AP Psychology
Ms. Kathleen Appleby
Room 104
Email: kappleby@keansburg.k12.nj.us
Phone: 732-787-2007 ext. 1
Text:
Myer’s Psychology for AP: Second Edition
David G. Myers
with Supplemental Psychology Texts
Course Description:
“The Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology course represents a wonderful opportunity for high school
students to be challenged by the rigor of a college-level course, while learning life-relevant, mind-expanding
concepts from the humanly significant discipline of psychology.” ~David G. Myers
Psychology, the study of the mind and behavior, opens many doors for new ways of thinking. This course is
designed to help students understand not just the results of research, but also how research works.
Whether students are studying development, cognition, or the meaning of dreams, they will become active
learners and critical thinkers. We will also dedicate a great deal of time evaluating what we think we know
and discovering how to know it for sure (when possible)! My goal lies not in giving students the answers,
but teaching them how to ask the right questions! Finally, through their developing knowledge of
psychology, students will become more understanding, patient, and empathetic to their fellow human
beings.
Units:
Psychology’s History and Approaches (Required summer reading and corresponding assignments)
Research Methods: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Cognition
Motivation and Emotion
Developmental Psychology
Personality
Abnormal Psychology
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Social Psychology
Assignments:
Each Unit will have, in addition to homework and classwork assignments, an accompanying
Project/Exam
Grading Breakdown:
1. Homework:
2. CW/Participation:
3. Quizzes:
4. Tests and Projects:
15%
15%
25%
45%
Required Supplies:
1. A psychology notebook or three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper. We will use both
paper/pencil and laptop technology for writing in and out of class.
2. Laptops - charged, and present every day
3. A pen or pencil
4. A folder for important materials
5. Teacher assigned textbook
Recommended Supplies:
1. Index card holder (these are available at Target, Five Below, Staples, and comparable stores
for about $1.00)
2. Highlighter
***BE PREPARED EVERY TIME YOU COME TO CLASS! IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED WHEN
YOU COME TO CLASS, I WILL DEDUCT POINTS FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE!***
Student Contract on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Keansburg High School does not tolerate academic dishonesty of any variety,
including plagiarism, whether as a result of a failure to follow proper academic and
scholarly procedures or as and act of intentional dishonesty. A student found guilty of
academic dishonesty is subject to severe disciplinary action.
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty includes:
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Stealing or using someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own;
Using part or all of another student’s work and presenting it as your own;
Submitting a paper that someone else has written;
Using information from the World Wide Web or the Internet without citing the
source or sources;
Having someone else do your work for you;
Having your work edited to the point that it is no longer your work;
Submitting anything that is not your own work;
Submitting the same paper for more than one class without the express
permission of the instructors involved;
Anyone guilty of academic dishonesty in grades eleven and twelve will receive a zero (0) on
the first submission of the paper. The student will be given the opportunity to revise the
paper accordingly for the second/final submission. *Note- If the paper only requires one
draft then the student will just receive a zero (0). The student will be formally reported to
the administration.
NOTE: No research paper will be graded until this form is returned.
I have read the above explanations and understand that if I am guilty of academic
dishonesty, based on the criteria stated above, I am subject to the consequences. I also
understand that my instructor will take further actions with the administration.
Student signature: ___________________________________________
Date: ________
Parent or Guardian signature: __________________________________
Date: ________
**CLASSROOM RULES, GUIDELINES, AND PROCEDURES:
1. There is ZERO tolerance for violence in my class.
2. There is ZERO tolerance for profanity/obscene language in my class.
3. All cell phones, iPods, and/or other devices are prohibited unless instructed otherwise. I do
not appreciate abuse of the privilege in my classroom. You are not to take out your phone in
my class unless you ask me to use it for educational purposes or I instruct you to for
educational purposes.
4. Assignments are expected to be submitted on time.
5. Cheating/plagiarism is an automatic ZERO and is documented.
6. Absences – I WILL NOT come to you with missed work. With our newfound technology,
THERE IS NO EXCUSE! It is your job to look online, ask me or a friend for missed work, and
to submit the missed assignments.
7. You must follow the dress code (i.e., no hats/hoods, revealing clothes, etc.)
8. You may not eat or drink in the classroom, unless you have written permission from a doctor
or administration.
9. Bathroom – I do not enforce a bathroom policy right away. If I see you are using the
bathroom excessively during my class, you will be put on “Bathroom Restriction” which will
limit your bathroom breaks during my class.
10. Lates/tardies to class will be documented and sent to attendance unless you have a pass!
Please be on time! Not only is it rude to walk in late, you will also miss work.
11. You may be asked/recommended/required to come for extra help after school, pending your
progress in my class.
12. To get respect, you have to give respect, plain and simple!
13. There is a reason why you’re here, whether you know it or not – MAKE THE MOST OF IT! 
CONSEQUNCES FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE INFRACTIONS AND/OR ANY OTHER INFRACTIONS
THAT GO AGAINST HANDBOOK RULES AND/OR SCHOOL POLICIES:
1st Offense Warning
2nd Offense Teacher Assigned Detention/Parent-Guardian Notification
3rd Offense Guidance Intervention/Parent- Guardian Notification/Administrative Write-up
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CUT HERE AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION (SIGNED) TO Ms. Appleby NO LATER THAN
September ____, 2014- *THIS COUNTS AS A HOMEWORK GRADE!*
I, ______________________________________, (STUDENT - PRINT) have read and understood the
following, and have agreed to the following rules and guidelines of Ms. Appleby’s classroom, Room
104. Should I violate any of the following conduct, I will expect and accept the appropriate
consequences of my actions.
I, ______________________________________, (PARENT - PRINT) have read and understood the
following, and have agreed to the following rules and guidelines of Ms. Appleby’s classroom, Room
104. Should my child violate any of the following conduct, I will expect and accept the appropriate
consequences of his/her actions.
_______________________________________________ /______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Student Signature
Date
Parental Consent
There will be several times throughout the course where instruction can be deeply
enhanced by viewing examples of psychology in action. Scenes and selections from the
films listed below (and any others that I discover along the way) may be viewed and
discussed in conjunction with various topics discussed in class. If you consent to your
student’s exposure to this media, please sign below and return no later than September
15, 2014.
If you have any objections, please let me know and we can develop an alternative plan for
your student.
Possible Films:
My Name is Khan
One Flew Over the Cucoo’s Nest
Rainman
Autism: The Musical
The Forgetting
Momento
X-Men III: The Last Stand
Girl: Interrupted
Student Name: _____________________________________________________________
Parent Name:_______________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: __________________________________________________________
Date: _______________________________________________________________________