GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY SYLLABUS (PSYC-2010) on the WEB
Isabel A. Trombetti, Ph. D.
Associate Professor, Psychology
itrombetti@ccri.edu
401-333-7262
Lincoln Campus office: 1616
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will begin with a definition of psychology as a science, outlining the major
methods that psychologists employ to study behavior. You will then be introduced to
the diverse areas that psychologists investigate. These include: the brain and its many
functions, personality, development, learning, memory, intelligence, social influence,
consciousness, and psychological disorders.
Upon completing this course you should be familiar with the major theoretical
perspectives in psychology, the research methods used by psychologists, the
terminology and concepts of the field, and the major applications of this vast discipline.
You will also become a more critical consumer of psychological “findings” reported in
the media. A recurring theme is that many different forces influence behavior, including
biology, culture, gender, race, and social class.
REQUIRED TEXT: Discovering Psychology, Sixth edition
Hockenbury & Hockenbury, Worth Publishers, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781464141089
A few thoughts on Distance Learning

You need to have access to and proficiency in navigating the Web. Course
management, communication, and quizzes will take place through
BLACKBOARD. Specific information on Blackboard will be provided before
classes begin.
 A Distance Learning course is not right for everyone. You need to determine
if Distance Learning (DL) is for you.
o If this is your first DL course, you should visit the following website for
an orientation to the DL environment:
http://www.ccri.edu/distance/onlineorientation.html.
o Be sure to take the brief survey located there
http://www.ccri.edu/distance/self-assessment.html.
o There is also a Computer Skills Assessment that you can take:
http://www.ccri.edu/distance/computerskills.html.
 To be successful, you will need to be self-directed, self-motivated, and well
organized.
Course Requirements
4 EXAMS
These will be in multiple choice format. Expect approximately 50 questions on
each exam. You will do well on exams if you use the chapter learning objectives
as a study guide. These are available on Blackboard.
Make-Up exams will only be given if an emergency prevents you from taking the
exam when scheduled. You are allowed only one make-up exam. Please email
me in advance of an exam (or as soon as possible after the exam) if you need to
arrange a make-up exam.
Please note that you will need to come to the Flanagan
Campus for three proctored exams. If this is not
possible for you, you should drop this course.
20 QUIZZES
In Blackboard, each of the 10 chapters we will cover has two quizzes. You must
take these quizzes on or before the Sunday the assigned chapter is to be
completed. Please note that you will only be able to take each quiz twice. I
strongly suggest that you attempt quizzes after carefully reading each text
chapter. Then, re-read and review material that pertains to questions you got
wrong and re-take each quiz. Keep in mind that the primary purpose of the
quizzes is to provide you with feedback regarding your mastery of material. If you
take quizzes twice, the highest grade for each will be recorded. While I have
allowed maximum flexibility, the deadline for each quiz is non-negotiable. It
will not be extended under any circumstances. Therefore, it is important that you
try to stay caught up and take quizzes as soon as you feel prepared.
APPLICATION: short paper
In addition to exams, you will be required to write a 2-3 page paper.
Chapter one discusses the importance of critically evaluating media reports about
Psychology. For this assignment, you will choose a magazine or newspaper
article that relates to psychology and using the guidelines provided in this chapter
application, you will write a review of your article.
Your paper should have the following format:
1. Title of article, author, publication title and date
2. The psychological concept it deals with (e.g., memory, effect of
drugs on the nervous system, emotions, development, personality,
intelligence)
3. What you assume to have been the author’s intent in writing the
article
4. Summary of major points
5. Your evaluation of the article’s strengths and weaknesses. For
example, ask yourself: Are conclusions warranted? Is research or
theory misrepresented? Is enough information provided? Did the
author present a balanced view?
Papers must be typed and handed in—not emailed.
Articles must come from a newspaper or magazine and must be at least 500
words in length. Preferably they will be feature articles (i.e., advertised on the
front page). Scientific American articles are an excellent choice. I will provide
links to some of these.
The article must be stapled to the paper.
ASSIGNED READING AND IN-PERSON EXAM SCHEDULE
Week
Topic
1
Introduction and Research Methods
2
Introduction and Research Methods
Chapter
1
1
(Ch. 1 Quizzes due)
3
Neuroscience and Behavior
2
(Ch. 2 Quizzes due )
4
EXAM 1: Chapters 1 and 2 at 5:00 pm
Proctored at the Lincoln Campus
5
Consciousness and its variations
4
(Ch. 4 Quizzes due)
6
Learning (Ch. 5 Quizzes due)
5
7
Memory (Ch. 6 Quizzes due)
6
8
EXAM 2: Chapters 4-6 at 5:00 pm
Proctored at the Lincoln Campus
9
Thinking, Language, and Intelligence
7
(only intelligence will be on the next exam)
(Ch. 7 Quizzes due)
10
Lifespan Development ( Ch. 9 Quizzes due)
9
11
Personality (Ch. 10 Quizzes due)
10
12
EXAM 3: Chapters 7, 9, & 10 at 5:00pm
Proctored at the Lincoln Campus
PAPER DUE!
Bring it with you
13
Social Psychology (Ch. 11 Quizzes due)
11
14
Psychological Disorders
13
(Ch. 13 Quizzes due)
15
Exam 4 (on Chapters 11 and 13) will be
delivered through Blackboard.
GRADING SYSTEM
Final grades will be determined using the following point system:
Source
Points
On line Quizzes
100 points total (20 quizzes at 5 points each)
Exams 1 to 4
400 (100 points each)
Paper
95
Discussion Board (in Blackboard)
5
FINAL
GRADE
A
TOTAL
POINTS
NEEDED
555-600
AVERAGE
(based on
100)
93+
A-
537-554
90-92
B+
519-536
87-89
B
495-518
83-86
B-
477-494
80-82
C+
459-476
77-79
C
417-458
70-76
D+
399-416
67-69
D
359-398
60-66
F
0 - 358
0 - 59