PSY300 - General Principles of Psychology

Table of Contents:

	Required Resources
	Textbook Website
	Course Objectives

Required Resources:

Blackboard Website logon:

Textbook Website:

Prerequisite: None Course Transferable to UC/CSU Hours: 54 hours LEC

Description: This course is for psychology majors, behavioral science majors and others who desire a broad overview of general principles. Topics include the scientific method, statistics, biological determinants and general processes of behavior such as development, learning, verbal behavior, intelligence, perception, motivation, emotion, personality and mental health. (CAN PSY 2) AA/AS area C2; CSU area D3; IGETC area 4.

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1. 3. To promote further development of communication and critical thinking skills within the

context of psychology.

4. To highlight the major theoretical approaches to the study of human behavior.

1. 5. To provide a challenging yet comfortable environment where each student can have an interesting, even exciting, learning experience which can improve the quality of life.
2. 6. To apply psychological theory, research, and issues to their personal lives.

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1. 1. Students will be able to identify the major fields of study and theoretical perspectives

within psychology and articulate their similarities and differences.

2. Students will be able to differentiate between the major observational, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental designs used by developmental psychologists and articulate the benefits and limitations of each. Students will be able to critique various studies and theories based on this information.

3. Students will be able to identify and discuss the biological bases of behavior

4. Students will be able to articulate the basic principles, major theories, and research concerning learning and cognition.

5. Students will be able to discuss the major theories of development, critical research on development and developmental concepts from across the life course.

6. Students will be able to discuss the symptomatology, possible etiology, and proposed treatment for the major categories of psychological disorders.

7. Students will be able to identify and discuss the major theories and research from the area of social psychology.

8. Students will be able to read current literature related to a specific psychological topic

and writes a paper discussing and evaluating this research.

9. To further develop writing skills in conjunction with the use of APA format. Students will be able write their paper in APA format.

10. Students will be able to use web enhanced technology as a part of the course.

Structure of the Course:

This course is primarily lecture, discussion, and web enhanced technology. Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis and be prepared to participate in class discussions by reading the text beforehand. In addition, students will be involved in small group and individual exercises in class. Also, students area expected to use Blackboard echnology as a part of class.

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You are expected:

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1. - To attend lectures and participate in class discussions and
2. - exercises.

- Buy and read the assigned chapters of text for each class.

1. - Complete one project
2. - Complete 9 homework chapter quizzes

- take 6 exams administered throughout the semester

- need 6 882-E scantrons , and number # 2 pencils for exams

None will be provided at the time of exams.

Attendance/Participation: Attendance is critical, as we will be moving very rapidly through material. Unexcused absences will effect your grade. If you must miss a class, please contact me in advance by emailing me or leaving a message on my voice mail . Please arrive to class on time. Arriving late or leaving early consistently may constitute an absence. Attendance will be taken on a regular basis by signing an attendance sheet that is passed around at the beginning of class. If you come in late and sign the attendance sheet at the end of class, you will be marked as a tardy. Each absence will result in a loss of 3 attendance/participation points. Four tardies equal one absence.

Note: You may make up points due to absences by doing extra credit activities.

You will be required to complete 9 homework chapter quizzes throughout the

semester. Each chapter quiz will cover two chapters, and the questions will consist of short answer, multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc. Quizzes are due the academic day after the quiz is given out. Each quiz is worth 40 points each.

EXAMS:

There will be 6 exams administered during the semester (worth 100 points each). The exams may consist of multiple choice, true false, fill in the blank, short answer, and short essay questions. Often the lectures will focus on the text. However, many times new material will be presented in class that is not in the book. You will be responsible for all material presented during the class sessions. The exams will be on material covered during class as well as the text. Six 882-E Scantrons and number 2 pencils are required.

Make-up exams will not be given. If you miss an exam or want to replace a low score, you may take the remedial exam that is offered after the final exam. The remedial exam will be comprehensive and in essay format. You must notify the instructor that you wish to take the remedial exam by the last day of class.

Project: You are required to complete a Project over the course of the semester.

At the beginning of the semester, you will be given a list of possible projects to choose from. The project will require a review of a research article, using outside sources other than your text such as internet web pages and other texts. This project will be discussed in more detail in

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the first few class sessions. Further guidelines will be provided. The project is worth 350 points.

