AP Psychology Ms. Bright lbright@washoeschools.net Objectives Students will learn about the field of psychology through in-depth reading, writing using terms, discussion, and hands-on activities. Textbook Myers, David, Psychology 2nd ed. New York: Worth Publishers, 2014. Misc. articles and readings **Roger Hock s Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research. Grading Final Exam 20% (district mandate) Assessments 30% Classwork & Participation 25% Projects 15% Homework (Binder/Notebook) 10% *If you have a 90% average during the second semester, you will not have to take the objective portion of the final exam!* Projects Students will work throughout the year both independently and in groups on research projects of varying types and topics. There will be three projects students will complete during the first three quarters of the semester. 1.) Research Paper & Presentation Due at the end of our unit on Research Methods. 2.) Child Observation 3.) Change a Behavior Recommended Supplies Three-ring binder or notebook Three-ring binder dividers (at least 14 dividers one for each unit or homemade tabs) Reading There are 14 units in this year-long course. In order to be successful, students must read the assigned pages for each unit and keep a notebook with all important vocabulary terms, defined, and applied (TDA) to a new situation. *See reading schedule. I reserve the right to check notebooks at the beginning of each class meeting or on test day. BE PREPARED FOR SPOT CHECKS. Assessments There will be about 14 exams to prepare students for the AP exam in May. Many of these tests will be cumulative especially the final exam. Classwork and Participation In this course, all students are expected to complete all classwork, and participate in activities. AP Psych. is very hands on and it is important that you come to class prepared and ready to be active. Extra Credit: You may complete ONE per semester. Read an article from a psychology journal or magazine and write a summary and critique of the article. Points for extra credit are added into the quiz portion of the overall grade. Due on the last day of class before the final. For 10 Points: Read a full-page article from the APA s Monitor on Psychology or Psychology Today. Write a one-page summary and a one-page critique. For 20 Points: Read a full journal article from American Psychologist, the Journal of Educational Psychology, or the Journal of Social Issues. Write a two-page summary and a one-page critique of the article.
AP Psychology Reading Schedule 2014-2015 Meyers, Second Edition Weeks 2-4 Memory Storage & Retrieval, (Cognition) Unit VII, p. 316 Day 1: Module 31, Day 2-3: Module 32 Day 4: Module 33-- STOP Reading! *Test: 8/28 Week 5-6 (Begin Research Project) Research Methods & Statistics, Unit II, p. 29 Day 1: Module 4-5 Day 2: Module 6-7 Day 3: Module 8 *Test: 9/16 Weeks 7-9 (Research Project- Due 10/17) Neurobiology (Biological Basis of Behavior) Unit III, p. 75, Day 1: Module 9 Day 2: Module 10 Day 3: Module 11-12 Day 4: Module 13 Day 5: Module 14 p. 127-131 (Nature v. Nurture discussion, jigsaw readings) Field trip to UNR? *Test: 10/2 Weeks 10-11 (Child Observation- Due 11/3) Developmental Psychology, Unit IX, p. 460, Day 1: Module 45-46 (over break) Day 2: Module 47 Day 3: Module 48 Day 4: Module 49 Day 5: Module 50-51 Day 6: Module 52-54 *Test: 10/29 Weeks 12-13 Sensation & Perception, Unit IV, p. 150 Day 1: Module 16 Day 2: Module 17 Day 3: Module 18 Day 4: Module 19 Day 5: Module 20 Day 6: Module 21 *Test: 11/13 Week 14-15 (into Thanksgiving Break) Consciousness Unit V, p. 217 Day 1: Module 22-23 Day 2: Module 25 *Test: 12/4 Week 17 Cognition and Language, Unit VII, p. 356 Day 1: Module 34-35 Day 2: Module 36 *Test: 12/12 Week 18 Testing and Individual Differences (Intelligence) Unit VIII, p. 607 Day 1: Module 60 Day 2: Module 61 Day 3: Module 62 Day 4 Module 63 Day 5: Module 64 --Guest Speaker NO TEST WEEK 19 FINALS ************************************** Review Assignment During Break Weeks 20-23 Learning and Behavior, Unit VI, p. 262 Day 1: Module 26 Day 2: Module 27 Day 3: Module 28 Day 4: Module 29 Day 5: Module 30 Guest Speaker *Test: 1/28 Weeks 24 26 Motivation, Emotion & Stress, Unit VIII, p. 389 Day 1: Module 37 Day 2: Module 38 Day 3: Module 39 Day 4: Module 40 Day 5: Module 41 Day 6: Module 42 Day 7: Module 43-44 Jigsaw and Discussion *Test: 2/20
Week 27-29 (behavior change project/paper due 3/12) Personality, Unit X, p. 554 Day 1: Module 55 Day 2 Module 56 Day 3: Module 57 Day 4: Module 58 Day 5: Module 59 *Test: 3/10 Week 29--30 Social Psychology, Unit XIV, p. 753 Module 74-76 (Over Break) Youtube: Watch Milgram s Experiment on Obedience to Authority Day 1: Module 77 Day 2: Module 78 Day 3: Module 79 Day 4: Module 80 *Test: 4/15 Week 31 32 Abnormal Behavior, Unit XII, p. 649 Day 1: Module 65-66 Day 2: Module 67 Day 3: Module 68 Day 4: Module 69 *Test TBA ************************************* REVIEW UNTIL AP EXAM FINALS
