Advanced Placement U



Advanced Placement Psychology—Purpose

The AP/IB Psychology course at Broughton High School is designed for academically motivated and capable students who have an interest in psychology. Students will complete a college-level survey course in introductory psychology, which will range from a variety of topics ranging from neuropsychology to memory to language to abnormal psychology. For a complete listing of topics, see below. Additionally, students will complete both major and minor research projects that will involve the use of the scientific method to document human behavior. At the conclusion of this course, students will be prepared to take the IB Standard Level and/or the AP examination in psychology.

Course Objectives

1. Students will prepare to do acceptable work on the AP/IB Psychology exam.

2. Students will learn the major psychological concepts and theories, and they will be able to define key terms, which they should be able to use in everyday terminology.

3. Students will learn the basic skills of psychology research and be able to apply psychological concepts to their own lives.

4. Students will develop critical thinking skills.

Basic and Supplementary Texts

The primary text for AP/IB Psychology is Psychology: In Search of the Human Mind, ed. 3 by Robert J. Sternberg. We will also use a variety of primary and secondary source documents to enhance our study of the various aspects of the field of psychology. Due to the amount of information we must cover, we will be moving quickly through the material. It would behoove you to keep up with the reading assignments, and maintain and organized notebook.

The supplemental texts are meant to support your understanding of psychology. Although the second and third texts listed are NOT required for purchase; it is advisable to procure the items in order to best prepare for the AP and/or IB examinations.

Hock, Roger R. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research. 4th ed. Prentice Hall, 2002. (ISBN: 978-0131147294)

Leal, Linda. Essentials of Psychology I and II. 2nd ed. Research & Education Association, 1994. (ISBN: 978-0878919307 and 978-0878919314)

McEntarffer, Robert McEntarffer and Allyson J. Weseley, Ed.D. Barron's How to Prepare for the AP Psychology Advanced Placement Examination. 3rd ed. Barron's Educational Series, 2007. (ISBN: 978-0764136658)

Outside Reading

Several outside reading assignments will be required throughout semester. Additionally, scholarly essays and primary source readings will be distributed throughout the year. Most of the readings will be located on the Internet via Mrs. Greene’s website. Please familiarize yourself with the website at the beginning of the term.

Gathering Grades—I will factor grades in AP/IB Psych on a percentage system.

For the first three quarters, the grades will break down into the following percentages. The fourth quarter’s percentages will change slightly due to review quizzes.

Assessments = 50%

Vocabulary Quizzes = 10%

Participation Grades = 15%

Research Project(s) = 25%

Homework, Coursework, and Assessments

Homework will consist almost exclusively of reading assignments and charts, with the occasional outside essay. Students who have difficultly with the course may need to initiate additional reinforcing activities. As students, you are responsible for completing and mastering assignments on time. Vocabulary terms are giving for each unit. Quizzes are administered frequently, at least once per unit. The quizzes range from using fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and/or multiple choice questions.

Exams will be given at the end of each unit and will consist of multiple-choice questions and one free-response question (simulating the AP Exam). Each test is likely to cover a significantly greater volume of material than many students have previously experienced. There are likely to be no more than seven or eight major grades per quarter. The limited number of grades per quarter means that each major grade has a significant impact on the quarter grade. Students need to be aware of this and responsibly prepare for each major assignment.

In addition to tests and their essays, two or three additional in-class or out-of-class essays will be required per quarter. Each will count as a participation grade. Pop quizzes will be used to determine if students are keeping up with their readings and understanding the material.

Other assignments given to students are class presentations, group projects, papers, and one major research project.

Makeup Work

Attendance in class is absolutely essential to the successful completion of the course and to the attainment of a passing grade on the National Advanced Placement Examination. Students returning from EXCUSED absences are responsible for completing missed in class assignments promptly (within two days). Be aware that the instructor is under no obligation to accept work after its assigned due date.

Students who have missed assignments due to UNEXCUSED absences are responsible for handing their work into the teacher promptly (within two days) for possible grade of 70%. Reminder: all students have two days to hand in any excused absences notes into the attendance office.

Make-up Tests: Students missing an exam due to an absence must make up the assessment within two school days. Please schedule the make-up time with me on an individual basis. As an incentive to have good attendance on exam days, I will offer a bonus of three points to all students if the entire class is present on the exam day.

