1st
AP Psychology
Quarter Syllabus, 2013
Jerome Cannon
Course Overview
Advanced Placement Psychology is designed to introduce students to the systematic and
scientific study of human development, behavior, learning, motivation, and personality. Students
are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with psychology.
They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The
study of psychology enables students to recognize and cope with uncertainty and ambiguity in
human behavior.
Text: Psychology, by David Myers
Expectations:
1. Assigned nightly reading in the text is critical for success in this course. Read critically for
content understanding and stay on pace with our weekly reading schedule posted on my
website. Pop quizzes are always a possibility.
2. Complete all written assignments in a thorough, critical manner. Labs and a variety of other
activities will be frequently graded and will comprise 20% of your quarter average. Take
advantage of these opportunities!
3. Contribute to class discussions and ask questions for more insightful understanding. The course
will be much more rewarding if you are an active participant.
4. Complete the 1st quarter research project. An early start will pay huge dividends in managing
both your stress and success.
AP Course Demands
It should be understood that the expectations of this class are consistent with those of any advanced
placement course. Students should expect a workload similar to what they would experience at the
collegiate level. This includes extensive reading, note taking, discussion and research.
AP Exam
One of our most important objectives during the course of the year is to prepare for the AP Exam. All
students enrolled in AP classes are required to take the AP Exam in order to receive AP credit. A passing
score on this test will result in college credit for an introductory psychology course. The cost of the
exam is approximately $86. However, students who take more than three AP Exams will have their fees
for those additional exams paid for by the school district. Any student who opts not to take the AP Exam
will receive honors credit for the course
First Quarter Objectives
The first quarter curriculum will be comprised of the first four chapters in the text. The primary
objective is to begin a study of general topical areas in the field of psychology as well as learning the
foundations of psychological research.
Specific Areas of Study
 Chapter 1: The foundations of research in Psychology (scientific method, correlation methods,
experimentation, statistical analysis)
 Chapter 2: Neuroscience and Behavior (Neural communication, nervous system, Endocrine
System, Brain)
 Chapter 3: Nature, Nurture and Human Diversity (behavior genetics, human nature, human
nurture, gender development)
 Chapter 4: Developmental Psychology (prenatal and newborn, infancy and childhood,
adolescence, adulthood)
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
100-93
85-92
84-77
76-70
69-0
1st Quarter Grading
Tests
Daily Assignments
Research project
60% (4 tests at 15% each)
20% (labs, activities, etc.)
20%
Research Project
The first quarter research project will be an applied research effort involving Developmental
Psychology. Project options will include role play, volunteer work, and interviews. The assignment
will be given during the first two weeks of class and will be due a week before the end of the first
quarter.
2nd
AP Psychology
Quarter Syllabus, 2013
Jerome Cannon
General Outline:
This quarter will include some intriguing topics of study in psychology including sleep and dream
activity and others that afford more practical application such as memory, language tools and learning
strategies. Previous first quarter studies of the brain and developmental issues will play a significant
role in our exploration of these new topics.
Specific Areas of Study:
 Chapter 5 and 6 Sensation and Perception (Biology of sensory organs, brain organizational cues)
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Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Memory 9
Chapter 10
Grading
Chapter Tests
Research Project
Daily Assignments
States of Consciousness (Sleep, Dreams, Hypnosis, Drug States)
Learning (Classical and Operant Conditioning)
(Memory (Memory Strategies, Use of Mnemonic Devices)
Thinking and Language (Problem Solving and Language Terms)
60% (5 tests at 12% each)
20%
20%
Semester Grades
Your semester grade, which is the permanent grade recorded on your transcript, will be based on the
following percentages:
 First Quarter
40%
 Second Quarter
40%
 Semester Exam
20%
Research Project
The research project for this quarter will be an applied project. This will be a “hands on” experiment
involving some type of self-assessment, interview, role play, or other options of direct contact where
you are the experimenter. You may choose either a written paper or an oral presentation to express
your work. The project will be assigned within the next several days and will be due a week before the
end of the second quarter.
3rd
AP Psychology
Quarter Syllabus 2013
Jerome Cannon
General Outline:
The third quarter presents some fascinating and more sophisticated topics of study including human
motivation, emotions, and Abnormal Psychology. Our previous studies during the course of the year will
provide an important foundation for the exploration of these topics. In Abnormal Psychology, we will
investigate its causes, symptoms, and possible treatments. We will also consider theories of personality
as potential explanations for mental illness and will use these theories as a basis for possible treatment
designs. This quarter will provide a window to the many useful applications of psychology in the
business world, clinical settings, and the academic realm.
