A Computer

It is more than obvious that you need a computer to take this course. In fact, it would be surprising if a student signed up for the class without having a personal computer.
Nonetheless, it is possible to complete the course in a computer lab, a library, even an internet cafe, as long as the computers available have a reliable network connection with the Shockwave plug-in described below.
Regarding said connection, it is highly advisable that it be high-speed, i.e., broad-band, DSL, satellite, or even wireless. Using a common telephone modem will prove too slow to load and run the homework software or view the videos.

The “Shockwave” Plug-In

The homework program in this course requires the plug-in Adobe Shockwave to run correctly. If your computer does not already have it, you need to click on the icon to the left to open the webpage where you can download and install the proper full version (not the “slim” version) for your computer system for free.
NOTE! If after installing Shockwave, it does not seem to work correctly, you should consult Adobe’s troubleshooting pages to identify and remedy the problem on your computer.

Required Textbook

Aronson, Eliot. The Social Animal. 11th edition. New York: Worth Publishers. 2012. ISBN 1-4292-3341-9.

You can purchase this text from the USU bookstore. If you prefer, you could also ask the bookstore about purchasing an e-book version, as they are less expensive and immediately accessible via the web.
NOTE: The 11th edition is different than earlier editions. If you purchase a previous edition you will be missing important information for the homework and tests.
ALSO NOTE: You must purchase the book immediately or you will not be able to complete the first homework assignments on time and will consequently lose points according to the rules.

If you have problems purchasing your book, you could try calling the publisher directly at their toll-free technical support number: (800) 936-6899 (available 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). You could also send an e-mail message to techsupport@bfwpub.com or visit their website http://bfwpub.com/techsupport.

Supplementary Materials

Although not required, the free supplementary student web site that Worth Publishers has created to accompany the textbook contains helpful study aides (e.g., flash cards, practice quizzes, etc.). If you wish to take advantage of those ancillary materials, you will need to register as a student at that website. Just be sure to jot down your registration username and password and keep them in a safe place so that you can open the supplements throughout the semester. There is no need to submit any results from the supplements to the instructor, since they will not count toward your grade. Just have fun with them!
Similarly, although not required, you are more than welcome to compare your own notes from the readings with the publisher’s outlines for each chapter, both a “simple” set (outlines A) and a more elaborate set (outlines B). Both sets are accessible from the course calendar, and you can also download them as PDF or PowerPoint files. If interested, you can also watch videos that might enhance your understanding of the concepts studied. You likewise can open those videos by clicking on their links in the course calendar. Enjoy!
Finally, as you already know from the home page for this syllabus, there are chat sessions held at 7:00-8:30 PM on the Thursdays designated in the course calendar. Attendence is completely voluntary, and does not affect your grade in any way, but some students find that participation in these chats can help them understand more clearly the concepts that they are learning. I hope to “see” you there!

	The homework program in this course requires the plug-in Adobe Shockwave to run correctly. If your computer does not already have it, you need to click on the icon to the left to open the webpage where you can download and install the proper full version (not the “slim” version) for your computer system for free.
	NOTE!	If after installing Shockwave, it does not seem to work correctly, you should consult Adobe’s troubleshooting pages to identify and remedy the problem on your computer.