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Monday Class
(Spring 2000)
Helpful & Interesting
links
•
Quiz Your Psychology Knowledge
• Fun Assessment
Tests (e.g., take the "Death Test" to see how long you will live)
•
Help with learning Psychology
Syllabus (modifications
may occur)
Course: PSY 101 W2
Day/Time: Mondays 6:30 - 9:30 p. m.
Location: HCC Wamego Site Room: TBA (To Be Announced)
Semester Hours: 3 academic credits
Total Clock Hours: 45 hours
Prerequisite(s): None
y y
y y
Instructor: Patricia Marsh
Email
Web: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~pmarsh
Phone: see hard copy of syllabus
Appointments: Arranged with instructor
Quote to ponder: "The
difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old
ones."
– John Maynard Keyes (1936)
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the diverse field of psychology
that emphasizes: (1) the scientific foundation of psychology (e.g.,
biological, methodological, and critical thinking roots); (2) the basic
principles of behavior and the factors that influence its expression;
and (3) the application of psychological principles to everyday
problems.
Course Material
|
Text |
Coon, D. (1998).
Introduction to Psychology: Exploration and Application (8th
ed.). California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
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Study Guides |
Study guides will be
provided by the instructor and/or will be available on the web
site (http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~pmarsh/ teaching.html). |
Course Objectives
- To develop a better understanding of the field of psychology.
- To better understand our own lives and goals through the
application of psychological principles (e.g., understanding the
connection between cognition and physiological functioning).
- To understand the common terminology used by psychologists.
- To convey thoughts and ideas about psychological principles
through writing.
Course grades will be assigned by the number of possible points
(not by percentage) accumulated in the class.
| A = 387 – 430 |
D = 258 – 300 |
| B = 344 – 386 |
F = < 258 |
| C = 301 – 343 |
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Because your grade is based on the work you do and not on the
performance of your classmates, there is no reason that everyone cannot
earn an "A" in the course. In addition, because your grade will reflect
your mastery of the material rather than your relative position in the
class, curving of grades will not be a regular occurrence.
However, because I recognize that a poorly worded test question may pop
up here or there, I reserve the right to shift the class’ grades on
individual exams upward to a reasonable level.
Course Requirements
|
Assignment |
Description |
Point Value |
Your Scores |
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Quizzes |
During the semester there will be 5
pop-quizzes (i.e., surprise quizzes). Those who pay attention
during the lecture and read the text tend to do well on the
quizzes. There will be no makeup quizzes. |
5 (x 10) |
_____ _____ _____
_____ _____ |
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Tests |
There are six tests and an optional
final in this course. The tests are worth 50 points each. The
optional final is cumulative/comprehensive. Each test is a
combination of the following possible question formats: multiple
choice, short answer, short essay, fill-in-the-blank, T/F,
and/or matching. Test results and questions will be discussed in
class and/or over email. I reserve the right to keep the
tests. There will be
no makeup tests. |
6 (x 50)
optional final 1 (x 50) |
_____ _____ _____
_____ _____ _____
_____ |
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Experiment
Write-up
Paper |
The objective is to design a
research experiment demonstrating understanding and application
of research methodology as used in the Social Sciences (details
discussed in class). APA style for citations and references will
be used. The heart of psychology is its research and this
assignment will help you to understand the importance of
research. |
1 (x 40) |
_____ |
|
Mini Papers |
The purposes for these assignments
are twofold: (1) to improve your writing skills in addition to
learning APA format for citations and references, and (2) to
apply information learned in the course to events in your daily
life. Depending on the task assigned, mini papers will range
from 2 to 3 pages in length. Finer details of the tasks will be
discussed in class. |
2 (x 20) |
_____ _____ |
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Total Points |
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430 |
Extra Credit
Opportunities for extra credit will be presented on each test as
bonus questions. Taking the optional cumulative final is another way you
can earn extra points.
Course Outline
Below are listed chapters/readings, test dates, and due dates for the
writing assignments. I reserve the freedom to keep this schedule
flexible, and to assign
daily homework if deemed necessary. Reading assignments are to be
completed by the due date. Students who do well tend to keep up in
the reading. Discussion of reading material is highly encouraged.
Feel free to work ahead.
|
Date |
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Chapter |
Topic |
Notes |
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1/24 |
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1 &
2 |
The search for understanding
Research methods & critical thinking |
Introductions |
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1/31 |
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2 &
10 |
Research methods & critical
thinking
Memory |
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2/7 |
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Test 1 |
20 |
Social Behavior |
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2/14 |
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20 &
21 |
Social Behavior
Attitudes |
Due: Mini-paper #1 |
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2/21 |
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21 |
Attitudes |
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2/28 |
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Test 2 |
3 |
The Brain, Biology, and Behavior |
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3/6 |
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3
6-7 |
The Brain, Biology, and Behavior
Sensation and Reality & Perceiving the world |
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3/13 |
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Test 3 |
9 &
14 |
Review then test
Learning
Health, stress and coping |
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3/20-3/24 |
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SPRING BREAK |
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3/27 |
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14 &
11 |
Health, stress and coping
States of consciousness |
Due: Experimental paper |
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4/3 |
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Test 4 |
16 &
17 |
Personality
Abnormal Behavior |
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4/10 |
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18 &
19 |
Major mental disorders
Therapies |
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4/17 |
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Test 5 |
4 &
15 |
Child development
Gender and sexuality |
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4/24 |
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5 |
Life-span development |
Due: Mini-paper #2
Course Evaluations |
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5/1 |
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Test 6 |
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Last day of class
Review for optional final |
Due:
Re-write for Experimental paper |
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5/8 |
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Optional cumulative final |
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Instructor Policies
- Take-home assignments are to be typed, word-processed or
hand written VERY neatly, double-spaced, with 1" for all
margins, and in 12 point font. Proper grammar, punctuation, and
spelling are expected on all assignments; i.e., points will be
deducted if not followed.
- Please take advantage of talking with me about questions and
concerns you have about the course. My goal in this course is for
you to excel and learn something useful, but I cannot do this
without some effort on your part.
- I will not drop students from the class. It is the student’s
responsibility to drop from the course if s/he chooses. Simply not
attending class or not taking tests will not suffice. Any student on
the roster at the end of the semester will receive a grade
regardless of attendance or test performance.
- The class schedule listed here is tentative, and while I do
not plan too many changes, I reserve the right to adjust it as
necessary. Any changes in quiz dates and/or material covered on a
particular quiz will be announced at least one week in advance.
Thus, if you miss a lecture, you should contact someone in the class
to find out if I have made any announcements.
- Attendance Policy: Attendance allows you the opportunity
to maximize your learning potential, and is therefore expected.
Class attendance is a serious and vital responsibility for all
students. Missing class puts you at a significant disadvantage.
Obtaining lecture notes for missed classes is your responsibility.
If you know in advance that you will be missing class on major due
dates or for long periods of time, please notify me immediately
and make sure that any missed work is made up in advance. Attendance
does NOT mean that you show up to class and read a newspaper.
Individuals, who exhibit behavior that the instructor considers
disrespectful or a hindrance to the learning process, will be asked
to leave the classroom.
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Regarding exam days: If you
have to miss an exam, then let me know before the exam by phone
or email. If I do not hear from you before the exam, you receive
a 0. |
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