1. To gain an understanding of how Psychology is used to answer questions on human existence

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1 Introduction to General Psychology Psychology University of West Georgia Fall Semester 2013 Tuesday, Thursday 12:30-1:50 pm Callaway Building Annex 146 Instructor: Ken Lewis Office hours... Monday 1-3pm in Melson 124 Tuesday 2-3pm in Humanities 308 Additional office hours available by appointment. Introduction: The fundamental focus of this class is to provide a basic understanding of Psychology. In addition, the classroom environment will provide us with resources to think critically and explore the discipline in a fundamental way. Course Objectives: 1. To gain an understanding of how Psychology is used to answer questions on human existence 2. To help us develop our critical thinking process 3. To understand and critique perspectives 4. To understand the many dimensions of who we are 5. To explore consciousness 6. To refine academic writing skills Learning Outcomes: 1. Students will demonstrate an understanding about Psychology 2. Students will identify and express their own thoughts and ideas about topics presented during the semester 3. Students will investigate the mind-body connection through experiential practices and analyze it through the multiple perspectives that Psychology offers

2 Resources: Text: Gleitman, H., Gross, J. & Reisberg, D. (2011) Psychology, 8th ed., W.W. Norton & Co. Body-Mind Book & CD: Body Mind Balancing. Using Your Mind to Heal Your Body. Osho, with CD Spoken by Anando. St. Martin's Griffin. Body-Mind CD: Soma: Experience in Psychoacoustic Healing. Tom Kenyon. Expectation, evaluation and grading policy: Each student is expected to attend class and be prepared to discuss the assigned reading and complete all assignments. The grading scale explained below outlines points awarded for class attendance and participation as well as assignments. Likewise, students are expected to turn in assignments by the deadline and take quizzes as scheduled. Only documented emergencies will be exceptions to this rule. Everything in the grading is about encouraging you to take ownership of your learning process. The class is challenging in that it asks of you to stay engaged throughout the semester with the readings and assignments, to deeply reflect on your self, and to allow yourself to explore experiential exercises on their own terms. This class is not just about the field of Psychology- it is about you and how you relate to the world around you. Your final grade should reflect how much you showed up for yourself, how much you embraced this opportunity to enhance your life. Grades will be awarded based on the following: Activity Description Points Presence & Participation Quizzes Your presence and participation in this class is key to the success of your individual learning and our collective learning. Presence is a combination of attendance and being available to classroom process. This means being in the classroom on time, dropping all strings to the outside world (phones and computers off). Participation refers to listening, speaking, and engaging with the class environment. We will have six quizzes, and only your four best grades will count at 10 points each for a total of forty points. The quizzes are on the assigned text book chapters (see scheduled chapters below)

3 Paper Drafts Paper Six times throughout the semester you'll be bringing to class a draft of one section of your paper, as described in class. Each draft approaches at least one psychological perspective/angle/lens from the assigned chapters. Collectively these will be the core of your final paper. One time you will be handing in an experiential portion draft that reports your experience of both CDs. Each draft should be word, Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced. Due at the end of the semester is a paper that examines your two required body-mind practices and explores how the body-mind connection can be understood through five-six different psychological perspectives/angles/lenses as borrowed from the rough drafts. There should be an introduction, a section devoted to methods, a personal sharing & analysis, and a conclusion. It should be words, Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced. It should specifically address how the readings and experiential practices contribute to your understanding of th mind- body. You should extensively cite 5-6 chapters in the book at minimum, as well as the Body Mind Balancing book and other resources of the course. Citing any text outside of course materials is strictly optional Total 100 Grading Scale: A= B= C= D= F= Below 60 Your Commitment: This is a three credit course. To earn three credits you are to attend three classroom hours per week and participate in out-of-class study/activities /work for six hours per week. You should use your out-of-class hours fully and wisely.

4 Academic Integrity: All individual written work is expected to be your own, and plagiarism is highly unacceptable. Proper documentation and citation is required when attributing ideas/information. Please see the honor code in the student handbook if you have questions, or come see me. If you are caught cheating in any way, you will receive zero points for that assignment and it will be reported to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for possible probation or suspension from the University. Accommodations for disabilities: Accommodations and modifications can be made for all assignments for those with specific learning disabilities (university documentation required). Rights/Responsibilities: Students, please carefully review the following information at this link It contains important material pertaining to your rights and responsibilities in this class. Because these statements are updated as federal, state, university, and accreditation standards change, you should review the information each semester. Final Paper: If you miss your final paper deadline, and prior arrangements have not been made, you may receive a grade of F on that paper and this may affect your final grade in the class. If you do not hand-in your paper due to an emergency, please contact the Psychology office at (678) or go to Melson Room 123 as soon as possible to complete the application: Missed Final Exam: Verification of Emergency. This form will need to be approved by the chair for an incomplete grade which may allow you the time to make up your exam or complete your final assignments. This application will require documentation and authorization from you to verify your emergency. Schedule: Week 1 Aug 27 Day: 1 Syllabus. General discussions- Psychology, Existential. Day 2: Discuss (read these by this class) Prologue of Psychology textbook and Chapter 7 of Body Mind Balancing. Week 2 Sept 3 Day1: Paper Draft due: experiential portion. Discuss Body-Mind Practices. Be prepared to discuss both CDs. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 1

5 Week 3 Sept 10 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 2. Discuss Body Mind Balancing foreword. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 3 Week 4 Sept 17 Day 1: Quiz 1: Prologue through Chapter 3. Paper Draft 1 due. Writer's workshop. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 4 Week 5 Sept 24 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 5. Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 1. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 6 Week 6 Oct 1 Day 1: Quiz 2: Chapter 4-6. Paper Draft 2 due. Writer's workshop. Day2: Discuss Chapter 7 Week 7 Oct 8 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 8. Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 2. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 9 Week 8 Oct 15 Day 1: Quiz 3: Chapter 7-9. Paper Draft 3 due. Writer's workshop. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 10 Week 9 Oct 22 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 11. Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 3. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 12 Week 10 Oct 29 Day 1: Quiz 4: Chapter Paper Draft 4 due. Writer's workshop. Day 2: Discuss Chapter 13 Week 11 Nov 5 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 14. Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 4 [1-8] Day 2: Discuss Chapter 15

6 Week 12 Nov 12 Day 1: Quiz 5: Chapter Paper Draft 5 due. Writer's workshop. Day 2: Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 16 Week 13 Nov 19 Day 1: Discuss Chapter 17. Discuss Body Mind Balancing Chapter 4 [9-20] Day 2: Quiz 6: Chapter Paper Draft 6 due. Writer's workshop. Week 14 Nov 26 Day 1: Thanksgiving Break- no classes. Day 2: Thanksgiving Break- no classes. Week 15 Dec 3 Day 1: Final Paper draft due. Writer's workshop. Day 2: Final Paper due: paper copy in class. Then, we will have a collective data sharing on body-mind experiences and will work together on applying the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method to analyze the data. FINALS Dec 10 Day 1: TBA Day 2: TBA