General Psychology Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Diana Rudolph (Curriculum Vitae)Phone
Phone number not availableOffice Location
Office Hours
Course Information
Recording Policy
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Administrative Drop Policy
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
Student Withdrawal Procedures
Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:
- consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
- consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
- consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
- consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
- NOTE: The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.
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Course
PSYC-2301-001 General Psychology
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
Course Description
General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
Occupational License Disclaimer
Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Class Type
Online Course
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
Your textbook is Exploring Psychology, with updates for DSM-5, 9th ed., by David G. Myers (2014).
Supplies
Print this syllabus
Student Performance
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology.
2. Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology.
3. Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology.
4. Use terminology unique to the study of psychology.
5. Describe accepted approaches and standards in psychological assessment and evaluation.
6. Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior.
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
I expect you all to attend class online, participate in class discussion boards, be prepared for class discussion and exams, and respect everyone else who is in the class. Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism. This means that even though this class is online, you should be doing your own work.You may certainly use your notes and books on all assignments and exams; you just may not use your friends or classmates. All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students’ responses within class. There will be zero tolerance for any type of harassment. I want this to be an environment where everyone can learn and feel safe.
Grading Criteria
There will be a total of 1200 possible points for the semester. You will be able to check your grade on AC Online. To calculate your grade you will divide the number of points you have earned (the smaller number) by the number of possible points that you could have earned in the class (the larger number). Grading will be on the standard grade scale:
100-89.5% = A
89.4-79.5% = B
79.4-69.5% = C
69.4-59.5% = D
Below 59.5% = F
The points will be earned:
400 points for exams (4 exams for 100 points each ). These are 50 question, multiple choice exams based on the textbook chapters.(The last exam has 100 questions; it is still worth 100 points.) You will have two opportunities to take each exam during the period in which it is open. Your highest score will be used. If you do retake the exam, the questions will be different the second time, but taken from the same pool of questions.
100 points for the Service Learning Project and short essay exam. There will be several questions about your service learning project where you write your answer in a short essay and five short answer questions covering graph reading. Detailed instructions for the project are in Blackboard under Service Learning Project.The grading rubric for the Project is in Appendix A of the Instructions in Blackboard.
700 points for on-line discussion forum . There will be a new discussion question each week that pertains to the reading assignment for the week. You will submit a response to all parts of the question. After reading the responses of your classmates, you will write responses to two of those. Grading will be done by the instructor after the discussion closes each week. A grading rubric is shown in the Calendar.
Attendance
You will need to check online every week or more often for announcements, updates and assignments. If you miss assignment and exam due dates, that will negatively affect your grade. You should also check your email frequently for messages from the instructor. If you are discussing some issue with the instructor, check your email even more often than once a day. By checking in, you are recording your attendance in the class.
Calendar
Class Schedule/Outline:
The instructor reserves the right to change the calendar if needed.
DATE LESSON
Week of August 22 Read Chapter 1, “Thinking Critically with Psychological Science”
Discussion 1: Introduce yourself to the class. (Initial post is due Wednesday, August 24 by 11:59 pm. Responses to two classmates are due Friday, August 26 by 11:59 pm.) Introduction should include why you are taking General Psychology and what you hope to get from the class. Also please tell whether you have ever taken any college class before this one and whether you have ever taken an online class before this one. Rubric for discussion responses follows:
Criteria |
Meets or Exceeds Expectations |
Needs Improvement |
Does Not Meet Expectations |
|---|---|---|---|
Timeliness of Initial Post |
20 pointsInitial post is made by requested date at 11:59 pm. |
5 pointsInitial post is made by last (closing) date, 11:59 pm. |
0 points No initial post is made by closing date, 11:59 pm |
Timeliness of Response Posts |
20 points Both response posts are made by closing day, 11:59 pm (15); response posts are made on a different day than initial post (5). |
10 points One response post is made by closing day, 11:59 pm |
0 points No response posts are made by closing day, 11:59 pm |
|
Initial Post Quality |
20 Points Contains clear, thorough responses to the question identified in the assignment. Shows good understanding of material by explaining terms and topics(15). Demonstrates sincere reflection when offering opinions; may share brief personal experience if that enhances the expression of an opinion (5) |
15 Points May be lacking in detail. Understanding of material is at a basic level and some concepts may be missing. Only a superficial reflection on question is evident. |
5 Points Minimally addresses the items in the assignment. Provides inaccurate information regarding facts or lacks supporting experiences regarding opinions. |
|
Later Posts Quality |
20 Points Comments are substantive and, contribute to the discussion (15); posts are made on more than one day to more than one person (5). Substantive means the comment reflects on and expands on what the other student wrote.
|
10 Points One post meets criteria and other one does not. Or Comment reflects on initial post but does not expand on it. |
3 Points
Comment is superficial, e.g. “Good job” or “I agree”.