Additional Help

The AP/IB experience may place greater demands on students than those to which they are accustomed. It is likely that you will need to meet with the instructor from time to time to overcome problems you are having. I will hold office hours regularly each week before school and after school.

Students should establish class contacts, fellow students with whom they feel comfortable enough to study for tests. These study partners should also be the first person contacted when students are absent from class.

There are also several websites listed on mrsgreene. that can be very helpful for review.

National Advanced Placement Examination

The Advanced Placement Program of the College Board affords students the opportunity to receive college credit for AP classes by successfully passing a national examination offered on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 13th at 12:00 pm. The AP Psychology Examination includes a 70-minute multiple-choice section that accounts for two-thirds of the student's exam grade and a 50-minute free-response section made up of two questions, which account for one-third of the student's exam grade. The Free-Response questions evaluate a student's mastery of scientific research principles and ability to make connections among constructs from different psychological domains (e.g., development, personality, learning). Students may be asked to analyze a general problem in psychology (e.g., depression, adaptation) using concepts from different theoretical frameworks or sub domains in the field, or to design, analyze, or critique a research study. Students at Broughton High School are strongly encouraged to take the national examination, and financial assistance is available!

International Baccalaureate Examination

The International Baccaulaureate Programme offeres two courses in psychology, one at the Standard Level and the other at the

Higher Level. Students will be prepared for the Standard Level examination at the end of the current year. For this all-essay

assessment, Paper I on the psychological perspectives will take place on the afternoon of May 5, and Paper II on the “optional

topics” will take place on the morning of May 6. Additionally, students will complete an experiment and coordinating paper in

the first semester that will count as 20% of their IB grade. Current juniors in the IBDP have the option of choosing a second

year of study in psychology next year at the Higher Level. These students may opt not to take the IBSL examination but may

wish to take the AP exam at the end of the current school year.

Honor Code

Students will abide by the honor code statement “I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this assignment” for all assignments unless specifically exempted by the instructor. Violations of the honor code will result in a zero for the assignment, a disciplinary referral, and a possible point deduction on the quarter grade. Examples of violations of this policy include (but are not limited to) giving or receiving help on any in-class or take-home tests, essays, or quizzes, plagiarism of material on take-home essays, and discussion of any quiz, test, or essay questions with students who have not yet completed that assignment.

Technology Expectations

Students will need to have the AUP section of their planners completed within the first week of class. We will use the Internet for research and review purposes, and all students in accordance to NBHS and Wake County policies must have permission from a parent or guardian to use the Internet.

Classroom Expectations

My students are expected to understand and follow all rules put into place by the administration of Broughton High School.

← Promptness is expected. Please come to class before the bell, hand in work on time, and attend tutoring sessions and meeting when scheduled. After the tardy bell rings, students late to class will have 10 points deducted from their CLASS PREPAREDNESS test grade. Students interested in earning the ten points back can arrange a work-detention with me.

← Cell phones, pagers, or other electronic devices are not to be seen or used during school hours. They will be collected by the instructor and turned into the student’s administrator at the convenience of teacher.

← To keep the learning environment clean and pest-free, please do not eat, chew gum, or drink in the classroom. Water is welcome in a sealed container.

← Each student will receive two Day of Grace (DOG) passes. These passes maybe used through out the course and entitle the student to hand in any assignment one day late. Without the DOG pass, students may not receive additional time to complete work.

← Be prepared for class everyday with needed materials and an open mind.

← Ask great questions!

Classroom Wish List and What the Student Needs!

Each student will need the following items for AP/IB Psych:

▪ PLANNER

▪ Notebook paper

▪ 3-ring notebook

▪ black ink pens

▪ #2 pencils

▪ highlighters

▪ post-it notes are helpful

▪ colored pencils

Please consider donating one or more of the following items to your student’s classroom:

▪ tissues

▪ index cards

▪ paper of all sizes & colors

▪ markers

▪ three-ring notebooks

▪ any supplies are appreciated

COURSE CONTENT[1] & Approximate Timeline

AP/IB Psychology is similar to a college Psych 101 course; however it has a heavier emphasis on biology, sensations, perceptions, and abnormal psychology.

