INTRODUCTORY/GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY:

 

Fall 2005

Tuesdays & Thursdays:

PSYC 200-01: 11:00am -12:15pm

Bowman Hall Room 101

 

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Randall C. Young

Office Hours:             WF 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

                                    TR 9:00 am - 10:00 am

                                    OR by appointment (or any other time if I am in my office and free)

Office:                         215 Bowman Hall

Phone:             Office: 828-5438

                                    Home: (to be used judiciously): 828-0486

e-mail:                         rcyoung@bridgewater.edu

 

website: http://www.bridgewater.edu/~rcyoung/

 

Final Exam Date & Time: Friday, December 9th , 2005 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am

                                                           

 

Required Text:            Wood, S.E, Wood, E.G., & Boyd, D. (2006). Mastering the World of Psychology, 2nd

edition, Allyn & Bacon

 

 

NOTE #1: MOVIE NIGHTS (8:30 pm in Bowman 101)

                        Sept 20th (9/20)            Oct 13th (10/13)            Oct 20th (10/20)

 

NOTE #2: “NO CLASS” Days

                        Sept 22nd (9/22)            Oct 11th (10/11)            Nov 24th (11/24)

 

Evaluation:

Point Earning Opportunity:              Date:                           Number of Points Possible:

Reaction Paper 1:                                  (9/13/05)                       20

Reaction Paper 2:                                  (9/27/05)                      10

Practice Tests for Exam 1 (ch 1, 5,6,&11)            (10/04/05)         20

Exam 1:                                              (10/06/05)                   100

Reaction Paper 3:                                  (10/18/05)                     10

DRAFT of Personality Paper:            (10/20/05)                   NO GRADE

Reaction Paper 4:                                  (10/25/05)                     10

Practice Tests for Exam 2 (ch 12, 7, & 8)            (11/01/05)         15

Exam 2:                                              (11/03/05)                   100

Personality Paper                          (11/15/05)                   100

Practice Test for Exam 3 (ch 14)            (11/17/05)                       5

Exam 3 (take home test)                   (11/22/05)                     75

Practice Tests for Exam 4 (ch 2 & 3)            (12/06/05)         10

Exam 4:            FINAL EXAM DAY (12/09/05)                      75

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

Total Points Possible:                                                         550

Determination of your Final Grade:

Your final grade will be determined by the number of points you earn in the course.

 

Grade Breakdown

Grade              % of points received                       # of points received

A                     92.5% or better                      509 or better

A-                    89.5 - 92.4%                         492 - 508

 

B+                   86.5 - 89.4%                         476 - 491

B                     82.5 - 86.4%                         454 - 475

B-                    79.5 - 82.4%                         437 - 453

 

C+                   76.5 - 79.4%                         421 - 436

C                     72.5 - 76.4%                         399 - 420

C-                    69.5 - 72.4%                         382 - 398

 

D+                   66.5 - 69.4%                         366 - 381

D                     62.5 - 66.4%                         344 - 365

D-                    59.5 - 62.4%                         327 - 343

 

F                      59.4%            or below               326 or below

 

Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is threefold: 1) to explore the many ways in which psychology illuminates our understanding of how we think and behave, 2) to examine theories, explanations, and specific studies of psychological phenomena in a critical manner, and 3) to enhance your interest in psychology through interesting discussions, activities, lectures, and assignments.

 

Assignments: Four (4) non-cumulative exams during the semester will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the material.  One (1) original paper will give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge of psychology in thought provoking and creative ways.  Four (4) reaction papers will allow you to expand on material covered in class. Detailed information describing each of these assignments will be given out at the appropriate time.

 

 

The 4 Class Exams

- The first two (2) exams you take will be worth 100 points each and will be during regular class time. These

two exams will consist of short answer & essay questions

NOTE: No one will be admitted to an in-class exam after the first student has completed his/her work.

- The third (3rd) exam will be a take-home exam worth 75 points.  This exam will consist of short answer and

essay questions.

- The fourth (4th) exam will be given during your final exam period but will NOT be a cumulative exam.  It will

be a 75 point test consisting of multiple choice & fill-in-the-blank type questions

 

- Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances. If you miss an exam due to oversleeping or other non-extreme circumstances you will be able to take a make-up, but you will automatically lose 10 pts from your final score.

 

- Students missing exams due to athletic events or other approved performances will be given the exams at a special time. All students who will miss a class for athletics, etc... MUST tell me of their absences in advance! In exceptional cases, with fair warning, I may choose to give an exam earlier than its scheduled date.

