Fall 2010 HD 501 Syllabus
Fall 2010 HD 501 Syllabus
Fall 2010 HD 501 Syllabus
Scofield
Required Text: Berk, L. E. (2008). Child Development (8th Edition). Allyn and Bacon:
Boston, MA.
Course Structure: The structure of this course will consist of in-class lectures and
discussions of assigned readings.
Grading Policy: The final grade in this course will be calculated out of 150 total points
and will be based on two examinations (50 points each for a total of 100 points), a
research proposal and presentation (35 points), and regular class participation (15
points). The final grade will be calculated as the total number of earned points divided by
the total number of available points. Final grade assignments will be as follows:
A B C D F
135 - 150 pts 120 - 134 pts 105 - 119 pts 90 - 104 pts 0 - 89 pts
Exams: There will be two exams worth 50 points each. Students will be responsible for
all material covered during an exam section, including in-class lectures and assigned
readings.
Research Proposal and Presentation: There will be a research proposal and presentation
worth 35 points (i.e., 30 points for the proposal, 5 points for the presentation). The
proposal should contain approximately 3,000 words, a minimum of 15 references, and
should include: 1) an Abstract (maximum 150 words) summarizing the full proposal, 2)
an Introduction - introducing the topic and reviewing the relevant literature and 3) a
Methods Section: clearly describing the research questions, hypotheses, and procedures.
A draft of the proposal (i.e., 500 words) and a preliminary list of references should be
submitted for feedback on or before October 13, 2010. Each student will present their
proposal to the class for feedback on December 1, 2010. A final draft of the proposal
should be submitted through the Turnitin on the class eLearning page on or before
December 8, 2010.
Class Participation: There will be a class participation grade worth 15 points. Students are
required to regularly attend class, frequently ask questions, and always contribute to class
discussions. To track this participation, students will be required to complete a 1 page
(single-spaced) reaction paper to each week's readings (1 point each). In addition,
students are required to give a 15-minute presentation of the proposal to the class.
Assignments will not be accepted after the due dates; failure to meet the due dates will
result in 0 (zero) points for the assignment.
Unexcused absences will result in 0 (zero) points for the participation grade. Students are
responsible for obtaining all missed material.
Inclement Weather Policy: If the University remains open, class will be held as
scheduled. However, if severe or adverse weather conditions prohibit your
attendance from class or threaten your safety, a reasonable effort will be made to
accommodate you. In the event that the University is closed on the day an examination is
scheduled the examination will be administered during the following class.