CABRILLO COLLEGE PSYCH 1: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Spring 2013 Monday and Wednesday 2:15-3:35pm Aptos 456
Instructor: Charlotte Nolan-Reyes
Offices & Hours: 457A Monday 1:05-2:05 pm, Tuesday 5:00-5:50, Wed 3:45-4:15 pm
Watsonville A150 Wednesday 5-5:50pm
E-mail: chreyes@cabrillo.edu
Mailbox: Room 420 HASS Division Office (hours M-F 8:00am-5:00pm)
Phone Number: Waiting for a new extension so email is best!
REQUIRED TEXT: Caccioppo & Freberg (2013). Discovering Psychology (1st ed.) The
textbook is available at the bookstore for purchase or rental. Copies of the text are on
reserve at the Cabrillo College Library. The publisher has sales, rentals, and single echapters for sale.
(http://www.cengage.com/search/productOverview.do?N=16&Ntk=P_EPI&Ntt=14838
037881075934789580677357114591404)
Instructor Website: http://www.cabrillo.edu/~creyes/classes/classes.html
Contains Basic course information (e.g., syllabus, lecture notes/outlines).
Welcome to Introductory General Psychology! The main purpose of this course
is to introduce general concepts and theories from Psychology. We will explore many
different approaches to the study of behavior and mental processes and examine past
and current research in the field. Another important goal is to critically evaluate the
many “psychological claims” we hear in the media. Finally, Psychology is a discipline
that covers many controversial and sensitive topics that may challenge some of your
deeply held beliefs. In a college setting, it is essential that we approach the topics with
appropriate scientific rigor and always treat each other with respect.
Student learning outcomes: 1) Compare and contrast the effects of biological,
environmental, and other variables on behavior. 2) Analyze and evaluate theories of
mental processes.
COUNSELING: Got a problem? Need to talk? Get in touch with me! When you have a
question or concern, please don't hesitate to come to my office or set up an
appointment. In addition, Personal, Academic, and Financial Counseling are
available through Health Services at the Aptos Campus in Room 912 (next to
2
cafeteria), Ph#479-6435 or at the Watsonville Student Resource Center (SRC) on
the first floor in room 4320, Ph#786-4738.These people are great!
ACCOMODATIONS: Students with disabilities are encouraged to explain their needs
and present accommodation forms to me. Veterans may qualify for accommodations.
Wounded Warriors may have injuries and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
entitles the use of accommodations to ensure equal opportunity (for students with
verified disabilities). For more information call the Learning Skills Office (Room 1073,
Ph#479-6220) or Disabled Student Services (Room 810, Ph#479-6379) or go to the
Watsonville Student Resource Center (SRC) on the first floor of Cabrillo’s Watsonville
Campus in room 4320.
ADD/DROP DATES:
February 23- Last day to add or drop with refund
February 24- Last day to drop yourself without a “W” appearing on your record
May 11th- Last day to drop with a “W” grade on your permanent transcript.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR: It is important to attend every class
meeting. You can miss one class no questions asked. On your second absence you
can be dropped from the class at the instructor's discretion. However, DO
NOT ASSUME you will be dropped and remember to drop yourself via HawkTalk or
WebAdvisor if you wish to withdraw from the course. It is the student’s responsibility to
come to class on time, having completed the assigned readings, and prepared to
participate in activities and discussions. If a student misses class, it is her/his
responsibility to get the missed notes/activities from a classmate and come to the
instructor’s office hours if there are any questions.
A good atmosphere is important for learning. Please turn off the sound on cell phones
during class. Students walking in late to class or leaving early disrupt the whole class.
Chatting, sending text messages, playing games, listening to music, and eating noisily
during lecture are also distracting. If anyone is speaking (either the instructor or
another student) you should be listening. Please show respect for everyone in OUR
CLASS and they will be more likely show respect for you.
3
Cheating and plagiarism are unpleasant topics to discuss, but unfortunately, they do
occur. The Student Rights and Responsibilities at Cabrillo College manual
clearly states that cheating or plagiarism is “prohibited conduct”.
During exams, all notes, books, etc. are to be put away. There will be no talking and no
wandering eyes. It is the student’s responsibility to make it abundantly clear that s/he is
not cheating. Any person caught cheating will receive a 0 on the exam and a possible F
in the course with the offense reported to the dean.
While students are encouraged to work together and discuss assignments, your papers
must be your own work. Papers that are too similar to each other and papers that too
closely resemble the wording in the textbook or other sources will receive a 0.
