Psychology 101 for Aoc Students

1

PSYCHOLOGY 101 FOR AOC STUDENTS

Lecture 408-084

Fall 2010

Monday & Wednesday 2:00-3:15

314 Merrill

INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Smuckler, Ph. D.

OFFICE: 161 Mitchell

MAILBOX: Mitchell 177

PHONE: 229-4696

OFFICE HOURS: Tues & Thurs. 11:15-12:10 in Mitchell 161 Cubicle H;

Monday and Wednesday 9:45-10:45 in Cunningham 522, phone 229-5556;

and by appointment

E MAIL:

TEXT: Meyers, David G. (2009). Exploring Psychology, 8th Edition. New York, N.Y.

Worth Publishing & in-class handouts. A COPY OF THE TEXT IS ON TWO HOUR RESERVE IN THE LIBRARY under my name and this course number. The study guide is OPTIONAL. All course materials are also on

UWM Library E Reserve.

GOALS: This three-credit course is designed to enable students to gain an understanding

of behavior and thought processes, the major theories and principles that apply to

this discipline and the terminology that is used. Students will also gain an

understanding of research methodology. Emphasis will be placed on under-

standing human behavior and developing critical thinking, test taking and

problem solving skills. A final objective is to apply course content to one's own

life.

COURSE FORMAT: Material will be presented in a variety of ways including lecture,

large group discussion, cooperative small groups, written-in-class exercises, and

individual projects. Knowledge, understanding and application will be

demonstrated through traditional testing, papers that require applying course

content to ones life, reflection and feedback from in-class activities.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are expected to ATTENDALL classes. LECTURE WILL INCLUDE MATERIAL NOT IN YOUR TEXT. You will not be able to obtain a passing grade in this course without attending, timely completion of assigned work and taking tests as scheduled. Assigned reading is to be completed BEFORE class. While homework and attendance do not constitute as major a component of the grade as papers or tests, they are essential.

1. Attendance: You are expected to be punctual, prepared and participate. We all have something to offer. Your opinions are important. Class attendance is also critical as there will be many small group activities and individual exercises conducted during class. If you have more than FIVEunexcused absences you will have your final grade lowered or may be dropped from the class. Attendance will be taken at all classes. Coming in late or leaving early does not constitute attending. Every class that is missed, without a valid excuse* will also result in a deduction of one (1) point from your total points for the course. If you miss more than five classes for any reason, you should consider dropping the course.

1. Homework: Without turning in homework assignments do not expect to pass this class. Each assignment is worth 6 points. While homework and attendance do not constitute as major a component of the grade as papers or tests, they are essential. Homework assignments must be completed as scheduled and turned in when due.

1. Papers: Late papers or not turning in papers will also result in such a large point deduction that you cannot pass this course. I am available to offer advice on your papers and read drafts given ample time.

1. Be sure to type your name on all papers and assignments that you hand in. All assignments are due at the beginning of class.

1. Tests: must be taken as scheduled. If a conflict or problem arises you must notify me in advance PRIOR to the test.*

If you notify me in advance and schedule a make-up test within a week, you may take the test with a reduction of points. I reserve the right to refuse a make-up.*

1. Late Assignments: With instructor approval, for valid reasons, late assignments will

receive a maximum of half credit and will only be accepted for ONE WEEK*

*Please note the due dates for all written assignments and test dates in the course outline.

5. Documented illness, a death in your immediate family, or exceptionally extenuating circumstances are the only acceptable excuses for missing tests, class or late work. All papers, and written assignments, are due at the beginning of class.

6. NO written work will be accepted after the last day of classes.

7. There will be two (2) papers, each approximately three (3) pages in length. Written work is also required for each assigned chapter (or pages) in the form of a chapter notes, vocabulary and answering the test question in the text (called rehearse it). There will be five (5) quizzes, a midterm and a final examination. You will be allowed to drop your lowest quiz score so that four quizzes will contribute to your final grade.

6. EXTRA CREDIT Four (4) per cent of extra credit may be obtained by participating in a research study or writing a research abstract. Guidelines for this option are at the end of the syllabus.

7. The textbook, copies of the syllabus, study guide, review sheet and paper assignment are on 2 hour reserve in the library. The syllabus, study guide, review sheet and paper assignment are on electric reserve in the library. The syllabus, assignments, study guides, review sheets and CLASS POWER POINTS are also on D2L.

