Advanced Placement Psychology Syllabus
2011-2012
Ms. Meghan McClory
Contact: mrmcclory@cps.edu (preferred) or 773-534-8600 x 26155
Course Description: AP Psychology will be an intense and fascinating course focusing on the scientific study of the
behavior and mental processes of human beings and animals. You will learn psychological facts, principles and
phenomena within the various fields of Psychology. This will be equivalent to a college level, introductory General
Psychology course.
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Students will think critically about the world of Psychology and their relationship to it.
Students will master the content to pass the College Board Exam and earn College credit for Introductory Psychology.
Students will learn about Psychologists, their experiments and theories, over the past century.
Students will assess differing theories of Psychologists such as Psychoanalytic, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic, Biological
and they will explore socio-cultural perspectives.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of how Psychologists think and the ethical ways in which they test their
hypotheses.
Students will read, understand and perform ethical research.
Students will be able to relate Psychological theories to current events, think critically and draw their own conclusions
Course Objectives
In accordance with Illinois State Standards, Students will:
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Explain theories of prominent Psychologists
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Evaluate the effectiveness of sociological/psychological theory in explaining individual and group behavior.
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Analyze the impact of emerging psychological thought on various social institutions.
In accordance with the College Readiness Standards, students will:
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Draw generalizations and conclusions about people and ideas from one or more challenging passage.
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Determine the appropriate meaning of context-dependent words
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Understand the dynamics (both clearly and subtly stated in passages) between people and ideas
Grading Policy
Your final grade will be based upon the following:
Homework
25%
Tests and Quizzes
45%
Projects
20%
Final
10%
The grading scale is:
A = 92-100
B = 83-91
C = 74-82
D = 65-73
All Tests will reflect the AP Psychology Test format and will include multiple choice questions and free response. You
will be tested on each unit. Tests will all be cumulative, for example, when you are tested on Unit 8, there may be questions
from Units 1-7. This is to ensure and retention of material throughout the school year and to help prepare you for the AP
Exam. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. They may be on current material, or reviewing prior topics. There will
be no make ups for quizzes but the lowest two will be dropped each semester.
For Homework, you will need to read the chapters and take notes in a way that best meets your needs. These notes should
be completed in a way that will help you to study the material. I will be checking your notes and will be giving periodic
reading quizzes. Class discussion will often be based on the prior day’s reading assignment. For each unit, you will receive
a study guide including key names, terms and concepts. You should use this to guide your note taking and studying. We
will be moving quickly, so it is important that you keep up.
Extra Credit will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion and will not be given to students who have not completed all other
work.
Textbook
The primary text is Psychology, 7th Edition, Bernstein et al. If you lose your book, you will be required to pay the cost for a
replacement. Additional readings will be provided for you and/or posted on the homework site.
You should also purchase an AP Review book (i.e. Barrons), to help you review for the exam. Review applications are
available for purchase and can be a great resource for you as well.
Supplies: (please contact me if you have any difficulty attaining these supplies)
 3 ring binder with 15 pocket dividers, one for each unit (Bring to class by Sept. 12th)
 Notebook Paper, pens (blue or black), pencils, highlighters
 Fee for AP exam in May, which is approximately $85. Please contact me and/or your counselor if you will
have difficulty providing these funds
Classroom Policies
 Homework and projects are expected to be turned in on the assigned date.
 If you are struggling to understand the material, it is your responsibility to ask questions or for extra help.
 You must treat classmates and teachers with respect.
 You must actively participate in class! Make sure your cell phone is turned off and out of sight.
 Any form of academic dishonesty (copying, plagiarizing, etc.) will result in a zero for the particular assignment
with no possibility of making up the work. You will also receive disciplinary action as outlined in your Jones
College Prep handbook.
 Come to class prepared and on-time
 No food, drink or gum! (You may bring bottled water.)
Course Outline (Subject to change at the teacher’s discretion)
Week (s)
Unit: Topic
Readings/Major Projects
9/6-9/14
Unit 1: History and Research
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
9/15-9/29
Unit 2: Biology
Chapter 3
Case: One Brain or Two
Project: Brain Book
10/3-10/13
Unit 3: Life Span Development
Chapter 12
Case: In Control and Glad of it
10/17-10/27
Unit 4: Motivation and Emotion
Chapter 11
Case: I can see it all over your face
10/31-11/16
Unit 5: Sensation and Perception
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Project: Sensation Game
11/21-11/29
Unit 6: Stress, Coping and Health
Chapter 13
11/30-12/13
Unit 7: Learning
Chapter 6
Case: See Aggression, Do Aggression
12/15-12/22
Unit 8: Memory
Chapter 7
Case: Thanks for the memories
1/09-1/13
Unit 9: Consciousness
Chapter 9
Case: To Sleep, No Doubt to Dream
1/18-1/26
Review for Final
Final Exam
1/30-2/10
Unit 10: Thinking and Language
Chapter 8
2/14-2/24
Unit 11: Individual Differences
Chapter 10
Case: Just how are you intelligent?
2/27-3/9
Unit12: Personality
Chapter 14
Case: Masculine or Feminine or Both?
Case: You’re getting defensive again
Project: Personality Collages
3/12-3/22
Unit 13: Psychological Disorders
Chapter 15
Case: Who’s Crazy Here Anyway?
Project: Disorders Presentations
3/23-3/30
Unit 14: Treatment of Disorders
Chapter 16
Case: Choosing Your Psychotherapist
Case: Relaxing your fears away
4/9-4/27
Unit 15: Social Psychology
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Case: A Prison by any other Name
Case: To Help or Not to Help
4/30-5/4
REVIW for AP EXAM
5/7
AP EXAM: Monday May 7
5/8-6/12
Post AP Exam
TBD
Please share this syllabus with your parent(s) and both you and a parent should sign to acknowledge that you understand the
course requirements. Please keep this in the front of your binder.
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Student Signature
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Parent Signature