1
Health Psychology
Psychology 205
Dr. Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
Phone: (206) 526-7011
Office hours are T,Th 9:30 – 10:00 and 11:00 – 12:00
Office: Rm. IB2327A
Instructor’s campus email:
(subject = your student + the class and time you are in)
Class website:
Login material (Write your items in the space below)
User name: ______
Your entire student id number
Password: ______
Your entire student id number
Your class grade is based on the four non-cumulative midterms, and the activities folder.
My Grades:
Exam #1 _____, Exam #2 _____, Exam #3 _____, Exam #4 _____,
Activities folder= _____ Total = ______
How to log into yourcourse materials: Go to:
Click “Log On”
Put in your User name and Password. (Your entire student ID number for both)
Click on the name of the course E.g. PSYC 205 – Health Psychology
Text Website: I do not believe this website is particularly useful. However, it is free, and you may use it if you wish.
Materials for the course:
Required Text:
Health Psychology – By Brannon ISBN# = 978-0-495-60132-6
To purchase the text from the NSCC Bookstore, go to:
> Student Services > Textbooks > Order Your Textbooks > follow Steps 1 - 4
Click on: the current quarter > PSYC > 205 > Section #ATKINS > CONTINUE.
Scan-Tron Answer Sheets and a #2 pencil
One bottle of correction fluid "White out" or Liquid Paper
(For correcting exam errors) If you do not follow these directions and use whiteout to make corrections, the question is still counted wrong because you did not follow the directions for taking the exam.
Hardware and software:
Computer: PC or Mac
Internet connection:
Preferably DSL or cable, not a dial-up (however, dial-up can work, it is just slow).
Software:
Internet browser: Firefox (PC or Mac) or Internet explorer (PC) is recommended
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Power Point Viewer
Ability to listen to WMA files (Windows Media Player)
The ability to use the above software. Your instructor is not “Tech. Support”.
The ability to listen to recorded podcasts (WMA files) for exam reviews.
Online materials: Available on class website
1. Class Presentations
2. Power Points
3. Chapter Diagrams
4. Study Guides
Outcomes
This course will help you develop attitudes that encourage you to:
*Demonstrate a willingness to learn from many cultures, persons, methods, and viewpoints.
This course will give you the knowledge to:
* Understand the nature of the individual, of human values and of the relationship between the self and the community.
Note: Often people have had traumatic experiences or have strong feelings on certain topics. If you feel any of the topics in the text or class will be emotionally damaging to you, or difficult to learn about or discuss, or would create a “hostile environment” for you - do not take this course. If you have a disability of any type, you should contact the Educational Assistance Center.
Grading:
Grading consists of the four midterms, and the activities folder.
Exams:
There are four multiple choice midterm exams (50 pts. each) and the activities folder (100 pts.). The four midterm exams are not cumulative and cover only the chapters for that exam. The exams will test your knowledge of concepts, terms, and findings. You will also be asked to apply some of the fundamental concepts to new situations.
How to do well on the exams:
The exams come from the text and many additional items to help you understand the material. Use the Course Calendar at the end of this syllabus to keep yourself on track so you will have covered the material and understand it before the exam date. To understand each topic, listen to the class presentation, take notes, and complete the study guides.
The “How to Study”, sheet in this syllabus, discusses how to read the text material prior to listening to the class.
Study Guides:
Go to: Course Resources >Chapter Title > Study Guides. This file gives you a study guide for each chapter. These are designed directly from the exams. While you read the text, listen to the class presentations, and view the Power Point slides, keep these sheets with you, and work toward being able to answer each of the questions. These will then help you during the exams.
Exam Scoring:
The score you receive will be the grade indicated by the computer. I feel this is the fairest for the largest number of students. While I am glad to discuss the exam with you, it will not change your score. Any changes in question wording, etc. will be considered for next quarter, but will not be used to change scores this quarter.
Make-up exams:
For students who miss a scheduled examination, one make-up session will be held. You may make-up any one of the previous exams at that time. There will be no make-up exams at any other times (see the “Course Calendar” for the make-up date).
Retake exams:
If you feel you did not perform at the level you expected on an exam, you may retake one exam. In all cases, you will receive the higher of the two scores as your final grade. Please see the “Course Calendar” for the retake date. There will be no exam retakes at any other time.
Please note: The date for retaking an exam, and making up an exam is the same day. Therefore, if you have taken all the exams, you may retake one, however, if you have missed an exam, this period would need to be used for making up this missed exam. If you missed two, you will receive a zero (“0”) on one of them.
Therefore, you may take only one exam. It can be either a make-up or a retake exam, but not both. If you take more than one exam, I will only use your first score.
