AP PSYCHOLOGY
2014-2015
Miss Salimbene
Miss Salimbene’s Contact Information:
Phone: 202-429-4360 (school)
Email: ms.salimbene@gmail.com
ann.salimbene@dc.gov
Office Hours: before school, after school, during both lunches on A and B days
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Have you ever wondered what went on behind the closed doors of the psychiatrist's office? Have you thought
about why you are the way you are?? Have you ever asked yourself- "Why do I act the way I do??” or "Why
have I selected certain people to be my friends?" Have you ever spent much time really contemplating a good
definition of you? Have you stopped to consider what you want to be doing ten years from now?
This course should help you answer these questions and also unveil many of the mysteries surrounding the
study of psychology. In this class we won't actually be practicing psychology; but rather, we will be taking a
close look at the theories psychologists use and how these ideas were derived.
This is an Advanced Placement Course. At all times your behavior, performance, motivation and attitude
should reflect that of a successful college student.
AP PSYCHOLOGY GOALS:
The goal of this AP Psychology course is to afford students with the opportunity to experience a challenging
collegiate curriculum as they prepare for the national AP Psychology Exam.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this course reflects the intent stated in the AP Psychology Course Description, “to introduce
students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and
other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with
each of the major subfields within psychology.” In addition, ethical considerations are examined, as are the
“methods psychologists use to explore the process involved in normal and abnormal perceptions, thoughts,
feelings, and actions.”
This course has seven objectives:
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Students will be prepared to succeed on the AP Psychology
Exam, scoring a 3 or higher
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Students will study the major core concepts and theories of psychology. Students will be able to define
key terms and use these terms in their everyday vocabulary. Students will be able to compare and
contrast the major theories in psychology. Students will develop an understanding of the biological and
psychological bases of behavior.
Students will learn the basic skills of psychological research. Students will be able to devise simple
research projects, interpret and generalize from results, and evaluate the general validity of research
reports. Students will be able to recognize the scientific nature of investigation in psychology.
Students will be able to apply psychological concepts to their own lives. Students will be able to
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AP Psychology 2014-2015 Syllabus
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recognize psychological principles when they are encountered in everyday situations.
Students will develop critical thinking skills. Students will become aware of the danger of accepting or
rejecting any psychological theory without careful, objective evaluation.
Students will build their reading, writing, and discussion skills
Students will learn about the ethical standards governing the work of psychologists. Students will
maintain high ethical standards and sensitivity in applying the principles of psychology to themselves,
other people, and other organisms.
COURSE OUTLINE:
AP UNITS:
I.
History, Approaches, and Scientific Method
II.
Biological Bases of Behavior
CORRESPONDING READINGS:
Chapter 1 (pages 2-51)
Chapter 2 (pages 52-97)
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Chapter 3 (pages 98-141)
Chapter 4 (pages 142-179)
Chapter 5 (pages 180-223)
Chapter 6 (pages 224-265)
Chapter 7 (pages 264-307)
Sensation and Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Memory
Cognition, Intelligence and Testing
Unit Exam Date:
F September 12
1st Exam: W Sept 24
2nd Exam: M Oct 6
W October 22
M Nov 3
W Nov 19
W Dec 3
TH Dec 18th
WINTER BREAK - Monday December 22 – January 4 – Winter Break Work Due: Monday, January 5th
VIII.
Motivation, Emotion and Work
Chapter 9 (pages 354-391)
T Jan 13
Chapter 8 (pages 308-353)
Chapter 12 (pages 474-509)
Chapter 10 (pages 392-425)
Chapter 13 (pages 510-545)
Chapter 14 (pages 546-581)
Chapter 11 (pages 426-473)
T Feb 3
T Feb 17
W March 14
January 20-23 MIDTERM EXAMS
IX.
X.
XI.
Development and Human Diversity
Personality
Stress and Abnormal Behavior
XII.
XIII.
Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
Social Psychology
W March 18
W April 1
REVIEW FOR AP EXAM April 1st – May 4th
COURSE ORGANIZATION
This course meets every other day for approximately 90 minutes. We will examine 13 instructional units.
Nightly homework will be assigned to prepare students for classroom activities, which will include informal
discussions, formal seminars, organized debates, online discussions, and collaborative assignments. Notes
from class will be posted on the Internet and students are expected to review this information if they are absent
from class. Writing assignments will be required during each unit of study. Weekly quizzes and culminating
unit tests will also be assigned. Dates for major writing assignments, quizzes, and tests have been posted on
the class website for your review.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
 Three ring binder (for handouts and assignments not done in your notebook)
 8 ½ in. by 11 in. spiral-bound notebook with at least one hundred pages (or its equivalent in loose-leaf
paper (bound into your 3 ring)) (your choice)
 One pack of notebook paper
 Writing utensil of your choice
AP Psychology 2014-2015 Syllabus
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2 packs of 3x5 index cards
Barron's AP Psychology, 6th Edition by Barron’s
o
o
Can purchase off Amazon.com used for less than $15
Must have by October 1
ASSESSMENT & GRADE REPORTS
STUDENT EVALUATION: Students are given a variety of assignments, including tests, quizzes, and graded
homework assignments. All grades are computed on a point scale. If at any time during the advisory you
would like to know your grade or would like to know how to improve your grade, I will be available and willing to
discuss your status either before school, during lunch, or after school, but not during class time.
