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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Deron L. ReedAdvance General Psychology,

2009

Personal Statement

Having almost majored in psychology as an undergraduate, I would now like to concentrate on finishing the degree with a concentration in criminal justice and perhaps moving on towards a master’s degree in criminal justice.

I am especially interested in probation and parole areas of criminal justice. My personal experiences have involved some combination of military, occasional conversations with active and former probation and parole officers. For the most part, my studying of the field has just happen since I have been in school which prompted me to further investigate with I can do with a degree in psychology with a concentration in criminal justice. I plan to work further on understanding the nature of criminal offenders and when they are released from the correctional institutions.

Personal Statement cont.

My extensive background in the United States Navy has provided me with the ability to work with others in order to achieve common goals to ensure that things are done correctly. This would in no doubt help into understanding certain stages of criminal offenders when they are released on probation and parole.

In my studies toward a master’s degree in criminal justice, I hope to examine more closely the relationship between criminal minds and the average citizens. My past studies included the studying of serial killers, interpersonal relationships, and actual studies of brain functions, behavioral disorders, and environmental factors. This has caused me to consider the question of what happens to cause people to committed crime and further what separated normalcy from psychotic behavior as far as to actually murder another human being.

Personal Statement cont.

Should I be employed in the field of probation and parole, I would like to resume my studies in combinations with the studying of criminal offenders who break the law with murders. Studying psychology, also figures prominently in my academic and professional goals. I have just begun editing my resume and keeping in touch with local jails and the Phelps’s correctional institution located here in Louisiana. Not entirely looking for employment but more in the field of how probation and parole officers work in the environment. I have submitted contact information to let potential employers know that I am about to graduate with a degree in psychology with a concentration in criminal justice.

Personal Statement cont.

In terms of a career, I see myself working in the criminal justice field and have one successful career exploring the nature of the criminal and what I can do to give probation and/or parole clients the opportunity to see beyond their criminal activities and to focus on becoming productive citizens in our society. Obtaining a master’s degree would give me more access to the understanding of the criminal mind. First, my studies could lead to more research in combating future criminal activities. Further, earning a master’s degree in criminal justice would advance my other two career goals by adding to my skills, both critical and creative, in working with criminal offenders.

Personal Statement cont.

Ultimately, however, I see the master’s degree as an end in itself, as well as a professional stepping stone; I enjoy studying the criminal mind for its own sake and would like to continue my studies on the level demanded by the master’s program.

Reflection

Attention to detail was very important in successful completion of college courses. I feel that I have excelled in that area through all of the courses that I complete while attending Argosy University Online Programs. I do need to manage my time more wisely. I did not meet many of time requirements but did receive excellent grades for the late assignments. This is an area which needs some work. Though correct work is important to me, I need to finish under the time required for the assignment.

Table of Contents

Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy

Research SkillsCommunication Skills: Oral and WrittenEthics and Diversity AwarenessFoundations of PsychologyApplied PsychologyInterpersonal Effectiveness**Include work samples and projects with a Title Page and organized accordingly to demonstrate each of the Program Outcomes above

Critical Thinking

Fallacious advertisementDeron L. ReedArgosy University  Fallacious advertisement

Argument: Extenze is a product that claims that they know how to make a certain part of the male anatomy grow larger, over a million men worldwide have found success with Extenze, and therefore Extenze must work.

Problem: “There are over 6 billion people in the world” (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Critical Thinking

A poor advertisement can be deceiving and/or dishonest, but appears to be true that may sway many viewers who are interested in that particular product. Manipulation is very often a main ploy of these advertisers and this sells many of their products because when questions get asked the first product that comes out that would help that situation people will try it regardless of the amount of money that will be spent on the product.

In my opinion, these commercials fall under two categories of common types of fallacies. The first category these commercials falls under would be hasty generalizations because “a generalization must be based on a great deal of evidence or on many personal observations - not just one or two examples” (Argosy, 2009). The Extenze commercials chooses all types of racial backgrounds to promote their product to sway to the public that the pill works for all no matter what racial background you have. The second one these commercials could fall under is the cause and effect fallacy because “This type of fallacy makes the mistake of assuming that just because one event preceded another, the first event caused the second event” (Argosy, 2009). If you watch or have watched the commercials you would see what I mean.

 

Critical Thinking

In closing, I chose the Extenze commercials because there is no scientific proof that the pills work and furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not reviewed the product. This makes me think that the company probably does not know if the product would eventually cause problems in the long run. My advice to people who are willing to buy products like this would be to check with your doctor for further information and see if there are any other alternatives to the problem they are having.

ReferencesArgosy University. (2009). Composition II: Primary

sources and secondary sources: Module One. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.myeclass.com

U.S. Census Bureau, (2008). Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.census.gov

 

My Future in Learning

As early as I can remember, I have always set goals to be achieved. Though most of my learning can be attributed to understanding my surroundings many learning processes came from my upbringing. At a early age, I learned the importance of being a responsible, reliable, and accountable for my actions type of person.

I rely on attention to details because you must first know what you are getting yourself into before you can be successful. Though I am opened to trying something new, I must see it done first before I even attempted to try. I do this because I do not consider myself a failure. I have to process information in my mind and it does take longer for me do because I want to ensure that I am taking the correct steps to finish a project.

Envisioning my learning in the future will not be too much different from what I am doing now. Once I lock onto a goal, I will do everything possible to make sure I obtain the goal in which I set.

Contact Me

Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio.

For further information, please contact me at the e-

mail address below. reedd34@yahoo.com