Specific Areas of Study
Chapter 12 and 13
Motivation and Emotions
These chapters will focus on how human behavior is affected by biological and emotional factors. These
chapters will be presented together since motivational factors have a direct impact on our emotions as
well as our behaviors. Specific topics of study will include eating disorders, sexual behavior, the
biological basis for human drives, and practical applications for dealing with problematic emotions.
 Chapter 14
Theories of Personality
This chapter will discuss past and present theories about personality development. Four major
perspectives will be considered: the psychoanalytic approach, the trait perspective, the humanistic
model, and the socio-cultural approach. Included will be discussions concerning the controversial
theories of Sigmund Freud as well as modern perspectives based on the ideas of Carl Rogers, Gordon
Allport, Abraham Maslow and Albert Bandura. Personality evaluation and testing will also be studied in
this chapter, with each student having the opportunity to take the Myers Briggs personality inventory, a
popular test for evaluating personality traits for practical applications.
 Chapter 15
Abnormal Psychology
The focus of this chapter is mental illness and abnormal behaviors. Discussions will center around
neurotic and psychotic behaviors and specific classifications of mental illness. Specific cases of various
forms of mental illness will be studied to illustrate certain characteristics of each type of diagnosis.
Discussions will also explore the role of biology and brain chemistry in affecting these disorders.
 Chapters 16 and 17
Therapy Strategies for Mental Illness and Stress Management
Our study will be based on treatment designs for the mental illnesses discussed in chapter 15. Included
will be drug therapies and specific counseling therapies. Chapter 17 will focus on the conditions of
stress and anxiety and evaluate the physical and emotional problems that result from daily and
prolonged stress reactions.
Grading
Tests
Research project
Daily Assignments
Research Project
60% (4 tests as structured above at 15% each)
20%
20%
This research project will be a cooperative assignment consisting of teams of three. The focus will be
the major topics of chapter 15 and 16 and will involve a role play dialogue between a patient diagnosed
with a specific mental illness and a therapist using a prescribed therapy design. The third student in the
team will present background information on the patient and a summary of the therapy design. Some
class time has been reserved for the organization and planning of your work.
4th
AP Psychology
Quarter Syllabus, 2013
Jerome Cannon
General Outline
The fourth quarter will entail a study of Social Psychology (Chapter 18)and a comprehensive review for
the AP exam.
Specific Areas of Study
Chapter 18
Social Psychology (Social Thinking, Social Influence, Social Relations)
AP Exam Review
A significant part of the 4th quarter will be spent in preparation for the AP exam. This will be done
through a variety of exercises including 10 review quizzes, a practice AP exam, and a 4th quarter project.
Keep in mind that the AP exam is constructed on a more general basis concerning terms and issues and
thus our review will be designed accordingly.
Review Quizzes
Each of the 10 review quizzes will be preceded by an in-depth class review. Each quiz will be taken with
a partner to foster peer discussion, teaching and ultimately, more effective review. Please note that
make-ups for any missed quiz must be done in 3 days and will be taken individually. Failure to comply
will result in a 0. At least one quiz will be designed to practice the writing portion of the AP exam and
the others will consist of objective (multiple-choice) questions. Below is a list of the quizzes and their
respective units of study.
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Quiz 1 The Experimental Method and Neurobiology (Chapters 1 and 2)
Quiz 2 Developmental Psychology (Chapters 3 and 4)
Quiz 3 Sensation and Perception (Chapters 5 and 6)
Quiz 4 States of Consciousness and Learning (Chapters 7 and 8)
Quiz 5 The Cognition chapters- Memory, Language, Intelligence (Chapters 9,10,11)
Quiz 6 Motivation and Emotions (Chapters 12 and 13)
Quiz 7 Psychological Perspectives and Mental Illness (Chapters 14 and 15)
Quiz 8 Therapies and Stress Management (chapters 16 and 17)
Quiz 9 Social Psychology (Chapter 18)
Quiz 10 Prior AP Exam Essay Question
AP Practice Exam
Two prior AP Exams (1994 and 1999) have been released and may be taken as practice exams. We will
take at least one of these in class this quarter. This exam will be graded in a manner that reflects the AP
assessment (1-5) but will not count towards your 4th quarter average. This exercise should prove helpful
in preparing you for the exam and building a comfort zone in what to expect and how to study.
Grading
Tests
60% (Chapter 18 at 10%, review quizzes at 50%- 10 at 5% each)
4th Qtr Project 20%
Final Exam
20%
4th Quarter Project
The 4th quarter project will be designed to review key elements of the course. Options will include a
debate or other creative venues to review critical issues in Psychology. More information will be
forthcoming this week.
Final Exam
There will be senior exemptions for the final exam subject to our school board policy. This exam will be
taken after the AP exam and will take place during the regular exam schedule.