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Advisory report cards are issued according to district policy at the end of each nine-week marking
period.
Grade reports can be found at www.engrade.com
Interim progress reports will be sent home according to district policy every three weeks. Students will
be asked to have their parents review and sign the reports before they are returned to the teacher.
Parents are encouraged to contact the teacher if they have any questions or concerns.
AP WORKSHOPS: Will be required for all students whose course average is a “C” or below (79%).
AP Workshops will be held every Wednesday after school is Miss Salimbene’s room. As always, in the
event that you need extra help on an assignment, I am available before school, after school, or at
lunch.
Advisory grades will be comprised of the following items:
 Homework/Completion:
Chapter Masteries, QOD’s
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Formative Assessments:
re-assessable)
Application Assessments, Vocab Quizzes, Reading Quizzes (Quizzes are
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Summative Assessments:
Unit Examinations, test corrections, projects
Your Grade Will Consist Of …
 Projects (20%)
o Projects can be late up to a week after the due date. If accepted late, the project will be worth
50% of the grade the student would have received
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Course Assignments (30%)
o This includes BOTH works done at home and during school!
o You must keep in mind the value of course assignments. It is important to remember that the
value of these assignments decreases the later an assignment is completed.
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Quizzes (20%)
o Quizzes may be announced or unannounced! Make sure you complete your Cornell Notes
every night because you never know when you will have Cornell Notes Quizzes!
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Tests (30%)
AP QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Each day the students are expected to respond in writing to the Question of the Day posted on the board
PRIOR to the bell to begin class. Students will be dismissed by the teacher (not the bell) each day and are
expected to be focused and quiet in their seat until they are dismissed. This will be a portion of your Application
Assessment grade.
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TESTS:
All tests for this course model the AP Psychology Exam in format and timing, with multiple-choice questions
and a minimum of one free response question.
NOTECARDS:
Notecards are a very important tool to help you study the important vocabulary that will be covered in this AP
class. Every unit, you will be handed a “Unit Cover Sheet,” which will have your list of required vocabulary.
Each vocabulary card must have the definition of the term AND one real life application of the term to your life.
Front of the Card:
Back of Notecard:
Unit #
Notecard #
Vocabulary Term
Example:
Front of the card:
UNIT #1: History, Approaches, and Science
NOTECARD 1 OF 50
PSYCHOLOGY
Definition of the term (1 point)
Real World Application (2 points)
Back of the card:
DEFINITION: Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes
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behavior: outward or overt actions and reactions
•
mental processes: internal, covert activity of our minds
REAL WORLD APPLICATION: I am taking psychology in the amazing Miss
Salimbene’s class in order to better understand behavior and mental
processes of my friends and family.
LEARNING TARGETS:
Every unit, you will be handed a “Learning Target” Packet and will be due on the day of the unit test. If you
receive a 90% or above on your learning target packet, you will receive extra credit on your unit test!
RE-TESTING POLICY:
Students may retake a test for which they received a grade of less than 70% if the following provisions are met:
1. Students must make an appointment with Miss Salimbene to review their test
2. Students have five business days from the date of receiving their grade to schedule a conference for
retesting. A conference and retesting may not happen in the same day. Conference  study  retest!
3. If a student fails to show up for a conference or retest, the grade from the original test will remain
4. No grade higher than a 80% will be recorded for a retest
*Note* while a retest covers the same material as the original test, it is a completely different test. YOU WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETEST FOR CUMULATIVE SEMESTER EXAMS, MIDTERMS, OR FINAL EXAMS
EXTRA CREDIT:
Students may choose to do 1 Extra Credit assignment each 9 weeks period. The extra credit is detailed on
the class website with many videos, movies, & books to choose from. Please follow the directions specifically
on the site.
* Must relate content of movie/video/book back to the text book with page numbers and explanation.
* 20% points added to the lowest test score.
AP Psychology 2014-2015 Syllabus
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* No extra credit assignment will be accepted after the final day of the nine week period. There are NO
EXCEPTIONS to this policy.
* Extra Credit may be turned in at any time during the nine week period.
