PSYCHOLOGY 5
HUMAN
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Monday and Wednesday,
Fall,
2008
INSTRUCTOR: Tina
Trolier
TEXTBOOK: Crooks, Robert and Baur,
Karla; "Our Sexuality",
10th edition, Brooks and Cole Publishing,
RECOMMENDED
Kuhn, Lauren; "Study Guide for Our Sexuality",
10th edition, Brooks and Cole Publishing, Pacific Grove, CA.; 2006.
**Students who are having
trouble with assignments and tests may be required to purchase, complete, and turn
in the study guide.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of human
sexual behavior. First and foremost, it
is a psychology course. Human sexual
behavior has many and varied determinates, most all of which fall within the
study of psychology. We will examine the
biological, psychosocial, behavioral, and cultural aspects of sexuality.
To do so, we will first examine how human sexuality is studied in a
systematic and scientific manner.
Secondarily, we will look at what knowledge this field of study has
produced. Furthermore, it is the hope of
this instructor that the information presented in class will enable you to
understand your own and other’s sexual behavior, make well thought-out
decisions regarding your own sexual choices, and better understand
relationships in today’s society.
Finally, I have designed this course to help you develop and sharpen your
academic skills, such as writing and critical thinking.
CLASS FORMAT:
We will attempt to cover 11 of the 20 chapters in your textbook. There will be a test after every two or three
chapters covered (see course outline).
In addition to class lectures, discussions, films, and tests, you will be
given an option of doing either a bi-weekly journal OR writing a book review.
TESTS:
Tests will consist of 25 multiple choice questions (one point each) and
two brief essay questions (worth 5 points each). Tests will be worth a total of
35 points.
There will be a total of 5 written tests.
I will drop your lowest score, thus written tests will be worth 140
points (four tests @ 35 points each) of your total grade.
There will be NO make-up exams. If you need to be absent, it would be wise to
miss only one exam day.
There will be no comprehensive final exam, but we will meet on the day
scheduled for the final exam to complete the last unit test.
EXTRA CREDIT:
There may be an extra credit essay question available on several of the
last tests. We will decide (by
consensus) which chapter the question will be taken from.
JOURNALS:
The journal assignments are attached to this course outline. Additional detail and readings for these assignment will be provided in class. If you miss a class, it is your
responsibility to find out the journal assignment from a fellow student. Some weeks your journal topic will involve
reading an additional article or chapter.
Other weeks, you may be asked to respond to provocative issues presented
in lecture or the textbook.
The purpose of keeping a journal is to have you examine your own feelings
and opinions regarding human sexuality.
It is not required that you disclose information of a personal nature,
though you may want to do so. All
journal writing will be considered (and kept) confidential.
Seven journal writing assignments will be due during the course of the
term. Each will be worth 10 points. You
will be graded on your compliance (turning it in), your ability to discuss the
issues and your opinions, and your comprehensiveness of analysis. You will NOT be graded on your
opinions -- but, you might be graded on your ability to take varying
perspectives in analyzing your own point of view.
BOOK REVIEWS:
If you chose the option of writing a book review, you will be required to
do the following:
·
select a
book from the library or local bookstore (I might also have a book you are
interested in borrowing). Obviously this
book needs to be relevant to the study of human sexuality.
·
complete a 10
point homework assignment explaining which book you have chosen and why (to be
approved by the instructor), and give a brief outline of your proposed written
review.
·
complete a 60 point book review including: a summary of the book, a comparison of the
book to appropriate sections of your textbook, and an analysis of the book’s
content in terms of it’s strengths and weaknesses, AND it’s significance and
value. Other analysis of the book should
include: if the author is qualified to
write the book, do the ideas presented fit with your personal experience, is
the book well researched with scientific data and findings, does the author
provide practical suggestions, and is the book written in a clear and
interesting way?
Additional Information for the Writing Assignment:
Either writing assignment focuses on your ability to analyze information
and think critically about the issues involved.
As such, these parts of the assignment are the most crucial. When we analyze ideas we take them apart and
look at them in an objective way. We
evaluate the origins of the ideas, and compare them to current knowledge,
opinions, facts and attitudes.
Book reviews need to be typed, double spaced, and utilize your best
writing skills. Journals may be typed or
hand written (though, typed is always easier for the instructor), and also
utilize your best writing skills. I need to be able to determine that you have
read the assignments. If your journal does not reflect that you have completed
the required reading, you will receive a failing grade for that journal.
Those of you doing book reviews are welcome to turn in drafts of your
papers throughout the term for additional feedback.
GRADING:
Your grade will be determined by the percentage of points that you earn
compared to the total points possible.
