Professor
Lanning
Fall 2008
Syllabus
for Psychology 3003H - Personality
Psychology 3003H is an honors survey of theory and research in the psychology of personality.
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Lanning (lanning@fau.edu). Office is WB 220; office hours are MW 11-2.
Textbooks:
There are three required texts.
Larsen,
R. J. & Buss, D. M. (2008).
Personality psychology: domains of knowledge about human nature, 3rd ed.
Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Karr, M. (1995). The liar's club. NY: Penguin.
In addition, students are expected to have a copy of a style manual - either the Honors College style manual (Harris, M. The writer's FAQ: A pocket handbook, second or third edition), or a manual tailored to writing in psychology.
Grading:
Grades
will be based on exams, a term paper, and classroom performance, as follows:
From
exams, 60% (20% for each of two midterms and a final).
Exams are likely to include multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay
questions.
Exams will cover both readings and lecture/discussion materials. The
final exam will be at least nominally cumulative.
From a term paper, 25%. This paper will be less than twelve pages in length (double-spaced). The paper will typically be a review which either (a) provides a report of research discussed in Chapters 15-19 of the text or (b) attempts an integration of portions of any two of the three texts in the class (that is, a comparison of the lives of Karr and Obama or an application of personality theory and research to the lives of Karr or Obama).
The paper will be due
at the beginning of class on November 7 and will be the basis for a brief (~10
minute) presentation to be given in class between November 7 and 28.
You must submit a topic for your paper in writing by October 26. Late papers will be accepted, but will be
substantially penalized. The format, reference sources, and additional
requirements for the paper will be discussed at a later date.
From class participation, 10%. Though I will not formally take roll I will monitor attendance and participation. Students who attend class regularly and contribute thoughtful questions or comments to our discussion will be rewarded.
From
research participation or independent study, 5%.
Two hours credit from research participation and/or substantive reviews of
appropriate research papers. Evidence of participation in research or written
summaries must be submitted to me by the beginning of class on November 28.
In enrolling in this course, students agree to abide by the Honor Code of the college, whose full text can be found here.
Please
consult these pages frequently, as dates are subject to change.
Continue to Class schedule.
Up to Dr. Kevin Lanning, Honors College, Florida Atlantic University.
Revised 08/22/08