Charles Flowers High School AP Psychology Summer Assignment 2016-17
Charles Flowers High School AP Psychology Summer Assignment 2016-17
Welcome to AP Psychology. Your Summer Assignment requires on-line access and/or library resources. If you cannot access the Internet from home, all public libraries in Prince George’s County have numerous computers for public use.
- Prior to the start of the year, I would like to have some sense of who you are, and what you hope to gain from this course. Therefore, by July 24th (although sooner is ok), please send an email which provides the following:
• Yourname
• Your Grade (11 or 12)
• Extracurricular involvement.(In and out of school)
• Reason(s) for taking this course!?
- A working email for either or both of your parents with their names.
My email is on’t forget to have this to me by the 24th of July. Everyone must comply. This is a graded assignment.
- Purchase the AP Psychology Review Book called 5 Steps to a 5 - AP Psychology, published by McGraw – Hill. It does not have to be the most recent edition, but it should be no more than 4 years old. You can find previous year’s editions for sale online for as little as $3.00 ranging from used to almost new (barely used). No excuses. Purchase this now. You will be receiving a grade for having this. I will be checking this the 1st day of class so you will need to bring it with you on day 1. Don’t procrastinate. The book needs time to ship. Any issues, let me know in your email that is due by July 24th. If I do not here from you by then I will assume there are no problems getting the book.
3. Answer the following questions in short-essay format (5-7 sentences, depending on the complexity of the subject) in your own words. There are many online sources you can use; just be sure they are academic/scholarly in nature. This assignment may appear overwhelming at first glance, but it is actually fairly easy and brief. The assignment also addresses some of the major researchers, theories and concepts we will study in the coming year, so it will prove useful to you.
***This assignment must be hand-written and will be due the first day of class. It will be your first Test Grade. Typed papers will NOT be graded. On the first day of school students will turn in their work, and students who have completed their work properly will receive a grade commensurate with that. Students who DO NOT COMPLETE THE SUMMER ASSIGNMENT WILL RECEIVE A ZERO AS A TEST GRADE.
I. What is psychology? Elaborate beyond a “textbook” definition.
II. Identify all 15 of the following important figures in psychology (including from which perspective they come from: perspectives listed in section III) and describe their most significant contributions:
Albert Bandura
Abraham Maslow
Carl Rogers
Howard Gardner
Erik Erikson
Ivan Pavlov
Sigmund Freud
William James
B.F. Skinner
Jean Piaget
Wilhelm Wundt
Philip Zimbardo
John Watson
Lawrence Kohlberg
Charles Darwin
III. Describe each of the 8 main perspectives within psychology listed below and give an example of the type of research a person might do within that perspective:
Neuroscience
Evolutionary
Behavioral-Genetic
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Cognitive
Social Cultural
Humanistic
IV. Describe the “Nature/Nurture” debate as it applies to psychology.
V. Go to the textbook website listed below and explore the voluminous resources available to you as a student. Add the site to your list of favorites on your browser; it will prove useful to you throughout the course of AP Psychology. Print out and hand in at least one of the completed practice quizzes you do for both the prologue and chapter 1. To access the website, go to:
Go to the right side of the page and click on: register, student. Create your own log-in information. Choose a name and password that will be easy to remember. Once you have logged on it will ask for instructor’s email: leave this blank and hit continue, hit continue again, now go to quizzes and choose Quiz 1 from Module 1 (Story of Psychology) print completed quizzes and bring them with you the first day of class.]
REMEMBER: These are all due the first day of class and MUST BE HAND WRITTEN. Typed papers will not be graded. (Except of course the printed quizzes)
And Finally!!!
Please read the information concerning this class in the following paragraphs and then you and your parents please sign. Have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you in August.
Please read the information about this AP course and discuss with a parent/guardian your readiness to be an AP Psychology student.
AP Psychology is a challenging college-level class. The ability and willingness to read every night is essential for success in this class. You will need to read with full comprehension of the material covered; there is not enough time to cover every term/concept/theory in class, so you will be responsible for learning information independently. (Reading Quizzes and Vocabulary Quizzes will be given often)
Like a college-level course, AP Psychology is "self-guided" and requires a great deal of self-discipline regarding study habits. Your success is based on the effort you as a student put into the class.AP Psychology is not a hard course – if you do the work!
The following accomplishments have differentiated students who are successful in AP Psychology from those who struggle. They are not, however, prerequisites:
Completion of Biology with an A or B average
Completion of Psychology (the semester course) with an A or B average OR a strong sciencebackground (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, AP Biology) OR completion of APStatistics
Enrollment in Honors English, AP English, or Dual Enrollment English
Strong reading ability
Ability to write in a concise and clear manner
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at
Please read and sign below:
I understand the nature of the AP Psychology class. I believe I possess the skills and am willing to devote the time necessary to succeed in this class.
Student Signature ______
Student email address ______
I understand the nature of the AP Psychology class. I believe my son/daughter possesses the skills and is willing to devote the time necessary to succeed in this class.
Parent/Guardian Signature ______
Parent/Guardian email address ______
***Return this sheet with your summer assignment the first day of class***
Include here your AP Psychology class period ______
****Warning if you have my class first period and are repeatedly late or absent you will be dropped from the course (no matter the excuse). This includes internships.