PSYC 101General Psychology

PSYC 101General Psychology

3 credit hours

M,W,F

Semester/year: Spring 2012 OfficeLocation:Aspen 118

Instructor:Shilo L. Smith

Office Hours:

E-Mail Address: MWF: 10:00-10:50

TTH:11:00-12:00

(in Burley on TTH)

Office Phone:732-6869 or by appointment

Required Textbook:

·Schacter, D. L., Gilbert, D. T., & Wegner, D. M. (2011). Psychology (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers(ISBN: 978-1-4292-3719-2).

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

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, research 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. Active Participation in discussing material is beneficial to your understanding and success in this class! Throughout the semester we will watch films related to psychological principles. It is important to come to class and pay attention to the filmsAND TURN YOUR CELL-PHONE OFF, there will be questions on the exams regarding material from the films.

∙ We will also be discussing 3 research articles throughout the semester. It is important that you come to class prepared and participate in discussing these articles (You will earn credit for participating in discussion and there will be questions on the exam regarding the articles). You will only earn points if you are able to demonstrate that you read the article, comments such as “This article was interesting” will not count!

∙ HomeworkHomework will be assigned throughout the semester. These assignments will require you to find material from media sources (newspapers, magazines, internet, library databases) that is related to the chapters that we will cover during the semester. Late assignments will be accepted only until the date of the exam for that section with a 10 point deduction.

1. You will be required to write a 1 page (typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font) explanation of how the material is related to specific psychological concepts (worth 10pts each).

1. I will randomly call on students to discuss their homework assignments. Be prepared to discuss your homework in class (worth 10pts).

· ExamsThere will be five in-class exams worth 100 pts each. Exams will cover material from the text, lectures, required readings, films, homework, and any in-class discussions. Exams will be comprised of multiple choice 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 andonlyif 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.

· Group Project You will choose one of the group topics from the list provided (list will be distributed later on in the semester). Your group is responsible for researching your topic and preparing a presentation to give to the class towards the end of the semester. Your grade will be determined based on your presentation and your contribution to the group. In order to reduce Social Loafing, you and your fellow group members will have an opportunity to give grades and feedback for each person’s contribution to the project. This will be factored into your overall grade for the project.

· 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 the entire 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 semester. 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, we will watch various films related to psychology, we will cover information for your project, and we will 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.

∙ There will be no laptops, MP3, I-pods or other listening devices allowed in class, unless they are preapproved by me. Turn your cell-phones off during class!! Failure to comply with these rules may result in removal from the class.

Plagiarism and cheating: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Any potential 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
Exam V / 100
100
Homework
(5 @ 20pts) / 100
Group Project
Participation / 250
45
Total / 895

All grades will be based upon the following scale:

793-895 = A

703-792 = B

614-702 =C

524-613 =D

523- =F

*It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course.

A student may drop a course or all courses prior to the end of late registration(first Friday of the term) without it being recorded on the student’s official transcript. A student initiated drop after the late registration period is considered a withdrawal, and results in the grade of W. For further guidelines refer to the course catalogue.

(Students may drop courses online until the end of the late registration period. In order to withdraw from one or more courses following late registration, a completed registration form is required. Instructions on the form indicate when a signature of instructor and/or Financial Aid advisor is required. The completed form may be submitted to Admissions & Records or any off-campus center.)

Note: Students may withdraw from courses untilApril 6, 2012.

*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 CSI Mission 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.

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 / Group Project / Homework
1 / X / X / X / X
2 / X / 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, Jan. 16 / No Class- MLK Jr. Day
W, Jan. 18 / Course Introduction
F, Jan. 20 / Psychology: The Evolution of a Science / Ch. 1
Week 2
M, Jan. 23 / Psychology cont.
W,Jan. 25 / Methods in Psychology / Ch. 2
F, Jan. 27 / “ “ / “ “ / Homework #1 due(Ch. 1 or 2)
Date / Topic / Reading / Exams/Assignments
Week 3
M, Jan. 30 / Methods in Psychology cont.
W, Feb. 1 / Discussion of Article / Article # 1
F, Feb. 3 / Neuroscience & Behavior / Ch. 3
Week 4
M, Feb. 6 / Neuroscience cont.
W, Feb. 8 / Sensation & Perception / Ch. 4
F, Feb. 10 / “ “ / “ “ / Homework #2 due (Ch. 3 or 4)
Week 5
M, Feb. 13 / Exam I / Ch. 1-4
W, Feb. 15 / Consciousness / Ch. 5
F, Feb. 17 / “ “ / “ “
Week 6
M, Feb. 20 / No Class- President’s Day
W, Feb. 22 / Consciousness cont.
F, Feb. 24 / Memory / Ch. 6
Week 7
M, Feb. 27 / Memory cont.
W, Feb. 29 / Learning / Ch. 7 / Homework #3 due (Ch. 5, 6 or 7)
F, Mar. 2 / “ “ / “ “
Week 8
M, Mar. 5 / Discussion of Article / Article # 2
W, Mar. 7 / Exam II / Ch. 5-7
F, Mar. 9 / Emotion & Motivation / Ch. 8 / Group Project Assignment
Week 9
M, Mar. 12 / Emotion & Motivation cont
W, Mar. 14 / “ “ / “ “
F, Mar. 16 / Language & Thought / Ch. 9
Week 10
M, Mar. 19 / Intelligence / Ch. 10
W, Mar. 21 / “ “ / “ “ / Homework #4 due (Ch. 8, 9 or 10)
F, Mar. 23 / Exam III / Ch. 8-10
Date / Topic / Reading / Exams/Assignments
Week 11
M, Mar. 26 / No Class-Spring Break
W, Mar. 28 / “ “ / “ “
F, Mar. 30 / “ “ / “ “
Week 12
M, Apr. 2 / Development / Ch. 11
W, Apr. 4 / “ “ / “ “
F, Apr. 6 / Personality / Ch. 12
Week 13
M, Apr. 9 / Personality cont.
W, Apr. 11 / Social Psychology / Ch. 13
F, Apr. 13 / “ “ / “ “
Week 14
M, Apr. 16 / Social cont.
W, Apr. 18 / Discussion of Article / Article #3 / Homework #5 due (Ch. 11,12 or 13)
F, Apr. 20 / Exam IV / Ch. 11-13
Week 15
M, Apr. 23 / Stress & Health / Ch. 16
W, Apr. 25 / Group Project Presentations / Ch. 14 & 15
F, Apr. 27 / “ “ / “ “
Week 16
M, Apr. 30 / Watch Film / TBD
W, May 2 / “ “ / “ “
F, May 4 / “ “ / “ “
Week 17
Final Exam / PSYC 101-C08 (11-11:50)
PSYC 101-C07 (12-12:50) / Wed. May 9 12-2pm
Tue. May 8
10-12pm / Ch.16, Group Presentations (Ch 14 & 15)

CSI E-mail

Since email is the primary source of written communication with students, all registered CSI students get a college email account. Student e-mail addresses have the following format: <address>@eaglemail.csi.edu where <address> is a name selected by the student as a part of activating his/her account. Students activate their accounts and check their CSI e-mail online at . Instructors and various offices send messages to these student accounts.Students must check their CSI e-mail accounts regularly to avoid missing important messages and deadlines. At the beginning of each semester free training sessions are offered to students who need help in using their 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 Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus. 208.732.6260 (voice) or 208.734.9929 (TTY), or e-mail. .

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