Comment is off topic.
|
|
Mechanics |
20 Points Proper grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question (15). Provides a reference for source of quoted or paraphrased material.(5) |
10 Points Proper grammar and spelling usually used throughout the answer to the question but with distracting errors. |
5 Points Very poor grammar and spelling used throughout the answer to the question. |
Week of August 29 Read Chapter 2, “The Biology of Behavior”
Week of September 5 Read Chapter 3, “Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind”
Discussion 2: Give an example of how our psychological selves are affected by the functioning of the body. Include at least one research result that supports your comments. (Initial post due by Monday, September 5 by 11:59 pm. Responses to two classmates due Wednesday, September 7 by 11:59 pm).
Service Learning Project: Review the instructions for this project in Blackboard. Choose your site for volunteer work this week and email your choice to the instructor. When your project is done, you will turn in your hours with signatures to the Psychology Office, 202A, Dutton Hall.
Week of September 12 Read Chapter 4, Developing through the Life Span
Service Learning Project: Begin your volunteer work this week.
Exam 1: The first exam is over Chapters 1-4. It will be available from Sunday, September 11, and you will need to take it by Friday, September 16 at 11:59 pm.
Week of September 19 Read Chapter 5, “Gender and Sexuality”
Discussion 3: What has research taught us about sexual orientation? In 2 or 3 sentences, describe one study result and give the reference that was mentioned in your text. Use what you learned in Chapter 1 on Scientific Method to critique this result. Initial post is due Monday, September 19 by 11:59 pm, and you must respond to two of your classmates no later than Wednesday, September 21 at 11:59 pm.
Service Learning Project: Begin or continue your volunteer work.
Week of September 26 Read Chapter 6, “Sensation and Perception
Continue Service Learning Project
Week of October 3 Read Chapter 7, “Learning”
Service Learning Project: Continue working at your chosen location. When you have completed your required hours, please turn in your dates and times of service with a signature from a responsible person at your agency to the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department in Dutton Hall, Room 202A. Be sure to include your section number on the paper.
Discussion 4: Write about either Ivan Pavlov or John B. Watson.Give your opinion of their research designs and methods. Comment about the lasting impact of their findings. Initial post is due Monday, October 3 at 11:59 pm; and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, October 5 at 11:59 pm.
Week of October 10 Read Chapter 8, “Memory”
Service Learning Project: Continue working at your chosen location. When you have completed your required hours, please turn in your dates and times of service with a signature from a responsible person at your agency to the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department in Dutton Hall, Room 202A. Be sure to include your section number on the paper. Essay Test on the Service Learning Project is available for completion beginning Monday October 10; it will close Sunday,November 27 at 11:59 pm. Rubric for the Essay Test is found in Appendix A in the Instructions for the Service Learning Project in Blackboard.
Exam 2: The second exam is over Chapters 5-8. It will be available from Sunday, October 9, and you will need to take it by Friday, October 14 at 11:59 pm.
Week of October 17 FALL BREAK
Week of October 24 Read Chapter 9, “Thinking, Language and Intelligence”
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
Week of October 31 Read Chapter 10, “Motivation and Emotion”
Discussion 5: Look at Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (p. 355 in Myers, 9th ed.). Which of the levels seems most important to you at this time? Explain a little about why this one is important now. Disclose only what you feel comfortable sharing with your classmates and instructor. This is a national election year; which level seems most important to any presidential candidate you pick? Why do you think that? Initial post is due Monday, October 31 by 11:59 pm and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, November 2 at 11:59 pm.
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
Week of November 7 Read Chapter 11, “Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing”
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
Week of November 14 Read Chapter 12, “Personality”
Discussion 6: Choose a concept from Freud’s psychodynamic theory of personality. Describe the concept and give your opinion of it. Did the book present any evidence from research that supports or refutes this concept? Initial post is due Monday, November 14 by 11:59 pm; and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, November 16 at 11:59 pm.
Complete Service Learning Project and/or Essay Test.
Exam 3: The third exam is over chapters 9-12. It will be available from Sunday, November 13, and you will need to take it by 11:59 pm Friday, November 18.
Week of November 21 Read Chapter 13, “Social Psychology
Discussion 7: Name something Milgram’s obedience experiments (Myers, p. 467- 470) teach us about the power of social influence. What is your opinion of these experiments? (Initial post is due Monday, November 21 by 11:59 pm and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, November 23 at 11:59 pm.
Complete Service Learning Project and/or Essay Test.
Week of November 28 Read Chapter 14, “Psychological Disorders”
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours this week and turn in your signature sheet by Friday, December 2 at noon (Dutton 202A). Complete your Essay Test by Sunday, December 4 at 11:59 pm.
Week of December 5 Read Chapter 15, “Therapy”
Week of December 12 Exam 4: The fourth exam is over chapters 13-15. It will be available from Saturday, December 10, and you will need to take it by 11:59 pm Wednesday, December 14.
Additional Information
The best way to reach me is my e-mail: dianarudolph@actx.edu
I do not have an office on campus. I will check email daily to address your questions.
Discussions require participation of the entire class; therefore there is no makeup for discussions. Because you have two chances to take each exam and several days in which to complete each exam, more than likely I will not allow you to make-up any exam. If there are extreme circumstances that cause you to be late, please email me as soon as you can. I want each of you to be successful in completing this course.
Syllabus Created on:
08/12/16 2:49 PM
Last Edited on:
03/07/17 1:47 PM