APPLICATION ASSESSMENTS and ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments are due ON TIME and COMPLETE. Application Assessments and Text Assessments will be
assigned a DUE DATE and a DEADLINE. If a student turns in an Application Assessment or Text Assessment
past the DUE DATE but prior to the DEADLINE (the first day of the next unit) he/she will be docked ten percent
on that particular assignment. Any student failing to turn in an assignment by the DEADLINE will receive a
ZERO for that assignment. It is the expectation that Advanced Placement students will complete EVERY
assignment and complete each assignment ON TIME!! For semester project the DUE DATE is the DEADLINE
and students will NOT be able to turn in the projects at a latter time for a reduced grade. If you are
experiencing a major problem meeting either a DUE DATE or a DEADLINE due to some extenuating
circumstances, see Ms. Salimbene prior to the assigned DUE DATE and an attempt will be made to
accommodate your circumstances if warranted.
ATTENDANCE: It is vitally important that you attend class every day. Your class performance will be
adversely effected by frequent absences. Each unit test will contain specific material covered on various days
of each unit. Often this material is not covered in the textbook. You will be responsible for all material covered
during each class period even if you are absent from a particular class. If you are absent on the day of a test,
you are to make up that test on the next day you return to school during the scheduled lunch period. Students
will not have the opportunity to make up a test once the blue books for that particular unit test have been
returned. If a student has been absent for an extended period of time, they will have as many days to
complete their work as they were absent. If a student needs to make up a test following an extended absence,
they will take an alternate version of the test. If a student is illegally absent, they will lose credit for any work
assigned while they were illegally absent. All students are solely responsible for getting any missed
assignments and making up all missed work from blendspace and engrade.
CLASS WEBSITE: www.blendspace.com
How To Sign Up:
1. Go to https://www.blendspace.com/register
2. Type in the class code:
xutn
TEXTBOOK WEBSITE:
How to Register:
1. Go to the following website:
http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/mypsychlab/students/get-registered/
2. Scroll down to the green button that says “OK! Register Now”
3. Your course ID is: salimbene00845
4. Your access code is: SSNAST-BLUFF-GRAND-SOUGH-HIGHS-TAXES
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PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is copying or imitating the language, ideas, or thoughts of another person and
passing them off as one’s own original work. Plagiarism and all other forms of cheating will not be tolerated.
Give credit where credit is due. When you write down someone’s exact words, make sure to put them in
quotation marks. When you borrow someone’s idea, identify the author or artist. Borrowing without
acknowledgement is plagiarism. It is stealing, it is dishonest, and you will receive an automatic score of “0
(zero)” on the assignment if you are caught plagiarizing or if you receive disciplinary action regarding cheating
or copying.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MISS SALIMBENE:
As A Teacher
 Preparation for class
 Timely feedback on tests and writing
assignments
 Academic and Intellectual Challenge
 Suggestions on how to make your work the
best it can be
As
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Clear expectations on assignments
No meaningless work
No free days (Mental or Physical)
Fairness in grading and discipline
A Person
Respect
High expectations
Willingness to listen
Extra-help before/after school/during lunch
Empathy with home problems
Encouragement to achieve in and out of class
Open-mind to different viewpoints
Willingness to laugh at self and enjoy our time
in class
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Dear Parents or Guardians:
By signing below, you are verifying that you have read the policies stated above. I am looking forward
to working with you this year to ensuring your student’s success in AP Psychology. Please initial below
to ensure show that you are clear on expected of my child to be successful in an AP course:
______________
______________
[parent initial]
I have signed the Phelps AP Contract and fully understand the
necessary dedication to be a successful AP student.
[scholar initial]
______________
[parent initial]
______________
[parent initial]
______________
[scholar initial]
______________
[scholar initial]
I have signed up for Reminder101
______________
[parent initial]
______________
[scholar initial]
I know that I should check grades on Engrade daily.
______________
______________
I understand that scholars are expected to complete assignments on
time. There is a 50% reduction in course assignment grade for late
assignments, unless students have an excused absence.
[parent initial]
______________
[scholar initial]
______________
[parent initial]
______________
[parent initial]
I understand that students need a binder, notebook, and index cards.
I understand that students must complete all missing assignments in
ten school days.
[scholar initial]
______________
[scholar initial]
I understand that the AP Psychology exam is Monday, May 4th at 12:00
CONTACT INFORMATION
STUDENT:
STUDENT NAME: _________________________________________________________________________
Student Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN:
____________________________
____________________________
(Parent/Guardian Name)
(Parent/Guardian Signature)
____________________________
____________________________
(Parent/Guardian Name)
(Parent/Guardian Signature)
________________
(Date)
________________
(Date)
Parent/Guardian Email Address: ___________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number #1: ___________________________________
Type: ___________
(For example, Mom’s Work, Cell, Home, etc.)
Parent/Guardian Phone Number #2: ___________________________________
Type: ___________
(For example, Mom’s Work, Cell, Home, etc.)
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