Course Syllabus - dick malott



Course Syllabus

GRE/Graduate School

Preparation Course

Supervisors: Callie Simms

c4simms@wmich.edu

(936) 552-4058

Mailbox in the BATS lab: Wood Hall 2536

Undergraduate

Supervisor: Sarah VanStelle

s2vanste@wmich.edu

(269) 762-0611

Objective

• This course is designed to help you study for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and prepare for graduate school using performance management techniques. This course provides guidance, instructional materials, study tips, testing strategies, and other relevant information pertaining to the GRE.

Performance Contracts

o You will be asked to commit to a performance contract stating that you will complete GRE and grad school work each week for this class. The contract will be related to studying for the GRE and meeting the intermediate goals that need to be accomplished in order to get into graduate school. The contract will also specify a deadline when the behavior should occur and an added outcome for that behavior. The performance contract will be set up in class.

To receive points for each week you will need to bring to class:

1. TVF (filled out prior to class)

2. Graph (filled out prior to class)

3. Proofs (anything you completed for your required hours and homework; any work done on the computer must be provided in printed form for proof of completion)

4. Kaplan book (when we have homework assignments due, you must bring in your book and show your work to receive points for completion)

5. Yourself (you are required to attend class to receive points for assigned work each week) See attendance policy section.

( TVF

○ Each week you will need to bring a completed task verification form to class. On this form, you will write out:

▪ everything you have completed for the week along with your proofs and

▪ the amount of hours you spent completing the work

○ The form is attached to the back of the syllabus. You will need to print a new copy of the TVF for each week of class. You can refer to the TVF job aid on your course CD as a guide.

▪ Completed TVF will be worth 5 points per week

( Graphing

o Every week you will need to bring an updated ‘year at a glance’ graph with the number of hours that you have completed that week and the previous weeks. The graph will be a cumulative record of the number of hours you spend each week studying for the GRE. This must be filled out prior to class and handed in with your proofs.

▪ Graphs will be worth 5 points each week.

( Assigned work/Hours and Proofs

o You will need to complete all assigned work each week to receive an A in this course. You must also show proof of completion for each task during the weekly meeting/class. If you do not have proofs for your work you will not receive the points for that week.

▪ All work assigned from your Kaplan CD or work done on the computer requires proof in the form of a printed copy (i.e. scores from quiz games, final scores from Powerprep practice tests, website printouts, etc.).

▪ When you are assigned work from your Kaplan book, you will be required to bring your book to class to show proof of completion. If you also complete some of the work on scratch paper, please bring these to class as well.

▪ All assigned reading will require some form of proof of completion. For example, highlighting or notes from the reading will count as proof.

o You will need to complete all assigned GRE work plus one hour per week working on materials to prepare of graduate school (i.e. looking up schools and programs, filling out applications, meeting with professors, BACC appointments etc.). All grad school preparation work will also require proof of completion in order to receive points each week.

o Refer to your student assignment guide for a list of your weekly assignments.

o If you need to make up for missed hours/points see Missed Points/Hours section below.

▪ Hours will be worth 20 points per week (15 points for GRE hours and 5 points for one grad hour)

( Homework

o You will also need to complete all homework assignments, found in your Kaplan GRE book, to receive the homework points each week. Students are required to complete the assigned practice problems and then bring their books to class as proof of completion.

▪ Remember, all homework problems assigned from the quantitative section will require notes with work shown for each problem completed.

o Occasionally, you will also be assigned homework outside of your Kaplan book. These assignments can be found on your course CD. It will be your responsibility to print, complete, and bring these assignments to class.

o Refer to your student assignment guide for a list of your weekly homework assignments.

o If you need to make up for missed homework/points see Missed Points/Homework section below.

▪ Homework will be work 20 points per week

( Quizzes

○ There will be quizzes in class over the homework material. If you

miss a class period there will no opportunity to make up that particular quiz. However, there will be other optional opportunities to earn make-up quiz points.

▪ There will be optional bonus quizzes given covering

supplementary homework materials. Therefore, if you miss a

quiz in class you will be required to complete one of these

optional quizzes (and it would benefit you to also complete

the supplementary homework that will correspond with the

quiz) to make up for the missed quiz points.