The Paper

- The paper will be graded according to criteria that you will receive before you start working on it. I guarantee you that a part of the grade will be based upon basic grammar and writing skills.  Too many students use poor grammar and have papers with no introductory paragraph, no transition between paragraphs, and/or paragraphs that are way too long. These types of errors will affect your grade!  (Note: there is a writing center on campus that will help you as well)

 

- The paper must be turned during class on the assigned date by the student who  wrote the paper.

 

- Late papers will NOT receive full credit under ANY circumstances!  (Papers left under my door, or in my mailbox will be counted as LATE!!!)

 

The four (4) reaction papers

- At the beginning of the semester, you will read an article about drug addiction and write a 20 point reaction paper to it.

- During the course of the semester, there will be times when we watch a movie.  For each of those movies, you will be required to write a well thought out answer to a discussion question(s) that I provide you. Each of these reaction papers is worth 10 points

 

Classroom Policies:

1) Academic Dishonesty policy:

Just so that we are all clear, Academic dishonesty will NOT be tolerated! Students must work individually on exams and all writing assignments. This means you are not to copy ideas from any other students or sources (including the internet). This also means you should not discuss your ideas with other students to prevent the appearance of impropriety, nor should you have fellow students give you feedback on your ideas.  If you want constructive criticism, you should get a draft to me or meet with me before the due date. All cases of academic dishonesty (e.g., cheating on an exam, plagiarizing sources) will result in an honor council hearing.

 

2) Attendance and Participation Expectations:

Attendance at all of my classes is expected. Students who miss class are responsible for all material covered in that class.  Ignorance of course material or of changes to this syllabus covered in class is NOT a valid excuse for anything. I also expect my class to be energetic and full of participation.  I will do my part, but you should do yours as well, including reading the assigned chapters prior to class so that you can answer my questions and raise your own.

 

3) Written work policy:

All written work must be typed and must meet the following guidelines:

1 inch margins all the way around

12-point font

Double-spaced

Left-margin justified

Stapled (please do NOT use any plastic covers)

Any violation of these simple rules will cost you 5 points on the assignment

 

 

Note: This Syllabus is subject to change! Any change will be announced in class


SCHEDULE

Week & Dates                                     Topics                                                 Readings

1) 8/30, 9/1                                          Introduction to Psychology                   Ch. 1

 

2) 9/6, 9/8                                            Learning                                              “Rat Pack” & Ch. 5

Assign “Rat Pack” reading on 9/8

 

3) 9/13, 9/15                                        Discussion of “Rat Pack”; Memory            Ch. 6

Reaction Paper #1 due 9/13

 

4) 9/20, (9/22)                                     Memory

NOTE: MOVIE NIGHT 9/20 (TUESDAY) NIGHT @ 8:30pm

NOTE: CLASS CANCELED 9/22

 

5) 9/27, 9/29                                       Personality                                          Ch. 11

Reaction Paper #2 due 9/27

 

6) 10/4, 10/6                                        Review & Exam Week

Practice Tests Due 10/4

Assign “No Competition” reading & Assign PERSONALITY PAPER on 10/4

 

***EXAM #1: Thursday 10/6***

 

 

7) (10/11), 10/13                           Motivation (OJH)                                   “No Competition” 

NOTE: FALL BREAK 10/11 – no class                                            

NOTE: MOVIE NIGHT 10/13 (THURSDAY) NIGHT @ 8:30pm

 

8) 10/18, 10/20                           Abnormal                                           Ch. 12                                     

Reaction Paper #3 due 10/18

NOTE: MOVIE NIGHT 10/20 (THURSDAY NIGHT) @ 8:30

DRAFT of PERSONALITY PAPER DUE 10/20

 

9) 10/25, 10/27                           Cognition & Cog Development             Ch. 7 & Ch. 8

Reaction Paper #4 due 10/25

 

10) 11/1, 11/3                                      Review & Exam Week

Practice Tests Due 11/1

Feedback from Draft of Personality Paper Returned to you by 11/3

 

***EXAM #2: Thursday 11/3***

 

 


11) 11/8, 11/10                           Social Psych                                       Ch. 14

 

12) 11/15, 11/17                           Social Psych; Biological Psych   Ch. 2

PERSONALITY PAPER DUE 11/15

Practice Test Due 11/17

NOTE: Get Take Home Exam (75 pts) on 11/17

 

13) 11/22, (11/24)                         Biological Psych                                 

NOTE: Take Home Exam due @ start of class – 11/22

NOTE: Thanksgiving Break 11/24 – no class

           

14) 11/29, 12/1                             Sensation & Perception                    Ch. 3

 

15) 12/6                                               Wrap-Up, Review for Exam #4  & Evals,

Practice Tests Due 12/6                

 

***EXAM #4: FRIDAY 12/9 @ 8:00 am***