AP Psychology Ms. Bright lbright@washoeschools.net, Welcome to Psych! As many of you know, I am VERY excited to teach this course. I cannot wait for all of the fun adventures we will have together! Please feel free to talk to me about any concerns or questions you may have throughout the year. I plan on learning from you as well. No doubt many of you have your own areas of interest and expertise in the vast field of psychology. **Disclaimer** I am not a psychologist or a therapist. This class won t solve family or relationship problems, but we inevitably will be having some very personal discussions, due to the nature of the subject. Therefore, it is imperative that what is said in 218, STAYS IN 218. Classroom Policy & Rules I m probably not as strict as I should be. My rules are pretty basic: Be present and attentive. Be on time and prepared. Be a learner. In other words, don t expect to check out in my class. I ll bug you, A LOT. You are here to learn. So if you re present, you might as well try your best. You may not wear your ear buds without my permission. PERIOD! You may not text in my class. PERIOD! Texting takes away your attention and causes drama. If you have your phone out, you will receive one warning and then I will ask you to put it on my desk. If you have an emergency, you may ask to go to the office to make a phone call. Class Environment & Active Learning We will be moving and playing games quite a bit. We will study and practice four or more different ways of memorizing and learning material. We will watch and participate in demonstrations, historical accounts, and social experiments. Food Food is okay-- within reason Follow DRHS school rules! (NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS OR GUM) I snack often during the day. I will allow you to eat and drink (only water) in my class unless you abuse it (and you might) by leaving a mess for me to clean up. I have kids of my own to clean up after at home. MESSES ARE A BIG PET PEEVE! Homework (more is necessary for an AP class) AP Psych. moves quickly and if you don t keep up with the reading and vocab you will be left in the dust and likely do poorly on assessments. THIS CLASS IS READING-HEAVY. In order to make-sure that you are completing the assigned reading you will be keeping a notebook. This notebook will be checked off daily as you take a reading check quiz or complete a quick write in class. NOTEBOOKS ARE WORTH ½ CREDIT OR LESS IF TURNED IN LATE.
PARENTS AND STUDENTS: PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PAGE Late Work Late work will be accepted until the FINAL DAY OF THE STUDIED UNIT. *Late work will be worth a MAXIMUM of 50% of the original points possible. If you have special circumstances, ALWAYS communicate with me (and all of your teachers). We want to help you be successful. Late work is not late because of excused absences. Absences Students are not to use class time to obtain missed work. Check the folders in the front of the room. Ask your clock partners. THEN ask me. Missed tests, as a result of extended absence, will be taken within one week of the student s return. Quizzes and tests must be made up BEFORE the next scheduled test or no make-up will be allowed. Academic Integrity I will ask students to sign and keep a copy of the Stanford Honor Code in their notebooks after we go over it. Consequences for cheating are as follows: All of these consequences WILL HAPPEN-- Student will receive a zero (0) on the test or assignment. Student will receive an F in citizenship for the quarter and depending on the severity of the infraction, may receive an F in the class for the semester. Parent and Administration notification Progressive discipline plan: 1. Verbal warning 2. Phone call home and or meeting with student and/or parent/guardian contact 3. Administrative intervention Rewards 1. Team Points 2. Positive phone call or note home 3. Mustang Buck 4. Misc. reward for entire class THIS CLASS CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT! AP Psychology is a college-level class and it requires a maturity level most high school classes do not. And, because psychology is the study of mental processes and human behavior, will be learning about some controversial topics such as evolution, sexuality, and drug use. I have read the information regarding AP Psychology. I understand my student s responsibilities and the course content described in the previous pages. Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature