PSYC 101- C08general Psychology

PSYC 101- C08General Psychology

3 credit hours

M,W,F (11:00-11:50 a.m.) Shields 109

Semester/year: Fall 2008 Office Location:Aspen 130

Instructor:Shilo L. Smith

Office Hours:

E-Mail Address: MWF: 1:00-2:00

TTh: 1:00-1:50

Office Phone:732-6869 or by appointment

Required Textbook:

·Course TextPsychology (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006) (ISBN: 0-13-183959-4).

∙ Additional required readings (five research articles) will be posted on Blackboard.

Recommended Textbook:

·Study GuidePsychology: Concept Notes (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006) (ISBN: 0-13-228335-2).

∙ American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual(5th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author

Course Objective:The goal of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of psychological science. This course will introduce basic principles, concepts, and theories that are fundamental to the science of psychology, and will serve as a foundation for upper level courses in other areas of psychology.

Course Format:

· ClassClass will consist of lecture on relevant topics (in line with the text), and during this time I will gladly answer questions or clarify any concepts you may have. We will also be discussing five research articles throughout the semester. It is important that you come to class prepared and participate in discussing these articles (there may be questions on the exam regarding the articles).

· ExamsThere will be four in-class exams worth 100 pts each. Exams will cover material from the text, lectures, required readings, and any in-class discussions. Exams will be comprised of multiple choice and short answer questions. Tentative exam dates are listed on the course outline.

Make-up examsThere are no scheduled make-ups for exams. Make-up exams will be scheduled only if you contact me prior to the exam and if you have a written medical excuse, a college-approved activity or documentation of extenuating circumstances. Make-up exams will cover the same material but will consist of different questions and formatting than in-class exams.

· Critical ReviewYou will be required to find a peer-reviewed , empirical journal article on a topic of your choice (with my approval). Prior to writing the critique you will submit a Prospectus that will include; a brief description of the topic that you have selected, a copy of the journal article to be critiqued, and a citation of the source for the journal article, in APA format. Your paper will be 1-3 pages typed double-spaced in APA format. The prospectus is worth 30 pts, and the critique is worth 70 pts. We will discuss these paper requirements further in class. No Late Papers will be accepted.

· Extra Credit You may earn extra credit simply by attending class. Every student begins the semester with 10 extra credit points. On days that you arrive on time, attend class, and sign the roll (which will be distributed on randomly selected days), you keep your points. Each day that you miss, you lose two points. If you miss greater than 5 days, you will simply receive 0 attendance bonus points for the session. It is your responsibility to sign the roll on days that you attend class. (In other words, approaching me after class is over to sign the roll in no way obligates me to allow you to maintain your points.)

Attendance:Attendance is very important for your learning and development throughout the course. Material will be presented during lecture that is not in the text, and we will also discuss the research articles during class.

Late arrival/early departure: Make every effort to be on time for class. Arriving late and leaving early is disruptive to everyone in class. If you know that you need to leave before the end of scheduled lecture time, please inform me before class and sit near an aisle and exit to minimize class disruption. Otherwise, plan to remain in class for the entire 50 minutes.

Respect:When you are in my class, you must show respect to me and your classmates. Rude behavior, including talking in class that is disruptive to your classmates, will not be tolerated. I also ask everyone to be respectful to people with opinions that are different from their own, so that we may have a comfortable class atmosphere that is conducive to lively discussions.

Turn your cell-phones off during class!!

Plagiarism and cheating: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Any cheating or plagiarism will result in an automatic “0” for that portion of your grade. For explanations and examples of what qualifies as plagiarism I encourage you to take a few minutes and look through the website (there is an additional link under “Citation Styles” for the APA website).

If you need help: If you are struggling in this class, please seek help from me. I encourage visits to my office for clarification of material and discussions of theoretical and empirical claims covered in class or beyond the classroom. If my office hours are at a time that is inconvenient for you, please contact me and we will set up an appointment to meet. I will do my best to help you do well in the class, but it is up to you to ask for it. That is, help in this class only goes as far as your willingness to seek help when you need it.

