dianarudolph@actx.edu
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PSYC-2301-001 General Psychology
Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:
Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Online Course
Your textbook is Exploring Psychology, with updates for DSM-5, 9th ed., by David G. Myers (2014).
Print this syllabus
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.
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".
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.
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.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 time that pertains to the reading assignment for the week. Not every week will have a discussion assignment. 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.
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.
Class Schedule/Outline:
The instructor reserves the right to change the calendar if needed.
DATE LESSON
August 21-26, 2017 Read Chapter 1, “Thinking Critically with Psychological Science”
Discussion 1: Introduce yourself to the class. (Initial post is due Wednesday, August 23 by 11:59 pm. Responses to two classmates are due Friday, August 25 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 grading discussion responses follows:
|
Criteria |
Meets or Exceeds Expectations |
Needs Improvement |
Does Not Meet Expectations |
|
Timeliness of Initial Post |
20 points Initial post is made by requested date at 11:59 pm. |
5 points Initial 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. |
August 27- September 2, 2017 Read Chapter 2, “The Biology of Behavior”
Sept 3-9, 2017 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 Tuesday, Sept 5 by 11:59 pm. Responses to two classmates due Thursday, Sept 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 or send a copy via email to the instructor.
Sept 10-16, 2017 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, Sept 10 and you will need to take it by Sat, Sept 16 at 11:59 pm.
Sept 17 - 23, 2017 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. Next, use what you learned in Chapter 1 on Scientific Method to critique this result. Initial post is due Monday, Sept 18 by 11:59 pm, and you must respond to two of your classmates no later than Wednesday, Sept 20 at 11:59 pm.
Service Learning Project: Begin or continue your volunteer work.
Sept 24-30, 2017 Read Chapter 6, “Sensation and Perception'
Continue Service Learning Project
October 1-7, 2017 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. You may also email a copy of your documentation to the instructor if it is not convenient to go to the office.
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, Oct 2 at 11:59 pm; and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, Oct 4 at 11:59 pm.
October 8-14, 2017 Read Chapter 8, “Memory”
Exam 2: The second exam is over Chapters 5-8. It will be available from Sunday, Oct 8, and you will need to take it by Friday, October 13 at 11:59 pm.
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, Oct 9; it will close Sunday, Dec 3 at 11:59 pm. Rubric for the Essay Test is found in Appendix A in the Instructions for the Service Learning Project in Blackboard.
October 15-21, 2017 FALL BREAK
October 22-28, 2017 Read Chapter 9, “Thinking, Language and Intelligence”
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
Oct 29-Nov 4, 2017 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. Initial post is due Monday, Oct 30 by 11:59 pm and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, Nov 1 at 11:59 pm.
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
November 5-11, 2017 Read Chapter 11, “Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing”
Service Learning Project: Complete your volunteer hours and/or take your Essay Test.
November 12-18, 2017 Read Chapter 12, “Personality”
Exam 3: The third exam is over chapters 9-12. It will be available from Sunday, Nov 12, and you will need to take it by Saturday, Nov 18 at 11:59 pm
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, Nov 13 by 11:59 pm; and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, Nov 15 at 11:59 pm.
Complete Service Learning Project and/or Essay Test.
Nov 19-22, 2017 Read Chapter 13, “Social Psychology
Complete Service Learning Project and/or Essay Test
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, Nov 20 by 11:59 pm and you must respond to two of your classmates by Wednesday, Nov 22 at 11:59 pm.
Nov 26-Dec 2, 2017 Read Chapter 14, “Psychological Disorders”
SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT ESSAY EXAM must be completed by 11:59 pm Sunday, Dec 3. Turn in your documentation sheet to Dutton Hall, Room 202A or email it to the instructor by Friday, Dec 1..
Dec 3-9 Read Chapter 15, “Therapy”
SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT ESSAY EXAM must be completed by 11:59 pm, Sunday, Dec 3. Turn in your documentation sheet to Dutton Hall, Room 202A or email it to the instructor by Friday, Dec. 1.
Exam 4: The fourth exam is over chapters 13-15. It will be available from Saturday, Dec 9, and you will need to take it by 11:59 pm Wednesday , Dec, 13.
Dec 10-16, 2017 Complete Exam 4 over chapters 13-15. It will be available from Saturday, Dec 9, and you will need to take it by 11:59 pm, Wednesday , Dec 13.
Dec 15, 2017 END OF SEMESTER!!!!!!!!
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.
01/06/17 3:57 PM
08/19/17 2:10 PM