8/4/2019 11ap Psych Syllabus

1/5

Advanced Placement Psychology Syllabus 2011La Jolla High School, Mrs. Dill

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

The purpose of the Advanced Placement course in Psychology is to introduce students to the systematic and scientific

study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students will be exposed to thepsychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the subfields within psychology. They will also learn

about the methods psychologists' use in their science and practice. (fromAdvanced Placement Course Description inPsychology)

PRIMARY TEXT:Coon, Dennis (2004). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior(10th ed.). Belmont: Thomson

Wadsworth.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will prepare to take the Advanced Placement Examination in Psychology on Monday, May 7, 2012.

2. Students will study the major core concepts and theories of psychology. They will be able to define key terms and

use these terms in their everyday vocabulary.

3. Students will learn the basic skills of psychological research. They will be able to devise simple research projects,interpret and generalize from results, and evaluate the validity of research reports.

4. Students will be able to apply psychological concepts to their own lives. They will be able to recognize psychologicalprinciples when they are encountered in everyday situations.

5. Students will develop critical thinking skills. They will become aware of the danger of blindly accepting or rejectingany psychological theory without careful, objective evaluation.

6. Students will build their reading, writing, and discussion skills.7. Students will learn about psychology as a profession, and become aware of the educational requirements that must

be met to pursue such careers. They will learn about the ethical standards governing the work of psychologists.

If there is any question in your mind as to whether this is the right course for you, come talk to me.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU:

1. Come to class. If you are out of school, it is your responsibility to get lecture notes and assignments from aclassmate.

2. Ask for help. If you have trouble understanding something, ask me. How can you get help?- Ask questions before, during, and after class- Arrange to meet me at lunch

- Contact me by e-mail: kdill@sandi.net

3. Dont fall behind. Set a schedule and be disciplined enough to stick to it. Complete assignments and finish readingson time. Be prepared for class every day. Review each week.

4. Keep up your AP Psychology notebook. Take complete, dated class notes and reading notes. This notebook will bechecked numerous times this year. (More information will come later.)

8/4/2019 11ap Psych Syllabus

2/5

5. Read actively. Dont just look at the words. Preview the chapters before you begin and review frequently. Dont tryto read an entire chapter in one sitting. Pay close attention to the pictures, charts, and diagrams - they include

important information and make the text more interesting! Take reading notes, it will make it much easier to reviewfor the exam.

6. Learn the terms. Half of the battle of this course is vocabulary. You will be required to keep a vocabulary list foreach chapter with the definitions. This makes an excellent review for chapter tests, and think of how nice it will be

when studying all 20 chapters at once!

GRADING:Your grade will be determined by your performance on chapter tests, quizzes, assignments, two final exams, and

research projects. These categories are weighted as follows:

Multiple Choice TestsFree Response Tests

Quizzes

NotebooksFinal

- 40%- 20%

- 10%

- 10%- 20%

Your grade will be updated weekly on http://sc.webgrade.classmanager.com/LaJollaHS/ . It is your responsibility to

inform me if you feel there is an error in this grade.

Letter grades are assigned as follows:100-94 A 89-87 B+ 79-77 C+ 69-67 D+

93-90 A- 86-84 B 76-74 C 66-64 D83-80 B- 73-70 C- 63-60 D-

No scores will be rounded up until they reach the .5 mark.

Chapter Tests: Dates of these tests are listed on the calendar. Make-up exams are given before school only, on days

specified by me. No exceptions. I will not remind you of this, or hunt you down. It is up to you. (Warning: All make-uptests are different than the test-day version. They are usually much harder. In addition, the curve does not apply to

make-up tests.)From the La Jolla High School Behavior Code: Test Avoidance: A pattern of absences on test days for the apparent

advantage of performing better on the makeup test. If a student develops a pattern of test avoidance, parents will benotified. Any further absences on test days may result in the forfeiture of makeup opportunities.

Quizzes: There will be about 1-2 quizzes each chapter. The dates may, or may not, be announced beforehand. Make-

up quizzes are NOT given. Your next quiz grade will be doubled to count for the missed score.

Final Exams: You will be given two final exams. The first will fall on the day of semester one finals for the school. Thesecond will occur two to three weeks prior to the AP Exam in May.

Research Projects: These projects will be given after the AP Exam in May. Feel free to forget about it until then!

UNIVERSAL TARDY POLICY:Tardies will accumulate one semester at a time and cannot be Made-up. Consequences are as follows: First week of each semester - Tardy grace period. First Tardy after Grace Period - Student/Teacher Conference Second Tardy - Letter home to Parents Third Tardy - Citizenship grade lowered one grade. Fourth Tardy - Citizenship grade is lowered one more grade and referral. Counselors will contact parents and wil

assign detention.

Fifth Tardy - Citizenship grade lowered one more grade. Sixth Tardy - Citizenship grade lowered to a U. Seventh Tardy - Referral will be written for defiance of school rules. Vice-Principals will contact parents, and you

will be suspended.

8/4/2019 11ap Psych Syllabus

3/5

EXCESSIVE ABSENCESIn accordance with District Policy #4705, even if a students evaluated class work is passing or acceptable, a student may

receive a NC (No Credit) on a report card if excessive absences have prevented them from meeting the courseobjectives.

Your participation is important to the course, therefore more than 10 absences each semester may result in the lowering

of your grade.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS RULES:

1. Cheating is NOT tolerated. First offense will result in a 0 on the test or assignment. Second offense will result inyour removal from the course.

2. In accordance with district and school policy, no food or drinks are to be consumed in class. The only exception tothis is water.

