Psy 113
Writing Assignment 1:
What is Psychology?
15 points available
The purpose of this exercise is to help you to understand what
psychology is and how it differs from the popular ideas that most people
have. You probably have some of the same misconceptions as you begin this
course. In your paper, address all of the following:
- Begin by reading Chapter 1 of the text. Look
for the scientific definition of psychology. Write down this
definition and explain the definition in your own words.
- Ask 5 people who are not currently enrolled
in a General Psychology course to define psychology and to
describe what psychologists study. Try to ask people with
different interests and majors. Record each of their responses
verbatim (word for word). After each person's response, include
their age, sex, and educational level.
- In a few paragraphs, compare the responses of
your respondents to the scientific definition given in the text.
Be sure to address the following:
a) What were some of the
common elements or ideas in the answers given by your
respondents? b) How do the popular notions about psychology
given by your respondents differ from the scientific definition
given in the text?
c) What were the major misconceptions that
your respondents had about psychology?
Formatting and submission expectations for this assignment:
- Your paper must be typed and double-spaced.
- Begin with your first name, last name and
class time (11:00 or 12:00).
- Carefully and thoroughly address the
information asked for in areas 1-3 above. Number your responses. Use complete sentences
whenever possible and put quotation marks around direct quotes.
Overall length of the paper does not matter as much as
completely addressing and explaining the required information. I
would guess a thorough paper would be about 2 double-spaced
pages.
- Submit your word or pdf file to the Writing
Assignment 1 dropbox in D2L by Wednesday, 1/14 at 4 pm. Paper
copies or emailed assignments will not be accepted.