Room: Psychology Building room 0010
Hours: 12:00 - 2:18 PM
Instructor: Alison Luby
Email: luby.6@osu.edu
Office: 133 Lazenby Hall; (614) 292-0345
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30 – 3:30 PM in PS 106 & by appointment
Course Objectives
In this course we will explore behavior and cognitive processes. In doing so, we will examine several diverse topics including brain physiology, child development, memory, psychoactive drugs, and mental health. At the end of this course, you will be able to identify various brain structures and their basic functions, and you will understand the core premises of the science of behavior. In addition, I hope to help you to improve your critical thinking skills and insights into human and non-human animal behavior, and help you to increase your confidence as consumers of information.
Required Text
Psychology, Special OSU edition (2006). Bernstein, Penner, Clarke-Stewart, and Roy.
Houghton Mifflin Company. Available at OSU bookstore.
A Psych 100 test packet is also available at the OSU bookstore and other bookstores on High
Street. It is not required, but is highly recommended because it has copies of prior years ’ exams, which should give you a pretty good idea of the format of this year’s exams.
Grading
Grading will be based on a preset grading scale, detailed on page one of the General
Psychology 100 syllabus. Letter grades will be based on the number of points you receive out of 210 on all exams, quizzes, and research experience (REP) points.
Quizzes
There will be 3 in-class quizzes this quarter. These quizzes are designed to help you identify weaknesses in your understanding of the material that is most likely to appear on the exams.
Quizzes are worth 8 points each and will be made up of a variety of question types, including short answer. Points are awarded based on total number of correct answers:
Percent Correct on Quiz
(student’s raw score)
Quiz Points Allocated on Carmen
90% and above
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
Less than 20%
4
3
2
1
0
8
7
6
5

Examinations
Details about the exams are listed on the General Psychology 100 syllabus. Exam 1 will consist of 45 multiple choice questions worth 1 point each. Material for the exams will be drawn from the textbook, although material presented in class is designed help you better understand concepts, and examples given in class may appear in exam questions as well. Exam 2 will consist of 55 multiple questions, each worth one point. These questions will cover material presented since exam 1 (50 questions), in addition to 5 commonly-missed questions from Exam
1. The Final exam will consist of 65 multiple choice questions: 55 questions will cover material presented since Exam 2, and the other 10 questions will cover commonly-missed questions from Exams 1 & 2.
Research Experience
A portion of your grade (10%) is based on your participation in research here at Ohio State.
OSU is a leading international research institution, so in addition to reading about research, you have the opportunity to be part of it too and receive credit for your time. Alternatively, you may write research-based papers for the same credit. See REP syllabus for details.
Important dates
Points Possible Your Score Date
04/04/08
Choose Experiment vs. Paper Option and
Prescreening Due!
04/10/08 Quiz 1 8
04/17/08 Exam 1 45
05/01/08 Quiz 2
05/08/08 Exam 2
05/22/08 Quiz 3
05/28/08 REP: Research Experience – 7 hours
05/28/08 REP: Experiment Extra Credit (optional)
05/22/08 Reflection Paper (optional)
06/03/08 Final Exam (5:30-7:18 pm / location TBA)
8
55
8
21
(3)
(3)
65
Total 210
Late Assignments/Missed Exams
If you must miss a quiz or exam for a legitimate reason (e.g. hospitalization, car accident, OSU sports, in jail, etc.) with appropriate legal documentation, you need to contact the instructor before the next class meeting to determine whether you will be permitted to take a make-up quiz or exam. Under no circumstances will any exams be given early.
Academic Misconduct
The Ohio State University expects all of its students to act in accordance with academic conduct. This is true for our class as well as any other class you take here at OSU. As an instructor at OSU, I am required to report any suspicious activities to the office of academic affairs, which may lead to suspension/dismissal from the university. Academic misconduct is taken very seriously, so for your protection, please review OSU’s policies at: http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/home.html
Warning : If you decide to drop this course or change sections, it is your responsibility to do so through the registrar’s office. If you have any questions, please come and talk to me.