Forensic Psychology

Fall, 2008

Dr. Travis Langley  McBrien Hall 301-F  (870)230-5222
langlet@hsu.edu

 

Required Textbook: Criminal Behavior: A Psychosocial Approach, by Bartol.

 

UNIT 1                                    TEST:  Thursday, September 18

                                    Chapters 1, 2, 3.

 

UNIT 2                                    TEST:  Tuesday, October 14

Chapters 4, 5, 6.

 

UNIT 3                                    TEST:  Thursday, November 6

                                                Chapters 7, 8, 9.

                                                                       

UNIT 4                                    TEST:  Tuesday, December 9

                                    Chapters 10-12.

 

FINAL                                     Cumulative. Refer to fall schedule for date.

 

EXAMS

 

Each test will consist of 40 multiple choice items -- covering lecture notes, assigned readings, and class discussion. Bring number 2 pencils for every test. If you have trouble erasing completely, bring Liquid Paper to cover your erasures or just ask the professor for a clean answer sheet. Any answer marked wrong due to an incomplete erasure is simply wrong.

 

There will be NO makeup tests. As long as you do not miss any quizzes or tests, your lowest test score will be dropped. If you miss a test, it will be the score that gets dropped. The final will weigh the same as any other test in figuring your grade, and it can be the grade that gets dropped.

 

GRADING

 

Test questions range in difficulty to provide a very accurate idea as to how much of the course material you know and understand. I do not feel it is right to establish a curve based on the highest grade in the class, in which case only one score would determine everyone's grade. The scale on the tests will be as follows:

 

A 35.1 -->        B 30.1 - 35      C 25.1 - 30      D 20.1 - 25      F <-- 20

 

The professor reserves the right to subtract any number of points from the grade of someone who disrupts class, or to assign a course grade of F to cheaters. The professor is completely serious about flunking people who cheat and referring them for University disciplinary measures.

 

Overall grade will consist of five portions: the four tests that are not dropped plus group presentation grade. Keep track of your own grades for each test. If you want to keep up with your grades, write down the numerical scores along the way. If you are not in class when a test is returned graded, you can learn the score on that test when the next test is returned graded.

 

 

Writing Across the Curriculum: The last question on every multiple-choice test will be some version of “Since the previous test, what have you learned from the current course material that was not otherwise covered by this exam?” Write your answers in coherent sentences. In general, each distinct fact you provide will be worth half a point, up to the normal maximum of 3, so to earn full credit provide 6-8 distinct facts. Writing more could earn a little extra credit, up to an absolute maximum of 4, which would almost always bring your score up a full letter grade. Bad answer, not worth any credit: “We talked about status offenses, but you didn’t ask about them.” Good answer: “A status offense is a crime that would not normally be a crime, except that it is not legal due to the age of the person doing it, such as truancy, underage drinking, or running away from home.” Rather than just stating which topic was not covered by the test, tell what you learned about the topic.

 

ATTENDANCE

 

The #1 correlate with poor grades in any class is poor attendance. Poor attendance, therefore, punishes itself. The professor doesn't normally drop people based on attendance, but he will drop anyone who misses both the first two tests or with a pattern of profound absenteeism. If you miss class, please do not tell the professor why. If you're not here when we take roll, you're not here. Class participation will be more likely to help your grade than signing a roll sheet.

 

GROUP PRESENTATION/PROJECT

 

In groups of three or four, you will all make presentations before the class at some point during the term. Under no circumstances may a group start out as small as two or as large as six; five is almost certainly too many. Those who make their presentations earliest will be graded slightly more leniently. Grades for the presentations will be based on the quality of presentations, educational value, and amount of work reflected. Each presentation will be worth 40 points, the same as a test. No, it can't be dropped.

 

Not all group members will have to get up and talk, as long as everyone in the group feels all have pulled their weight. A group grade will be assigned, with adjustments for individual quality of presentation. For this presentation, your group is teaching class. If you want at least a B, a group of 4 is responsible for 30 minutes; group of 5, 40 minutes. If you're showing a video as part of a presentation, it should not take up more than a quarter of that time, unless perhaps you made the video yourself (for example, interviewing a gang member).

 

Point value for presentations:

 

 

A+ 40

B+ 35

C+ 30

D+ 25             

E+ 20

F          10

 

A  38.3

B  33.3

C  28.3

D  23.3

E  18.3

0          0

 

A- 36.6

B- 31.6

C- 26.6

D- 21.6

E- 16.6

 

 

You may choose other topics that are not on this list as long as they are clearly relevant to this course. If you're interested in a topic not on the list (see next page), check with the professor to make sure the topic is okay. No two groups may do the same topic or excessively similar topics.

 

EXAMPLES of group presentation topics:

 

antisocial personality

arsonists

attorney tricks and/or crooked lawyers

bombers

borderline personality

child abuse

child molestation

computer criminals

con artists

cult crimes

domestic violence

drug abuse

drug dealers

eyewitness memory

forensic linguistics

gangs

hate crimes

hitmen/assassins

hostage negotiation

identity theft

infanticide

insanity plea

interrogation

jury behavior

jury selection

juvenile delinquency

kleptomania

lie detection

mass murderers

media influence on crime

negotiation

neo-nazis

organized crime

police behavior

political crimes

prison psychology

profiling

prostitution

rape victims

rapists

sexual harassment

stalkers

suicide

war crimes

white collar crime

world's dumbest criminals

Certain people who are important figures in the history of forensic psychology would be appropriate presentation topics as well:

 

            Hugo Munsterberg:often called the father of forensic psychology.

            William Moulton Marston: pioneer in lie detection; also created Wonder Woman.

            Elizabeth Loftus: expert on eyewitness testimony and false memories.

 

Guest speaker: Anyone who lines up a guest speaker whom I deem worth the class's time will receive an extra A figured into their average. Past speakers have included a CSI investigator, DEA agent, retired CIA officer, attorney for drunk drivers, state trooper, sheriff's deputies (one of whom brought a prison inmate with him), and others. Similarly, arranging an appropriate field trip would net you an extra A. In the past, we have visited Malvern's prison, the Hot Springs jail (which is scarier than the prison), juvenile jail, and juvenile court.

 

On days when we have guest speakers, do not walk in late. It's more than rude. It's disrespectful and distracts the guest. If you get there late and the speaker has already started, just wait outside the room until the speaker is done, however long that takes, and then join us for the rest of class.