PSYC 1 -- Dr. Michaels -- Assignment Sheet Part Two -- Barstow Community College

Part 2 Assignment Page

NOTE: All due dates are listed on the course home page.

Assignments for Part 2:

Grading for Part 2:

Discussion 5 is worth 10 points
Discussion 6 is worth 10 points
Discussion 7 is worth 10 points
Discussion 8 is worth 10 points
The Final Paper 1 is worth 60 points
The Final Exam is worth 100 points

For more details about grading, refer to your course syllabus.

Assignments for Part 2:

Lesson 5:

Read the Part 2 Assignment Page
Read textbook chapter 5, Workplaces/Workstyles: Companies That Work
Read Lecture 5
Participate in Discussion 5

Discussion 5

Read "Workplace Diversity" on pages 154-164 of your textbook.
Describe a person you know (or your own experiences) in a job or workplace that is not "traditional" for your gender. Did that person experience any positive or negative consequences because of his or her gender?
OR, Describe a situation where someone experienced discrimination or harassment on the job based on a personal characteristic, such as race, ethnic group, gender, sexual preference, disability, family status, etc. How did you feel at the time? Looking back, is there anything you could have done to help?
OR, respond to another person’s experiences.
Remember: If you describe another person, do not use his/her real name (use initials).

Lesson 6:

Read textbook chapter 6, Timestyles/Workstyles: Alternatives That Work
Read Lecture 6
Participate in Discussion 6
Submit the Final Paper

Discussion 6

Read "The Ins and Outs of Workplaces," ‘Information Interviewing," and "Work Experience" on pages 191-198 of your textbook.
Share a technique you (or someone you know) used to research a job. (You may include research done for this class.) Was it successful? Can you think of ideas for improvement?
OR, Share your experiences preparing for and conducting an information interview. (You may include information interviews done for this class.) Was it successful? How will you improve next time?
OR, Describe an internship or other non-paid working experience that led to a paid job (for yourself or someone else).
OR, respond to another person’s experience.
Remember: If you describe another person, do not use his/her real name (use initials).

Lesson 7:

Read textbook chapter 7, The Job Hunt: Tools for Breaking and Entering
Read Lecture 7
Participate in Discussion 7

Discussion 7

Read "Networking" on pages 213-217 of your textbook.

Starting with someone you know, network with at least 3 people. Your networking goal may be either job-related or education-related. Describe how you were introduced to the strangers (remember to use initials, not names).

Was your networking experience positive or negative? What happened during the conversations? Did you learn any important information, or did you figure out the next step to take?

OR, describe a past networking experience where you got a job through networking or helped someone else find a job through networking.

OR, describe a past networking experience where you learned how to complete an educational goal, or helped someone else complete an educational goal.

OR, respond to the ideas that someone else has posted.

Remember: If you describe another person, do not use his/her real name (use initials).

Lesson 8:

Read textbook chapter 8, Decisions, Decisions: What’s Your Next Move?
Read Lecture 8
Participate in Discussion 8

Discussion 8

Read "Back to school" on pages 282-290 of your textbook.
Without revealing anything you feel is too personal, explain your educational goals. Do your goals relate to your career path, or are you pursuing an education for other reasons?
OR, tell about a situation where you changed majors, left school to figure out a new direction, or made another type of education-related change. Was it a positive or negative experience, and why?
OR, tell how your educational goals relate to your career goals. For example, if you have returned to college to get continuing education credits, or have changed career fields and need more education, or something else, explain the situation.
OR, respond to another person’s experiences.
Remember: If you describe another person, do not use his/her real name (use initials).

Lesson 9:

Read Lecture 9 (Review)
Review Chapters 1-8
Review Lectures 1-8
Take the Final Exam (Closed Book)
The Final Exam Cover Chapter 1-8 and Lectures 1-8

Instructions and Grading Criteria for Discussions:

To receive full credit, you must participate in each discussion at least twice.
For half credit, you must participate in each discussion once.
Your postings must be substantive (several sentences). You may agree or disagree with someone else, but you must give your own ideas, not just piggyback on someone else’s posting. I will deduct points for postings that are not substantive.
If you describe another person at any time during the discussion, do not use his/her name (use initials). I will deduct points if you use a person’s name. In psychology, we are very strict about protecting people’s privacy.
Exception: You may use your own name, and the names of your classmates.
If you have nothing more to add to an ongoing discussion, start another conversation about the assigned topic.
Disrespectful language, attitudes, or other behavior is strictly forbidden, and will result in a grade of zero for the discussion.
Each discussion will occur during a 1-week period (see course calendar). You may post early, but I will not grade anything posted late (after the discussion period has ended).
For maximum points, mention topics or terms from the textbook in your discussion posting.

