Summer Assignment
Guidelines :
In order to get a jump start on the AP Psychology curriculum, each student is expected to read and take notes on the Prologue of the AP Psychology textbook (pages 1 - 30). This section of the text defines psychology, introduces students to the historical development of the field of psychology and begins a discussion of research strategies used in the field of psychology. Several psychologists and psychological perspectives are introduced. It is important that you thoroughly read this section to begin building background knowledge for the course.
After reading and taking notes choose a scandalous celebrity and explain his or her behavior from each of the psychological perspectives found on page 11 of the textbook. Think of one particularly scandalous behavior to analyze. Be sure to apply your knowledge of the perspectives and to clarify how each perspective would explain this behavior as you complete the attached worksheet.
Carefully read the section on Naturalistic Observation found on pages 29-30 of your textbook. Conduct your own naturalistic observation on a person of your choosing. Fill in the accompanying worksheet over the course of the observation. Each observation should last approximately 30 minutes and take place over 3 to 4 days – the days do not necessarily need to be consecutive. Be sure to choose a person that you will see at least 3 to 4 days this summer!
After completing all observations you will compose an Informational / Explanatory writing assignment on the following question:
After reading the historical development of psychology and conducting a naturalistic observation, write an essay that explains your subject’s behavior from two of the psychological perspectives. Be sure to use clear comparative language and support your discussion with evidence from the textbook.
Essay Format :
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4 – 6 pages
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Double-spaced
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Times New Roman, 12 pt. font
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1 inch margins
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Use comparative language throughout the paper
Refer to the attached rubric to help guide your writing.
Due Date and Grades :
ALL SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
This includes the celebrity analysis and the informational writing assignment, as well as the observational worksheets attached. The celebrity analysis is worth 2 formative grades, and the informational writing assignment is worth 2 summative grades. Assignments turned in late will be penalized 10% for each day it is late.
***THE BOOKS ASSIGNED TO YOU FOR THE SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE YOURS
FOR THE YEAR. PLEASE HAVE THEM COVERED BY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.***
If you have any questions regarding the assignment at any point, please do not hesitate to contact your teacher via email at cferentz@ccps.org. Have a great summer!
Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
1 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Celebrity Analysis
Name: _______________________________________ Date: _________________
Directions: After reading and taking notes choose a scandalous celebrity and explain his or her behavior from each of the psychological perspectives found on page 11 of the textbook. Think of one particularly scandalous behavior to analyze. Be sure to apply your knowledge of the perspectives and to clarify how each perspective would explain this behavior as you complete the worksheet. Write a complete paragraph for each perspective.
Celebrity Name: _______________________________________________________________
Behavior: _____________________________________________________________________
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Neuroscience - _________________________________________________________________
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Evolutionary - _________________________________________________________________
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Behavior genetics - _____________________________________________________________
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Psychodynamic _______________________________________________________________
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Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
2 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Behavioral - ___________________________________________________________________
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Cognitive - ____________________________________________________________________
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Social-cultural - _______________________________________________________________
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Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
3 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Naturalistic Observation
Name: _______________________________________ Date: __________________
Directions: Carefully read the section on Naturalistic Observation found on pages 29-30 of your textbook. Conduct your own naturalistic observation on a person of your choosing. Fill in the worksheet over the course of the observation. Each observation should last approximately 30 minutes and take place over 3 to 4 days – the days do not necessarily need to be consecutive. Be sure to choose a person that you will see at least 3 to 4 days this summer! During the observations, remember, you are not to interact with the subject. Keep in mind the ethics of research while completing this assignment.
Day 1
Start time: _______________________ End time: _______________________
Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
4 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Day 2
Start time: _______________________ End time: _______________________
Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
5 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Day 3
Start time: _______________________ End time: _______________________
Cecil County Public Schools
2013 – 2014
6 AP Psychology
Summer Assignment

Scoring
Elements
Focus
Controlling
Idea
Reading/
Research
Novice
1
Apprentice Practitioner
2 3
Attempts to address prompt, but lacks focus or is off-task.
Attempts to establish a controlling idea, but lacks a clear purpose.
Addresses prompt appropriately, but with a weak or uneven focus.
Establishes a controlling idea with a general purpose.
Addresses prompt appropriately and maintains a clear, steady focus.
Establishes a controlling idea with a clear purpose maintained throughout the response.
Expert
4
Addresses all aspects of prompt appropriately and maintains a strongly developed focus.
Establishes a strong controlling idea with a clear purpose maintained throughout the response.
Attempts to present information in response to the prompt, but lacks connections or relevance to the purpose of the prompt. (L2)
Does not address the credibility of sources as prompted.
Presents information from reading materials relevant to the purpose of the prompt with minor lapses in accuracy or completeness. (L2)
Begins to address the credibility of sources when prompted.
Presents information from reading materials relevant to the prompt with accuracy and sufficient detail. (L2)
Addresses the credibility of sources when prompted.
Accurately presents information relevant to all parts of the prompt with effective selection of sources and details from reading materials. (L2) Addresses the credibility of sources and identifies salient sources when prompted.
Development
Attempts to provide details in response to the prompt, including retelling, but lacks sufficient development or relevancy. (L2)
Implication is missing, irrelevant, illogical. (L3) Gap/ unanswered question is missing or irrelevant.
Organization
Attempts to organize ideas, but lacks control of structure.
Presents appropriate details to support the focus and controlling idea. (L2) Briefly notes a relevant implication or (L3) a relevant gap/ unanswered question.
Uses an appropriate organizational structure to address the specific requirements of the prompt, with some lapses in coherence or awkward use of the organizational structure
Presents appropriate and sufficient details to support the focus and controlling idea. ( L2) Explains relevant and plausible implications, and (L3) a relevant gap/ unanswered question.
Presents thorough and detailed information to strongly support the focus and controlling idea. (L2) Thoroughly discusses relevant and salient implications or consequences, and (L3) one or more significant gaps/ unanswered questions.
Maintains an appropriate organizational structure to address the specific requirements of the prompt.
Maintains an organizational structure that intentionally and effectively enhances the presentation of information as required by the specific prompt.
Conventions
Attempts to demonstrate standard
English conventions, but lacks cohesion and control of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Sources are used without citation.
Content
Understanding
Attempts to include disciplinary content in explanations, but understanding of content is weak; content is irrelevant, inappropriate, or inaccurate.
Demonstrates an uneven command of standard English conventions and cohesion. Uses language and tone with some inaccurate, inappropriate, or uneven features.
Inconsistently cites sources.
Briefly notes disciplinary content relevant to the prompt; shows basic or uneven understanding of content; minor errors in explanation.
Template Task Collection 1 | © Literacy Design Collaborative, November 2011
Demonstrates a command of standard
English conventions and cohesion, with few errors. Response includes language and tone appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific requirements of the prompt. Cites sources using an appropriate format with only minor errors.
Demonstrates and maintains a welldeveloped command of standard English conventions and cohesion, with few errors. Response includes language and tone consistently appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific requirements of the prompt. Consistently cites sources using an appropriate format.
Accurately presents disciplinary content relevant to the prompt with sufficient explanations that demonstrate understanding.
Integrates relevant and accurate disciplinary content with thorough explanations that demonstrate in-depth understanding.