3. No hats are to be worn and no electronic devices should be used in class.4. YOU MUST BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.

LA JOLLA HIGH SCHOOLS EXPECTED SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING RESULTS (ESLRS)1. Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communicative skills, and will be able to use technology when

applicable.

2. Students will develop the interpersonal skills necessary to work collaboratively and effectively with others in order tobe contributing members in a global society.

3. Students will be able to demonstrate the higher order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, application, andevaluation.

4. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the worlds various viewpoints, belief systems, and cultures.This course is designed to meet and exceed San Diego City School's district standards and literacy framework, as well asLa Jolla High Schools Expected School-wide Learning Results. Additionally, the course meets and exceeds the National

Standards for Psychology as set forth by the American Psychological Association. The standards may be viewed at thecourse website, or at http://www.apa.org/ed/natlstandards.html .

THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATION IN PSYCHOLOGY:

The exam is approximately two hours long and is intended to cover the introductory college course in psychology. Itincludes a 70-minute multiple-choice section (100 questions), and a 50-minute free-response section consisting of twoessays. The multiple-choice section accounts for two-thirds of the exam grade, leaving the last third for the free

response.

The multiple-choice questions cover the 13 areas of scientific psychology covered in the course. In some questions, you

may be asked to demonstrate your understanding of a psychological term. In others you may be asked to apply conceptsfrom a particular psychological theory or example of research. The two essay may require that you analyze and evaluate

psychological constructs and, more generally, theoretical perspectives.

The test is scored on a five-point scale:

Extremely Well Qualified 5 Possibly Qualified 2Well-Qualified 4 No Recommendation 1

Qualified 3

Most colleges grant credit and placement for qualifying work (i.e., a grade of 3 or higher) on the examination. Some

require a grade of 4 and a few do not accept AP scores.

8/4/2019 11ap Psych Syllabus

4/5

AP EXAM - Summary of Course and Examination Content:

I. History and Approaches (2-4%)

A. Logic, Philosophy, and History of ScienceB. Approaches

1. Biological2. Behavioral3. Cognitive4. Humanistic5. Psychodynamic6. Sociocultural7. Evolutionary

II. Research Methods (8-10%)A. Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical

Research

B. Statistics

1. Descriptive2. Inferential

C. Ethics in Research

III. Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%)

A. Physiological TechniquesB. Neuroanatomy

C. Functional Organization of the Nervous SystemD. Neural Transmission

E. Endocrine SystemF. Genetics

G. Evolutionary Psychology

IV. Sensation and Perception (6-8%)A. Thresholds and Signal Detection

B. Sensory MechanismsC. Attention

D. Perceptual Processes

V. States of Consciousness (2-4%)

A. Sleep and Dreaming

B. HypnosisC. Psychoactive Drug Effects

VI. Learning (7-9%)A. Classical Conditioning

B. Operant Conditioning

C. Cognitive Processes in Learning

D. Biological FactorsE. Social Learning

VII. Cognition (8-10%)

A. MemoryB. Language

C. Thinking

D. Problem Solving and Creativity

VIII. Motivation and Emotion (6-8%)

A. Biological Bases

B. Theories of MotivationC. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain

D. Social Motives

E. Theories of Emotion

F. Stress

IX. Developmental Psychology (7-9%)

A. Life Span ApproachB. Research Methods (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional)

C. Heredity-Environmental Issues

D. Developmental Theories

E. Dimensions of Development1. Physical2. Cognitive3. Social4. Moral

F. Sex Roles, Sex Differences

X. Personality (5-7%)

A. Personality Theories and Approaches

B. Assessment Techniques

C. Growth and Adjustment

XI. Testing and Individual Differences (5-7%)

A. Standardization and Norms

B. Reliability and Validity

C. Types of TestsD. Ethics and Standards in Testing

E. Intelligence

XII. Abnormal Psychology (7-9%)A. Definitions of Abnormality

B. Theories of Psychopathology

C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology

D. Types of Disorders1. Anxiety Disorders

2. Somatoform Disorders3. Mood Disorders

4. Schizophrenic Disorders

5. Organic Disorders

6. Personality Disorders

7. Disassociate Disorders

XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5-7%)

A. Treatment Approaches

1. Psychodynamic2. Humanistic3. Behavioral4. Cognitive5. Biological

B. Modes of Therapy (e.g., individual, group)

C. Community and Preventive Approaches

XIV. Social Psychology (7-9%)A. Group Dynamics

B. Attribution Processes

C. Interpersonal PerceptionD. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience

E. Attitudes and Attitude Change

F. Organizational Behavior

G. Aggression/Antisocial BehaviorH. Cultural Influences

8/4/2019 11ap Psych Syllabus

5/5

Advanced Placement Psychology Syllabus 2011La Jolla High School, Mrs. Dill

Please sign and return this page of the syllabus by Friday, September 9, 2011.

I have read and understand this course syllabus and the policies governing the Advanced Placementcourse in Psychology at La Jolla High School.

_________________________________ ______Student Name (please print) Period

_________________________________ ______Student Signature Date

Throughout the course of the year, we will be watching several documentaries and films illustratingmental illness and the treatment of these illnesses. A few are rated PG-13 and R due to language.

Prior to these films, I will explain the purpose of watching and the need for sensitivity and maturityas a viewing audience. If you wish to have your student excluded from the viewing of these, pleasenote so in the comments section (below) and I will arrange to have your student out of the room on

these few days.

___________________________________ ________Parent / Guardian Signature Date

___________________________________

Parent / Guardian's Phone Number

Comments (if any):