Download Advanced Placement Psychology - Windsor C

Advanced Placement Psychology
2013-2014 Syllabus
Instructor:
Room:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
Please Note:
Jennifer Klingeman
143
636-464-4429 X4764
[email protected]
http://windsor.k12.mo.us/hs/?p=1232
The best resource you can utilize is my website. It is updated weekly to
provide you with materials passed out in class, as well as extra supplementary
materials and links to sites that may help you succeed not only in this class, but
on the AP Exam!
Course Introduction
Advanced Placement Psychology is the equivalent of a three-credit college Introduction
to Psychology course. This is a rigorous and demanding course, intended to provide the
scope and level of accomplishment expected in a college or university setting. The
curriculum for this course places a heavy emphasis on essential readings, writing
assignments, independent projects, and frequent tests intended to prepare students for the
AP Exam. It is of utmost important that students enrolled in this course realize that this is
a college course, and they will be treated as a college student. Therefore, students are
expected to seek, find, and internalize the information presented through reading
resources and class lecture/experiment. This is not a class for the passive student. As the
instructor, it will be my goal to facilitate the concepts expressed on the AP Exam and to
structure a learning environment that will help provide you with the tools you need to
attain your class goals: achieving a successful AP Psychology Exam score, enriching
your life through the acquisition of psychological knowledge, and enjoying the course.
Critical Thinking as a Foundation of the Course
Critical Thinking is an active and systematic strategy used to examine, evaluate, and
understand events, solve problems, and make decisions on the basis of sound reasoning
and valid evidence. More specifically, critical thinking involves: maintaining an attitude
that is both open minded and skeptical; recognizing the distinction between facts and
theories; forming reasonable inferences, judgments, and conclusions; identifying and
questioning underlying assumptions and beliefs; discerning hidden or implicit values;
perceiving similarities and differences between phenomena; understanding causal
relationships; reducing logical flaws and personal biases, such as avoiding
oversimplifications and overgeneralizations; developing a tolerance for uncertainty and
ambiguity; exploring alternative perspectives and explanations; and searching for creative
solutions. This goes far beyond reading the bold text and writing answers from the text
verbatim!
Workload Expectations
The AP Psychology curriculum is constructed to mirror that of a three credit Introduction
to Psychology course at the collegiate level. One college credit is defined as equivalent
to an average of three hours of learning effort per week necessary for the average (C)
student to attain an average grade (C). Thus, a student taking a three credit course that
meets for three hours per week should expect to spend an additional six hours per week
on coursework outside of the classroom. This, of course is a generalization. The amount
of outside work will vary greatly by student and the letter grade sought.
General Expectations
I expect that each student enrolled in this course has done so because they have an
interest in the field of Psychology, a desire to work at a college pace, and an ultimate goal
of passing the AP Exam. Disruptive behavior of any kind will create a distraction to the
learning environment, and to the progress of your fellow students. Each minute of our
time together must me spent on content! The following classroom guidelines have been
established to help ensure the success of each student:
 Classroom comments will remain relevant to the topic at hand. One-on-one questions
and comments are welcome during non-class times.
 Respect your peers, yourself, your instructor.
 Being prepared for class is necessary due to the pace of the course. Always have your
assignments completed before class, your binder at the ready, and a writing utensil (and
backups) accessible.
 Electronics are strictly banned during class time. Cell phones, Ipods, laptops, and
gaming devices must remain turned off and untouched during class.
 Class time is vitally important to your class and AP Exam success. You are expected to
minimize absences. If you are unavoidably absent from class, you are expected to utilize
the website, assignment schedule, and your peers to catch up. If you miss a test, you
must take it within 2 days of returning to school on your own time: 7:00AM, 2:30 PM
or during your lunch. I expect advanced notice of this.
 You should attend to any personal needs during passing time. Leaving class for restroom
breaks, drinks, etc is an unnecessary distraction from the learning environment.
 Every moment of class time will be utilized for learning. You must be in your seat, with
your supplies and ready to begin the moment the bell rings. You may not pack to leave
before the bell officially dismisses you.
Textbook
Zimbardo, Philip G., Anne L. Weber, and Robert L. Johnson. Psychology: AP Edition. Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
Materials Needed
 Textbook- in class and at home every day
 1 ½ - 2” binder for this class only
 12 tab dividers
 Loose leaf paper
 Writing utensils (always have a backup in class and ready to use)
Evaluation and Grade Calculation
Unit Exams and Reading Quizzes 70% of total grade
Written Assignments/Activities
10% of total grade
Final Exam
20% of total grade
Unit Exams (70%)
Unit Exams will be given upon the completion of each of the 12 units. They will
consist of two parts, which will be as similar to the AP Exam as possible, given our
schedule. Part 1 will involve approximately 35 multiple choice questions with 5
possible answers, which must be completed in 25 minutes or less. Part 2 will
consist of 1 free response question, which must be completed in 25 minutes or less.
Exams will increasingly include questions over concepts covered in previous units
as the class proceeds.
***The AP Exam will also consist of two parts. Part 1 will consist of 100 multiple
choice with 5 possible answers, which must be completed in 70 minutes or less.
Part 2 will consist of 2 free response questions, which must be completed in 50
minutes or less.
Reading Quizzes (a portion of the 70%)
Reading quizzes will consist of 5-10 questions covering the previous night’s
reading assignment. These quizzes serve three purposes: 1) to assist students in
better managing the chapter, 2) to promote understanding and 3) to prepare students
for the daily lecture topic. Two or three of these quizzes will be given per week,
unannounced. It is essential that students read the reading assignments on time,
take notes to actively read the assigned reading, and approach every class day as a
“quiz day.” Success in this class is highly dependant on students not only reading
assigned material, but fully comprehending that which is read. Taking notes while
reading, will help meet this goal, as such, all reading quizzes will be open-note.
Computer generated or photo copied notes may NOT be used under any
circumstances.
Important Notes
***Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Late assignments are
accepted at 60% credit, if turned in within one week of the assigned due date. No
credit will be given after this date.
***An absence or absences prior to exams, quizzes or assignment due dates will not
constitute a change in date. As is expected in a college class, students are expected to
utilize their syllabus and the teacher website to stay informed and prepared.
***Students absent on the date of a unit exam are allowed to complete an ALTERNATE
FORM of the exam upon returning to class. It is the responsibility of the student to
schedule a time OUTSIDE OF CLASS to complete the exam. Exams must be
completed prior to the issuance of the next exam, or they earn a 0%.
***Students absent on the day of a Reading Quiz are allowed to complete a replacement
quiz the day they return to school.
Grading Table
A 93-100%
A- 90-92.9%
----------------B+ 87-89.9%
B 83-86.9%
B- 80-82.9%
----------------C+ 77-79.9%
C 73-76.9%
C- 70-72.9%
----------------D+ 67-69.9%
D 63-66.9%
D- 60-62.9%
----------------F 59.9 or below
*** Percentage grades will NOT be rounded under any circumstance.
Academic Misconduct and Honesty Statement
Academic misconduct, ie: cheating, plagiarism, etc, will result in a 0 for all parties
involved and an office referral.
Unit Topics
Semester 1
Unit 1: The Research Enterprise in Psychological Science
This unit will include Psychological History and Methods and Approaches, which account for 2-4% and 6-8% of
the AP Exam respectively.

