PSYCHOLOGY



A.P. PSYCHOLOGY

2015 - 2016

Wilde Lake High School Mrs. S. Hibbard

Course Description:

AP Psychology is a college level survey course covering an extremely broad range of topics from the history of psychology to the scientific approach to psychology to social psychology with multiple topics in between. The main focus of the course is to teach students that psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Because this course is designed to prepare students for the AP exam in May, we do not spend a great amount of time on any one topic. Students should expect the same amount of work as they would receive in any college level course, including completing the necessary outside reading and assignments.

Primary Text:

Weiten, Wayne. Psychology Themes and Variations. 8th Edition

Supplemental readings (to be handed out in class or on my website)

Supplies:

◦ Three ring binder or notebook & folder

◦ College ruled paper

◦ Pen and pencil

◦ Highlighter

◦ Index Cards

◦ Index cardholder

Attendance:

Tardiness - It is your responsibility to be in class on time. Please refer to the school policy in your student handbook for consequences of repeated tardiness.

Absences - It is your responsibility to check for and turn in assignments missed due to an excused absence. An assignment due on a day you were absent (excused) will be due the day you return to school. You will have three days to make up any assignments you missed when absent.

Conduct and Procedures: You are expected to:

1. Be considerate and respectful of others in the room at all times.

2. Come to class prepared.

3. Sit in your assigned seat.

4. Turn in all work on time. Late assignments are not accepted.

5. All work should be in ink unless otherwise specified. (Please no red or pink ink).

6. Remain in your seat until dismissed.

7. Extra Credit assignments will only be accepted in class the day they are due.

Grading:

Your grade will reflect class participation and cooperation, in-class and homework assignments, tests, quizzes, and projects. The breakdown of grading is as follows:

45% of the grade will come from summative assessments (tests, quizzes and projects);

45% of the grade will be from formative assessments (class work, homework, and projects);

10% of the grade will be for class participation.

The grade is then determined by a computerized program which calculates points earned in each category with the appropriate weights. The following is a standard grading scale.

A = 89.5 - 100%

B = 79.5 - 89%

C = 69.5 - 79%

D = 59.5 - 69%

E = 59% or below

Honor Code:

"All students are expected to abide by the Wilde Lake Honor Code at all times and will be held accountable for any violations of the Honor Code."

Course Outline:

The course mirrors the content areas as suggested by the College Board (the maker of the AP Psychology Exam) with the integration of the chosen textbook. Students should keep up with the text reading and remember that supplemental readings will be handed out for each chapter.

Semester One

I. Historical Approaches (2 - 4%) Chapter 1 in text

a. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science

b. Approaches

i. Biological

ii. Behavioral

iii. Cognitive

iv. Humanistic

v. Psychodynamic

vi. Sociocultural

vii. Evolutionary

viii. Biopsychosocial

c. Subfields in Psychology

II. Personality (5 – 7%) Chapter 12 in text

a. Personality Theories and Approaches

b. Assessment Techniques

c. Growth and Adjustment

III. Research Methods (8 - 10%) Chapter 2 in text & Appendix B

a. Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research

b. Statistics

i. Descriptive

ii. Inferential

c. Ethics in Research

IV. Biological Bases of Behavior (8 – 10%) Chapter 3 in text

a. Physiological Techniques (e.g., imaging, surgical)

b. Neuroanatomy (Brain Structure and Neuron Structure)

c. Functional Organization of Nervous System

d. Neural Transmission

e. Neuroplasticity

f. Endocrine System

g. Genetics

h. Evolutionary Psychology

V. Sensation and Perception (6 – 8%) Chapter 4 in text

a. Thresholds and Signal Detection Theory

b. Sensory Mechanisms (The Senses)