STUDY GROUPS: Students should form study groups of 3-5 members and meet at
least once a week for 1-2 hours to review and discuss class material. All the research,
and my observations, confirm that students who do this, do MUCH better in the course.
On average, you should spend about 6 HOURS per week outside of class
reading and studying for PSYCH 1.
READING: You should do the readings before the class for which they are assigned.
Not all of the assigned material in the textbook will be covered in class lectures, videos ,
activities and discussions, but you are nonetheless responsible for reading it!
EXAMS: There will be 4 regular exams throughout the course, 3 multiple-choice exams
and exam 4 will be a take-home/short answer/short essay . The final will be 10 multiple
choice questions and will cover material from the 4 previous exams as well as any final
chapters you were not yet tested on. Bring a blue Apperson form (not a green Scantron),
available at the bookstore, and two #2 pencils to each exam. I will NOT have these for
you. You need 4 total Appersons total for the entire course but please keep them flat,
straight, and in good condition or they will not go easily into the grading machine. I may
deduct 2 points as my discretion if I must hand grade your exam due to an Apperson in
poor condition or of your bubbles are filled incompletely or sloppily and stray marks are
not fully erased.
Each of the 3 multiple choice exams will be non-cumulative and have 50 items, each
worth 1 point. The final exam will be cumulative and have 100 items, each worth 1 point
4
(approximately 50 based on newer material and 50 based on past material). NO early or
make-up exams will be given. Instead of make-ups, you are allowed to miss one of the
regular exams for any reason (e.g., illness, emergency, work or family obligation,
vacation). If you do take all 4 regular exams at the regularly scheduled times, your
lowest score from these 4 exams will be dropped at the end of the semester. In other
words, your scores from 3 of the 4 regular exams count toward your semester grade. Do
not miss the final exam, as that final exam score cannot be dropped.
The instructor will have test scores ready for you 1-2 class meetings following each of the
regular exams. For each test, blue Apperson forms will be returned and correct item
responses will be gone over in class. However, in order to reduce incidents of cheating,
students are not allowed to keep test booklets and these must be returned for your grade
to be recorded. You are welcome to come to office hours to look at exams you have
taken. As the student, please take responsibility for being aware of your own progress in
the class (for example how to compute and predict your own current grade) and meet
with the instructor if you have any questions at all.
RESEARCH: It is requested that you participate in 1/2 hour of psychological
research online at http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html. This experience
is intended to give you a better understanding of the scientific basis of the material
covered in this course. If you do not wish to do this, contact me by September 30 and
another assignment will be arranged. April 24th worth 15 pts, bring evidence of
your participation (thank you page or provide a link) and a 1 page write-up
(double space 12 pt font) explaining what study you did, what was involved,
what you learned, and
PAPER: A short paper, worth 25 points, is required. Late papers will have 2 points
deducted for each day late, including weekend days. Late papers may be emailed to
serve as a “time stamp” but a hard copy must be brought to the next class.
COURSE GRADING: Your final course grade will be based on your earned percentage
of 335 points on 3 of 4 exams (50 points each possible), 3 Quizzes (15 points each
possible) the paper (25 points possible), research participation (15 points) and the final
exam (100 points possible), plus any bonus points (i.e., film extra credit) you may have
earned. Letter grades will be assigned on the following basis: 90% (270 points) = A;
80% (240 points) = B; 70% ( 210 points) = C; 60% (180 points) = D; below 60% = F.
5
From time to time, your attendance as participation in class is noted and taken into
account for “VERY borderline” grading situations.
Note: Instructors are forbidden from changing grades unless there has been a
documented error. Please do not ask me to do what cannot be done.
REQUIRED PAPER: Psychology in the News (25 points)
Due May 22nd!
I sincerely hope that at after you complete this course you'll continue to think about
psychology and apply the ideas you learn to understanding what’s going on in the world;
using your best critical thinking. The purpose of this exercise is to find a NEWSPAPER
article (not an article from a magazine, internet publication, or Psychology Today) that
illustrates some psychological concepts. Your assignment is to prepare one recent
newspaper clipping (newspaper feature article or editorial) from a mainstream
newspaper (e.g., San Jose Mercury, Santa Cruz Sentinel, San Francisco Chronicle, New
York Times; Los Angeles Times(it can be printed off the Web) since
September 2012.
On 2-3 typewritten pages (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-font):
1. Identify the source and date of the article.
2. Summarize (briefly) the newspaper article.
3. Write a description or explanation of how the clipping relates to a theory, concept, or
research finding presented in class or in the textbook. Be sure to include a summary of
the material from the lecture or the book and make sure the relevance is clear.