Logic, philosophy, and history of science

Approaches (biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, socio-cultural,
evolutionary/socio-biological)

Experimental: correlational, observational, survey and clinical

Statistics: descriptive and inferential

Ethics in research
Unit 2: The Biological Basis of Behavior
This unit will account for 6-8% of the AP Exam.

Physiological Techniques

Neuro-anatomy

Functional Organization of Nervous System

Neural Transmission

Endocrine System

Genetics
Unit 3: Sensation and Perception
This unit will account for 7-9% of the AP Exam.

Thresholds

Sensory Mechanisms

Sensory Adaptation

Attention

Perceptual Processes
Unit 4: State of Conciousness
This unit will account for 2-4% of the AP Exam.

Biological Basis

Sleep and Dreaming

Hypnosis

Psychoactive Drug Effects
Unit 5: The Basic Process of Learning
This unit will account for 7-9% of the AP Exam.

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Cognitive Processes in Learning

Biological Factors

Social Learning
Unit 6: Memory and Cognition
This unit will account for 8-10% of the AP Exam.

Memory

Language

Thinking

Problem Solving and Creativity
Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, Stress and Health
This unit will account for 7-9% of the AP Exam.

Theories of Motivation

Hunger, Thirst, Sex and Pain

Social Motives

Theories of Emotion

Stress
Unit 8: Lifespan Development
This unit will account for the developmental psychology component of you AP Exam, which will account for 7-9%
of your AP Exam.

Life-Span Approach

Research Methods (Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional)

Heredity- Environment Issues

Developmental Theories and Dimensions of Development (Physical, Cognitive, Social, Moral)

Sex Roles, Sex Differences
Semester 2
Unit 9: Personality
This unit will account for 6-8% of your AP Exam.
 Theories and Approaches
 Assessment Techniques
 Self-Concept, Self-Esteem
 Growth and Adjustment
Unit 10: Intelligence, Measurement and Individual Differences
This unit will account for 5-7% of your AP Exam.
 Standardization and Norms
 Reliability and Validity
 Types of Tests
 Ethics and Standards in Testing
 Intelligence
 Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
 Human Diversity
Unit 11: Social Psychology
This unit will account for 7-9% of your AP Exam.
 Group Dynamics
 Attribution Processes
 Interpersonal Attraction
 Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
 Attitudes and Attitude Change
 Organizational Behavior
 Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
Unit 12: Abnormal Psychology
This unit will account for 7-9% of your AP Exam.
 Definitions of Abnormality
 Theories of Psychopathology
 Diagnosis of Psychopathology
 Anxiety Disorders
 Somatoform Disorders
 Mood Disorders
 Schizophrenic Disorders
 Organic Disorders
 Personality Disorders
 Dissociative Disorders
Unit 13: Therapies of Psychological Disorders
This unit will account for 5-7% of your AP Exam.
 Treatment Approaches
o Insight Therapies (psychodynamic and humanistic)
o Behavioral Approaches
o Cognitive Approaches
o Biological Approaches (psycho-pharmacological and psycho-surgical)
 Modes of Therapy
 Community and Preventative Approaches