Total Points possible for the course:

Exam I / 100
Exam II / 100
Exam III / 100
Exam IV / 100
Prospectus / 30
Critical Review / 70
Total / 500

All grades will be based upon the following scale:

450-500 = A

400-449 = B

350-399 =C

300-349 =D

299- =F

*I do not give Incompletes (I) unless serious circumstances can be shown with appropriate documentation. I do not drop people from my course under the same rule after the last day to drop (See course catalogue). Pay close attention to the semester’s Drop Date if you are having academic trouble. Be sure to see me prior to dropping the course to evaluate your decision. I may be able to advise you in the proper direction.

The CSIMission Statement

The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides quality educational, social, cultural, economic, and workforce development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. CSI prepares students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives in a global society.

General Education Criteria: This course satisfies all eight criteria for general education. It is designed to:

1.provide a broad-based survey of a discipline and show the interconnectedness of knowledge.

2.develop a discerning individual.

3.practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

4.promote awareness of social and cultural diversity in order to appreciate the commonality of mankind.

5.foster the balance between individual needs and the demands of society.

6.reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and/or quantitative skills.

7.encourage and inspire life-long learning.

8.encourage creativity.

Social Science Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Social Science Department is to provide educational, social, and cultural opportunities which encourage enriched, productive and responsible lives primarily by instructing students to understand, interpret, and apply Social Science discipline coursework.

Social Science Department Goals: This course addresses the following Social Science Department goals:

1.help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science subjects.

2.help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.

3.help students learn to distinguish between fact and opinion.

4.teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.

5.teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences to make better-informed decisions

6.help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.

7.prepare students to transfer to a university.

Psychology Program Mission Statement

The mission of the CSI Psychology Program is primarily to prepare graduates to transfer as Junior-level students to 4-year universities.

Psychology Program Objectives: Students will…

1.gain mastery of a breadth of knowledge of the discipline of psychology (breadth of knowledge).

2.gain mastery of a depth of knowledge of the discipline of psychology (depth of knowledge).

3.be well practiced as a critical consumer of information (critical thought).

4.be well practiced in professional written communication (professional writing).

5.be well- prepared as a potential contributor to scientific discovery in psychology (scientific capability).

6.be well-prepared for upper-division coursework in psychology (career-focused education plan).

PSYC 101 Catalog Course Description: This survey course is an introduction to psychology. Psychology is the scientific study of thinking, emotion, and behavior. This course introduces students to the diverse research areas of psychology such as psychobiology, motivation, learning, cognitive and social processes, personality, and abnormality, emphasizing empirical findings of the discipline.

Required Textbook:

·Course TextPsychology (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006) (ISBN: 0-13-183959-4).

Recommended Textbook:

·Study GuidePsychology: Concept Notes (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006) (ISBN: 0-13-228335-2).

Course Outcomes* Aligned with GE Criteria (GE), Social Science Goals (SS) and Program Objectives (PSYC):

Students will… / GE / SS / PSYC
1. Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology / 1, 4, 6, 7 / 1, 4, 6, 7 / 1, 2, 4, 6
2. Understand basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation / 2, 3, 7, 8 / 2, 3, 4, 7 / 2, 3, 4, 5
3. Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes / 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 / All but 1 and 2 / 2, 3, 6
4. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues / All but 6 / All but 1 and 2 / 2, 3, 6
5. Be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline / All but 6 / All but 1 and 2 / 2, 3, 5, 6

*Outcomes derived from guidelines of the APA Education Directorate

Course Outcomes Aligned with Course Assessment Activities:

Exams / In Class Articles / Critical Review / Extra Credit
1 / X / X / X / X
2 / X / X / X
3 / X / X / X / X
4 / X / X / X / X
5 / X / X / X / X

Tentative Course Outline: Tentative suggests that these dates are flexible. The content may be adjusted based on student needs and course pace. Therefore, the contents of this particular syllabus are subject to change. All changes will be announced, of course, but it is your responsibility to double-check on important dates if you miss class and the announcement of such changes.

