Los Angeles Harbor College
Syllabus- Psychology 1
Section 4902 1st 8 weeks
Fall 2015 Session
September 1- October 24, 2015
Instructor:
Email:
Jontae' Watkins, MA
jwatkinslahc@gmail.com
Course Title:
Department:
Psychology 001
Psychology/Behavioral Sciences
Location:
LAHC –NEA: 119
Tuesday 7:55-10:00pm
Sat. are Mandatory: 9/12, 9/26,10/10,10/24-Finals
Textbook:
Office hrs:
Openstax College-Intro to Psychology
www.openstaxcollege.org/Student
6:30pm-7:50pm Tuesday
(before class) Pace office
Course Description
This course is a study of the process of a scientific survey of behavior exploring the
areas of personality, growth perception, motivation, learning, research methods and
abnormal behavior.
Student Learning Outcomes
(1) Identify and differentiate among the major historical theoretical perspectives
regarding the nature and origins of psychology.
(2) Evaluate empirical studies of psychological constructs using basic research
methods of design and APA guidelines.
(3) Develop insight into one’s own and others’ behavior and mental processes by
applying psychological principles, theory, and research to personal, sociocultural,
and organizational issues, including (but not limited to): age, race, ethnicity,
culture, gender, gender identity , socioeconomic status, disability, and sexual
orientation.
(4) Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to
psychological topics.
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Course Materials
Observations
Discussion groups
Current Events
Guest Speakers
Internet
Lectures
Exams
Films
Student Presentations
Course Requirements/Methods of Evaluation
Attendance/Participation
First Test
Term Paper
Final
Observations/Quizzes
30%
10%
25%
25%
10%
***ATTENDANCE: Excessive absenteeism and tardiness will result in 20 points off
final grade…. Late Arrival or early departure will constitute loss of class
participation points at the discretion of the instructor.
Talking excessively in class is rude and disrespectful to Instructor and fellow
classmates, this will result in loss of class participation points at the discretion of the
instructor.
Please silence your pagers and cell phones in class….. NO TEXTING IN CLASS!!
ABSOLUTELY NO: Cell Phones, IPADS, IPODS, EBOOKS, Recording
Equipment, Cameras, etc. Electronic Devices Allowed in class: UNLESS: Used
for/in class assignments only!!!
Disability Accommodation Statement: Students who may need a reasonable
accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact
DSPS Office or the Office of Special Services as soon as possible. All information
will remain confidential.
Financial Aid: All students seeking financial aid may go to the financial Aid office
during regular business hours.
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating on exams, claiming the written work of others as
your own (see next page) copying from any written internet source, including another
student ), and all forms of the deliberate or accidental plagiarism are not tolerated. Such
behavior puts the student at risk of failing the course and being subject to college
disciplinary actions. Written work with this evidence of plagiarism will be returned with
a grade of zero or an F. Note: It is required that deliberate acts of plagiarism be reported
to the Vice President of Student Services.
Los Angeles College District Academic Dishonesty Policy
9803.28 Academic Dishonesty. Violations of Academic Integrity include, but are not
limited to, the following actions: cheating on exam, plagiarism, working together on
an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students
should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or
allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing
one’s grade.
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism or academic dishonesty, whether accidental or deliberate,
is a serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The instructor has the option of
using classroom sanctions or elevating the case to campus level.
It is plagiarism to go to the Internet, find an article, copy it and drop it into word
processor or onto documents on your computer.
It is plagiarism to copy directly (verbatim) from a book, magazine, periodical or journal
without citing it as another’s work.
There are a few things that you can do that will help you to avoid being charged with
academic dishonesty. Please note the following:
1)
Anytime that you use the words or ideas of another person without giving credit,
it is considered plagiarism, WHETHER YOUR ACTIONS ARE
INTENTIONAL OR NOT!
2)
Differences between direct and indirect quotes:
a)
b)
Direct Quotes: Includes the exact wording from the source.
Indirect Quotes: Summarizes or paraphrases the content from the source.
3)
APA in-text requirements:
a)
b)
Direct Quote: Author’s last name, publication date, and page number.
Indirect Quote: Author’s last name, publication date.
4)
Punctuation requirements: ALL word-for-word quotations MUST be placed
in quotation marks.
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5) Exception to the rule: Common Knowledge – if the same information can be found
in three or more sources and those sources do not cite an earlier source, the information is
considered common knowledge. Also, commonly known facts (e.g., Washington, D.C.
is the capital of the U.S.) do not need a citation, even if you had to look them up.
6) When in doubt, CITE.
Grading
90-100= A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
Below 60=F
GRADING POINTS
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Item
Description
1
Content and Conceptualization
2
Logical organization of thoughts, ideas and structure
3
Spelling, Grammar, APA format, etc.
Total
Percents
60%
20%
20%
100%
ETUDES: Students will receive 5 points each for Etudes discussions (8) assignments
on Etudes which will be averaged with final grade. Each video/documentary is
worth 5 points and these points will be averaged into final grade as well. These
points (grades) will be averaged into your grades accrued from the assignments on
the syllabus. Please watch each video/documentary in its entirety and type a brief 1
page paragraph in Word about each video and answer the questions as it pertains
to the documentaries. Bring this assignment to class. DO NOT TYPE IN ETUDES.