( However, if you have not missed any quizzes and still choose to take one of the optional bonus quizzes (taking the quiz will not hurt your grade) any additional points you earn will be added to increase your quiz score average.

▪ Quizzes will be worth 15 points each

( Additional Assignments

o You will complete 3 full-length GRE practice tests during the semester – one at the beginning as a pre-test, a mid-semester test, and one at the end as a post-test. These are required for you to receive a grade, and can be counted as part of your weekly hours.

▪ All 3 GRE practice tests will be taken from the Powerprep version found on your course CD. A print-out of your scores is required to receive points for each test.

▪ Don’t forget, you will not be able to use calculators during the real GRE test, so please remember not to use them while taking the practice tests!!

▪ If you do not turn in all three of these practice tests, you final grade will drop ½ a letter grade for each missed test.

▪ Also, if your posttest score improves by 50 points or more (in comparison to your pretest score) you will receive 10 bonus points, added to the category most in need of additional points at the end of the semester.

o You will also be required to create a vita/resume by the end of the semester that will count as part of your homework grade.

( Weekly Meeting/Class

o There will be a weekly meeting, during which we will go over your TVF to make sure you have achieved your goals for the week, including: completion of all assigned GRE hours , 1 hour worth of graduate school preparation, homework, graph, etc. Attendance at weekly meetings is mandatory to receive full credit for completed work.

▪ If you miss class, late work (assigned hours and homework material) can be turned in the following week. However, it will only be worth half of the original point value. See Missed Class section below.

▪ Attendance of weekly meetings is worth 10 points each week

( Missed Class (10 points)

o If you miss class, you will be allowed to complete extra tasks to make up for the class missed. You will only be allowed to make up 2 classes; if you miss more than two classes you will lose those points and will not be allowed to make them up.

o You will be able to make up class points by doing the following

▪ Attend another section of the class during the same week

▪ Complete 1 hour of extra GRE work, including proofs

( Missed Points/Hours (20 points)

o You will be able to make up for uncompleted hours points (i.e. assignments that were assigned for that week that you did not complete, but you were in class) by doing the following:

▪ 1 uncompleted assignment/hour: complete the missed work plus one extra hour of GRE work including proofs

▪ 2 uncompleted assignments/hours: complete the missed work plus two extra hours of GRE work including proofs

▪ 3 or more uncompleted assignments/hours: complete the missed work plus 3 extra hours of GRE work including proofs

○ You will be able to make up for lost points from missed class periods, a maximum of 2 missed classes, (i.e. you did not come to class and earned only half credit for your work) by doing the following:

( turning in the assigned work from the missed class period plus

complete one full-length Powerprep practice test, including both analytical writing sections, plus proofs (printed copy of scores from verbal and quantitative section, plus printed copies of essays from both writing sections).

( See missed points section for deadline for make-up work.

( Missed Points/Homework (20 points)

○ You will be able to replace lost homework points by doing the following:

▪ In order to make-up for homework, you must complete the homework and spend one extra hour completing GRE work.

( See missed points section for deadline for make-up work.

□ Missed Points/TVF & Graph (5 points each)

o Missed TVF and Graph points can not be replaced.

o However, if you miss class or need to complete make-up work you will need to fill out a make-up TVF. This form will specify the work you missed and the make-up work you are completing to replace lost points.

o This form is also attached to the course syllabus on your CD. You will be required to print, complete, and turn in this make-up TVF in order to receive credit for lost points. (Don’t forget to also fill out your other TVF for your regularly assigned work).

( Missed Points

○ All missed work and points must be made up by the following class

period to receive credit for those lost points.

▪ For example, if you miss class on Monday you will need to complete the missed work (homework, hours, proofs, and graph), the regular work required for the next class period, plus the make-up extra tasks and hours by the following class period.

▪ If the make-up work is not completed by the following class period the lost points will not be able to be replaced.

( Optional Activity Points (OAP)

○ You can earn OAPs every time you complete additional hours

studying for the GRE each week. This means that if you complete

extra GRE work, above and beyond what was assigned for that

week, you can earn extra points in the form of OAPs.

▪ Make sure you have proofs for, and keep track of how long you

spent on each additional task.

