Guidelines for writing discussions
The following is a provided rubric for you to use to assess your participation in discussions. Please take the time throughout the course to check and see where your participation level falls. This document is for your use, so you know what is expected of you and how your instructor will be grading you.
LEVEL 4
· Provides concrete examples from the readings to support postings
· Integrates prior readings in postings
· Integrates personal observations and knowledge in an accurate and highly insightful way
· Presents new observations
· Constructively responds to classmates’ postings
· Participates in all module discussions
· Posts are organized
· Information is presented in a logical sequence
· Word choice and sentence structure are suitable
LEVEL 3
· Refers to examples from the readings to support postings
· Integrates personal observations and knowledge in an accurate way
· Presents new observations
· Constructively responds to classmates’ postings
· Participates in all module discussions
· Posts are organized
· Information is presented in a logical sequence
· Word choice and sentence structure are suitable
LEVEL 2
· Alludes to the readings to support postings
· Integrates personal observations and knowledge in a cursory manner
· Does not present new observations
· Constructively responds to classmates’ postings
· Posts are somewhat disorganized and information is not presented in a logical sequence
· Word choice and sentence structure are not suitable
LEVEL 1
· Does not refer to the readings to support postings
· Does not integrate personal observations or knowledge
· Does not present new observations
· Responds in a cursory manner to classmates’ postings
· Posts are disorganized and information is not presented in a logical sequence
· Word choice and sentence structure are not suitable.
Discussion#3
Note: This discussion posting has two parts, and you are expected to respond to both parts of the discussion question.
In chapter 6, your text explores the ways in which men and women tend to differ in terms of gender role-ideology, perceptual abilities, conformity and obedience, aggressiveness, sexuality, and personality, among others. After reading this section, answer each of the questions below:
1. If you were given a second life and could choose to be either a man or a woman, which gender would you select? In presenting your answer, list reasons for your choice of returning as a man or a woman.
2. Think for a moment about the role of a husband and the role of a wife. What should a husband and wife be like? When presenting your answer, consider the following questions (you do not have to answer or include all of these—they are simply to stimulate your thoughts): Who should complete household chores (inside and outside)? Who should make home repairs? Who should spend the most time with the children? Whose responsibility is it to take care of the older parents? Who should earn more money? Who should make family decisions? Who should be a stay-at-home parent? Who should prepare meals or wash the dishes?
Discussion Posting: #4
In chapter 7, your text discusses the ways in which many cultures conceptualize health and health related behaviors. In the United States, many of our national agencies conceptualize “being healthy” as (1) maintaining a normal body weight (with a BMI under 25); (2) having cholesterol within normal limits (typically total cholesterol under 200 with LDL cholesterol under 130); (3) eating recommended daily values of nutrients (<65 grams of fat, <300mg cholesterol, <2000 calories, >25grams of fiber, and 50 grams of protein); (4) exercising for approximately 30 minutes five or more days a week; and (5) maintaining blood pressure below 130 systolic and 85 diastolic. Reflect on these “healthy lifestyle” recommendations for a moment. How many do you meet? If you do not meet all of them, what are you doing to become “healthier”? If you are not doing anything to become healthier, why not?
Please have main discussion in by Thursday, and then read the postings submitted by your classmates and reply to at least two other students by Sunday.
Discussion Posting:#5
Your text describes one of the more popular and enduring models of personality: The Five Factor Model of Personality (FFM). This model postulates that the five personality factors of Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness are the core universal personality traits evidenced across cultures. After reading this section of the text, do you agree that this model seems to capture the essence of personality in humans? Are there important dimensions that seem missing? Do you think that this model is cross-culturally applicable?
Discussion Posting: #6
Willingness to see professional treatment for psychological problems differs across cultures, and a number of factors are typically involved in such decisions. Imagine for a moment that you have recently been suffering from significant symptoms of depression, much more than you ever have previously in your life. You cannot seem to shake these feelings no matter what you try, and your normal ways of handling your depressive affect are not working. You have noticed changes in your appetite, sleeping patterns, enjoyment of activities and work productivity. Those around you are concerned about you as they are seeing the changes as well. What would it take for you to seek professional help for your depression? What factors would be involved in your decision to seek therapy?
When constructing your response, try to answer not only the two questions above, but these questions as well: Would the gender, racial/ethnic background, religious and political beliefs or sexual orientation of the therapist concern you? Would the level of graduate education of your therapist matter to you (i.e., seeing a master’s trained therapist versus a therapist with a doctoral degree)? Would you prefer to see a younger or more mature therapist? Would it matter if the therapist had never dealt with the problems you are dealing with? How would those around you view your treatment? Would you prefer to see a therapist one-on-one or participate in group psychotherapy?
Discussion Posting: #7
Your text defined stereotypes as general images or beliefs we have about others and their belief systems, personalities or behaviors. Your text also noted that stereotypes can either be positive (e.g., believing that Asian Americans are mathematically minded and very industrious) or negative and can either be accurate or completely unfounded. Further, two types of stereotypes were discussed: Autostereotypes – or the beliefs that you have about your own group – and Heterostereotypes – or the beliefs that you have about those outside your group. Think for a moment about what characteristics you believe men and women tend to have in general. Then, post your response to the questions below. Make sure to identify if you are a man or a woman when submitting your responses.
1. Autostereotypes: Write down what characteristics women in general tend to have if you are a woman, or write down what characteristics men in general tend to have if you are a man (list as many as you can):
2. Heterostereotypes: Write down what characteristics men in general tend to have if you are a woman, or write down what characteristics women in general tend to have if you are a man (list as many as you can):
Discussion Posting: #8
Work is a part of the daily lives of most people, and in many of the positions we have occupied throughout lives, we have worked under the supervision of a leader or superior. Your text summarizes the research on leadership and management styles and then comments on differences across cultures. We often talk about effective leaders or natural leaders or leaders who usher in change, but regardless of what we call leaders in American culture, we tend to value effective and charismatic leaders that can impart transformative change in our organizations. In fact, theorists have developed a hierarchy of leadership effectiveness that ranges from the highly competent individual who makes productive contributions and had good work habits to the level 5 leader or the Executive who builds organizational greatness through vision, commitment, will and humility.
Think back about the leaders or supervisors for whom you have worked. Which leadership and management styles did you experience as most positive and were most effective at encouraging you to be a productive employee? Which leadership styles resulted in the production of negative attitudes or decreased motivation to perform well?