Information on setting up an account and using WC Online (the scheduling
software) can also be found at http://pccc.libguides.com/writingcenter (the Writing Center
LibGuide), by clicking on the “Meeting with a Writing Consultant” tab. Students are strongly
recommended to visit the Writing Center at least once for assistance on their assignments. Going
to the Writing Center unprepared will prevent you from getting help with your writing.
eTutoring
eTutoring is a professional tutoring service, paid for by PCCC, provided free to all PCCC
students. The URL is www.etutoring.org. Students upload writing assignments (for this or any
class) to eTutoring and will receive feedback on their assignments within 48 hours. Information
on using eTutoring is available in the Writing Center and at http://pccc.libguides.com/etutoring.
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HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
Use of Writing Center and eTutoring in assignments
You are strongly recommended to submit all written work to either eTutoring or make use of the
Writing Center; however, you are not required to do so. Students who submit their work to
either tutoring will receive additional credit on their assignments. Each assignment will list the
point/percentage value associated with submission. At least one assignment should be submitted
to eTutoring or the Writing Center; failure to utilize these tools will be evaluated in the students
final grade. Students should provide proof of utilization.
Grade Determinants :
 Biopsycosocial Assessment 15%
 Group Curriculum – 30%
 Presentation – 15%
 Journal – 10%
 eFolio – 5%
 Reflection – 5%
 Attendance – 20%
Course Grading:
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A
AB+ 87-89
B
BC+ 77-79
C
D
F
95-100
90-94
84-86
80-83
70-76
60-69
Below 60
ASSIGNMENTS
You will be required to complete 2 formal writing assignments over the course of the semester.
Both assignments will address areas of course study as well as critical thinking and research;
however, there will be elements of the assignments that will focus on these areas and will be
labled as such. All assignments will be required to be placed in the proper folders on eFolio
when uploaded. There will be a series of informal writing; you will be required to keep a journal
in the class, which will be collected periodically. The journal will contain spontaneous writing
done in class and homework assignments.
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HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
eFolio
All formal writing assignments must be uploaded to eFolio. Each student will be responsible for
creating an eFolio account; time will be allotted in class to do so. Students who are not present
during this class, will be required to set up their account on their own. Information on setting up
an account and using eFolio can also be found at http://pccc.libguides.com/efolio. Assignments
that are not submitted to eFolio will not receive a grade until they are uploaded. Assignments
that are uploaded past the assigned due date will receive a grade reduced by 3% . In addition,
students who do not upload their assignments will not receive their grade until the assignment is
uploaded.
Reflections
Reflection is an important part of this course. You will be required to reflect on your writing as
well as other aspects of the course. This will be done in the description section following your
uploaded document. Reflections must be submitted to eFolio and will be associated with the
particular assignment to which they pertain. You will be given guidelines for writing reflections,
but you can also get help from the Writing Center or on the eFolio LibGuide
(http://pccc.libguides.com/efolio) by clicking on the “Reflections” tab.
ASSIGNMENTS
 Biopsychosocial Assessment - Rosa Lee: A Mother and Her Family in Urban America
 Writing a Group Curriculum
 Group Presentation
 Student Journal
COURSE SCHEDULE
 Week 1: Overview of course; read 6th edition pages 197-243 OR 5th edition pages
189-236 The Functions of Counseling – Screening, Intake, Orientation,
and Assessment for weeks 2 and 3.
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Week 2:
Review 6th edition pages 197-243 or 5th edition pages 189-236.
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Week 3:
Topic for Group Curriculum Due *; Review 6th edition pages 197-243
or 5th edition pages 189-236; read 6th edition pages 305-326 OR 5th edition
pages 297-332 OVERVIEW: Group Counseling for weeks 4 and 5.
 Discuss Rosa Lee – Prologue – Chapter 3
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Week 4:
Review 6th edition pages 305-326 or 5th edition pages 297-332.
 Discuss Rosa Lee - Chapters 4 & 5
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Week 5:
Review 6th edition pages 305-326 or 5th edition pages 297-332; read 6th
edition pages 341-357 OR 5th edition pages 333-350 The Functions of
Counseling – Treatment Planning, Case Management, and Crisis
Management for weeks 6 and 7.
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Week 6:
Review 6th edition pages 341-357 or 5th edition pages 333-350.
