RequirementsRequirementsThere will be no exams for this course. The focus of the course is on reading, discussing, writing and doing over the course of the semester, and hence your entire grade will be based upon this.
If you want to get the maximum benefit from this class (i.e. learn lots and have a grade to show for it), you will do the following...
1. Come to class prepared, and participate (15% of grade). Being prepared means having read the assigned article(s), and having jotted down your initial thoughts or questions about the article(s). Although there are many readings for this course, you are not expected to read them all from beginning to end. An important skill to develop is the ability to efficiently extract ideas and information from writing. Particpating in class discussions is valuable because it makes you an active learner and *massively* increases the likelihood that you will understand and retain the material.
2. Think carefully and write clearly in assignments (60% of grade). The course is divided into about 12 units, mostly covering one week each, and there will be an assignment on each unit. The assignments will come in a variety of formats. In lab assignments (approx. 3) you will get hands-on experience with some research technique in psycholinguistics. In writing assignments (approx. 9) you will think and write about issues raised in class and in the assigned readings. Sometimes the writing assignment will be due before the material is discussed in class: this will help you to be better prepared for class and to form your own opinions in advance of class discussion. In your writing it is important to write clearly and provide support for claims that you make. In addition, you will be responsible for preparing on-line summaries of the readings and class discussion, for posting to the course web-site. Summaries will be prepared by groups in rotating order, so your group will be responsible for approx. 4 summaries over the course of the semester. Summaries are due one-week after the corresponding classes, and should be sent to colin@udel.edu, either in text or HTML format, for posting to the web site. In weeks when your group is responsible for the on-line summary, your writing assignment for the course will be correspondingly reduced. Guidelines for the on-line summaries will be posted here soon.
3. Work with your group on your group project (25% of grade). The goal of the group project is to give you the opportunity to explore some area in more depth than is possible in class. As such this is much like the standard term-paper requirement. However, by working in a team, you should be able to avoid (i) the very limited scope normally possible for an individual project, (ii) the solitary final-week panic that usually accompanies such projects. Your group should decide on a project and give a brief report to the class on October 2nd. An initial in class presentation (20-25 mins) will be given on October 23rd, and a final in-class presentation on Thursday December 4th.
| A | 80-100% | B- | 60-65% |
| A- | 75-80% | C+ | 55-60% |
| B+ | 70-75% | C | 50-55% |
| B | 65-70% | C- | 54-50% |
Note that even in the A range there is plenty of room for you to show extra initiative and insight.
Although the course requirements are the same for graduates and undergraduates, a higher standard is expected of students registered for CGSC 696 than for students registered for CGSC 496.
Although written work should be submitted individually, you are encouraged to work together on these as well as the group projects. Academic honesty includes giving appropriate credit to collaborators. The group projects will be given a group grade, but your group should submit an explanation of who contributed to what.