COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology GRE Prep
Spring, 2016
PSYC 391-E1 T 7:55 PM – 8:45 PM Brittain Hall 239
Dr. Miranda Brenneman
Office: Brittain Hall 213 Office Hours: MW 10-11AM, 2-3PM
phone: 843.349.4035 TTH 10-10:30am, F 10-11AM
Email : also by appointment
REQUIRED TEXT
Kaplan. (2016). GRE Premier 2016. Kaplan: New York
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is intended for juniors and seniors who plan to take the GRE general test and/or Psychology subject test. Students will work on vocabulary and math skills, take several practice tests, and learn test taking strategies.
COURSE GOALS
1. Understand how the GRE is constructed and how to approach different sections and types of problems.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Understand strategic approaches to different sections of the GRE and how to apply them to the various types of questions.
2. Apply appropriate test taking strategies.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
Students should check their campus email regularly so as not to miss important announcements and course information. You can typically expect to receive a response within 24-48hours (with the exception of weekends and holidays). I have had problems with random emails occasionally being sent to my junk-mail folder so if I do not respond within 48 hours, please email me again. I don’t want to miss important communications from students. Additionally, emails without subject lines or vague subject lines, such as “Hi” or “Thank You” are sometimes misidentified as spam and might be automatically routed to the junk mail folder or discarded without being opened.
ATTENDANCE
Since this class meets only once a week, attendance is EXTREMELY important! Your participation grade is based on your attendance.
ACTIVITIES & EVALUATION
PARTICIPATION: You have the opportunity to earn up to 100 points for attending and actively participating in class. Participation points will be based on the percentage of classes attended. For example, if a class meets 10 times during the semester and you attend 100% of the class meetings, you earn 100 points. If you attend 90% of the class meetings, you earn 90 points. You will be allowed one “free” absence that will not count against your participation points. Excused absences (that don’t count against participation) will be allowed only if documentation is provided to show that the absence was due to one of the following: 1) incapacitating illness, 2) participation in an official school function, 3) death of a close relative, 4) observance of a religious holiday.
PRACTICE TEST SCORE SUBMISSIONS: To keep track of your progress throughout the semester you will report your practice test scores (full tests and practice sets) in a spreadsheet posted on moodle. Save this file and record all of your scores in this file every week. You will also submit a screen shot of online test scores or turn in your book for assignments completed in the book. You will receive 10 points for each score reported and these points do not depend on your performance so there’s no benefit to inflating your score. Reporting scores that are higher than what you actually received doesn’t hurt me or your grade, it only affects you and your performance on the real exam.
FINAL GRADE: This is a strict percentage scale. There is no extra credit offered for this course. The final grading scale for this class is as follows:
Table: Grading ScaleGrade
A = 93-100%
B+ = 90-92%
B = 83-89%
C+ = 80-82%
C = 73-79%
D+ = 70-72%
D = 63-69%
F > 62%
*This is the grading scale used in all my classes. Make sure you know the score you need to pass*
POSTING GRADES: Grades for all coursework will be posted to Moodle. Since this course counts towards a major requirement in psychology, psychology majors must earn a C or better to meet the major requirement. Also, please note the grading scale is likely different than many of your other courses. To be fair to all students in the course, I do not assign extra work for individual students at the end of the term in order for those individuals to raise their grade. Please do not ask.
LATE WORK POLICY: No late work will be accepted.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE
1. Follow Instructions. Students should carefully read all instructions before completing assignments. If students have questions about the instructions, feel free to contact Dr. Brenneman. Failure to follow instructions may result in not completing the assignment correctly and a deduction in points
2. Thoughtfully Complete Coursework. Ultimately, the quality of students’ work is graded on assignments. Thus, thoughtful completion of coursework will result in better grades.
3. Turn Coursework in On Time. Late work is not accepted so it is not wise to wait until the last minute to complete coursework. If you have a problem with Moodle on weekends or evenings, immediate support may not be available.
FINAL NOTES
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH MOODLE: Should the Moodle websites be down for an extended period of time during the term, appropriate accommodations to the effected coursework will be made as I deem appropriate. If an individual student is having difficulty with Moodle, it is the student’s responsibility to resolve the issue through consultation with Moodle Support or me depending on the nature of the difficulty that is being experienced.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: As per the Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism, cheating and all other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one’s own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an internet source or another source as one’s own work; (3) incorporating the words or idea of an author into one’s paper without giving the author due credit.
