Download Ap Psych Syllabus - Bardstown City Schools

2014-2015 Advanced Placement Psychology Syllabus
The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is to introduce the systematic and scientific study of the
behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Included is a consideration of the
psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within
psychology. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and
practice. There are no specific curricular prerequisites for students taking AP Psychology.
Instructor Contact Information
[email protected]
Best Conference Hours: 7:45-8:25 or 3:30
Text
Myers, D. G. (2013). Psychology, Tenth Edition. New York: Worth Publishers.
Course Content
I. Research Methods (10 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Nature of scientific inquiry and operational definitions
Research methods
Statistics (descriptive and inferential)
Ethics
Major Activities:
 Classroom statistical activities
 Experimental design project
II. Learning (10 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning
Biological basis for learning
Major Activities:
 Conditioning exercises: Pixie Sticks and Eye dilation to a buzzer
 Behavior modification plan
III. Cognition (12 days)
A. Memory and forgetting
B. Thought processes, problem-solving and creativity
C. Language
Major Activities:
 In-class memory, problem solving and creativity activities
IV. Intelligence, Testing and Individual Differences and Stress (8 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Psychological Testing—Norms, reliability, validity, standardization, bias, ethics
Intelligence—intelligence testing, aptitude testing
Ethics
Stress
Major Activities:
 Biodots analysis
V. Biological Basis of Behavior (15 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Brain anatomy
Nervous system and neutral transmissions
Endocrine system and hormones
Physiological techniques to study the brain
Major Activities:
 Building a brain model
 Analysis of The Awakenings
VI. Sensation and Perception (8 days)
A. Sensation thresholds
B. 7 senses, especially vision and audition
C. Perception and illusions
Major Activities:
 In-class sensation and perception activities
VII. States of Consciousness (8 days)
A. Sleep and dreams
B. Hypnosis
C. Drugs
Major Activities:
 Sleep diary project
 Dreaming and problem solving activities
VIII. Motivation and Emotion (7 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Motivational concepts and theories
Hunger and eating disorders
Achievement motivation
Theories of emotions
Major Activities:
 In-class motivation and emotion activities
IX. Abnormal Psychology and Treatment of Psychological Disorders (9 days)
A. Categories of disorders—anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia,
personality disorders, somatoform, psychotic, organic
B. DSM-IV
C. Treatment Options—Psychoanalysis, Behaviorist, Humanistic, Cognitive, Group vs. individual therapy,
Pharmacological
Major Activities:
 Analyzing Abnormal Psychology in the Movies
 Systematic Desensitization Project
 Analyzing Abnormal Psychology through literature (First Person Plural, Sybil or The Bell Jar)
X. Developmental Psychology (15 days)
A. Physical, cognitive, social and moral development through the ages
B.
C.
D.
E.
Influences on development—genetics, environment and culture
Infancy and childhood
Adolescence
Old Age
Major Activities:
 Developmental Timeline
 Creating scenarios for moral development
XI. Personality Theory (11 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Psychoanalytic Approach
Behaviorists
Humanists
Social Learning
Cognitive Approach
Trait Theorists
Major Activities:
 Analyzing Fictional Characters
 Essay-Writing Your Own Personal Theory of Personality
 On-line personality assessments
XII. Social Psychology (12 days)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Attitudes and behavior
Attribution
Group influence—conformity, compliance, and obedience
Prejudice
Altruism
Aggression/Anti-social behavior
Major Activities:
 Written Analysis of Jonestown: A Paradise Lost
XIII. History of Psychology (5 days)
A. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
B. Major People in the History of Psychology
C. Approaches--Biological, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural, Evolutionary
Major Activities:
 History of Psychology timeline
Course Materials
3-ring binder (1-2 inch binder)
Index cards and index card box or "O" Ring
Pencil/pen and paper
Regular Internet access
Assessment
Assessment of AP Psychology will occur in a variety of ways including:
Exams—13 unit exams in the AP style of fifty (50) multiple choice and one (1) free-response essay
Readings—Students will read teacher-chosen and personal-chosen literature and articles throughout
the course and complete written or oral discussion and analysis of the selection.
Quizzes--Reading Quizzes may be given from textbook reading assignments
Projects—Group and individual—Examples include writing an experimental research plan,
conducting experiments, timelines, etc.
Notebook—All work, notes, handouts and journals are to be kept in a large 3-ring binder
Grading Policy
56% Summative (Major exams or unit projects)
31% Formative (Quizzes)
13% Daily Work
My goal is for students to master the content, and therefore there will be opportunities for students to retake quizzes
and exams. The student must meet with the instructor and schedule all retakes on an individual basis unless
otherwise stated. Retakes must be taken within 2 weeks of the given exam, and must be taken before or after school.
*Retakes may be subject to instructor approval and/or student meeting qualifying criteria.
AP Exam
The National AP Psychology exam for 2015 will be announced upon release. In order to receive college credit for
the course at most colleges, a student must score a 3 or higher on a 5-point scale. Review sessions will begin
periodically before and after school at least six weeks before the exam. Attendance is not required, but highly
recommended for preparation of the AP exam. The cost of the exam is approximately $90.
Student Work Load and Teacher Assistance
This is an AP course equivalent to a college class. Therefore, the work load will be greater and more demanding
than in a regular high school class. The teacher is available before and after school barring bus duty and
professional meetings to help students be successful in the course as well as the AP exam. Students should ask the
day before about availability of tutoring for any given day. A regular study session schedule will be set up closer to
the date of the AP exam, but the teacher is available for help year-round.
Course Expectations/Procedures
Classroom Expectations
1. Come to class prepared with textbook, notebook, paper and writing utensil every day.
2. Speak only when others are not speaking. Do not interrupt.
3. Participate in every activity including note taking. Sleeping will not be allowed.
4. Students may not have food or drink in the classroom.
Late-Work--Late work will be accepted in AP Psychology, but late work will receive an automatic 40% deduction
on the grade. Students are expected to meet deadlines on assignments, and are rarely (excluding occasional 4-5 page
reading textbook assignments) given less than 2-3 days to complete assignments.
Make-Up Work—After an absence, check the calendar at the front of the classroom for work missed from absentee
dates. Check with a classmate for notes. You have the number of days that you missed plus one day to turn in all
make-up work and to get notes or the grades will be subject to the late work policy. It is the student’s
responsibility to get notes and assignments, and this follows the school’s attendance policy.
Make-Up Exams—If a student misses on the day of a test, he/she must make up the test before or after school.
Plagiarism/Cheating—If at any time a student is discovered to be using the work of another student or work
obtained from the Internet or other outside source, there will be an automatic office referral for all students involved
and a zero for the assignment grade. This includes someone who was “just helping” another student by giving
his/her paper to someone else to copy, as well as copying homework, quizzes or tests in class or using even phrases
or sentences from works found in books, on the Internet, etc.
Leaving the Classroom—Students should come to class prepared, and will not be allowed to leave the classroom
unless deemed an emergency by the teacher.