|First Quarter (August 27-October 26) |

|% on APEX |

|Unit 1A—History & Approaches Chapter 1 |2-4% |

|Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science | |

|Approaches: Biological, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural, Evolutionary/Sociobiological | |

|Unit 1B—Methods of Psychology: Research & Statistics Chapter 2 & Appendix |6-8% |

|Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research | |

|Statistics: Descriptive & Inferential | |

|Ethics in Research | |

|Unit 2—Cognition: Memory, Thinking & Language Chapters 7 & 8 |8-10% |

|Memory: Encoding, Storage, Retaining Information, Forgetting, Memory Construction | |

|Language | |

|Thinking | |

|Problem Solving & Creativity | |

|Unit 3—Biology in Psychology |8-10% |

|Chapters 3 | |

|Physiological Techniques: imaging & surgical | |

|Neuroanatomy | |

|Functional organization of Nervous System | |

|Neural Transmission | |

|Endocrine System | |

|Genetics | |

|Unit 4—Sensation & Perception |7-9% |

|Chapters 4 | |

|Thresholds | |

|Sensory Mechanisms: Biology of the ear and eye | |

|Sensory Adaptation | |

|Attention | |

|Perceptual Process | |

|Second Quarter (October 30-January 16) | |

|Unit 6—States of Consciousness |2-4% |

|Chapter 5 | |

|Sleeping & Dreaming | |

|Hypnosis | |

|Psychoactive Drug Effects | |

|Unit 7—Learning |7-9% |

|Chapter 6 | |

|Classical Conditioning | |

|Operant Conditioning | |

|Cognitive Process in Learning | |

|Biological Factors | |

|Social Learning | |

|Unit 8—Developmental Psychology: From Womb to Grave Chapters 10 & 11 |7-9% |

|Life-Span Approach | |

|Research Methods: Longitudinal, cross-sectional | |

|Heredity-Environmental Isuues | |

|Developmental Theories | |

|Dimensions of Development: Physical, Cognitive, Social, Moral | |

|Sex Roles, Sex Differences | |

|Unit 9—Testing & Individual Differences Chapter 9 |5-7% |

|Standardization & Norms | |

|Reliability & Validity | |

|Types of Tests | |

|Ethics & Standards in Testing | |

|Intelligence | |

|Heredity/Environment & Intelligence | |

|Human Diversity | |

|Third Quarter (January 22- March 27) | |

|Unit 10—Motivation & Emotions Chapters |7-9% |

|12 | |

|Biological Basis | |

|Theories of Motivation | |

|Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain | |

|Theories of Emotion | |

|Unit 11—Personality |6-8% |

|Chapter 15 | |

|Personality Theories & the Approaches | |

|Assessment Techniques | |

|Self-concept, Self-Esteem | |

|Growth & Adjustment | |

|Unit 12—Abnormal Psychology Chapter |7-9% |

|16 | |

|Definitions of Abnormality | |

|Theories of Psychopathology | |

|Diagnosis of Psychopathology | |

|Disorders: Anxiety, Somatoform, Mood, Schizophrenia, Organic, Personality, Dissociative | |

|Unit 13—Therapy & Stress Management Chapters 17 & 18 |5-7% |

|Stress and Health | |

|Treatment Approaches: Insight therapies, behavioral approaches, cognitive approaches, biological approaches | |

|Modes of Therapy: individual and group | |

|Community and Preventive Approaches | |

|Unit 14—Social Psychology |7-9% |

|Chapter 13 & 14 | |

|Group Dynamics | |

|Attribution Theory | |

|Interpersonal Perception | |

|Conformity, Compliance, Obedience | |

|Attitudes & Attitude Change | |

|Organizational Behavior | |

|Aggression/ Antisocial Behavior | |

|Fourth Quarter (April 8- June 9) | |

|We will spend the fourth quarter wrapping up the course material, taking ten review quizzes and practice exams, and | |

|essentially preparing for the enormous national examinations that we have been preparing for all year. | |

| | |

|There is also a major project that the class will work on after the APEX, which is a Psychology Fair. After the AP | |

|Psychology exam in May, students will be involved in creating and hosting a Psychology Fair for the student body, faculty, | |

|parents, and community members. Students will work in pairs or individually to develop an essential question based on a | |

|psychology topic they wish to explore. The students will create an interactive booth to educate fair participants on their | |

|topic. | |

If you have any questions please email me at lgreene1@ and I will respond within 24-hours.

All assignments and due dates will be posted on my website

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[1] The content outline is from the College Board Advanced Placement Program guide for AP Psychology. There are some topics that are for a more mature audience. Please look over the content carefully.

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