AP Psychology Syllabus
Mrs. Courtney Kemp, BA, MA EdP
Room 214
480-812-7789
Course Description: AP Psychology is an entry-level college psychology course. There are two practical parts to this course; it is academic in orientation culminating with an AP exam in May and it is also functional in allowing students the opportunity to give personal applications in the content of this course.
* The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to 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.
Course Outline (as recommended by the College Board):
I. History and Approaches (2-4%)
A. Logic, Philosophy and History of Science
B. Approaches
1. Biological
2. Behavioral
3. Cognitive
4. Humanistic
5. Psychodynamic
6. Sociocultural
7. Evolutionary/sociobiological
II. Research methods (6-8%)
A. Experimental, Correlational and Clinical Research
B. Statistics
1. Descriptive
2. Inferential
C. Ethics in Research
III. Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%)
A. Physiological Techniques (e.g., imaging, surgical)
B. Neuroanatomy
C. Functional Organization of Nervous System
D. Neural Transmission
E. Endocrine System
F. Genetics
IV. Sensation and Perception (7-9%)
A. Thresholds
B. Sensory Mechanisms
C. Sensory Adaptation
D. Attention
E. Perceptual Processes
V. States of Consciousness (2-4%)
A. Sleep and Dreaming
B. Hypnosis
C. Psychoactive Drug Effects
VI. Learning (7-9%)
A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Cognitive Processes in Learning
D. Biological Factors
E. Social Learning
VII. Cognition (8-10%)
A. Memory
B. Language
C. Thinking
D. Problem Solving and Creativity
VIII. Motivation and Emotion (7-9%)
A. Biological Bases
B. Theories of Motivation
C. Hunger, thirst, sex and pain
D. Social Motives
E. Theories of Emotion
F. Stress
IX. Developmental Psychology (7-9%)
A. Life-Span Approach
B. Research methods
C. Heredity-Environmental Issues
D. Developmental Theories
E. Dimensions of Development
1. Physical
2. Cognitive
3. Social
4. Moral
F. Sex Roles, Sex Differences
X. Personality (6-8%)
A. Personality Theories and Approaches
B. Assessment Techniques
C. Self-concept, Self-esteem
D. Growth and Adjustment
XI. Testing and Individual Differences (5-7%)
A. Standardization and Norms
B. Reliability and Validity
C. Types of tests
D. Ethics and standards in testing
E. Intelligence
F. Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
G. Human Diversity
XII. Abnormal Psychology (7-9%)
A. Definitions of abnormality
B. Theories of psychopathology
C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology
D. Anxiety Disorders
E. Somatoform Disorders
F. Mood Disorders
G. Schizophrenic Disorders
H. Organic Disorders
I. Personality Disorders
J. Dissociative Disorders
XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5-7%)
A. Treatment Approaches
1. Insight therapies: psychodynamic/humanistic approaches
2. Behavioral approaches
3. Cognitive approaches
4. Biological approaches
B. Modes of Therapy (e.g., individual, group)
C. Community and Preventive Approaches)
XIV. Social Psychology (7-9%)
A. Group Dynamics
B. Attribution Processes
C. Interpersonal Perception
D. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
E. Attitudes and Attitude Change
F. Organizational Behavior
G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
Research Project: A research project is required of all students in AP Psychology. Your project should examine an issue related to psychology through (1) a review of published literature OR (2) empirical research (e.g. controlled experiment). Students will receive specific requirements and guidelines at a later date.
· IB students will be recreating a previously accomplished psychological experiment – this experiment will be a portion of your IB grade in the Spring.
Learning Expectations:
1. Learn Collectively: This course is not one in which you will play a passive role. Instead, you are expected to take an ACTIVE part in your own learning and that of the class as well. In AP Psychology, discussion and demonstrations will dominate so that we can learn from each other. Each of you brings something special to the course, something special that our team needs if you are to be successful. Come each day ready to contribute by joining in on the conversation.
2. Learn to apply: In this class there is a considerate amount of content you must master. However, you must do more than memorize information provided by myself or other sources. You will be asked to apply this information to real life situations via class discussions or through concisely written free response questions.