4. Discuss specific ways the newspaper article could have been improved or was
misleading. For example, did you find information in the textbook that contradicted the
newspaper article or would have helped explain the topic more clearly? If you think the
newspaper article did a good job of reporting on its topic, explain fully why you think so
and support your argument with examples.
5. Include the newspaper article (e.g., taped to a piece of paper if it is cut out from the
newspaper). Make sure your assignment is fastened together with a staple,
not a paper clip and especially not a “dog ear”.
EXTRA CREDIT: There are 3 post-exam film opportunities (+ 5 pts possible) that can
be watched at our scheduled viewing time only. Other opportunities to add a few "bonus
points" to your overall score MAY be offered periodically during class. It is your
responsibility to hear these opportunities, write them down, and take the initiative on
6
writing 1-2 pages (double spaced,12 pt font, 1 inch margins) about them following the
guidelines of the film responses, but slightly longer describing your experience. These
will not be repeated or explained and are due anytime before the start of the Final Exam.
FILM RESPONSES: (+5 points possible) Due at the end of each Film
The purpose of these short film responses is to take what you are learning in psychology
class and compare it to the film/documentary. Summarize the film very briefly
(beginning, middle, end). Then, utilizing at least one psychological theory/concept or
one research finding from the material you have just been tested on compare and
contrast these concepts/findings, and describe what you learned.
On ½ (one-half) handwritten page:
1. Name and describe at least one psychological theory or concept from the film
(The film described the theory of ___X which is similar to …) and compare to a concept
or theory from the last material tested (“…the concept of cognitive dissonance describes
that way in which people tend to reconcile conflicting evidence and beliefs about
themselves by…” ) How is it described similarly? How is it described differently? What
did you learn? Be Specific!
2. OR, Name and describe at least one research finding (“The film showed a study in
which _____occurred. This is similar to….) and compare to a research finding from the
last material tested (“---a study discussed in lecture found that being late causes people
to be less likely to help a stranger in distress than people who were late or on time”).
How does it add to the lecture/text finding? How does it contradict or fail to support a
finding from text/lecture? What did you learn? Be Specific!
WEEK/DATE
TOPIC(s)
READINGS
1 February 11
What is Psychology?
Chapter 1
1 February 13
Research Methods/Statistics
Chapter 2
2- February 18
HOLIDAY
No Class
2- February 20
Research Methods cont…
Nature/Nurture
Chapter 3
7
3- February 25
Quiz 1; 15 Questions
CH 1 & 2 & Syllabus
3- February 27
Genes, Environ, & The Brain
Chapter 3 & 4
4 – March 4th
Exam 1
Chapters 1,2, 3, & 4
4 – March 6th
Exam 1 Film
+ 5pts possible!
5 –March 11th
Brain (triune, subcortical,
Chapter 4
anxiety)
5 –March 13th
Sensation & Perception
Chapter 5 (Pain)
6-March 18th
Sensation & Perception
Chapter 5 (Vision)
Sensation & Perception
Chapter 5 (Body, Pain etc)
7-March 25th
Quiz 2; 15 questions
Chapter 4(part) &
5(part)
7-March 27th
Consciousness
Chapter 6
8-April 1 and April 3
SPRING BREAK
No CLASS
6-March 20th
8
9-April 8th
Review
Chapt 4 & 5 & 6
9-April 10th
Emotion
Chapter 7 pp 320-343
10-April 15th
Test 2; start EC film
Chapter 4, 5 6, 7 (320343)
10-April 17th
+5 pts possible
Test 2 Film
11-April 22nd
Learning & Emotion and
Chapt 7 no sex or eating
Motivation
Chapter 8
11-April 24th
*Research Parti due!
Chapt 7 no sex or eating
Chapter 8
12-April 29th
Quiz 3; 15 questions
Memory
Chapter 7 & 8
Chapt 9
12-May 1st
Thinking
Chapter 10
13-May 6th
Exam 3
Chapter 7
8, 9, 10
13-May 8th
Exam 3 Film
+5 pts possible
14-May 13th
Personality & Development
Chapter 11 & 12
14-May 15th
Social Connecti0n
Chapter 13, Chapt 7
sexuality
15-May 20th
Dysfunctions & Therapy
Chapter 14 & 15
15-May 22nd
Therapy /News Paper Due!
Chapter 15
16-May 27th
HOLIDAY
NO CLASS
16-May 29th
LAST CLASS! Exam 4
DUE! Health & Wellness
Chapter 16 (and 15)
June 5th
FINAL EXAM 1-3:50pm
CUMULATIVE 100
MC Questions 60 old; 40
new (Exam 4)