8. EVALUATION: Your grade will be determined by:

Assigned homework (14%) 14% 42 points

Paper 1 (18%) 18% 54 points

Paper 2 (18%) 18% 54 points

Four quizzes (3.33% each) 13.3% 40 points

Midterm Exam 16.6% 50 points

Final Exam 20% 60 points

(minus one point for all classes missed without a valid excuse)

Total 100% 300 points

9. Grading Schedule: 820-101

A93-100%279-300 points

A-90-92%270-278 points

B+87-89%261-269 points

B83-86%249-260 points

B-80-82%240-248 points

C+ 78-79%234-239 points

C73-77%219-233 points

C-70-72%210-218 points

D+ 68-69%204-209 points

D63-67%186-203 points

D-60-62%180-185 points

COURSE OUTLINE

Tues.-Thurs.

Reading, homework, etc. is due the day of the class, i.e. read sideways

DateTopicAssignment

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

1. If anyone has the need for special accommodations, please see me EARLYin the

semester so that provisions can be made to ensure you an equal opportunity.

1. Dates of topics to be covered in class are subject to modification due to the weather,

speakers' schedules, etc.

3. It is notappropriate to have pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices turned on in class. Excessive noise by continually whispering is disruptive. You will be asked to leave if the aforementioned are being used or occur. Laptops are not to be used for anything other than note taking and should be kept on a word processing program. Violators will be forbidden to bring a laptop to future classes.

4. If the university closes due to bad weather it will be announced by 6:45 a.m. for day

classes and by 4 p.m. for evening classes. For information call the university hot line at 229-4444 or on line at or listed to local radio and TV stations.

1. Drop policy: Before the end of the 4th week of classes a drop will not appear on your

transcript. Before the end of the 8th week of classes a course can be dropped with

instructor or departmental approval, later dropping of a course requires a dean’s

signature and is allowed only in rare cases not related to academic circumstances.

6. Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic misconduct, or facilitating this

misconduct will not be tolerated. Academic misconduct is a disciplinary offence.

This includes copying homework.

1. The instructor has the primary responsibility over classroom behavior and can direct

the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in

disruptive conduct or any behavior which violates the general rules and regulations of the institution. Such behavior may be reported to the Dean for disciplinary action.

1. AOC adheres to uniform campus policy which can be found at

9. In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an

H1N1 swine flu outbreak, the format for this course may be modified to

enable completion of the course. In that event, you will be provided

an addendum to this syllabus that will supersede this version.

REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS

(Homework) FOR EACH CHAPTER, or assigned pages in the chapter, is due the day of each quiz or exam or as listed on the syllabus. Each homework assignment is worth 6 points for a total of 42 points towards your Assigned Homework, Attendance and Participation grade.

For each chapter you will be required to turn in three (3) things:

1. A list of new vocabulary words with your own (not the books) definition of each word.
2. A summary of the main points of each chapter. This can be in outline form, a concept map, the Label in the Margin (T or Cornell method) or consist of summary paragraphs of main ideas.
3. Your corrected answers to the 'Rehearse It" multiple choice questions for each assigned section.
4. Each complete homework assignment is worth six points.
5. (In addition you are responsible to read the Appendix B critical thinking exercise for each chapter and come to class prepared to discuss it or ask questions.)

EXTRA CREDIT

RESEARCH PARTICIPATION

WRITE UP - DUE BY THE LAST CLASS

You will be allowed to receive four (4) per cent which will be added to your lowest test, paper or assignment score by participating in ONE study.

Research opportunities will be announced in class. If you want to receive credit besides participating, you will need to turn in a typed, double spaced, informal report that is approximately one page in length. Your report should contain the following:

1. Date, place, and amount of time spent participating
2. Brief description of what you actually did in the study
3. Comments on the tasks you performed-

was it difficult or confusing, easy or boring, fun, etc.

1. Can you place the research in relation to a theory we covered inclass or research methods we discussed?

Or

You may write a two page abstract of an empirical research report presented in a refereed psychology journal. There are instructions for this on Library 2 hour and electronic reserve.

REQUIRED PAPER TOPICS

(See separate handout for more detailed guidelines and scoring rubric.)

Paper 1 Select memory techniques that would improve your performance on a college

test. Using the information processing model of memory to explain why you

think they would improve your performance. Focus this assignment on studying

for our midterm.

Paper 2 Identify a major stressor in your life. Then synthesize the book and class

material in order to explain what this stressor does to you and how you would

lessen your stress.