A twist on this assignment would be to have them research the scientific literature on a topic and then develop a webpage to present their work. That is a different style in form and function than term papers but could still serve to help them learn about psychology and to present what they have learned in a format that may be more meaningful to them. I haven't done this yet, primarily because I'm justing learning how to write in html. But a lot of my students are computer types who will be involved in some form of webpage development when they graduate. That kind of assignment would really appeal to the more technical types.
______________________________________________ Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology LeTourneau University President-Elect, Division 51 American Psychological Association Department of Psychology LeTourneau University Post Office Box 7001 2100 South Mobberly Avenue Longview, Texas 75607-7001 Office: Heath-Hardwick Hall 115 Phone: 903-233-3312 Fax: 903-233-3246 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage: http://www.letu.edu/people/rodhetzel > -----Original Message----- > From: Dennis Goff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 3:21 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: RE: dev. psych. writing assignment > > > Craig, > > The major difference between this assignment and a typical > term paper is the kind of writing. The students write these > news articles for a different audience (not me) and they can > write in a style that is a little more comfortable for them. > (Some of them do present a term paper with a catchy > headline.) I can still judge from these papers whether they > have read and understood the scientific literature. The > assignment still forces students to start learning how to > digest scientific articles and I ask for a list of references > in APA style so they can learn the nuances of that system. > > Dennis > > Dennis M. Goff > Professor of Psychology > Randolph-Macon Woman's College > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Cowden, Craig R. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 12:40 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: dev. psych. writing assignment > > > Dennis Goff wrote: > I have students write a news article about any topic in > Developmental that they would like. The longer pieces in > Science News or the news magazines like Time serve as the > model. I require that they use five sources for the news > article and require that those sources are from the > psychology journals. (They also submit an APA style list of > references.) I like the assignment because students encounter > these kinds of reports in their daily lives and they are more > likely to do this kind of writing when they graduate. The > students seems to enjoy the assignment more than the > traditional term paper. > > > If they use the primary literature and write in APA style, > what makes this different than a term paper? > > Craig Cowden, Ph.D. > Northern Virginia Community College > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.317 / Virus Database: 176 - Release Date: 1/21/2002 > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.317 / Virus Database: 176 - Release Date: 1/21/2002 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
