Psychology Syllabus - 2017/2018

Mr. Ciampa–your guide

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In Psychology we will endeavor to understand mental processes, human behavior and human interactions. We will engage regularly in metacognition, that is thinking about thinking. We will examine how experts in the field do research and reach conclusions. Students will investigate motivation, emotion and the biological bases of some behaviors. Finally we will consider our own perceptions and sense of self.

COURSE GOALS/MAJOR OUTCOMES

  • Students will study the core concepts and theories of Psychology.
  • Students will be able to define key psychological terms relating to their study of psychology and be able to recognize psychological principles in their own life.
  • Students will learn the basic skills of psychological research.
  • Students will develop critical thinking skills.
  • Students will publish their work in American Psychological Association format using tools provided in Google Classroom.
  • Students will collaborate in a variety of group projects.
  • Students will gain a sense of self-efficacy as they gain mastery over the subject matter.

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit One: You Call This Science?

Texts & Supplemental Materials:

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition)Psychology

Chapter 2 Pages 35-56, 61-65 Chapter

  • The Scientific Method and understanding how psychologists do research
  • Neuroscience
  • Your surreptitious experiment

Unit Two: A History of Thinking about Thinking

Hunt, The Story of PsychologyChapters 1&2

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 1 Pages 16-19

  • From Philosophy to Psychology
  • Freud, Jung, Skinner, and Maslow
  • The Power of Positive Thinking and other myths

Unit Three: Abnormalities and Compensations/ What is normal?

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Brain disorders
  • Social Disorders
  • Personality disorders

Unit Four: In Our Minds and In Our Genes/Biological Bases of Behavior

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Mapping the Brain
  • Axons, dendrites and neurotransmitters
  • Neurochemistry Part1

Unit Five: Altered States/ Drugs, Alcohol, and Meditation

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Sensation and Perception
  • Neurochemistry Part 2

Unit Six Social Psychology, Conformity, Authority and the need to be liked

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Milgram and Zimbardo experiments

Semester Two

Unit Seven: Statistics, Be Not Afraid!

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Using data to make predictions
  • Understanding probabilities
  • Data as a descriptor
  • Analyzing your own data from surveys and/or experiments

UnitEight: Lets talk about sex, and gender, and identity, and attraction.

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

… Excerpts from David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell

  • Errors and corrections to the DSM
  • Social Activism Project and Blog
  • Understanding Fiction (excerpts), ed. Cleanth Brooks & Robert Penn Warr

Unit NineThe Psychology of Performance

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Taking tests, competitions and social anxiety
  • Testing and Individual Differences

Unit TenHow welearn, cognition, Developmental Psychology

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Piaget

Unit Eleven Get Motivated! Motivation and emotion

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic

Unit TwelveTreatment, psychologists as healers

Psychology Textbook: Wade, Tavris (ninth edition) Psychology

Chapter 8 Pages 278-281

  • Different forms of therapy
  • Testing and Individual Differences

COURSE TEXTS & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS (including but not limited to):

Books

Prentice Hall Literature, Pearson Education

Understanding Fiction (excerpts) ed. Cleanth Brooks & Robert Penn Warren

Roughing It, Mark Twain

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers

Assorted Poems (available on ciampatime)

Excerpts from David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell

*Student-Selected Text: subject to approval.

Additional excerpts and articles from a variety of sources

Films, Other Media

Excerpts from Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hide (dir.

Excerpts from Altered States (dir. Ken Russell)

The Stanford Prison Experiment (dir. Howard Hawks)

Awakenings(dir. Bryan Singer)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest(dir. Milos Foreman)

Oliver Sacks: What hallucination reveals about our minds | TED Talk ...

KEY ASSIGNMENTS

  • Unit One: Creating An American Superhero. Setting up Your Web Site.
  • Unit Two: Interview With A Founder/Historical Re-enactment. Unit 1 & 2 test (includes short essay response).
  • Unit Three: Five-paragraph analytical essay. Political Activism Project.
  • Unit Four: Five-paragraph persuasive essay. 1st semester Final Exam- cumulative
  • Unit Five: Claiming and reciting a poem and writing one of your own
  • Unit Six: Self Selected Novel Project and Literary Analysis Essay
  • Unit Seven: Social Activism Blog

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

  • Primary: discussion, readings, lecture, writing practice, individual and group projects, oral presentation
  • Web publishing using Google Sites
  • Creating Topical Videos
  • Supplemental: vocabulary, film, research, audio/video recordings

ASSESSMENT

  • Grades are weighted for each semester as follows:
  • Classwork/Homework – 5%
  • Projects – 30%
  • Tests – 10%
  • Quizzes - 5%
  • Participation – 10%
  • Essays – 30%
  • Final Exam – 10%

A (90-100), B (80-89.), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (less than 60)

CLASSROOM RULES AND GRADING POLICY

1. Respect yourselves and others by following the age-old axiom… “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In a nutshell, that means no name-calling, no insults that are personal or cultural, and no language that’s derogatory in any way. Failure to follow these common-sense guidelines will result in a deduction of participation points, possible detention, and further disciplinary action if necessary.

2. Tardiness is a waste of everybody’s time. If you already have your materials and supplies with you, there should be no problem making it to class on time. In addition to following the school’s tardy policy, I’ll be deducting participation points from students who are late to class.

3. Be Prepared! Always have: the text being studied, pen/pencil, paper, binder, and a readiness to work. Again, participation points will be deducted if you don’t show up to class with what you need to get the work done.

4. Late Work is only accepted with the understanding that it comes at a cost. For major assignments: 10% per a day for three days. After the third day, late work will not be accepted. Important: Quizzes and in-class work may not be made up. However, the lowest quiz grade (including missed quizzes) will be dropped each semester. If you regularly attend class, this last note will not create a problem for you; the policy is meant to benefit those students who consistently attend class, and to let those who do not understand that missing class will affect their final grade.

5. All essays should be typed. I will provide guidelines for proper formatting that I expect all students to follow.

6. Cheating is a big mistake. All work should be your own. All tests are yours, and yours alone, to take. Besides earning zero credit and an additional assignment, you’ll find yourself travelling down the slippery slope that includes office referral, a parent conference, and possible school suspension if you’re caught cheating.

7. Cell Phones: The school has a fairly strict policy now outlined in the school handbook.There will be times where cell phones will beboth allowed and encouraged, but that will not be during tests, quizzes, in-class readings, presentations, discussions or any other time I have asked you to keep them put away.

8. Technology: Some of you will want to use computers, iPads, and other E-Readers or tablets, and that is fine, as long as they are used exclusively for in-class work and reading. You may bring these items to class with the understanding that I have the right to ask you to show me the active screen at any time.

9. NO food, beverages (except unflavored water), make-up, hairbrushes, mirrors, candy, gum (which gets its own listing) nail polish, or homework from another class.

10. Contactcan be made by email at: r by arranging a conference.

Please cut off the bottom portion and turn it in to me by 8/21

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(Save the syllabus, rules, and grading policy for future reference)

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