Make-up and retake exams are considered more difficult
I recommend you take the exams as scheduled. Generally, the retake and make-up exams are considered more difficult. The difference is that I tend to "teach to the test" and review for the scheduled exams.
The retake and make-up exams are only from the text. I ask the computer to randomly select questions from a database of questions (e.g. randomly select 50 questions from chapters 1-4). These exams look the same (e.g. 50 multiple choice questions) however, they will have different questions than the originally scheduled exam.
Remember, if you take the original exam, regardless of your score, you can always retake it and receive the higher of the two scores.
How to check your internet browser if you are having problems
1. Go to the class website and log in.
3. Often, simply turning off “pop-up blockers” on your web browser will solve problems.
4. Another way to check your browser is to try all the class activities, such as the Power Points, the recordings, and the class materials. If these all work, you are ok. If you still have questions, call one of the distance learning resources on the first page of this syllabus.
How to see your final course grade:
You may check your grades via the internet at: NSCC home page > Online Services > Look Up Your Grades. Put in your Student ID and Student PIN, then click on “Get My Transcript”.
How to withdraw from the course: You may withdraw from a course via the internet at: NSCC home page > Online Services > Register/Add/Drop Classes, and follow the directions.
CLASS POLICIES
Extra credit: Extra-credit work is not available.
Incompletes: No “Incomplete” (I) grades will be given.
No Credit “NC” grades and Withdrawals: You must request an "NC" grade or withdraw by the “last day to withdraw” indicated on the course calendar. If you have not, you will receive a decimal grade for this course.
Cheating: Any cheating on exams will result in a score of zero (“0”) for that exam (which can not be retaken). Copying an exam, sending an exam to another student, or keeping an exam is considered cheating. Facilitating the cheating of another student is also considered cheating, and both parties will receive a zero.
Posting Final Grades: Final grades will not be posted. You may check your grades via the internet at: NSCC home page > Online Services > Look Up Your Grades.
Guidelines for Student Conduct: Students are expected to comply with student conduct policy and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at the following website:
Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability; you must contact Disability Services at phone 527-3697, or TTY: 526-0079 or on the web at
Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is highly valued at NSCC. A student must always submit work that represents his/her original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent the student’s original words or ideas, the student is expected to cite all relevant sources both in the text and in the references listing at the end of the paper. The student should also make clear the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citations include, but are not limited to, all hardcopy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source.
GRADING
Your final grade will be based on the total questions you answered correctly on all four exams and the comprehensive exam.
TOTAL
POINTS % GRADE
300-270 90 "A" 4.0-3.5
269-240 80 "B" 3.4-2.5
239-210 70 "C" 2.4-1.5
209-180 60 "D" 1.4-0.
179-0 "E" 0.0
(See the "Grading Scale" page for a more detailed grade distribution)
Exam #1 =Exam #2 =
Exam #3 =
Exam #4 =
Activities folder =
Total = / 50 pts.
50 pts.
50 pts.
50 pts.
100 pts.
300 points
(See the “Grading Scale” page for a more detailed grade distribution)
Grading Scale
TotalPoints
300 (100%)
299
298 4.0
297
296_____
295
294
293 3.9
292
291_____
290
289
288 3.8
287
286
285_____
284
283
282 3.7
281
280_____
279
278
277 3.6
276
275_____
274
273
272 3.5
271
270____(90%) / 269
268 3.4
267_____
266
265 3.3
264_____
263
262 3.2
261_____
260
259 3.1
258_____
257
256 3.0
255_____
254
253 2.9
252_____
251
250 2.8
249_____
248
247 2.7
246_____
245
244 2.6
243_____
242
241 2.5
240____(80%) / 239
238 2.4
237_____
236
235 2.3
234_____
233
232 2.2
231_____
230
229 2.1
228_____
227
226 2.0
225_____
224
223 1.9
222_____
221
220 1.8
219_____
218
217 1.7
216_____
215
214 1.6
213_____
212
211 1.5
210____(70%) / 209
208 1.4
207_____
206
205 1.3
204
203_____
202
201 1.2
200
199_____
198
197 1.1
196
195_____
194
193 1.0
192
191_____
190
189 0.9
188
187_____
186
185 0.8
184
183_____
182
181 0.7
180____(60%)
179 0.0
A / B / C / D
The grading scale is the same for everyone:
After all grades are in, students come to my office wanting me to make a new, easier, grading scale just for them that does not apply to the rest of you.
