Peter McCormack's
  St. Thomas University
Psychology Course News



Photo © 2001-2008 Peter McCormack



~ The Latest Course News ~

Within this section you will find the latest information pertaining to courses currently being taught by Peter McCormack





News Updated April 24, 2008

Students of Psyc 2653 and Psyc 2663

For the students of Psyc 2653 and Psyc 2663: This shortened term has been a most challenging one in which we started and finished later than usual. In spite of this, may I please take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your patience, positive attitude and humour throughout the course. Much to my surprise, your efforts have resulted in the most memorable of all my terms at St. Thomas University.

The groups worked harder this term than I have ever seen before on projects that required considerable research and planning for the presentations. It was most rewarding to see the sharing of information and collaboration amount group members. You have ably demonstrated that considerable group success follows hard work, a sharing knowledge and listening to others. The marks for your projects and related brief comments are shown below. All final grades have now been submitted and you should see them online on April 25, 2008 or soon thereafter once the Registrar is able to process them.

Psyc 2653 Project Grades Spring 2008

Presentation #1 - Group 2 - April 15, 2008: A (91)

Paper: The Murder Of James Bulger: Why Did It Happen?

You had a very creative presentation and your choice of a theatrical performance was a good one. The Law & Order type format was entertaining and allowed you to give your own unique perspective. Choosing the auditorum gave you the extra room you needed. Your paper was also well done and I placed it only slightly below your presentation in terms of grade. You made effective use of powerpoint slides during your performance to emphasize the symptoms that you considered in your diagnoses.

Presentation #2 - Group 1 - April 17, 2008: A- (89)

Paper: The Murder Of James Bulger: Why It Happened And How It Could Have Been Prevented

Your presentation was well crafted and you showed good initiative in oonsulting expert opinions from the policing and psychological perspective. You had a good powerpoint presentation and the content of your slides supported your work. You discussed a number of interesting hypotheses. I felt your presentation was somewhat stronger than your paper, however, your good discussion made up the difference.

Presentation #3 - Group 3 - April 22, 2008: A - (88)

Paper: More Than Society Wants To Consider: The Murder Of James Bulger

Your presentation was certainly "news worthy." The idea of using a news format to present the murder worked very well. Your slides supported your presentation. Your description of the other relevant research in your news spots and your comparision of similar cases was a strength that served you well. I especially enjoyed the discussion that stemmed from your presentation. At times your presentation of information was a bit ambitious and made extra demands on the listener, however, your strong paper made up for this difficulty.

Presentation #4 - Group 4 - April 24, 2008: A- (89)

Paper: Why Was James Bulger Murdered?

Your presentation, taking a developmental approach to the subject matter, was fresh and creative. The slides were absolutely excellent and their relevance to the points being made captured the interest and the imagination of the viewer. Your information was well researched including the reaction of the general public and your peers to the crime. The game heightened the readers' interest and reinforced the facts of the case. Your group responded well to questions during the discussion period.



Psyc 2663 Project Grades Spring 2008

Presentation #1 - Group 4 - April 15, 2008: A- (86)

Paper: The Nexus Of The John Lennon Murder

Your presentation provided a good look at the life of the murderer and also raised curiosity about the earlier days in the victim's history as well. The video at the end of your presentation wherein you asked your colleagues about the murder, who the victim was and his contribution was brilliant. I rated your presentation higher than your paper, however, your strong discussion and enthusiasm was a redeeming feature overall.

Presentation #2 - Group 2 - April 17, 2008: A (90)

Paper: Mark David Chapman: A Mentally Disordered Murderer

The spirit shown by all group members shone through in this great presentation. You provided a thorough developmental analysis of the murder. The interesting research and comparision of other famous murders was noted and certainly supported the claims made in your presentation. The Jeopardy Game based on relevant information was first rate and allowed for fun while reinforcing the material you presented. Your paper was strong as well.

Presentation #3 - Group 1 - April 22, 2008: A (91)

Paper: Inside the Minds and Lives Of John Lennon and Mark Chapman

Your presentation was unique in that it took the listener into the life and times of the murderer through his own words. This allowed for a psychological autopsy that was fascinating and educating at the same time. Your slides and videos were well chosen and added richness to your presentation. Your paper was also very good. The class discussion was excellent.

Presentation #4 - Group 3 - April 24, 2008: A (91)

Paper: Dirt On The Windshield: Analyzing The Clouded Mind Of Mark David Chapman

Your presentation and strong paper were very unique and complemented one another nicely. The talk show format was entertaining and information and the humourous, relaxed and informal presentation held the attention of the audience throughout. You showed good initiative by polling fans about the subject matter.






Home

Rickenbacker Resource