Dr. Robert Frank, Professor of Psychology

Oakton Community College

Introduction to Psychology 101

Fall 2009

Dr. Robert Frank, Professor of Psychology

Office: 2704

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 – 9:30 and 12:15-1:00 Tuesday, 10:45-12:45

Phone: (847) 635-1917

E-mail address:

Home Page: http://www.oakton.edu/user/~bfrank/

I. Course Course Course

Prefix Number Name Credit Lecture Lab

PSY 101 Introduction 3 3 0

to Psychology

II. Course Prerequisite: None

III. Course Description:

Course introduces study of human behavior. Content includes survey of all elements of this behavioral science. Focus is on learning, motivation, emotion, perception, intelligence, human development, mental processes, and contemporary research.

IV. Learning Objectives:

A. The student will learn the social scientific approach to the study of human behavior.

B. The student will identify various professional issues that arise from the study of human

behavior.

C.  The student will consider the various applications of theories to life processes.

D.  The student will learn to define the human behavior studied within this course in operational terms, construct hypotheses, and gather, analyze and interpret data.

E.  The student will understand how psychology emerged as a field of knowledge, and how this influences psychological thinking today.

F.  The student will learn to describe and provide examples of the scientific approach to the study of human behavior, including the ability to differentiate fact from opinion.

G.  The student will be able to identify, compare, and evaluate alternative solutions that arise from various theories presented in this course.

H.  The student will communicate knowledge and application of the course content effectively in writing and/or speech.

I.  The student will recognize course content that can assist in building and maintaining effective human relationships.

V.  ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

·  cheating,

·  plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),

·  falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),

·  helping others to cheat,

·  unauthorized changes on official documents,

·  pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,

·  making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and

·  any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

VI. OUTLINE OF TOPICS:

WEEK DATE LECTURE MATERIAL AND READING

Week 1 August 24-26 Introduction The Study of Psychology

Week 2 August 31-September 2 Chapter 1 Introduction and Research Methods

Week 3 September 9 Chapter 2 Brain and Behavior

Week 4 September 14-16 Chapter 3 Human Development

Week 5 September 21-23 Chapter 4-5 Sensation and Reality/Perceiving the World

Test 1: September 23 (Chapters 1- 5)

Week 6 September 28-30 Chapter 6 States of Consciousness

Week 7 October 5-7 Chapter 7 Conditioning and Learning

Week 8 October 12-14 Chapter 8 Memory

Week 9 October 19-21 Chapter 9 Cognition,Language, and Creativity / Intelligence

Test 2: October 21 (Chapters 6-7-8-9)

Week 10 October 26-28 Chapter 10/11 Motivation and Emotion Gender and Sexuality

(Research paper due October 28 )

Week 11 November 2-4 Chapter 12 Personality

Week 12 November 9 Catch up week

Week 13 November 16-18 Chapter13 Health Stress and Coping

Test 3: November 18 (Chapters 10-11-12-13)

Week 14 November 23 Chapter 14 Psychological Disorders

Week 15 November 30-December 2 Chapter 15 Therapies

Week 16 December 7-9 Chapter 16 Social Thinking and Social Influence

Test 4: December 9 (Chapters 14-15-16)

Week 16 December 14 Final (Comprehensive) Chapters 1-16

VII. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

Quiz: Each Monday a quiz will be given in class. You may use your notes and your weekly outlines but you may not use the book. No make up on quizzes. You must be in class to take the quiz. The quizzes are worth 15% of your total grade.

Exam: Four (4) objective exams will be given during the semester. Items will be multiple-choice and true/false. Make-up exams will not be permitted unless a signed and dated doctor’s certification is presented. The exams are worth 40% of your total grade.

Final Comprehensive exam: The last day of class there will be a final exam that covers all the material learned throughout the semester. This is 10% of your grade.

Research paper: Writing a research paper on an issue of your choice in psychology. This is 10% of your grade. (More information to follow)

Gateway Questions: Each Monday of the semester, the student will hand-in a paper at the beginning of class, answering all the gateway questions on the chapter outline for that week. See learning objective at http://www.oakton.edu/user/~bfrank/

The paper will be typed and double-spaced. These papers are not to be done during class time. The papers will be handed in at the beginning of class on Mondays and will not be accepted late. 10% of grade.

Group project: Each Wednesday a group of students will present a game related to the chapter that was discussed that week. The game will involve all the students to help them learn the concepts of the chapter better. The game is to be presented in a fun and understandable way. If you do not show up for your group project you will receive “0” points. 5% of grade.

Class Attendance/Participation: Students need to come prepared to discuss the chapter that is assigned each week. In addition to the chapter discussion, students are encouraged to bring in information relevant to the particular chapter for that day. The purpose is to understand application of what is being learned to what is happening in the real world. Even on days when a group project is presented, students should be prepared to participate. See attached schedule. 10% of grade

VIII. COURSE PRACTICES REQUIRED:

“Writing: Students will be required to write for the class the equivalent of 12-15 typed pages of material that will be graded. This writing may take the form of a research or term paper, summaries of journal articles, and/or a series of shorter, analytical papers.”

Students will be responsible for reading the assigned chapters in the text before the week shown on the class schedule. Other readings will be recommended throughout the semester.

IX. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

Text: Dennis Coon

Introduction to Psychology

Twelfth edition

Wadsworth 2009

X. METHODS OF EVALUATING STUDENT PROGRESS:

Grading:

4 Exams 40 points (10 points each)

Final Exam (Comprehensive) 10 Points

Research paper 10 points

Quizzes 15 points

Gateway Questions 10 points

Group Project 5 points

Class Attendance 10 points

______

Final Grade 100 Points

Special Dispensation: Any student who feels that they need other means of grading and testing must make arrangements with the instructor prior to the first exam. As I hope you will learn in this class, we are all different and methods best for evaluating some people, may not work for others. I am more than happy to work with any individual student to overcome problems.

XI. OTHER COURSE INFORMATION:

Important dates:

September 20 - Last day to change to "audit" and Last day to withdraw without penalty

October 18 - Last day to withdraw with "W"

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in The Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

Tutoring and Academic Support:

Free tutoring is provided by The Learning Center in a variety of subjects. Tutors are available on a drop-in basis or by appointment in room 2400 DP or room A135 RHC. For specific times when tutors in your subject are available or to make an appointment for one on one tutoring call 847-635-1658 DP or 847-635-1434 RHC.

For information about how to improve your study skills or participate in a study group, contact ISS at either campus to meet with a learning specialist.

Psychology 101 Weekly Schedule

Monday: Quizzes worth 15 points:

Each Monday read the chapter before you come to class. A quiz will be given. You can use your notes and gateway questions to help answer the questions on the quizzes. If you finish your quiz before the rest of the class, use the time to reread your book. We will go over the quiz in class right after it is taken. Weekly outline due. This will take about 50 minutes of the class. After the quiz we will have lecture and/or discussion, movies, etc.

Wednesday: Group presentation worth 5 points.

The first 20 minutes we will finish the lecture and/or discussion from Monday. The last 50 minutes of class each student will be assigned to present a chapter to the class. The grading system for the group presentation is based on the following:

1.  How much the class learned.

2.  Degree to which the students were involved.

3.  Amount of material covered from the chapter.

4.  Ability to keep the students’ attention.

5.  How creative the presentation was.

Attendance/tardy/leaving class early policy: Worth 10 points. You will be marked absent if you don’t come to class, come late to class, or leave class early.

Missed days or tardy Points

0-2  10

3 9

4  8

5  7

6  6

7  5

8  4

9  3

10  2

11  1

12  0

5