c. Attention

d. Perceptual Processes

VI. States of Consciousness (2 - 4%) Chapter 5 in text

a. Sleep and Dreaming

b. Hypnosis

c. Psychoactive Drug Effects

VII. Learning (7 - 9%) Chapter 6 in text

a. Classical Conditioning

b. Operant Conditioning

c. Cognitive Processes

d. Biological Factors

e. Social Learning

VIII. Cognition (8 – 10%) Chapters 7 & 8 in text

a. Memory

b. Language

c. Thinking

d. Problem Solving and Creativity

IX. Motivation and Emotion (6 – 8%) Chapters 10 & 13 in text

a. Biological Bases

b. Theories of Motivation

c. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain

d. Social Motives

e. Theories of Emotion

f. Stress

Midterm – Format to be determined

Second Semester

X. Social Psychology (8 – 10%) Chapter 16 in text

a. Group Dynamics

b. Attribution Processes

c. Interpersonal Perception

d. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience

e. Attitudes and Attitude Change

f. Organizational Behavior

g. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior

h. Cultural Influences

XI. Developmental Psychology (7 – 9%) Chapter 11 in text

a. Life-Span Approach

b. Research Methods (e.g. longitudinal, cross-sectional)

c. Heredity-Environment Issues (Nature v. Nurture)

d. Developmental Theories

e. Dimensions of Development

i. Physical

ii. Cognitive

iii. Social

iv. Moral

f. Sex and Gender Development

XII. Testing and Individual Differences (5 – 7%) Chapter 9 in text

a. Standardization and Norms

b. Reliability and Validity

c. Types of Tests

d. Ethics and Standards in Testing

e. Intelligence

XIII. Abnormal Psychology (7 – 9%) Chapter 14 in text

a. Definitions of Abnormality

b. Theories of Psychopathology

c. Diagnosis of Psychopathology

d. Types of Disorders

1.       Anxiety

2.       Bipolar and Related

3.       Depressive

4.       Dissociative

5.       Feeding and Eating

6.       Neurodevelopmental

7.       Neurocognitive

8.       Obsessive-Compulsive and Related

9.       Personality

10.   Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic

11.   Somatic Symptoms and Related

12.   Trauma Stressor and Related

XIV. Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5 – 7%) Chapter 15 in text

a. Treatment Approaches

i. Psychodynamic

ii. Humanistic

iii. Behavioral

iv. Cognitive

v. Biological

b. Modes of Therapy (e.g., individual, group)

c. Community and Preventative Approaches

AP Exam/Final Exam – This course is designed to prepare every student to take the AP exam on Monday, May 2, 2016. All students will also take a cumulative final exam during the designated time period.

Assessment Practices

Exams:

A major exam concludes each unit. The exam mimics the AP exam. The format for the AP exam is a multiple-choice section that constitutes approximately two-thirds of the total score and two free-response questions (FRQ) that constitutes approximately one-third the total score. There are between 36 – 40 multiple-choice questions and one FRQ per test. A comparable make-up exam will be given within five days of the exam.

Quizzes:

Students should expect regular quizzes. There will most likely be a small quiz each week. These quizzes cannot be made up, so regular attendance is very important. If your absence is excused on the day of the quiz, then it will be excused in the grading. If your absence is unexcused on the day of the quiz, then it will be counted as a zero.

Vocabulary:

Students will define all the vocabulary of a given chapter by the third day of the unit. In the case of a multiple chapter unit, students should have the vocabulary for the second chapter completed by the third day after we begin that topic. The vocabulary should be written by hand on index cards (vocabulary word on one side, textbook definition on the other side). Students should also indicate the unit associated with the term in the lower left of the front of the card. It is encouraged for a student to add additional study material on the definition side of the card. These will be checked for completion and accuracy.

Projects:

There will be a project for each chapter relating to a topic of study during that time period. Projects will be worth between 20 – 100 points depending on the amount of preparation involved.

Assignments:

Students should expect a variety of additional assignments including practice free response questions, critical thinking activities, reports, application papers, and review assignments.

If you need any help or assistance, please let me know. This course should be interesting and fun! It should also prepare you for college and for being successful on the exam. If you have any questions you can see me before or after school or e-mail me at sherry_hibbard@. You may also access additional information on my website which you can access through Canvas. This is also how you will access grades. Students will go to   for access.  Parents will go to connect.

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