PSYC 336 is Liberty's undergraduate course in the psychology of aging. Its written work is a writing assignment (a 5-page research paper or an 8 to 10-page life story paper, your choice), a field experience project working with an older adult and keeping a journal, weekly blog entries about aging in everyday life, and three forums.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as PSYC 336 Gerontology, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as PSYC336.
What PSYC 336 covers
The catalog description: The facts of demography describe the background and present status of elderly people in the United States. Then the biological, psychological and sociological factors in aging will be studied to promote an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of aging. The dying-grieving processes, as well as LTC policies and government-sponsored programs are explored.
The course examines aging across the life course from social, psychological and biological perspectives: theories of aging, health, family and social relationships, work and retirement, economic security, living arrangements, and death and dying. The text is Quadagno, Aging and the Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology.
LearnSmart assignments (160 points) and four exams (360 points) have no guide here. Each week after Week 1 runs Tuesday to Monday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Quadagno, Aging and the Life Course (2018). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
PSYC 336 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weekly Blog Entries | 105 | Not set in the guide; a weekly entry and one substantial comment |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 300 words; reply at least 150 words |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 300 words; reply at least 150 words |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Thread at least 300 words; reply at least 150 words |
| 7 | Writing Assignment | 140 | A 5-page research paper or an 8 to 10-page life story paper |
| 8 | Field Experience Project | 100 | Not set in the guide; a journal of the experience |
Week 1: Weekly Blog Entries
Seven weekly blog entries noting events in your life that relate to aging, each with a substantial comment on a classmate's blog. How to write PSYC 336 Week 1 Weekly Blog Entries.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 300-word thread citing the textbook at least once, then a 150-word reply to a classmate. How to write PSYC 336 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 300-word thread citing the textbook at least once, then a 150-word reply to a classmate. How to write PSYC 336 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 300-word thread citing the textbook at least once, then a 150-word reply to a classmate. How to write PSYC 336 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 7: Writing Assignment
Your choice: a 5-page research paper on an aging topic with at least 5 references, or an 8 to 10-page life story paper about an older adult. How to write PSYC 336 Week 7 Writing Assignment.
Week 8: Field Experience Project
Work with an older adult across the term, keep a journal of your experiences, and submit the final journal after a 1-page arrangement description in Week 2. How to write PSYC 336 Week 8 Field Experience Project.
How PSYC 336 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The seven blog entries are 15 each (105), the three forums 50 each (150), the field experience arrangement description 5 and final submission 100, the writing assignment 140, LearnSmart 160, exams 360 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Blog Entries (7) | 105 |
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 150 |
| Field Experience Arrangement Description | 5 |
| Field Experience Final Submission | 100 |
| Writing Assignment | 140 |
| LearnSmart (14) | 160 |
| Exams (4) | 360 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 900 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach PSYC 336
Arrange your field experience with an older adult in Week 1; a one-page arrangement description is due in Week 2, and you keep a journal of the experience through Week 8.
Decide early between the research paper and the life story paper; a life story paper requires long conversations with an older adult.
Questions students ask
What is the PSYC 336 writing assignment?
Your choice of a 5-page APA research paper with at least 5 references (title page, abstract and bibliography not counted) or an 8 to 10-page APA life story paper with a title page, which needs no citations; due in Week 7.
What is the PSYC 336 field experience project?
Working with an older adult and keeping a journal of your experiences, with a 1-page arrangement description in Week 2 and a final submission in Week 8.
Working through PSYC 336 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.