HD 408-01, Advanced Adolescent Development
Spring 2008
Instructor Information:
Marcelo Diversi
Education/Human
Development Building, Room 203
Phone: 360-546-9170
Fax: 360-546-9076
Office Hours:
T, W, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., or by appointment
Email: diversi@vancouver.wsu.edu
Home Page:http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/diversi/diversi.html
Course Information:
Schedule:
T, Th , 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Location:
Multi-media Building, Room 214
Description and Objective:
This course offers an in-depth study of adolescence from psychological, sociological, and cultural perspectives. We will trace adolescent development from the early pre-puberty years to the end of high school and beyond, examining the interaction of biological and environmental forces. The focus of the course will be on contexts of development; in other words, the social and cultural contexts that shape adolescents’ experiences of family, peers, school, work and leisure, and the media. The main objective of this course is to enable students to think critically about adolescence, beyond the many stereotypes and the simplistic and prejudiced popular beliefs about this phase of life. A secondary, but important, objective is to challenge students to think in a broader scope than their own adolescent experiences. I am hoping you will accept my invitation to explore the incredibly diverse contexts and experiences of contemporary adolescents in this country and beyond.
Prerequisites and Other Notes:
Required Texts and Other Materials:
Required Text:
Arnett, Jeffrey J. (2007). Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach. (3rd edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
PLEASE NOTE: Additional short readings might be required for in-class and/or out-of-class activities. These readings will be handed out in lecture or posted on Blackboard.
Classroom Requirements:
Class Participation:
The success of this course also depends on your participation and respect for others and their views about topics pertaining to this course. Of course, you do not need to agree with a different opinion, but ideas must be expressed, always, in ways to foster positive and constructive dialogue. Personal experiences shared in class are to be kept confidential.
Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned material for the day and be prepared to participate in discussions.
Student Conduct and Academic Dishonesty:
Per the WSU Vancouver Student Handbook, students are, "Expected to show due respect for ... the rights of others". Students should be familiar with the Washington State University standards of conduct. The following website for the WSU Vancouver Student Handbook provides information on student conduct and the academic integrity process: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/handbook/conduct.html.
Reasonable Accommodation:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Assistant Director of Student Services, VMMC 24.
Inclement Weather and Other Class Cancellations:
When students have questions about classes being held during inclement weather, please contact the faculty support for the department. Faculty support will have information regarding class closures and will post that information on their voice mail messages. Please see the faculty support telephone number listed: Lynda Dezellem, 360/546-9721.
Academic Calendar:
The WSU academic calendar for the current semester is located at the following web site: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/calendars.htm. Please refer to this document for important campus dates and deadlines throughout the semester.
Electronic Mail:
All students are required to be on e-mail to further communication between students and instructor. Students at WSU Vancouver have access to free e-mail by going to the following web site: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/vis/vit/accounts.htm. A home e-mail account is also acceptable.
Assignments:
Reflective Paper: You will be asked to turn in 10 short reflective papers (1 to 2 typed pages) on the material you read in the textbook. See schedule below for due dates and topics. The goal of the reflection papers is to help you engage with the research and theories of adolescent development in critical and thoughtful ways. It is also intended to have you read the material ahead of lectures and, thus, better prepare you for our discussions. The reflective papers are worth 50% of the total grade.
Midterm Paper: The midterm paper will be due on March 8th, by 4:00 p.m., in the HD student drop box. Details and guidelines for this paper will be given two weeks before it is due. Your midterm paper is worth 20% of the total grade.
Final Paper: Details and guidelines for this paper will be given in March. Your final paper is worth 30% of the total grade.
Word of Caution: The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced tests if he perceives that students are not reading the assigned texts.
