AP Psychology ... The purpose of the AP course in psychology is to introduce
students to the systematic and .... Psychology, 6th and /or 8th Edition, Worth ...
AP Psychology Instructor: Tammie Logsdon Midland Senior High School Social Studies Department Email:
[email protected] Phone: 432-689-1100 / 432-689-1167 This course is a one semester course designed to introduce students to Psychology and to prepare them to take the AP Psychology exam scheduled in the spring. Test review sessions will be offered for current students as well as for students who take the course during the fall semester. The purpose of the AP course in psychology is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. 1 Though this course is an elective, the course follows a college format of rigorous and challenging material, with the goal to prepare students for the AP Psychology exam. This course is reading and writing intensive. The most important role of the student in this class is to read the assigned readings BEFORE that topic is covered in class. Lectures in class will NOT cover all of the material on the tests and exams. Guidelines
All Assignments should be turned in on time. Late work policy will be followed. Expect points to be deducted. Student must remain current with all reading assignments. Most assignments will need to be typed. Assume that it should be typed unless otherwise directed. Students should be familiar with all required material, whether presented in class or as part of reading assignments.
Students will use all appropriate online resources associated with this course.
Grading: In comparison to other high school classes, this class will have relatively few grades in the course of the six weeks. As a general rule, there will be a quiz after each chapter and a major exam after each unit. You need to expect homework assignments in this class- reading, papers and projects. Six weeks grades will be based on the following scale: Major Assignments – 60% Major Tests, Quizzes, Projects and Papers These grades are Summative in nature. No single grade will constitute more than 30% of this category average. Minor Assignments – 40% Minor Quizzes, short writings, homework and daily work These grades will be Formative in nature. No single grade will constitute more than 30% of this category average. Student Evaluation Your grade will be determined by your performance on tests, quizzes, project, labs, and outside assignments. Because this is an AP course, you may find it more difficult to earn top grades in this class than in most courses you have taken before. In general, students may find the course to be very difficult at first, but do better as the semester progresses. The challenge and rigor of the class will help you to learn a great deal of psychology, you will be better prepared for college, and you will be ready to excel on the AP Psychology Exam in spring.
Syllabus The following is a description of the major content areas covered in this course I. History and Approaches A. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science B. Approaches 1. Biological 2. Behavioral 3. Cognitive 4. Humanistic 5. Psychodynamic 6. Sociocultural 7. Evolutionary II. Research Method A. Experimental, Correlation, and Clinical Research B. Statistics 1. Descriptive 2. Inferential C. Ethics in Research III. Biological Bases of Behavior A. Physiological Techniques (e.g., imaging, surgical) B. Neuroanatomy C. Functional Organization of Nervous System D. Neural Transmission E. Endocrine System F. Genetics G. Evolutionary Psychology IV. Sensation and Perception A. Thresholds and Signal Detection Theory B. Sensory Mechanisms C. Attention D. Perceptual Processes V. States of Consciousness A. Sleep and Dreaming B. Hypnosis C. Psychoactive Drug Effects VI. Learning A. Classical Conditioning B. Operant Conditioning C. Cognitive Processes D. Biological Factors E. Social Learning VII. Cognition A. Memory B. Language C. Thinking D. Problem Solving and Creativity VIII. Motivation and Emotion A. Biological Bases B. Theories on Motivation C. Hunger, Thirst, Sex and Pain D. Social Motives E. Theories of Emotion
F. Stress IX. Developing Psychology A. Life-Span Approach B. Research Methods (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional) C. Heredity-Environment Issues D. Developmental Theories E. Dimensions of Development 1. Physical 2. Cognitive 3. Social 4. Moral X. Personality A. Personality Theories and Approaches B. Assessment Techniques C. Growth and Adjustment XI. Testing and Individual Differences A. Standardization and Norms B. Reliability and Validity C. Types of Tests D. Ethics and Standards in Testing E. Intelligence XII. Abnormal Psychology A. Definitions of Abnormality B. Theories of Psychopathology C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology D. Types of Disorders 1. Anxiety 2. Somatoform 3. Mood 4. Schizophrenic 5. Organic 6. Personality 7. Dissociative XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders A. Treatment Approaches 1. Psychodynamic 2. Humanistic 3. Behavioral 4. Cognitive 5. Biological B. Modes of Therapy (i.e., individual, group) C. Community and Preventative Approaches XIV. Social Psychology A. Group Dynamics B. Attribute Processes C. Interpersonal Perception D. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience E. Attitudes and Attitude Change F. Organizational Behavior G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior H. Cultural Influences