Promoting a positive learning environment: Creating a positive learning experience is the responsibility of the instructor and of the students. Please respect the learning environment of others by not having a conversation while others are talking, respecting differences of opinion or values, turning off all electronic devices that make sound, and sleeping or snoring in class. Please avoid behaviors that will interfere with the learning of others. In other words, treat others, as you would have them treat you in class. Please clean up any trash that you bring to into the classroom.

If you are experiencing difficulty with the course, please do not hesitate to contact me as soon as possible. The sooner you contact me, the sooner we can work together to help you work through these difficulties. If you have a disability including chronic disease or learning disabilities, please notify me so we can discuss your needs and appropriate accommodations. Please bring a verification of your disability or specialist’s recommendation for accommodating your needs.

Extra Credit: There will be several opportunities to earn "bonus" or "extra credit" points to help improve your grade. You may only earn up to 75 points extra credit in a semester. Some of the extra credit options are presented below:

1. 1. Exams may have up to 10 bonus questions that you can answer for extra credit.
2. 2. Other options as presented throughout the semester (class assignments, opportunity to participate in research, etc.)
3. 3. Extra Credit movie reviews (worth 15 points). Student may complete up to two.

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating is against the policy of American River College. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead the instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment. There are two types of cheating and plagiarism: Obvious and Soft Plagiarism. Obvious cheating involves looking at your neighbor’s answers when taking an exam, paying someone to write a paper for you or getting a paper off the Internet. Obvious cheating or plagiarizing (claiming the written work of another person as your own) will result in an automatic "F" on the assignment and possibly for the final grade in this course. Most students do not engage in this form of cheating. What many students inadvertently do is called "Soft plagiarism", which involves failing to cite references or citing references inappropriately in your papers. This is much more common. If a student has a few examples of "soft plagiarism" in their work, it will be

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brought to their attention, and the number of instances will lower their grade accordingly.

Late Work: Assignments will be considered late if not turned in by class time of due date. Grade may be reduced by 10% for each academic day late.

Your total grade will be based on the quizzes, exams, project, and class attendance/participation.

Attendance/Participation: 3 points for each class X 46 classes = 140

Exams & Final 6 X 100 points = 600

Project: 1 X 350 = 350

Homework Chapter Quizzes 9 X 40 = 360

Total= 1450

Grade Breakdown:

A (90%)

B (80%)

C (70%)

D (60%)

F (50%)

Psych 300: General Psychology

Tentative Class Schedule:

Day Date Topic Assigned readings

W 1/21 Introduction to the class

Thinking Critically Ch. 1

F 1/23 Thinking Critically Ch. 1

M 1/26 Thinking Critically Ch. 1

Neuroscience and Behavior Ch. 2

W 1/28 Neuroscience and Behavior Ch. 2

F 1/30 Neuroscience and Behavior Ch. 2

Chapter Quiz 1-2

M 2/2 Nature vs. Nurture Ch. 3

W 2/4 Nature vs. Nurture Ch. 3

F 2/6 The Developing Person Ch. 4

M 2/9 The Developing Person Ch. 4

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W 2/11 The Developing Person Ch. 4

Chapter Quiz 3-4

F 2/13 President’s Holiday No Class

M 2/16 President’s Holiday No Class

W 2/18 Exam # 1 (Ch. 1 - 3)

F 2/20 Sensation Ch. 5

M 2/23 Sensation Ch. 5

W 2/25 Perception Ch. 6

F 2/27 Perception Ch. 6

Chapter Quiz 5-6

M 3/1 States of Consciousness Ch. 7

W 3/3 States of Consciousness Ch. 7

F 3/5 Learning Ch. 8

M 3/8 Exam # 2 (4 - 6)

W 3/10 Learning Ch. 8

Chapter Quiz 7-8

F 3/12 Memory Ch. 9

M 3/15 Memory Ch. 9

W 3/17 Thinking and Language Ch. 10

F 3/19 Thinking and Language Ch. 10

Chapter Quiz 9-10

M 3/22 Exam # 3 (7 - 9)