Should you be caught in any of these types of acts, the minimum penalty will be a failing grade on the assignment. You are responsible for knowing which actions are academically dishonest. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct regarding the academic integrity code regarding academic honesty.
ACCESSIBILITY AND DISABILITY SERVICES: The Office of Accessibility and Disability Services offers students with physical, psychological, or learning disabilities accommodations and assistance. With appropriate documentation, counselors determine the appropriate accommodations for which students are eligible. To access services and accommodations, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services in Kearns Hall, Suite 106 or call 843.349.2503.
CLASS ETIQUETTE & ACCEPTABLE STUDENT BEHAVIOR: Class behavior should not interfere with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program. Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class discussions and may be subject to judicial academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Some important aspects of acceptable student behavior include:
· Please do not type in all capital letter. This is commonly interpreted as yelling at someone.
· In all correspondence and posts, please use appropriate grammar, punctuation and capitalization. This makes posts and efforts to communicate easier for everyone to read and understand.
· Avoid posting inflammatory remarks and accusations in class discussions.
· Avoid the use of profanity, obscenity and personal attacks in efforts to communicate.
· If anyone is offended by the comments of a fellow student or feels that he or she has been the target of personal attacks, please contact me immediately.
CLASSROOM POLICIES:
Children are not allowed in the classroom.
No wearing hats during tests.
Turn cell phone ringers OFF and keep them put away unless asked to take them out.
CHANGES IN COURSE REQUIREMENTS: The professor reserves the right to revise the syllabus and course requirements. Notices of these revisions will be posted on Moodle and/or announced during a course meeting. Students are responsible for keeping up with syllabus changes.
TENTATIVE SEMESTER SCHEDULE
Week / Date / Topic / Chapter / Assignment Due1 / Jan 12 / Intro to Class
The GRE / 1, 2
2 / Jan 19 / Intro to Quantitative Reasoning/Math Review / 9 / Diagnostic Test online (MST 1 under Getting Started)
3 / Jan 26 / Math Review/Quantitative Reasoning Foundations / 10
Appendix D / Math Review worksheets
4 / Feb 2 / Verbal Reasoning Foundations / 3, 4 / Math Review worksheets
5 / Feb 9 / V: Text Completion / 5 / Chapter 4 Practice Set
6 / Feb 16 / Q: Quantitative Comparison / 11 / Chapter 5 Practice Set
Chapter 8 Practice Set 1 #1-6
Verbal Practice Set 1 online
7 / Feb 23 / V: Sentence Equivalence / 6 / Chapter 11 Practice Set
Chapter 14 Practice Set 1 #1-8
Quantitative Practice Set 1 online
8 / Mar 1 / Q: Problem Solving / 12 / Chapter 6 Practice Set
Chapter 8 Practice Set 1 #11-14
Verbal Practice Set 2 online
9 / Mar 8 / SPRING BREAK / Full Length Practice Test online (MST 2 under Practice Tests)
10 / Mar 15 / Q: Data Interpretation / 13 / Chapter 12 Practice Set
Chapter 14 Practice Set 1 #9-16
Quantitative Practice Set 2 online
11 / Mar 22 / V: Reading Comprehension / 7 / Chapter 13 Practice Set
Chapter 14 Practice Set 1 #17-20
Quantitative Practice Set 3 online
12 / Mar 29 / Analytical Writing Foundations / 15, 16 / Chapter 7 Practice Set
Chapter 8 Practice Set 1 #7-10, 15-20
Verbal Practice Set 3 online
13 / Apr 5 / The Issue Essay / 17 / Chapter 16 Practice Sets
14 / Apr 12 / The Argument Essay / 18 / Chapter 17 Practice Set (submit essays)
15 / Apr 19 / Practice Test: V & Q 1 / 20 / Chapter 18 Practice Set (submit essays)
16 / Apr 26 / Practice Test: V & Q 2 / 20 / Analytical Writing Practice Set 1 online
May 3 / Practice Test / Full Length Practice Test (MST 3 under Practice Tests)