Bensalem High School
AP Psychology 2013-2014
Ms. Jenkins Room 260
ljenkins@bensalemsd.org
THE AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM TAKES PLACE MONDAY, MAY 5, 2014.
Course Objectives:
 The objective of this course is to help students understand how psychologists think.
 Students will be introduced to the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
 Students will compare, contrast, and evaluate differing approaches to psychology.
 Students will discover significant accomplishments and findings made by psychologists in the past
century.
Class Resources:
 David G. Myers, Psychology, Ninth Ed. (New York: Worth, 2010)
 AP Released Exams in Psychology from previous years
 Current events articles pertinent to units of study (magazines, journals, newspapers)
Grading Policy: (AP Psychology is aligned with Bensalem High School’s unified grading policy. All marking
period grades will be composed of these elements):
 30% Major Tests and/or Projects (minimum of 3 per marking period)
 30% Quizzes and/or Minor Projects (minimum of 6 per marking period)
 20% Classwork Cooperation
 10% Quarterly Common Assessments
 10% Homework
Course Outline:
I. History of Psychology, Approaches and Methodology- Schools, perspectives, historical figures
II. Research Methods- Experiment design, data, statistics, ethics,
III. Social Psychology- Groupthink, prejudice, scapegoating, altruism
IV. Neuroscience- Neurons, the brain, genetics and heritability
V. Sensation and Perception- Sensory organs, transduction, processing, illusions
VI. Learning- Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, behavior modification
VII. States of Consciousness- Waking, sleep and dreaming, hypnosis, altered states
VIII. Cognition, Memory, and Language- Memory storage, & retrieval, language processing
IX. Developmental Psychology- Nature v. nurture, moral development, gender, infancy to adulthood
X. Intelligence and Psychological Testing- Methodology, norms, reliability, validity, aptitude testing
XI. Motivation, Emotions, and Stress- Drives, instincts, hunger, sexuality/orientation, fear, stress
XII. Abnormal Psychology- DSM-IV-TR, anxiety, mood/personality disorders, schizophrenia, therapy
XIII. Personality- Development, trait theory, humanistic theory
Assessments
 Unit Tests- These tests are modeled on the AP Exam, with 70 multiple-choice questions and one
essay to be completed in 80 minutes.
 Quizzes- Randomly scheduled, at least two a week, and are meant to reinforce the readings
assigned for homework the night before.
 Free Response Questions- Use previous FRQs from past AP exams to test knowledge from current
chapter. Can also help in writing style, language, and composition in preparation for the AP exam.
 Article Review- Once a month, students must research, summarize, and apply a news article to the
current unit of study.
 Projects- Constructing the Brain/Neuron, Naturalistic Observation, Experimental Design,
Applications of Developmental Psychology, etc. Note: More specific instructions and guidelines for these
projects will be given throughout the course.

Psychology Exhibition (Final Exam)- In lieu of a traditional final exam, students present the results
of their cumulative assessment to the class.. They must create an interactive presentation with a
visual component that will be presented to a group of their peers. The presentation must include a
written review of literature on the topic and include audience participation in some way.
Ms. Jenkins’ House Rules (which align with the BTSD Student Handbook):
1. Bring a notebook, planner, and something to write with everyday.
2. Be respectful and honest to your classmates, your teacher, and yourself.
3. Write a pass and sign out when needing to excuse yourself. If you abuse hall pass privileges, you
will be denied being excused from class.
4. Cell phones are away during class time unless otherwise noted.
5. Jenkins loves making phone calls! Be prepared for me to contact your folks. I have to call
everyone, so make sure your call home is a good one 
6. Be here. Be here on time. Your attendance is critical. When you are here, you are expected to be
an active part of the classroom.
7. If you are absent, you need to catch up outside of class time. I am here before and after school
everyday to meet with you and will be more than happy to help you then.
8. Understand that everything you do is of value and will be collected and become part of your
overall assessment. Do your work and your work alone.
Please understand that this is a college level class. This implies a more strenuous pace and larger
course of study than a normal high school class. Be prepared to have readings and homework every
night. This course will prepare you for what a college class will be like, with the benefit of a small
high school setting and individual teacher/student relationships. I promise that if you do everything
I ask you to do, you will do well in this class and do well on the AP exam.
Syllabus subject to change.