 Discuss Rosa Lee – Chapters 6-9
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HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
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Week 7:
Review 6th edition pages 341-357 or 5th edition pages 333-350; read 6th
edition pages 359-370 OR 5th edition pages 351-362 The Functions of
Counseling – Education, Referral, Reports and Recordkeeping, and
Consultation for weeks 9 and 10.
 Review Rosa Lee
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Week 8:
Review 6th edition pages 359-370 or 5th edition pages 351-362.
 Review assessment writing
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Week 9:
Review 6th edition pages 359-370 or 5th edition pages 351-362
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Week 10: Group Curriculum Due*.
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Week 11: Student Presentation for Group Curriculum** .
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Week 12: Student Presentation for Group Curriculum ** .
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Week 13: Student Presentation for Group Curriculum ** .
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Week 14: Student Presentation for Group Curriculum ** .
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Week 15: Biopsycosocial Assessment Due*; Termination Group
* Final day to turn in all revisions for Group Curriculum. All assignment due dates are posted
on indivdiual handouts.
** Each student will complete a Presentation, which will allow the opportunity to facilitate a
group specific to their group curriculum.
Human Services Program Policies:
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PLEASE NOTE:
This course consists of two components:
 College credits toward your degree
 Domain Certification Hours.
All students are required to attend all classes.
If you arrive late, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure you are marked
“present”. The Professor’s attendance records are the standard.
For students WORKING TOWARD DOMAIN CERTIFICATION HOURS, missed
classes will result in a loss of Domain Certification Hours. Because The Certification
Board requires a specific number of hours, if you are late or absent, the class is
cancelled, or the College is closed, the Domain Certification Hours must be made up.
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HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
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Domain Certification Hours may be made up by the handwritten submission of
complete DSM-IV diagnoses according to the following schedule (Professor will
provide list):
 First submission: 1 through 25.
 Second submission: 26 through 50.
 Third submission: 51 through 75.
Domain Certification Hours will NOT be issued if there is any outstanding
responsibility.
If you fail the course, you cannot receive Domain Certification Hours.
Exams cannot be made up.
Facilitating the group discussion cannot be made up. Student must be present on the
assigned day.
All Papers, Definitions, and Diagnoses MUST include (on the first page) student’s
name, course name, course code, section number, semester, and year.
Do NOT submit papers, definitions, and diagnoses with a cover page; keep a copy of
your paper.
Ten (10%) per cent will be deducted from final grade for not following directions.
Any student arriving late or leaving early will have one (1%) per cent deducted from
their final grade OR can hand write and submit 20 definitions for each occurrence.
Students arriving late by more than fifteen minutes or leaving early by more than
fifteen minutes also will be required to hand write and submit one DSM-IV diagnosis
for each additional five minutes.
Any student whose cell phone or other electronic device goes off in class will have
final grade lowered by three (3%) per cent for the first occurrence and five (5%) per
cent for each additional occurrence OR can hand write and submit 20 for each
occurrence.
Do not disrupt the class by getting up to answer a cell phone or other electronic
device or throw out garbage. Your final grade will be lowered by three (3%) per cent
for the first occurrence and five (5%) per cent for each additional occurrence.
Checking your cell phone or other electronic device during class will lower your final
grade by three (3%) per cent for the first occurrence and five (5%) per cent for each
additional occurrence.
If you disrupt the class, you will be asked to leave and you will receive a “zero” for
the day.
All Definitions and DSM-IV Diagnoses must be handwritten.
All Definitions and DSM-IV Diagnoses are due one week after the occurrence.
DEFINITIONS AND DIAGNOSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE
DATE.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT CHEATING, YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE “F”.
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HS 204 Group Dynamics
Writing Intensive Course Syllabus
College Policies:
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Please refer to the PCCC Student Handbook and PCCC Catalog for information
regarding:
 PCCC’s Academic Integrity Code
 Student Conduct Code
 Student Grade Appeal Process
Please refer to the PCCC Catalog for the catalog year listed on your degree audit for
information regarding the Intensive Writing Requirements.
Panther Alert: The College will announce delayed openings, closings, and other
emergency situations through the Panther Alert System. Students are encouraged to
sign up for the Panther Alert Notification. Students can sign up once they log into
their Campus Cruiser Portal account through the PCCC website at www.pccc.edu.
Cell Phone Policy: Use of cellular telephones, audible pagers, or other forms of
audible electronic devices in all academic learning environments (including but not
limited to, laboratories, testing centers, classroom, library, learning centers, theater,
and so forth) is prohibited unless previously approved by the instructor or other
authorized administrator.
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