Date / Topic / Reading / Exams/Assignments
Week 1
M, Aug. 25 / Course Introduction
W, Aug. 27 / The Science of Psychology / Ch. 1 Appendix A
F, Aug. 29 / “ “ / “ “
Week 2
M, Sep. 1 / No Class (Labor Day)
W, Sep. 3 / The Biological Perspective / Ch. 2
F, Sep. 5 / “ “ / “ “
Week 3
M, Sep. 8 / Discussion of Article / Article # 1
W, Sep. 10 / Sensation & Perception / Ch. 3
F, Sep. 12 / “ “ / “ “
Week 4
M, Sep. 15 / Development / Ch. 7
W, Sep. 17 / “ “ / “ “
F, Sep. 19 / Discussion of Article / Article # 2
Week 5
M, Sep. 22 / Exam I / Ch. 1-3, & 7
W, Sep. 24 / Learning / Ch.5
F, Sep. 26 / “ “ / “ “
Week 6
M, Sep. 29 / Discussion of Article / Articles 3 & 4
W, Oct. 1 / Memory / Ch. 6
F, Oct. 3 / “ “ / “ “
Date / Topic / Reading / Exams/Assignments
Week 7
M, Oct. 6 / Cognition / Ch. 8 / Prospectus due
W, Oct. 8 / “ “ / “ “
F, Oct. 10 / “ “ / “ “
Week 8
M, Oct. 13 / No Class (Columbus Day)
W, Oct. 15 / Motivation & Emotion / Ch. 9
F, Oct. 17 / “ “ / “ “
Week 9
M, Oct. 20 / Exam II / Ch. 5,6,8 & 9
W, Oct. 22 / Social Psychology / Ch. 13
F, Oct. 24 / “ “ / “ “
Week 10
M, Oct. 27 / Discussion of Article / Article #5
W, Oct. 29 / Sexuality & Gender / Ch. 10
F, Oct. 31
Week 11
M, Nov. 3 / Theories of Personality / Ch. 12
W, Nov. 5 / “ “ / “ “
F, Nov. 7 / “ “ / “ “
Week 12
M, Nov. 10 / Consciousness / Ch. 4
W, Nov. 12 / “ “ / “ “
F, Nov. 14 / “ “ / “ “
Week 13
M, Nov. 17 / Exam III / Ch. 4, 10, 12 & 13
W, Nov. 19 / Stress & Health / Ch. 11
F, Nov. 21 / “ “ / “ “
Week 14
M, Nov. 24 / Stress & Health (cont.) / “ “ / Critical Review due
W, Nov. 26 / No Class (Thanksgiving)
F, Nov. 28 / “ “ / “ “
Week 15
M, Dec. 1 / Psychological Disorders / Ch. 14
W, Dec. 3 / “ “ / “ “
F, Dec. 5 / “ “ / “ “
Date / Topic / Reading / Exams/Assignments
Week 16
M, Dec. 8 / Psychological Therapies / Ch. 15
W, Dec. 10 / “ “ / “ “
F, Dec. 12 / Applied Psychology & Careers / Appendix B
Week 17
Final Exam / Monday 12:00 pm

CSI E-mail

E-mail is the primary source of written communication with all CSI students. Students automatically get a CSI e-mail account when they register for courses. Messages from instructors and various offices such as Admission and Records, Advising, Financial Aid, Scholarships, etc. will be sent to the students’ CSI accounts (NOT their personal email accounts).It is the students’ responsibility to check their CSI e-mail accounts regularly. Failing to do so will result in missing important messages and deadlines. Students can check their CSI e-mail online at . Student e-mail addresses have the following format: . At the beginning of each semester free training sessions will be offered to students who need help using their CSI e-mail accounts.

On-line course evaluation statement:

Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching staff to continually improve the course. Evaluations are available online at: Evaluations open up two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. During the time the evaluations are open, students can complete the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access, including in the open lab in the Library and in the SUB. When students log in they should see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should only take a few minutes. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated!

Disabilities:

Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the TaylorBuilding on the Twin Falls Campus. 208.732.6250 (voice) or 208.734.9929 (TTY), or e-mail .

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