The Final Paper:

The Final Paper is based on four exercises.
Answer the exercises, and write your results according to the instructions below.
Note: You must skip ahead to some reading material in Chapters 7 and 8 (as directed) to complete your Final Paper.
The Final Paper is due at the end of Lesson 6
To submit the paper, go to the form located at the bottom of Lesson 6.

Exercise 1: Researching a Job.

After reading chapter 6, choose one or more ways to research a job that you are interested in, and then carry out your research plan.

Assignment to turn in: Write a paragraph (about ½ page) describing your research, and explaining the results you found.

Exercise 2: Preparing for an Information Interview.

After reading chapter 6, write at least 10 questions to ask in an information interview. You should plan an interview in a field that interests you, and that you have researched. You may use the research from Exercise 1, or you may research a different job. You will conduct this interview in Exercise 3, so plan your questions carefully.

After reading chapter 7, write your resume. You will take the resume on your information interview (in Exercise 3).

Assignment to turn in: Send me your list of questions.

Exercise 3: Information Interview

Using the information you have learned so far in this course, make an appointment for an information interview with someone in your field of interest. Use the questions you submitted in Exercise 2 (you may add additional questions if you wish). Do the interview.

Bring your resume to the information interview. Ask the interviewed person to read your resume, and offer comments and suggestions.

Assignments to turn in:

A. Write a paragraph (about ½ page) summarizing what you learned in your information interview. Tell whether you have more or less interest in this field after your interview.

B. Write a paragraph (about ½ page) summarizing the comments and suggestions from the interviewed person about your resume.

Exercise 4: Choosing an Educational Goal

After reading chapter 8 and completing your information interview, choose an educational goal that you plan to complete in the next two years.

Assignments to turn in:

A. Write a paragraph (about ½ page) describing your educational goal

B. List the steps required to achieve your goal.

Examples for the Final Paper:

Exercise 1: Researching a Job

Example: I decided to research a job in the communications industry. I researched jobs by . . . Complete the paragraph as assigned.

Exercise 2: Preparing for an Information Interview

List the 10 or more questions you will ask in your interview.

Exercise 3: Information Interview

A. Example: I interviewed the local sports announcer for radio station ABC. She suggested several valuable tips, such as . . . Complete the paragraph as assigned.

B. Example: RB made some very helpful comments about my resume. She suggested that I need to list more achievements from my high school and college part-time jobs (in other words, I’m too modest about my accomplishments). She also thought that the font was hard to read, and suggested that I use a more traditional font. Complete the paragraph as assigned.

Exercise 4: Choosing an Educational Goal

A. Example: My educational goal is to complete all the core courses needed to begin my nursing degree within the next two years. After reviewing my values, and the results of my Personality Mosaic, I am convinced that this is the right career choice for me . . . . . Complete the paragraph as assigned.

B. Example:

Step 1: I spoke with a counselor at my college, and learned that I need 8 more classes to complete my core

Step 2: I planned which courses I need to take each semester (working around my job and family)

Step 3: I am investigating sources of financial aid that may help me pay for classes

Step 4: If I find enough financial aid, I hope to cut my current work hours and finish my core courses earlier

Continue with steps, as necessary

Instructions and Grading Criteria for Final Papers:

The Final Paper is worth a maximum of 60 points.
If you are unable to complete all of the exercises in the Final Paper, submit everything you have done for partial credit.
The form to submit the Final Paper is located in Lecture 6 (scroll down)
If you describe another person, do not use his/her real name (use initials). I will deduct points if you use a person’s name.
Exception: If you interview an instructor or another professional on campus, you may use his/her name.
The due date for the Final Paper is given on the course home page.
I will accept Final Papers between 1 and 7 days late, with a deduction of 10 points.
I will not accept Final Papers more than 7 days late, unless you provide written documentation of an emergency situation that caused your paper to be late.
NOTE: I cannot accept Final Papers or any other course work after the official ending date of the course!

The Comprehensive Final Exam:

This course requires a comprehensive final exam, which will cover material from all nine lessons of the course.
The final exam is online.
The final exam is proctored.
The final exam may be accessed from the course home page -- your proctor will have the password.
You may take the final exam during a one-week period (see course home page for dates).
There is a two-hour time limit on the final exam.
The exam will consist of 50 multiple choice questions, which can be answered in two hours if you are well prepared.
Do not use books, notes, or other aids during the final exam.
If you do not take the mid-term exam, the comprehensive final exam will count for both the mid-term and final exam grades.

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