22hrs online instruction in Etudes required to pass PACE classes in addition to
weekly weeknight and the designated Saturdays class.
Late assignments
LATE WORK:
Late work will not earn the full points possible. Students will
lose five points for each day the assignment is late. (This
includes weekends).
***All assignments are to be typed. Handwritten assignments will receive half
credit. Please type/double space papers with a 12 or 14 Font.
***All term papers will be typed in the American Psychological Association format.
We will discuss APA format in class as well as a website that may be helpful to you
in class.
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Weeks Of Study/Lecture-Course Overview
Videos/Discussion Questions in Etudes: See Etudes: Due each week
Please review: This Syllabus, Etudes/and the Announcements in Etudes daily to
stay current with ALL Assignments as well. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
COURSEWORK IF YOU WANT FULL CREDIT FOR THIS CLASS
There will be various internet assignments in class which will be assigned to
students for group activities and exercises.
These chapters are subject to change as we progress in the book!!
Weeks 1-3: Chapters 1-3: These sections include: Introduction to Psychology,
Part 2- Awareness, Part 3- Learning & Cognition, Part 4- The Life Span
Weeks 4-16: Chapters 4-8,
Chapters 9-17. Part 5- The Self, Part 6- Health and Adjustment, Part 7- The Social
Context.
Final Exam: A 25 question exam & a 10 page term paper in APA style.
Final Exam: October 24, 2015.
Scantron 882-E
Internet /Additional Resources
American Psychological Association
www.apa.org
Amoeba Web
www.sccu.edu/psychology/webhistory.html
Google Web
Psychweb
www.psych-web.com
American Psychological Association, Division 26
www.yorku.ca/dept/psych/orgs/apa26/
Neurosciences on the internet
www.neuroguide.com
Openstax College.org
Youtube.com
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In Class Calendar Assignments: Fall 2015: Section 4902
*****Note: There will be 22 additional internet hours in
Etudes/Assignments that are due according to the Etude calendar. This
will include films, quizzes, discussions, etc. You will need an etude email
in which to complete all etude work. The Etudes Help for Students is on
LAHC Home page at the bottom of page.
Assignment #1 for Chapter I: Assignment #1: Critical Thinking
Assignment: Type 1-2 page essay: What is Psychology? (In your own
words ). You may interview individuals in addition to your own definition
of the subject and include your findings in the essay. Do not use the book,
internet or a dictionary for this assignment. Due: 1-2 page(s) essay
typed/double spaced in APA format. 12 Font. Due: September 9,
2015.
***Weekly Reading: Students to read Chapters 1, 2, 3. **Please type
all papers in APA style and double space all typed assignments.
Discussion of chapters read will be in class. Reading is due by
September 26, 2015.
**Review key Terms/Figures in each chapter assigned.
**Groups and Group Activities and Exercises will be discussed in class
for Presentation.
Assignment #2 Internet Research Assignment: Surf the internet and
find these two articles, print and bring to class. Tuskegee Syphilis
Experiment & Brown vs. Board of Education. Please read the articles
and be prepared for class discussion. Due: September 29, 2015 . 5pts
will be given for these two articles. Minimum printed pages 3-5 for each
article. Bring these two articles to class. No points will be granted if
these two articles aren’t together. See: Etudes for the documentary:
Brown vs. Board Documentary: See date due in ETUDES for
completion of the viewing of this film.
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*** Weekly Reading: Chapters 10,11,15,16 These chapters will be
discussed in its entirety in class. Reading to be completed for these
Chapters October 10, 2015.
Assignment #3: Activity: Naturalistic Observation: For this
assignment you will go out into a space where people are congregating and
observe them for about 30 minutes. This type of research is called
Naturalistic Observation. The goal of naturalistic observation is that you
watch a naturally occurring behavior and do not change it in any way.
People should not know that they are being watched; otherwise, they
may not act naturally.
Bring a pad of paper with you and take notes about the things that you find
interesting. Try to be unobtrusive. Choose one particular behavior to
focus on and watch several people. Make sure that you focus on one
behavior to watch and take notes on that behavior. Try to be objective.
Note the behavior but try not to interpret it.
Once you have completed your observations, attempt to form a theory about
human behavior based on the observations that you made. Comment on
any generalities/commonalities based on what you observed? Did you
see similarities in people’s behaviors? Formalize a theory (one of the
schools of thought that we studied earlier in the session) 1-2 Pages
double spaced in APA format. Due: October 13, 2015.
***Weekly Reading: Chapters 12, 13, 14. These chapters will be
discussed in their entirety in class. Reading to be completed by October
20, 2015.
Assignment #4: Part 1 of Final: Professor will provide a
psychological article in which you will briefly discuss and critique. We
will discuss this further in class. APA style required: Part 2: Final
Exam: A 25 question multiple choice exam on selected chapters of the
book. Due: October 24, 2015. Scantron 882-E.
Have a Great Fall Semester!!!!
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