Instructor: Diane Guido

WEBSITE: http://home.earthlink.net/~appsychology  Please use the website. It contains every hand-out and homework assignment you will be given throughout the year.  Using the website is the best way to keep up-to-date if you are sick or out of town.  It also lets you know when vocabulary quizzes, tests, and exams are scheduled.

TEXTBOOK WEBSITE: http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myersinmodules7e

Texts
Myers, David G. (2004). Psychology, Seventh Edition, in Modules  (7th ed.). New York: Worth.

Rownow, Ralph L. & Rownow, Mimi (2003). Writing Papers in Psychology (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson.

Straub, Richard O. (2003). Study Guide to Accompany Psychology (7th ed. in Modules). New York: Worth.

AP Psychology is a full-year course designed to provide students with a broad overview of the diverse field of psychology and to prepare students for the AP Psychology Exam given in May. In order to achieve these goals, the majority of class time will be devoted to lectures, discussions, and extensive review sessions. However, time will also be allocated for demonstrations, experiments, and class activities; the content of which may or may not be covered in the text. Active participation in these activities will help clarify certain areas of study and should add to everyone’s enjoyment of the class.

It is extremely important that all students in AP Psychology read all modules in the Myers’ textbook. It is truly an excellent text. Unfortunately, not all of the material in the text can be addressed in class due to time constraints. Still, that material will appear on quizzes and exams. Therefore, in addition to reading the text, I strongly urge you to use the study guide.

While AP Psychology is definitely a fun and interesting course, it is also a demanding one. It is imperative that you stay up-to-date, take quizzes and exams when scheduled, and hand in assignments when due. However, I realize that everyone can have a few bad days during the year. Therefore, I allow you to drop several low scores during the 1^st and 2^nd trimesters ONLY. I refer to these lapses in performance as "Freudian Slips".  READ THIS NEXT SENTENCE TWICE:  No Freudian slips are allowed during the third trimester!

Homework will be assigned throughout the term and will generally consist of essays and critical thinking questions that will prepare you for the AP Exam in May. It is absolutely imperative that you hand in your homework assignments ON TIME.  You will be docked 5% of the possible points for each day that your homework is late.  Due to the format of some assignments (e.g., matching, fill-in-the-blank), you may NOT hand them in after I have returned the graded assignments to the rest of the class.  If you are ill or out of town, you can get all homework assignment off the website.  

As part of your homework, every few days you will be given a vocabulary quiz consisting of  seven (7) psychological terms that you must define. I will give you the terms the day before the quiz. (Check the website if you are absent). The quizzes will typically be given during the first few minutes of class, so don't be late.

You will be allowed ONE Freudian Slip with respect to "regular homework" and TWO Freudian Slips with respect to vocabulary quizzes.  YOU MAY NOT TAKE "MAKE-UP" VOCAB QUIZZES!!!!

During each trimester, a short 25 point multiple choice test will be given at the conclusion of each Unit. These tests only take about 15 minutes to complete. Therefore, class will be held following each quiz. During the 1^st and 2^nd trimesters, you are allowed one Freudian slip on unit tests.

Subsequent to the completion of every three or four units, an exam worth 75-100 points will be given.  These exams will consist of multiple choice and essay questions.  Often, these exams will be given over a two-day period.  No Freudian Slips allowed.

A comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of each trimester. Each final exam will account for 20% of your trimester grade.  (The final exam given at the end of the second trimester will include material from both the first and second trimesters.)

The final exam given during the 3^rd trimester will consist of a practice AP Psychology Exam. It will be administered over a two-day period and will cover material from all three trimesters. It will be scored in the same manner as the "real" exam (i.e., you will lose an extra ¼ point for every question you answer incorrectly). You must take the exam on the scheduled days. 

Research Paper (20% of grade)

As you will soon learn, RESEARCH IS THE FOUNDATION OF PSYCHOLOGY!!. Therefore, during the yearlong course, you will develop, carry out, and report on a simple research project of your own design. A detailed description of the format and requirements of the research project will be provided in separate handouts. Your project will require a significant amount of work on your part, but will be manageable as long as you don't PROCRASTINATE!!!! I suggest that you work in groups comprised of four to six students. This will allow you to divide the workload.  It is extremely important that you learn to cooperate with the people in your group. If you choose to have your best friend or "significant other" in your group and you later have a falling out---well, that's life.  You still have to work with that person on your project.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

Typically, all of the students working within a research group receive the same grade.  However, if someone in your  group is not contributing (and you have tried to deal with the situation, but its just not working)  let me know. No one should get a free ride.