3. Learn to read actively: As AP Psych students, you will be expected to do a considerable amount of daily reading of the text and other resources. You must show evidence of daily preparation by participating in class discussions, asking critical questions, making text-to-world connections, and bringing a rough draft of your concept ma to each class.
4. Learn to show the process: The amount of material distributed in AP Psychology is substantially higher that in a regular class. Each period you are expected to take notes on our class activities, and fill in the rough drafts of your concept maps. As you will need access to this material in order to study for the unit exams and the AP exam, this is a year long journey with daily and unit checkpoints as we work toward our destination of learning and mastery.
Grading Policy: The AP Psychology grade will be based upon individual participation, journal writing, class assignments, group assignments and projects, tests/quizzes, homework and essay writing. Students will receive reading assignments each week…at the end of each week, students will be quizzed on the vocabulary from the assignment and the content found within.
ü Quarter Grades will be based on the following scale:
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = 0-59%
ü Semester Grades will be based on the following scale:
1st or 3rd quarter grade = 40%
2nd or 4th quarter grade = 40%
Final exam = 20%
* If you are absent & it is EXCUSED, you have the same number of days as the number of days you were absent to make up any incomplete work. If your absence is UNEXCUSED, I will not accept any late work, so make sure you get your absences excused!!
* If you turn your assignment in on time, you have the opportunity to receive full credit – if you turn it in one day late, you can receive UP TO 50%. If you turn in an assignment more than 1 day late, it will not be graded!
Each student will be creating a “Living Portfolio”. In your portfolio, you must organize each unit of study and include the following in EACH labeled unit (in this order – feel free to make a table of contents at the beginning of your portfolio if it would be helpful):
1. Labeled divider for the specific UNIT topic
2. Your completed concept map for that unit – it will be graded and returned
3. Notes for this unit
4. Free Response practice writing prompt (if completed for the unit)
5. A write-up for any projects completed during that unit
- Your write-up must include a summary of the project, your role in the project, the psychological theories used in the completion of the project and an overall review of the project
6. Any returned tests/quizzes from that unit
Your portfolio will be collected at the end of each quarter for a grade.
This is an AP/College level class and will be treated and graded as such! Students are expected to complete all assignments and readings AND study on their own for the AP exam. As in any college course, students should plan on Psychology work EVERY night…if you do not have an assignment, read your assigned TEXT, study from a review guide or work on your living portfolio.
Attendance & Participation: Your attendance and participation in this class is very important in determining your final grade. The attendance policy of Coronado High School is observed in this class.
It is the responsibility of the student to make up all assignments/tests missed in case of absence from class…your instructor will not chase after you!
REMINDER: 4 unexcused absences = possible drop!
Classroom Expectations (Kemp’s TOP TEN):
1. There will be no eating/drinking in class (bottled water, with a cap is okay)
2. You must respect everyone and their opinions…you will hear several opposing view points during this semester, but your job is to respect those opinions…listen and respond WHEN APPROPRIATE!
3. No swearing in the classroom
4. Get to class on time and be prepared to learn….if you are not in the classroom when the bell rings, it is considered a tardy (unless you have a pass).
5. The bell does not excuse you, I excuse you! DO NOT line up at the door prior to the bell or you will stay after.
6. You must come prepared every day to class (i.e. book, paper, pencil, notebook, etc…)
7. No hats are allowed to be worn inside any of the school buildings
8. No headphones, cell phones, etc… are allowed in the classroom, unless specific permission has been given to you by me.
9. Do all of your OWN work…plagiarism will not be accepted and may result in a zero AND a parent conference.
10. Open your mind and try to do the best possible job that you can!!
REWARDS: CONSEQUENCES:
1. Verbal & written 1. Warning-verbal/written
2. Free time 2. Late dismissal
3. Game/movie day 3. Call home
4. Homework pass 4. Counselor referral
5. E.C. points 5. Principal referral
Textbook & AP Readers:
* There are a number of AP Readers for AP Psychology. For a listing if these readers, see Mrs. Kemp. I will show you the recommended readers at that time! Be sure to look carefully at the study guides you may purchase outside of class, as they may not be preparing you for the AP exam in May.