These requests sound like this: “I only need one more point to get the next higher grade … please.” “I am failing the class, so don’t give me the grade I earned, give me an NC (or an Incomplete) instead.” “If you give me the grade I earned, I can not get into the university.” “I need a 2.0, or I will be deported.” “I will lose my financial aid.” “I forgot to take the test when it was scheduled with everyone else, so can I take it now (several days later)?” “I tried (or I learned a lot) so you should give me a higher grade.” “I had personal problems during the quarter, so you should increase my grade (or any deadlines should not apply to me).” “I did not remember it was due then, so can I turn it in now?” I can not grade based on any of these factors. You need to do the best you possibly can from the first day of class, and feel confident the grade you receive at the end was the best you are capable of.
If you need help with anything, please see me. I want you to do very well in class and have established many items to help you do so. These include:
(1) “How To Study” sheet in this syllabus,
(2) Class Presentations
(3) Online power point slides,
(4) The text
(5) Study Guides,
(6) Chapter Diagrams
(7) My office hours if you need additional help understanding the material.
With all this support, please remember, the grading scale is the same for everyone.
Preparation for quizzes andclass activities
Quizzes
Quiz Questions
Throughout the quarter there will be short five point quizzes covering the text chapter and online lecture covering the topic for that day. You need to have a scan-tron sheet, a pencil, and correction fluid with you at all classes. These quizzes cannot be made up. They cannot be taken before class, after class, online, by email, on a sheet of notebook paper, or any other way. These quizzes will then be graded and returned to you the next day. Keep them, and return them in your activities folder at the end of the class. These quizzes are not recorded, so you need to keep them until they are handed in at the end of the quarter. I suggest you make a copy of each quiz , kept in a separate place, in case they are lost or stolen. If you do not have the quiz sheets (or a copy) there is no credit for it.
In the Daily Calendar (given out on the first day) you will see when each activity is due.
Before that day, complete the activity for that day.
1. Read about those concepts in the text
2. Listen to the class presentation
3. Complete the activity paper.
4. Have questions to ask in class if there is anything you do not understand.
When you come to class you should have the activity completed. Some activities may be done in class with no prior preparation needed. Your instructor will tell you which ones these are.
How to complete the activities:
Type your answer directly into the assignment sheet. The questions (exactly as presented in the assignment) should be in regular type. Do not paraphrase (reword) or rewrite the questions. This will result in a zero grade for the folder because this attempts to hide the wording of the original questions, and therefore, makes it difficult to grade.
Receiving credit for the activities
Bring these fully completed activity sheets to class on the day they are assigned (according to the daily calendar). If we do not meet a day for any reason, you still follow the daily calendar.
To give you credit for completing these activities before class (and therefore being prepared for class) I will stamp these fully answered sheets. These stamps will only be given in class. They will not be stamped after the class time is over. Having them completed in your computer but not printed will not receive a stamp, because I can not stamp your computer screen. Also, please do not email these (or bring them in) before class, or after class, saying I will not be able to be in class today, but I do not want to make this up, so please give me a stamp.
You then hand in the quizzes and activities at the end of the quarter and receive up to 100 points, which is one third of your grade. Please note that these sheets need to be fully completed to receive a stamp. There is no partial credit for being half done. The date stamp simply means you have an answer for each item. It is not grading the accuracy of your answers. If you do not understand the concept, please ask questions in class, because your understanding will be evident on the exams.
If you are not in class for any reason, you may make up two of the stamps as discussed below.
If you have not fully completed the activities before that class and therefore, did not have the stamp, you may make up two of them by reading one article for each missed stamp as discussed below.
Not all activities are stamped. Throughout the quarter, the activities will be stamped at random. Therefore, by the end of the quarter you will have up to 100 points from a combination of quizzes and activities to turn in for grading.
How to make up missed points:
You can obtain up to twenty points that have been missed by reading two articles from the journal “Health Psychology” (ten points per article).
I would like you to have experience reading an article in the academic journal “Health Psychology”. Journal articles sound different than textbooks or websites.
To read the full text of Health Psychology articles on line, go to:
(You may need to copy and paste this into your internet browser)
Finally, log in and follow the directions in the paragraph below.
You can also get there by going to: Northseattle.edu > Library > Reference Databases > Periodical Databases > PsycARTICLES > and log in if off campus. Next, under “Look For”, type “Health Psychology” (include quotes). Then, change IN (Any Field) to “Journal Title” from the dropdown menu, and press “Search”.
Next, find an article that you are interested in. Read one of the major articles (at least six pages), not a book review, and write a two page report on it (double spaced, with one inch margins). Less than two pages produces proportionally less than full credit. On the entire first page, please summarize the article. On the second page you may either continue the summary, or you may critique the article and/or relate it to yourself.
At the top of the first page, please list:
(1) Title of the article
(2) The author(s)