○ Each additional hour spent studying is worth 5 OAPs. You can

accumulate OAPs and use them at the end of the semester to replace missed points. Here’s how…

▪ If you accumulate 50 OAPs by the 13th week of the semester

you can allocate 10 freebie points towards one category of your choice to help raise your grade.

▪ If you accumulate 100 OAPs by the 13th week of the semester

you can allocate 20 freebie points towards one category of your

choice to help raise your grade.

▪ However, OAPs may not be used to replace missed points for any of the 3 practice tests, the resume/vita assignment, or quiz points.

▪ Also, OAPs can not be earned by completing extra make-up work. All OAPs must be earned from extra work completed on time and presented in class.

BACC Appointment

• If you have never had a BACC appointment, you should set one up with a graduate student sometime during the semester in order to establish your goals and receive feedback on what you need to be doing and what you plan on doing in the future. This appointment can be counted as one of your grad school tasks. It is not required, but strongly recommended.

● Grading

o Your grade is comprised of 5 sections. You MUST HAVE an A in each of the following sections in order to receive an A in PSY 396.

• Hours (20 points per week)

• Attendance (10 points per week)

• Homework (20 points per week)

• Quizzes (15 points each)

• TVF (5 points per week)

• Graph (5 points per week)

Grade Matrix:

| |Minimum % in Attendance, TVF, and Graph |

|Minimum % in Homework, Hours, and quizzes|92 |87 |

|GRE |Studying vocabulary |Note cards, list of words, etc., |

|GRE |Study math problems |Bring worked out math problems |

|GRE |Practice exercises on CD |Printout of results |

|GRE |Games on GRE CD |Printout of results |

|GRE |Practice tests on CD, online, or in book |Printout of scores, or completed paper copy |

|GRE |Practice on |Printouts or Printscreens |

|GRE |Study review sections from text |Bring notes of material |

Suggested Tasks and Proofs for Grad School Hours:

|Extra |Tasks |Proof |

|Grad School |Internet searches |Bring printout of sites |

|Grad |Fill out an application |Bring completed application |

|School | | |

|Grad School |Work on personal statement |Bring copy of draft |

|Grad School |Work on research project |Bring record of work signed by the head of the project |

|Grad School |Read journal articles on interested topics |Bring notes |

|Grad School |Read books relevant to field |Bring notes |

|Grad School |Ask for letter of recommendation |Bring signature of teacher |

|Grad School |Get stuff together for letter of |Bring stuff for letter |

| |recommendation | |

|Grad School |Search for scholarships |Bring any information you’ve found |

|Grad School |Attend Psi Chi |Bring signature of Psi Chi member |

|Grad |Attend BAAM, and/or ABA |Bring proof of attendance |

|School | | |

| | | |

|Grad |Attend computer skills workshops |Bring proof of attendance |

|School | | |

|Grad |Read books or journal articles relevant to |Bring notes on the material read |

|School |area of study | |

|Grad |Fill out scholarship applications |Bring filled out application |

|School | | |

|Grad |Visit or make contact with schools |Bring in materials gained from contact with the school |

|School | | |

|Grad School or GRE |Other: |Approved by instructor |

| |must be approved by instructor | |

Task Verification Form

Name______________________ Week of _________

|Completed Assigned Tasks |Proof of completion |Category |Time spent |( |

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|Extra Tasks |Proof of completion | |Time spent |OAPs earned |

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|Total Hours/Tasks: | | |

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THIS SECTION IS FOR TA USE ONLY!!!

|TASK & | PTS. EARNED |INITIALS |

|POSSIBLE PTS. | | |

|ATTENDANCE (10) |/ | |

|COMPLETED TVF & GRAPH (10…5 each) |/ | |

|HOMEWORK (20) |/ | |

|HOURS (20) |/ | |

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|QUIZ |/ | |

|OAPs | | |

TOTAL POINTS EARNED ________ FOR WEEK OF________

Make-up TVF

Name____________________ Specify: Missed class or Uncompleted work

Date Missed______________/Current Date________________

|Missed Task |Make-up Task | |Proof of completion |Category |Time spent |

|( | |( | | | |

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For TA use only!!

|Total missed hours/tasks: | Points earned: Category |Initials |

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|Total hours/tasks made-up: | Points earned: Category |Initials |

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