Summer Assignment 2016-17

Summer Assignment 2016-17

Mrs. McGinley & Mrs. Janis- AP Psychology

(email questions to either or )

Welcome to Advanced Placement Psychology for the coming school year! AP Psychology is an elective, college-level course with higher student expectations than most courses taken by high school students. AP Psychology also deals with course material and content at the “college” level, which at times may require maturity from student beyond which is typically expected at the high school level.

Students who come into the course with a background in some of the psychological concepts discussed during the year will have an academic advantage in the class. Prior knowledge allows students to speak intelligently on concepts and topics and have the potential for more success on the AP Psychology exam in the spring. Therefore you will be required to complete a two part summer reading project.

Please read the following assignment carefully and ask any questions you have before coming to school next year as it is your responsibility to complete your assignments properly. Failure to complete any part of these assignments will mean removal from the course, regardless of which teacher you have for next year.

1.)  DUE DATE: Sept 6th or 7th (which ever date your class meets)- Textbook readings for Chapter 1 and 2. Read Ch 1: The Evolution of Psychology and Ch 2: Research Enterprise in Psychology. Outline each one. Outlines must be hand written to receive credit. There will be a quiz on these chapters the first full week of school. These outlines take quite a bit of time so plan accordingly!! You will be required to produce flash cards for each of the terms, concepts, and people listed at the bottom of each assignment sheet. These flash cards will be checked and graded at the end of each unit. They must be hand written. Flash cards are not due until the third week of school. They are always due the class before or on test days.

2.)  DUE DATE: Sept 6th or 7th (which ever date your class meets)- Memoir Project

You are expected to read at least one (more than one is wonderful!) of the following memoirs or similar psychology-related books before returning to school in September. You are not limited to the titles here but must email one of the teachers to confirm acceptance of the book if you find something different. It has to be a memoir.

You may work in a group (3 students maximum) but all group members must have read the same book. After reading your selected memoir, you will have a choice between two creative assignments. Only choose 1 of these:

a.)  Create an original 3-5 minute movie (like a promo or coming attraction) that illustrates what the book is about including the time period, setting, people involved, the disorder, and treatment. The movie should be interesting and highlight some key portions of the book, just like those you see in the theater. If including live actors, you may have people in your film that are not included in your group. In addition to the video, provide a written piece that is a “movie critique” that explains in more detail the psychology concepts displayed in the book (2 pages double spaced). Be prepared to share your coming attraction in your class! Don’t forget the popcorn.

b.)  You may choose to create a “story board” presentation of your memoir. This would include aminimum of ten (10) scenes from the book that would demonstrate the same information as noted above in choice #1. It may include MORE picture boxes but not less than the minimum.All scenes/boxes should be large enough to be seen from the back of the room and placed on large poster board. Youmay draw, use clip art, use computer animated graphics or any other art medium.On the back, you must include an explanation of the ten picture boxes shown on the project. Be prepared to present your story boards to the class.

Book Suggestions: Please note that some of these titles deal with mature content. Please be sure to review the material and topic prior to choosing your book.

1.  An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness- Kay Redfield Jamison

2.  Beautiful Boy- David Sheff

  1. Blackout Girl: Growing up and Drying Out in America- Jennifer Storm
  2. Blue Genes- Christopher Lukas
  3. Brain on Fire- Susannah Cahalan
  4. Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness- William Styron
  5. Devil in the Details: Scenes from anObsessive Girlhood- Jennifer Taig
  6. Divided Minds: Twin sisters and their journey through schizophrenia- Pamela Spiro Wagner
  7. Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania- Andy Behrman
  8. Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder- Rachel Reiland

11.  Hannah: My True Story of Drugs, Cutting, and Mental Illness- Hannah Westberg

12.  Hurry Down Sunshine- Michael Greenberg

  1. I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of AmnesiaI Forgot- Su Meck with Daniel de Visé
  1. January First: A Child’s Descent into Madness and Her Father’s Struggle to Save Her- Michael Schofield

15.  Just Checking: Scenes from a Obsessive Compulsive- Emily Colas

16.  Look me in the Eye: My life with aspergers- John Elder Robison

17.  Loud in the House by Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl- Stacy Pershall

18.  Manic: A Memoir- Terri Cheney

19.  More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction- Elizabeth Wurtzel

20.  My Lobotomy: A Memoir- Howard Dully

21.  Nowhere Near Normal- Traci Foust

  1. Passing for Normal- Amy Wilensky
  2. Prozac Nation- Elizabeth Wurtzel

24.  Running with Scissors- Augusten Burroughs (mature material)

  1. Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression- Sally Brampton

26.  Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood- Julie Gregory

  1. Skin Game- Caroline Kettlewell
  2. Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood- Koren Zailckas

29.  Stalking Irish Madness- Patrick Tracey

30.  The Beast: A Journey Through Depression- Tracy Thompson

31.  The Dark Side of Innocence: Growing Up Bipolar-Terri Cheney

32.  The Last Time I Wore a Dress- Daphne Scholinski

33.  The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness- Lori Schiller

  1. Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism- Temple Grandin
  2. Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia- Marya Hornbacher

36.  When Rabbit Howls- Truddi Chase

  1. Willow Weep For Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression- Meri Nana-Ama Danquah