Procedures for Submitting and Retrieving Papers and Assignments:
The Human Development Department maintains a student drop box for students submitting assignments to Human Development faculty. Students use the student drop box on the second floor of the EHD building. Directions are located on the top of the box. The box is checked several times daily and the contents distributed according to the faculty name you have placed on the envelope. DO NOT submit assignments by putting them in the file cabinet. The file cabinet is used only for returning graded assignments to students and for students to pick up copies of non-graded class materials such as class notes, etc. All graded material will be returned in an envelope with each student’s name and the course number on the outside and placed in alphabetical files by last name. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SAVE A COPY OF ALL ASSIGNMENTS TURNED IN ON A DISC AND KEEP A PAPER (HARD) COPY. All student papers will be maintained in the HD file cabinet for six weeks following the posting of grades at the end of each semester. At the end of six weeks, all papers, tests, etc. will be shredded.
Grading:
| Assignment | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Term Paper | 20 points |
20% |
| Final Paper | 30 points |
30% |
| Reflective papers (10 @ 5 points) | 50 points |
50% |
Grades (100 point scale):
| Grade | Percent |
|---|---|
| A | 100-94 |
| A- | 93-90 |
| B+ | 89-87 |
| B | 86-83 |
| B- | 82-80 |
| C+ | 79-77 |
| C | 76-73 |
| C- | 72-70 |
| D+ | 69-67 |
| D | 66-60 |
| F | 59 or below |
Schedule:
Tentative Course Outline
| Week | Date | Readings/Assignments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 8 | Introduction: The study of Adolescence; Syllabus; Film: 14 Up in America |
| Jan 10 | Adolescent Development in Context: History, Definition, Scientific Study Reading: Introduction (Chapter 1) |
|
| 2 | Jan 15 | Biological Foundations (Reflective Paper #1, on your thoughts about the biological aspects of adolescence, due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 2 |
| Jan 17 | Biological Foundations | |
| 3 | Jan 22 | Cognitive Foundations |
| Jan 24 | Cognitive Foundations | |
| 4 | Jan 29 | Film: The Merchants of Cool |
| Jan 31 | Cultural Beliefs (Reflection Paper #3, on your thoughts about the Merchants of Cool film, due at beginning of class) |
|
| 5 | Feb 5 | Cultural Beliefs Reading: Chapter 4 |
| Feb 7 | Gender Issues (Reflection Paper #4, on your thoughts about gender issues, due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 5 |
|
| 6 | Feb 12 | Gender Issues Reading: Chapter 5 |
| Feb 14 | The Self (Reflection Paper #5, on your thoughts about the self, due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 6 |
|
| 7 | Feb 19 | The Self |
| Feb 21 | NO CLASS | |
8 |
Feb 26 | Family Relations (Reflection paper #6 due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 7 |
| Feb 28 | Family Relations Reading: Chapter 7 |
|
9 |
Mar 4 | Friends and Peers Reading: Chapter 8 |
| Mar 6 | To Be Announced (Midterm paper due in HD Drop Box) |
|
| Mar 10-14 | Spring Vacation, No Class | |
10 |
Mar 18 | Friends and Peers (Reflection Paper #7 due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 8 |
| Mar 20 | Gangs: Invited speaker(s) | |
11 |
Mar 25 | Dating and Romantic Relationships (Reflection Paper #8 due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 9 (pp 258-274) |
| Mar 27 | Sexuality Reading: Chapter 9 (pp 274-297) |
|
12 |
Apr 1 | School: History, Current State, Effective Schools (Reflection Paper #9 due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 10 (pp 298-313) |
| Apr 3 | School: Achievement Motivation, Higher Education Reading: Chapter 10 (pp 314-331) |
|
13 |
Apr 8 | Work (Reflection Paper #10 due at beginning of class) Reading: Chapter 11 |
| Apr 10 | Media: Developmental Issues, Uses, Socialization Reading: Chapter 12 (pp 366-376) |
|
14 |
Apr 15 | Media, Part II: Controversial Media, Globalization Reading: Chapter 12 (pp 376-393) |
| Apr 17 | Externalizing and Internalizing Problems in Adolescence Reading: Chapter 13 |
|
15 |
Apr 22 | Externalizing and Internalizing Problems in Adolescence Reading: Chapter 13 |
| Apr 24 | Adolescence in the 21st century Reading: Chapter 14 |
|
| Apr 28 - May 2 |
FINAL PAPER DUE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 5:00 p.m. in instructor's office of HD Box on second floor of the EHD Building |
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