Los Angeles Harbor College
Syllabus- Psychology 1
Section 4930 2nd 8 weeks
Fall 2014 Session
October 28-December 20, 2014
Instructor: Jontae' Watkins, MA
Email:
Course Title: Psychology 001
Department: Psychology/Behavioral Sciences
Location: LAHC –NEA:127
Wednesdays 7:55-10:00pm
Sats. are mandatory: 11/8,11/22,12/6,12/20-Finals
Textbook: Psychology An Introduction
11th Edition: Benjamin Lahey
Office hrs: 6:30pm-7:50pm Wednesday
(before class) Pace office
Course Description
This course is a study of the process of a scientific survey of behavior exploring the areas of personality, growth perception, motivation, learning, research methods and abnormal behavior.
Student Learning Outcomes
(1) Identify and differentiate among the major historical theoretical perspectives regarding the nature and origins of psychology.
(2) Evaluate empirical studies of psychological constructs using basic research methods of design and APA guidelines.
(3) Develop insight into one’s own and others’ behavior and mental processes by applying psychological principles, theory, and research to personal, sociocultural, and organizational issues, including (but not limited to): age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, gender identity , socioeconomic status, disability, and sexual orientation.
(4) Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.
Course Materials
Observations
Discussion groups
Current Events
Guest Speakers
Internet
Lectures
Exams
Films
Student Presentations
Course Requirements/Methods of Evaluation
Attendance/Participation 30%
First Test 10%
Term Paper 25%
Final 25%
Observations/Quizzes 10%
***ATTENDANCE: Excessive absenteeism and tardiness will result in 20 points off final grade…. Late Arrival or early departure will constitute loss of class participation points at the discretion of the instructor.
Talking excessively in class is rude and disrespectful to Instructor and fellow classmates, this will result in loss of class participation points at the discretion of the instructor.
Please silence your pagers and cell phones in class….. NO TEXTING IN CLASS!!
ABSOLUTELY NO: Cell Phones, Recording Equipment, E Books, IPADS or IPODS, Cameras, etc. Electronic Devices Allowed in class: UNLESS: Used for/in class assignments only!!!
Disability Accommodation Statement: Students who may need a reasonable accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact DSPS Office or the Office of Special Services as soon as possible. All information will remain confidential.
Financial Aid: All students seeking financial aid may go to the financial Aid office during regular business hours.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating on exams, claiming the written work of others as your own (see next page) copying from any written internet source, including another student ), and all forms of the deliberate or accidental plagiarism are not tolerated. Such behavior puts the student at risk of failing the course and being subject to college disciplinary actions. Written work with this evidence of plagiarism will be returned with a grade of zero or an F. Note: It is required that deliberate acts of plagiarism be reported to the Vice President of Student Services.
Los Angeles College District Academic Dishonesty Policy
9803.28 Academic Dishonesty. Violations of Academic Integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade.
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism or academic dishonesty, whether accidental or deliberate, is a serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The instructor has the option of using classroom sanctions or elevating the case to campus level.
It is plagiarism to go to the Internet, find an article, copy it and drop it into word processor or onto documents on your computer.
It is plagiarism to copy directly (verbatim) from a book, magazine, periodical or journal without citing it as another’s work.
There are a few things that you can do that will help you to avoid being charged with academic dishonesty.Please note the following:
1) Anytime that you use the words or ideas of another person without giving credit, itis considered plagiarism, WHETHER YOUR ACTIONS ARE INTENTIONALOR NOT!
2) Differences between direct and indirect quotes:
a) Direct Quotes: Includes the exact wording from the source.
b) Indirect Quotes: Summarizes or paraphrases the content from the source.
3) APA in-text requirements:
a) Direct Quote: Author’s last name, publication date, and page number.
b) Indirect Quote: Author’s last name, publication date.
4) Punctuation requirements: ALL word-for-word quotations MUST be placed inquotation marks.
5)Exception to the rule: Common Knowledge – if the same information can be found in three or more sources and those sources do not cite an earlier source, theinformation is considered common knowledge. Also, commonly known facts (e.g., Washington, D.C. is the capital of the U.S.) do not need a citation, even if you had to look them up.
6) When in doubt, CITE.
Grading
90-100= A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
Below 60=F
GRADING POINTS
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTSItem / Description / Percents
1 / Content and Conceptualization / 60%
2 / Logical organization of thoughts, ideas and structure / 20%
3 / Spelling, Grammar, APA format, etc. / 20%
Total / 100%
ETUDES: Students will receive 5 points each for Etudes discussions (8) assignments on Etudes which will be averaged with final grade. Each video is worth 5 points and these points will be averaged into final grade as well. These points (grades) will be averaged into your grades accrued from the assignments on the syllabus. Please watch each video/documentary in its entirety and write a brief paragraph about each video explaining what you like or didn’t like about the video. 22hrs online instruction in Etudes required to pass PACE classes in addition to weekly weeknight and the designated Saturdays class.
