My goal in teaching is to foster the acquisition of a base of concepts and learning skills to facilitate further learning and thinking. In all of my courses I guide students in the evaluation of evidence, critical thinking, argument development, verbal and written expression, and the application of general principles to novel settings. These competencies will equip students for a broad range of demands in future academic and occupational settings. Of course, I also expect my students to attain a high level of scholarship in specific content areas, especially in graduate courses in which course content is directly relevant to students’ careers. To promote the development of general thinking and learning skills, as well as facilitate an understanding of course content, all of my courses are structured around three common themes: an emphasis on psychological research, the development of writing skills and the generation of enthusiasm for scientific inquiry.