·
Written Tests 140
points
(highest
grades of 4 of 5 tests)
·
Journal or Paper
70 points
Journal = 7 x 10 points each
Book Review = 10 points for
homework assignment
60 points for written review
·
TOTAL POINTS 210
POINTS
Final grades will be determined by percentage of points accumulated.
A’s: 90% or higher of 210 = 189
or higher
B’s: 80% - 89% = 168 - 188.5
C’s: 70% - 79% = 147 - 167.5
D’s: 60% - 69% = 126 - 146.5
F’s: 59% or lower of 175 = 125.5 or lower
ATTENDANCE AND CLASS CONDUCT:
You are required to be “in class” and “on time”. Attendance will be taken at the beginning
of each class (as the college requires that I turn in attendance records). Please do not make your attendance or arrival
time an issue for me or you. You will be allowed four absences during the
semester. After that event, you will
lose 3 points per absence. If you arrive
to class after attendance has been taken, you will be marked as absent.
Furthermore, do not expect that I will drop you from this course for
non-attendance. It is your
responsibility to drop this course if you so desire. Students that stop
attending class, and do not drop the course through the college registrar, may
find themselves with an “F” grade at the end of the term.
I encourage open discussion in this class. I also encourage “fun”. Please share your comments, as you feel
appropriate, with the entire class. Most
types of humor (but not all) are appreciated.
Please do not disrupt class activities with private “chats”.
PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY AND DISCLOSURES:
The policy in this class is that communication about sexual issues is a
necessary and important endeavor. It is
also the policy in this class that people have the right not to
disclose information of a personal nature.
Please feel free to exercise that right if you desire. If you are uncomfortable with what is being
discussed, please let me know, so that we can decide on an appropriate course
of action. There will never be a penalty
for discomfort. Class members are encouraged to maintain confidentiality over
what they may hear in class discussions.
OFFICE HOURS AND COMMUNICATION:
My office hours are yet to be determined.
For the time being they will be by appointment. I will let you know once they are
established. If you need to speak with me between class
meetings, you may call me at my college voice mail: 588-5100, ext:8434,
or my cell phone (768-5976). You may
also send me email at: ttrolier@mlode.com.,
or through the college email system. It is not necessary to inform me you will be
absent.
COURSE OUTLINE
DATE CLASS TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS
(READ PRIOR TO CLASS)
______________________________________________________________
Aug. 25 Class
Business Read Chap. 1
Class Sex
Survey
Chap. 1
(Perspectives
on Sexuality)
Aug. 27 Chap. 1 Read Chap. 2
Chap. 2
(Research in
Sexuality)
Sept. 1 HOLIDAY
Sept. 3 Chap. 2 Read Chap. 2
Journal
#1 Due
Sept. 8 Chap. 2 Read Chap. 2
Sept. 10 Chap. 3 Read Chap. 3
(Gender
Issues)
Sept. 15 Chap. 3 Read Chap. 3
Book
Review Homework Due
Sept. 17 TEST --
CHAP'S 1-3
Sept. 22 Chap. 4 Read Chap. 4
(Female
Anatomy)
Sept. 24 Chap. 4 Read Chap. 4
Sept. 29 Chap. 5 Read Chap. 5
(Male
Anatomy) Journal #2 Due
Oct. 1 Chap. 5 Read Chap. 5
Oct. 6 Chap. 6 Read Chap. 6
(Sexual Arousal
and Response)
DATE
CLASS TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS
(READ PRIOR TO CLASS)
Oct. 8 Chap. 6 Read Chap. 6
Oct. 13 TEST --
CHAP'S 4-6 Journal #3 Due
Oct. 15 Chap. 7 Read Chap. 7
(Love &
Communication)
Oct. 20 Chap. 7 Read Chap. 7
Oct. 22 Chap. 7 Read Chap. 8
Journal
#4 Due
Oct. 27 Chap. 8 Read Chap. 8
(Sexual
Behaviors)
Oct. 29 Chap. 8 Read Chap. 8
Nov. 3 TEST -- CHAP'S 7-8 Journal #5 Due
Nov. 5 Chap. 9 Read Chap. 9
(Sexual
Orientations)
Nov. 10 HOLIDAY
Nov. 12 Chap. 9 Read
Chap. 10
Nov. 17 Chap. 10 Read Chap. 10
(Contraception) Journal #6 Due
Nov. 19 TEST --
CHAP'S 10 & 11
Nov. 24 Chap. 14 Read Chap. 14
(Sexual
Difficulties)
Nov. 26 Chap. 14 Read Chap. 14
Dec. 1 Chap. 14 Read Chap. 14
Book
Reviews Due
(Increasing
Sexual Pleasure)
Dec. 3 Chap. 14 Read Chap. 14
Journal
#7 Due
Dec. 8 (Monday) FINAL EXAM –