W 3/24 Intelligence Ch. 11

F 3/26 Intelligence Ch. 11

Motivation and Work Ch. 12

M 3/29 Motivation and Work Ch. 12

W 3/31 Emotion Ch. 13

F 4/2 Emotion Ch. 13

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Chapter Quiz 11-12

M 4/5 Spring Break – No Class

W 4/7 Spring Break – No Class

F 4/9 Spring Break – No Class

M 4/12 Exam # 4 (10 – 12)

W 4/14 Stress and Health Ch. 14

F 4/16 Stress and Health Ch. 14

Chapter Quiz 13 – 14

M 4/19 Personality Ch. 15

W 4/21 Personality Ch. 15

F 4/23 Personality Ch. 15

Psychological Disorders Ch. 16

M 4/26 Psychological Disorders Ch. 16

W 4/28 Psychological Disorders Ch. 16

F 4/30 Therapy Ch. 17

Chapter Quiz 15 – 16

M 5/3 Exam # 5 ( 13 – 15)

W 5/5 Therapy Ch. 17

F 5/7 Therapy Ch. 17

Social Psychology Ch. 18

M 5/10 Social Psychology Ch. 18

W 5/12 Social Psychology Ch. 18

F 5/14 Social Psychology Ch. 18

Chapter Quiz 17 - 18

M 5/17 Catch up day

FINALS

M 5/24 Exam # 6 (16 –18) 8:00 am – 10:00 am

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Remedial exam

Extra Credit Film Review

Psychology in Film Review Reaction Paper Assignment:

(15 points possible)

How to write your reaction papers

Imagine that you are a critic for a prominent film magazine, and you are on assignment to review films and their portrayal of psychological issues. Please follow these instructions

1. View the film, making notes about the character(s) in the film with mental disorders

2. Write a 7 - 8 page typewritten doubled spaced paper, including the following:

a.) Give a brief synopsis of the story or plot, giving a description of the character and the psychological issue

a). Answer the following questions:

1. 4. Why did you pick this film? (could you relate to the issue, know someone dealing with the issue, etc.)
2. 5. What psychological issues are portrayed in this film?
3. 6. What diagnosis (if any) does the main character portray? You must consult the DSM for this information.
4. 7. What psychological theory best explains the behavior of the major characters in the film?
5. 8. Based on what you have learned from your text and class lectures,

would you say the film portrays the psychological issue accurately or not? Why? (Be sure to support your answer with information from your text)

Suggested Titles

Basic Instinct (S. Stone) Final Analysis, Mr. Jones (Gere) The Fight Club

Fatal Attraction (G. Close) The Accused (J. Foster) Niagara Niagara

Primal Fear (Gere) Awakenings (DeNiro) Montana

The Hand That Rocks the CradleHelter Skelter Memento

Silence of the lambs One flew over the cuckoo’s nest Gattaca

Hannibal Three faces of eve Goodwill Hunting

Sybil Harvey (J. Stewart)

Psycho Clean and Sober

Eugene and Dominic (T. Hulce) Days of Wine and Roses

Born on the Fourth of July Titticut Follies

Copy Cat Seven

Bennie and Joon The Boost

Goodfellas (DeNiro) Taxi Driver (DeNiro)

Rainman (Hoffman) As good as it gets (Hunt)

Beautiful Mind I am Sam

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THIS IS JUST A VERY LIMITED LIST - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHOSE OTHERS THAT ARE RELEVANT.

Psych 300: Name:______________________________

General Psychology

Nelson GRADE SELF-MONITORING FORM

Assignment Points ReceivedTotal Pts. Possible

Exam #1 ___________ 100

Exam #2 ___________ 100

Exam #3 ___________ 100

Exam #4 ___________ 100

Exam #5 ___________ 100

Exam #6 ___________ 100

Chapter Quiz 1 – 2 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 3 - 4 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 5 - 6 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 7 - 8 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 9 - 10 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 11 - 12 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 13 - 14 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 15 - 16 ___________ 40

Chapter Quiz 17 - 18 ___________ 40

Project ___________ 350

Attendance/Participation ___________ 140

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Plus Extra Credit ___________ 75

COURSE TOTAL ___________ 1450

Percentage Correct: ___________/1450 = __________ %

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