Tips for Students
Take complete class notes and date them. Put them in your own words. Don’t write down something you don’t understand without asking about it. Leave some blank space on each page to make additions and clarifications. (Cornell Method) It is very important to review your notes each day while they are still fresh in your mind. Expand them, clarify them and add examples so that they will make sense when you go back to study from them later. Notes will be taken in a spiral bound journal, there will be relatively few exceptions (see me and we will discuss the circumstances) Chapter Outlines You are required to complete all assigned readings and notes. In addition to notes students will complete an outline of each chapter. These outlines will become an important tool for preparing for the AP exam. Learn to read more effectively. You can read more effectively by doing the following: 1. Read actively; don’t just look at the words. If you spend a half-hour “reading” but are unable to recall anything when you are done, you have wasted your time. 2. Preview a chapter quickly before you begin and review the material frequently. Pause at the end of each paragraph and summarize mentally, in your own words, what you just read. 3. Do not try to read an entire chapter at once. Each chapter of your text is divided into several major sections. These sections are presented in bold print in the summary outline on the chapter’s first page. Limit your reading to one of these sections at a sitting. 4. Do not ignore pictures, diagrams, tables, and sidebars in your textbook. These features make the text more interesting and may include important information. 5. Take notes as you read. If you can condense a 30-page chapter to a few pages of good notes, it’s going to be much easier to review. Perhaps most important: keep a list of questions about the reading.
Half of the battle is vocabulary. You must learn psychology vocabulary in order to understand the subject. Form a study group Attend Class Study Sessions
Materials Required 2 small (1 subject) spirals Three ring binder Dividers Paper Writing Utensils (highlighter recommended) Additional outside reading and/or review books may be required at teacher’s discretion, Textbook Barron’s AP Psychology (needs to be purchased by the students) Course Details Text Myers, David G. (2007). Psychology, 6th and /or 8th Edition, Worth
Supplemental Materials
Weiten, Wayne (2007). Psychology: Themes & Variations, 7th Edition, Thomson Weiten, Wayne (2007). Psyk-Trek 3.0 : A Multimedia Introduction to Psychology Zimbardo, Philip G, Johnson, Robert L., Weber, Ann L., Gruber, Craig W. (2007). Psychology: AP Edition, Pearson Allyn and Bacon College Board Advanced Placement Program: AP Psychology. Professional Development Workshop Materials, 2008 College Board Website: www.collegeboard.com McEntarffer, Robert and Weseley, Allyson J. Ed.D, Barron’s How to Prepare for the AP Psychology Advanced Placement Exam, 2nd Ed. Hauppauge, NY. Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. On Demand psychology videos from http://www.learner.org/resources/series60. American Psychology Association APA Online High School Psychology Various Videos from teacher resources AP Collegeboard website
Course Outline / Time Line The structure of the course will be based on the format of the required text. The following outline and time line is a basic guide and is subject to change.
The following outline is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of topics to be covered. Psychology Eighth Edition: David G Myers Chapter and Subject Prologue 1. Thinking Critically with Psychology 2. Neuroscience and Behavior 3. Nature, Nurture and Human Diversity 4. Developing Through the Life Span 5. Sensation 6. Perception 7. States of Consciousness 8. Learning 9. Memory 10. Thinking and Language 11. Intelligence 12. Motivation and Work 13. Emotion 14. Stress and Health 15. Personality 16. Psychological Disorders 17. Therapy 18. Social Psychology Review and Practice AP Exams
Approximate Days 2 4 9 2 7 3 3 3 5 4 4 3 2 3 1+ 4 5 4 5 5+
1 2007 The College Board Psychology Course Description May 2008, May 2009
AP Major Content Area on AP Exam I History and Approaches II Research Methods III Biological Bases of Behavior III “ IX Developmental Psychology IV Sensation and Perception IV “ V States of Consciousness VI Learning VII Cognition VII “ XI Testing & Individual Differences VIII Motivation and Emotion VIII “ VIII “ X Personality XII Abnormal Psychology XIII Treatment of Psychological Disorders XIV Social Psychology