Late assignments
LATE WORK: Late work will not earn the full points possible. Students will lose five points for each day the assignment is late. (This includes weekends).
***All assignments are to be typed. Handwritten assignments will receive half credit. Please type/double space papers with a 12 or 14 Font.
***All term papers will be typed in the American Psychological Association format.
Weeks Of Study/Lecture-Course Overview
Videos/Discussion Questions in Etudes: See Etudes: Due each week
Please review Etudes/and the Announcements in Etudes daily to stay current with assignments as well.
There will be various internet assignments in class which will be assigned to students for group activities and exercises.
Weeks 1-3: Chapters 1-3: These sections include: Introduction to Psychology, Part 2- Awareness, Part 3- Learning & Cognition, Part 4- The Life Span
Weeks 4-16: Chapters 4-8,
Chapters 9-17. Part 5- The Self, Part 6- Health and Adjustment, Part 7- The Social Context.
Final Exam: A 25 question exam & Critical Thinking Paper term paper in APA style.
Final Exam: 12/20/14. Scantron 882-E
Internet /Additional Resources
American Psychological Association
www.apa.org
Amoeba Web
www.sccu.edu/psychology/webhistory.html
Google Web
Psychweb
www.psych-web.com
American Psychological Association, Division 26
www.yorku.ca/dept/psych/orgs/apa26/
Neurosciences on the internet
www.neuroguide.com
Youtube.com
Lahey, Benjamin (2011) Psychology an Introduction: Student Research Materials: McGraw Hill, USA; New York
www.mhhe.com/lahey
In Class Calendar Assignments: Fall 2014: Section 4930
*****Note: There will be 22 additional internet hours in Etudes/Assignments that are due according to the Etude calendar. This will include films, quizzes, discussions, etc. You will need an etude email in which to complete all etude work.
Assignment #1 for Chapter I: Assignment #1: Critical Thinking Assignment: Type 1-2 page essay: What is Psychology? (In your own words ). You may interview individuals in addition to your own definition of the subject and include your findings in the essay. Do not use the book, internet or a dictionary for this assignment. Due: 1-2 page(s) essay typed/double spaced. 12 Font. Due: November 12, 2014.
Weekly Reading: Students to read Chapters 1, 2, 3. **Please type all papers in APA style and double space all typed assignments. Discussion of chapters read will be in class. Reading is due by November 19, 2014.
**Review key Terms/Figures, summary of each chapter assigned, Application of Psychology Sections the book in the assigned chapters.
Assignment #2 Internet Research Assignment: Surf the internet and find these two articles, print and bring to class. Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment & Brown vs. Board of Education. Please read the articles and be prepared for class discussion. Due: November 22 , 2014 . 5pts will be given for these two articles. Minimum printed pages 3-5 for each article. Bring these two articles to class. See Etudes for the video- Eye s on the Prize (Brown vs. Board of Education).
Weekly Reading: Chapters 6,11,16 These chapters will be discussed in its entirety in class. Reading to be completed for these chapters by: November 22, 2014
Assignment #3: Activity: Naturalistic Observation: For this assignment you will go out into a space where people are congregating and observe them for about 30 minutes. This type of research is called Naturalistic Observation. The goal of naturalistic observation is that you watch a naturally occurring behavior and do not change it in any way. People should not know that they are being watched; otherwise, they may not act naturally.
Bring a pad of paper with you and take notes about the things that you find interesting. Try to be unobtrusive. Choose one particular behavior to focus on and watch several people. Make sure that you focus on one behavior to watch and take notes on that behavior. Try to be objective. Note the behavior but try not to interpret it.
Once you have completed your observations, attempt to form a theory about human behavior based on the observations that you made. Comment on any generalities/commonalities based on what you observed? Did you see similarities in people’s behaviors? Formalize a theory (one of the schools of thought that we studied earlier in the session) 1-2 Pages double spaced in APA style. Due: December 6, 2014.
Weekly Reading: Chapters 12, 13, 14. These chapters will be discussed in their entirety in class. Reading to be completed by December 17, 2014.
Assignment #5: Part 1: : Select a psychological article in which you will briefly discuss and critique. We will discuss this further in class. APA style required: Part 2: Final Exam: A 25 question multiple choice exam on selected chapters of the book. Due: December 20, 2014. Scantron 882-E.
Have a Great Fall Semester!!!!
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