EXPECTATIONS

Content

This is an introductory course how human behavior is studied scientifically. We will cover the many of the major topics in psychology.

Materials

The course consists of reading, lectures, demonstrations, and discussion. It is your responsibility to keep current on these materials.

Attendance

Frequent absences do nothing to increase my confidence that you have learned the material covered in this class. I take attendance into consideration when determining final grades. I give you three extra credit points if you have no unexcused absences. I will deduct one point for each unexcused hour that you miss class

Honesty

Cases of cheating or plagiarism will result in no credit (0) for the assignment or test and an overall failing grade for the course.

Portfolio

You will have to prepare a typed portfolio summarizing ten topics relating to psychology.  This portfolio is worth 50 points.

Quizzes

There will be eight to twelve quizzes. Quizzes will be announced at least one class period in advance. I will drop the lowest quiz grade in computing your final grade.  Quizzes will be multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, and brief answer.

Make Ups

I will drop the first quiz you miss as your lowest quiz.  You may make-up any subsequent  quiz, homework assignment, or paper, but you will loose one point per day for makeups unless you have a University-approved excuse justifying the delay. Make-ups must be completed the week you return to class.

Final Exam

The final exam is cumulative and will be given on the last class. It is optional. A student who maintains an A average may elect not to take the final. The final exam will cover all of the course material. It will be scored as shown below:

SCORE CONSEQUENCE

79% or less You will receive no credit for the final exam. Your grade will not be affected. In no case will I lower a cumulative grade based on the results of the final exam.

80% or higher Your grade will be increased by one letter.

Grade Scale

Grades will be calculated on the following scale:

A 90% and above     B 80 - 89%     C 70 - 79%    D 60 - 69%      F less than 60%

Office Hours

Hours I will be available to discuss the course, the weather, or any topic of mutual interest at the hours posted above. If these are not convenient, please see me to make an appointment at another time.

Special Needs

If you have special learning needs, please let me know. Students requiring special considerations should get in touch with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. This office will notify me in writing of the accommodations you need in compliance with 504/ADA. If you have special learning needs, please let me know.

Description

  Ten one-page summaries

 One page per summary with the article listed in APA format on the top of the page.

  Five points per summary.

Process

1. Locate and read one printed article on TEN of the topics listed below.  The article must have been published in the last five years

2. Briefly summarize each article in one singe spaced page.  Your summary should include both a summation of the article and your personal comments/evaluation of the article.

•Honesty Testing
• Dreams
• Intelligence Testing
• Psychopathic personalities
• Hypnotism
• Ethics in research.
• Projective tests
• Personality testing
• Job Satisfaction
• Helping behavior
• Land affection
• Any well-known psychologist
• Suicide
• Peer pressure
• Adult or childhood development

• Eating disorders
• Stress
• Consumer Behavior
• Road rage
• Decision making
• Stress
• Sleep
• Hallucinations
• Addictions
• Autism
• Learning language
• Any theory of intelligence
• Polygraphs (lie detectors)
  • Motivation
  • Increasing memory
  • Burnout
  • Love and affection

Outline

1.  Introduction.

Describe the article and briefly overview the main points.
Tell why the article relates to psychology.

2. Body.

Summarize the author's main points.

3.  Summary

Give your opinion of the article or the author's ideas.

4.  Reference.

List the article in standard APA format.   I will not grade a paper that does not have references included.