Course Description s90

AP Psychology 2016-2017

Mr. Fernandez

Room 413

Email:

Website: http://fernandezappsych.cmswiki.wikispaces.net

Subscribe to my “remind” program for phone and/or email reminders about assignments/tests. We will do this in class.

Course Description:

The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is to introduce the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings (and other animals). Included is a consideration of the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Students also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

What impels us to act? How does memory work? What happens when someone is “mentally ill”? How can he or she be helped back to health? How do humans develop cognitively and emotionally? How are fears created? How was my self-concept developed? What is the interplay between thought and behavior? How do corporation/politicians try to manipulate our perceptions/behaviors? Does my brain control me, or do I control it? How much of “me” was determined genetically at birth, and how much was acquired by experience and learning. Do I have freedom and control of my behavior or does my psyche control me? These and many other fascinating questions will frame the subject matter of this course.

Texts:

Primary Text: Myers’ Psychology for AP – David G. Myers

Secondary Text: Barron’s AP Psychology 4th, 5th, 6th OR 7th Edition

Authors Robert McEntarffer and Allyson J. Weseley

EBook:

Our brand new textbooks will be available online this year along with other valuable resources.

Content:

Subject / Myers
Unit 1 Psychology’s History and Approaches
Unit 2: Critical Thinking, Scientific Method, Correlation, Case Studies and Experimentation
Unit 14 : Social Psychology
Unit 3 Biological Bases for behavior (aka Neuroscience)
Unit 9: Developmental Psychology
Unit 4: Sensation and Perception
Unit 5 :States of Consciousness
Unit 6: Learning
Unit 7: Cognition (Memory, Thinking and Language)
Unit 11: Intelligence and Testing
Unit 8: Motivation, Emotion and Stress
Unit 10: Personality
Unit 12: Psychological Disorders (aka Abnormal Psychology)
Unit 13: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Timeline:

I will provide a pacing guide for each chapter. Students can access this through the wiki website Please notice that units are not covered in the same order in which they are presented in the text.

Class Schedule

This class will meet alternating A/B days for the entire school year.

Grading Policy for 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters only: (I am on the point system so these percentages are an approximation and can vary a bit)

Tests: 35%

Quizzes- 30%

Notecards - 20%

Homework/Projects -10%

Class participation: 5%

1st Semester – 1st Quarter – 40% 2nd Semester – 3rd Quarter – 50%

2nd Quarter – 40% 4th Quarter – 50%

Midterm – 20%

Year Grade – 1st Semester – 50%

2nd Semester – 50%

Websites

www.collegeboard.com (psychology)

www.worthpublishers.com/myers/.. Then click on icon with our red textbook

Expectations

Students should come prepared for class – notebook, paper, pen and pencil

Homework assignment

Attendance to class

Reading required prior to class

Complete homework to enhance understanding

Participation from every student

Required Materials

Notebook, Binder OR Folder to keep materials.

Loose leaf paper

Pen and Pencil

600 3x5 Index Cards for ongoing notecard library

AP Course Demands

It should be understood at the outset of this course that the expectations of this class are consistent with those of any Advanced Placement course. Students should expect a similar workload to that of a course at the college level. This includes but is not limited to extensive reading, active involvement in class discussions and activities and taking notes.

Assessment

Students should expect tests after each chapter. Tests WILL be timed to correlate with the time allotted on the AP exam. Tests will consist of multiple choice questions and often a written response. There will be quizzes on Day 2 and Day 4 of each UNIT on information that you have read the night before and on some information from previous class lesson. Please notice that tests and quizzes make up a large portion of your grade in this class. Quizzes cannot be made up. Make up exams will only be given after school on the day of the week that social studies have recovery. No excuses. Do NOT ask me to take it any other time. Between 30 and 50 notecards will be due on the day of every test. It is strongly advised that you do these as we move through the chapter.

Late Work

You are responsible for obtaining missed work. Most assignments due can be obtained on my wiki website (printed at top) You must get phone numbers/email addresses from at least 2 students in this class so that you can find out what you missed and be sure there weren’t any changes to the chapter pacing guide. Being absent from school is not an excuse for not being prepared for the new assignments (unless you have a note saying you were physically unable to complete). This is because you have access to all assignments from home and your textbook will stay at home. You will be required to take the daily quiz on the reading due that day or hand in the homework upon your return – Quizzes are NOT to be made up

Projects

You can expect one project per semester. The details of these projects will be given at a later date. Some projects will be completed individually and others in groups. Every member must contribute in some form to the completion of the group project.

The AP Exam

Most of you will take the AP Exam on Monday May 1st, 2016. The test combines 100 multiple choice questions and 2 free response questions (FRQ’s). We will work to prepare for this test! Do not stress now… we have all year! Most colleges accept a score of 3 to give college credit. Our test scores have been nothing short of outstanding the last 15 years. If you follow my lead and work hard then you will do well on the exam. If in January (when you are required to commit) you are unsure whether or not you want to take the test you may ask for my opinion. I know the requirements for passing the exam very well and can help you to make that best decision for you.

Helpful Hints for Success

Daily quizzes separate the men from the boys so study for these.

READ READ READ

Complete all assignments/study and failure is nearly impossible.

Stay organized.

Find a study partner/group

Ask questions when you do not understand

Participate in lecture and class discussion

On A Personal Note

Psychology is such an exciting subject to study. I am going to do all that I can to make this both interesting and challenging for you. As your teacher, I am willing to give you my very best and I expect the same from you. I am available after school everyday (except faculty meeting Wednesdays) by appointment for tutoring. If questions or concerns arise during the year, the best way to contact me is via email. () Good luck and I look forward to teaching you this year!!

Secondary Text

Barron’s AP Psychology (Any edition after the 4th- do NOT get edition with CD)

Authors: Robert McEntarffer and Allyson J. Weseley

I am strongly recommending that students purchase this secondary resource. This book has proven to be an excellent resource when preparing for the AP Exam. We will use this book often. Much of the credit for our outstanding scores from the past can be given to this book. Barron’s can be ordered by going to a search engine and type “Barron’s AP Psychology” you will find the book used from 2 dollars to 10 dollars. Barnes and Noble and Amazon sell the 6th edition new for 10$. We will be using this book for outside reading, homework, and practice test questions. If you are on free or reduced or foresee the purchase of this book to be difficult – please see me or have your parent/guardian email me If you know someone who took this class in the past then you may want to ask them for their book. Please note that the differences between editions are small enough that you can get by with the 4th edition The problem is that the page numbers will not correlate with some spring semester assignments that I will have.