This syllabus can be changed by the instructor at anytime. Assignments may be modified according to the pace of the class and to make sure that students are ready for the AP exam.
Please sign below and acknowledge that you have read the requirements for the AP Psychology class.
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Student Signature Date
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Student’s name printed Pd.
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Parent/Guardian Signature Date
* If you feel there is any additional information I should know about you, please leave that information in the space provided:
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“The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best.”
-- Paul Valery
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
-- Carl Gustav, founder of Analytic Psychology
Concept Maps – Topics and Key/Varsity Players:
Unit 1- Introduction:
1. Definition and importance of Psychology
2. Approaches to Psychology
3. Subfields/Careers in Psychology
4. Scientific Method
5. Research Methods: Experimental
6. Research Methods: Correlation
7. Research Methods: Clinical
8. Descriptive Statistics
a. Measures of Central Tendency
b. Measures of Variation
9. Inferential Statistics
a. Statistical Significance
10. Ethics: Guidelines and wrong doings
a. APA Code of Ethics
Unit 2 – Memory:
1. Information Processing Model
2. Sensory Registers and Attention
3. STM & LTM
4. Biology of Memory
5. Retrieval and Forgetting
6. Special Topics in Memory
Unit 3 – Biological Bases of Behavior
1. Neural structure and behavior
2. Neurotransmitters
3. The Central Nervous System
a. Brainstem
b. Limbic system
c. Cerebral cortex
4. Left and Right Hemispheres
5. The Peripheral Nervous System
6. The Endocrine System
7. Tools for studying the Nervous System
8. Genetics: Heredity & Environment
9. Evolutionary Psychology
Unit 4 – Sensation, Perception and States of Consciousness
1. Sensation and Perception
a. Bottom-up Processing vs. Top-Down Processing
b. The nature of Sensation
2. Vision
3. Hearing and the other senses
4. Perception: Gestalt Principles, Visual Illusions, Depth
and Motion Perception
5. Consciousness
6. Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
7. Dreams
8. Hypnosis
9. Drug-altered Consciousness
10. Substance Abuse
Unit 5 – Learning and Motivation
1. Classical Conditioning
2. Operant Conditioning
3. Reinforcement and Punishment
4. Schedules of Reinforcement
5. Social Cognitive Learning
6. Behavior Modification
7. Perspectives on Motivation
a. Instincts
b. Drive-Reduction Theory
c. Arousal Theory
d. Yerkes-Dodson Law
e. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
8. Hunger and Thirst
9. Eating Disorders and Body Image
10. Sexual Orientation
11. Contact, Aggression, Achievement, Affiliation
Unit 6 – Intelligence, Testing and Individual Differences
1. Theories of Intelligence
a. Obert Sternberg
b. Spearman, Thurstone and Cattell
c. Sternberg, Gardner and Coleman
2. Intelligence: Nature vs. Nurture
3. Intelligence Tests
a. Stanford-Binet
b. WISC
c. Performance and Culture Fair Tests
4. Making good tests
a. Reliability
b. Validity
5. Mental Retardation and Giftedness
6. Intelligence War Debate
Unit 7 – Emotion and Stress
1. Theories of Emotion
2. Expressed Emotions
3. Sources of Stress
4. Coping with Stress
5. Stress, Health and reducing stress
Unit 8 – Problems, Decisions and Language (Cognition Part 2)
1. Thinking: concepts, schemas and prototypes
2. Problem Solving
3. Obstacles to problem solving
4. Decision Making and Biases
5. Creativity
6. Thinking without language?
7. Structure of Language
8. Language Development
9. Feral Children: Victor and Genie
10. Nonhuman Cognition and Language
11. Language, thought and culture
Unit 9 – Developmental Psychology
1. Methodology in Developmental Psychology
2. Prenatal & Infant Development
3. Cognitive Development