Judy Yen-Instructor

AP/IBPsychology

Course Syllabus

Judy Yen-Instructor

(714) 996-4970 ext:10504

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Instagram: Psychyen

AP/IB Psychology is a year-long course. The purpose of AP Psychology is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and other 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. The course is designed to prepare the student for the Advanced Placement Examination in Psychology and the International Baccalaureate External and Internal Assessments.

1. Gain an understanding of the nature of the psychological diversity of human beings with reference to biological, social, and cultural influences.
2. Develop an appreciation of psychology as an academic discipline.
3. Recognize the relevance of psychology and its practical applications in the student’s personal life.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the diverse methods of psychological inquiry.
5. Gather and interpret data utilizing the empirical method of inquiry.
6. Demonstrate an understanding and respect for the ethical standards of investigation, which incorporates a sense of respect for the individual.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the different theoretical approaches to understanding behavior.
8. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the four major psychological perspectives (psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic/phenomenological).
9. Demonstrate mastery critical thinking skills and demonstrate ability to communicate these ideas in written and/or oral format.
10. Students will prepare for and take the AP Psychology Exam (taken in May).

Primary Text:Myers, David G. Psychology, 8th ed. New York: Worth Publishers, 2003.

Supplemental: Hock, Roger R. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology, 4th ed. Prentice Hall.

You will need to access David Myer’s website and create a student account. You will need to complete chapter quizzes and are allowed 30 minutes to complete each quiz. It is always due the day before an exam.

Website:

●Stay organized and bring supplies: 3-ring binder with at least 14 dividers-one for each unit, paper, writing utensil, additional outside reading and/or review books may be required at teacher discretion.

●Take complete class notes and date them or print them from my website-Do not write down something you do not understand without asking about it. Leave some blank space on each page to make additions and clarifications. It is important to review your class 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. There will be pop quizzes throughout the year. In addition, all tests are cumulative.

●Learn to read more effectively. You can read more effectively by doing the following:

1. Read actively-Do not 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. Instead, concentrate on what you are reading and take notes as you do; this will prove more effective.
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. Limit your reading to one of these sections at a sitting.
4. Pay close attention to pictures, diagrams, tables, and sidebars in your textbook. These features serve to 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 and study. Perhaps most important: keep a list of questions about the reading as you read.

●Half the battle is psychological terminology (vocabulary). You must make a set of vocabulary flashcards on 3-by-5 inch index cards for the bold words in the chapter. As you make the cards, you are already beginning to learn the vocabulary. You must include an example or application for each word. The flashcards provide an excellent means of review/study.

●Form a study group.

●Utilize the study guides and PowerPoints posted on the website.

Course grading will be based on the following:

A combination of subjective measurements, including group projects/presentations, homework, and class participation.

Objective measurements, consisting of multiple choice questions as well as free response questions. Unit tests will be modeled on the AP Exam, with 100 multiple –choice questions and two free response essays. Quizzes will be randomly scheduled at least once each unit. There will be a cumulative midterm and final exam.

Grading: Grades are broken down into the following categories and percentages:

Categories: Grading Scale:

●Tests/FRQs/Quizzes(35%)A=100%-90%

●Homework/Projects (20%)B=89%-80%

●Final/Midterm (20%)C=79%-70%

●Vocabulary/Study Guide (20%)D=69%-60%

●Class Participation (5%)F=59%-0%

Students will read “Forty Studies that Changed Psychology” by Roger Hock to gain an initial understanding of the most famous, important, and influential studies in the history of Psychology. Notes will be taken during the summer reading and students will be tested on these notes during the initial week of the semester

Assignment Policy

●All homework assignments must be completed by the beginning of class on its due date

●Excused Absences: Students have the same number of excused days absent to make up any missing work. If the assignment was given prior to the day you were absent, the assignment is due on the day you return. For prolonged absences, arrangements may be made for established due dates for all missed work.

●Late Work: Late assignments (not make-up work) will only be accepted one day late and automatically be marked down for half-credit.

●Quizzes/Tests:Please see me. Depending on the nature of the quiz/test, students may need to schedule a make-up, or students may be given an alternative assignment. Some quizzes/tests cannot be made up and students may risk taking a ZERO. There will be NO make-ups for UNEXCUSED absences.

●Essays/major projects: Major assignments (essays and projects with due dates announced ahead of time) will not be accepted after the due date. Only extenuating circumstances documented with a parent or doctor note may allow for separate arrangements.

●Any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as using someone else’ ideas as your own without crediting the source. This means you are not to use supplementary tools such as Spark Notes or Cliff Notes in this class. Rely on your own mind.

***Note: You are responsible for checking the absence folder or class website for missed assignments and turning it in promptly. You must label your paper late or absent to receive credit.

Participation and Attendance:

Please do not even think about being absent or tardy. Since each day begins with a graded exercise, missing even a minute of class will detract from your overall success in this class. If you know you will be absent for any reason, please let me know in advance.

●Tardy Policy:

o1st tardy: Warning

o2nd tardy: Possible warning/teacher detention/parent contact

o3rd tardy: Parent contacted by phone and teacher detention assigned

o4th tardy: Referral to the Director of Attendance and parent conference

o5+ tardies: Dropped from class

Student Conduct:

●Keep food, drinks (except water), toys, technology (IPODS, cell phones, etc.), homework from other classes, and cosmetics/hairbrushes out of sight.

●NO gum, hats, or being disruptive when others or myself are talking.

●No throwing things. If I catch you throwing anything, you will be responsible for making my classroom spotless at the end of the period.

●Do NOT wander around the room. Stay in your seat. You are expected to be in your seat when the bell rings. You are not allowed to line up by the door before the end of the period. The bell does not dismiss you; I dismiss you.

●Use the restroom before or after class. Students are allowed three passes per semester to leave the classroom to use the restroom.

●Verbal abuse of another student or teacher is neither welcome, nor will it be tolerated.

●Misconduct consequences:

oWarning

oMove seat/conference with teacher/parent contact

oDetention/parent contact

oReferral to office or counselor/conference with parent/possible suspension

Help Availability and Teacher Contact:

I am more than happy to help and support you on an individual basis. If you are lost, have questions, need clarification or help with your exam preparation; please let me know, and I will help you. I am available before and after school; however, please set up an appointment with me to ensure that I don’t miss you.

The course outline, from the AP Psychology Course Description, shows the major content areas covered by the AP Exam, as well as the approximate percentage of the exam that is devoted to each area. The outline is a basic guide. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of topics.

There will be a class website available to assist students with assignments and organization, and to provide additional resources for study.

1. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
2. Approaches

1. Theory of Empirical Approach
2. Terminology
3. Experimental methods
4. Non-experimental methods
5. Ethical principles
6. Statistics and research methods

1. Building Student Essay Success
2. Vocabulary
3. Practice Exams
4. Study Guides

AP Psychology Donation Request

Dear Parents and Students,

It is a pleasure to share this school year with you. Although AP Psychology can be a challenging course, it has many exciting aspects to it. Psychology is a part of our daily lives and I hope you thoroughly enjoy the content.

There will be a donation requested per student because of the many hands-on activities used to demonstrate key psychological concepts.This includes a variety of items depending on the particular unit (including software, masks, colored pencils, paint, biodots, food ingredients, note cards and many other assorted media and tools).

Donations are requested as soon as possible to cover supplies that will soon be used in earlier units. Students can make donations at the activities office before school, lunch, and break and after school or directly to Ms,Yen.