AP Psychology
2015-2016
M. Foster
698-8121 x6314
Mari.Foster@wuhsd.org
Course Description
The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the
behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the
psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields, including
neuroanatomy, sensation and perception, consciousness, lifespan development, cognition, individual
differences, and social psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in
their science and practice. This course aims to provide a learning experience equivalent to that obtained
in an introductory college course and is, therefore, rigorous and challenging. All students enrolled in the
course should expect to sit for the Advanced Placement Psychology exam in May 2016.
Class Policies
Students are expected to behave appropriately at all times. School policies regarding attendance,
tardiness and academic integrity will be enforced. Electronic devices may not be used for personal
reasons during instructional time. Students may not leave their seats without permission. Food and
drink are not allowed in the classroom. Students may not deface any of the physical surfaces in the
room. Abusive, profane or disrespectful language is not permitted. Behavior must reflect respect for
teaching, learning, and others. Failure to adhere to these policies will result in parental contact, teacher
detention and/or counselor referral.
Recommended Materials
Students are expected to come to class prepared. Materials needed each day include:
Textbook:
David Myers, Exploring Psychology (7th ed.), 2008.
Pen/Pencil/Highlighter
Spiral Notebook
Looseleaf paper/ 3x5 Index Cards
Course Requirements
Students are required to maintain a notebook, complete assigned work as indicated in the course syllabus
and participate in class activities. Students will be assessed on a weekly basis through a variety of
methods, including quizzes, essays, objective exams and projects. Regular attendance is strongly
encouraged. Late work will be accepted until the end of each instructional unit for half-credit only.
Students who are absent for a scheduled test have one week to take the exam. Extra-credit opportunities
are available to the entire class on a frequent basis.
Grading Policy
Grades are updated on a bi-weekly basis:
Grading Scale
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Grading Categories
Exams/ Quizzes
Assignments/Projects
Essays
Semester/ Final Exam
40%
25%
20%
15%
AP Psychology
M. Foster
Week 1
Syllabus
Quarter 1
Introduction
August 12-14
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 1, pp. 1-14
SET: Breaking Point
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Psychology Defined
Perspectives
CASE STUDY: Andrea Yates
TIMELINE: History of Psychology
DRA: Subfields of Psychology
ESSAY: Celebrity Study
QUIZ
Weeks 2 & 3
August 17-21; 24-28
Research Methods
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 1, pp. 14-33
SET: M & M’s
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Methods
Correlation
Experiments
CASE STUDY: the Rat
DRA: Ethics
ACTIVITY: Naturalistic Observation
Mean, Median, Mode
Scatterplot
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Weeks 4, 5, 6
August 31- September 4; 7-11; 14-18
Neuroscience
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 2, pp. 34-65
SET: Frankenstein
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Nervous System
Brain
Endocrine System
VISUALS/ DIAGRAMS: Neuroanatomy
CASE STUDY: Phineas Gage
ACTIVITY: Chain Reaction
Hemispheric Specialization
Build-a-Neuron
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Week 7
Genetics
September 21-25
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 3, pp. 66-97
SET: “Were You Born That Way?”
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Genetics
Evolution
ACTIVITY: Gender Differences
Phenotypes
CASE STUDY: Jim and Jim
VIDEO: Twins
STORYTIME: “I’m a Boy, I’m a Girl”
WRITER’S WORKSHOP/ FRQ
Weeks 8 & 9
September 28- October 2; 5-9
Sensation and Perception
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 5, pp. 138-181
SET: Jastrow Illusion
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Psychophysics
Seven Senses
Principles of Perception
VISUALS/ DIAGRAMS:
Ear, Eye
World of Illusion
CASE STUDY: M. C. Escher
ACTIVITY: Jelly Beans
Optical Illusions Portfolio
TEST/ FRQ
COMMON QUARTER PROJECT: Superheroes
AP Psychology
M. Foster
Weeks 1 & 2
Syllabus
Quarter 2
Learning
October 12-16; 19-23
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 7, pp. 220-251
SET: Jaws
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Observational Learning
CASE STUDY: Little Albert
ACTIVITY: Reinforcers
STORYTIME: Fables
DRA: Classical Conditioning Terms
COOPERATIVE GROUPS: Psych Pets
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Weeks 3, 4, 5
October 26- 30; November 2-6; 9-13
Cognition
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 8, pp. 252-287
Ch. 9, pp. 288-309 (partial)
SET: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Kinds of Memory
Thinking
Language
CASE STUDY: H. M.
ACTIVITY: Memory Construction
Recall v. Recognition
VIDEO: Apollo 13
Clive Wearing
The Brain
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Weeks 6, 7, 8
November 16-20; [Thanksgiving]; 30-December 4
Motivation and Emotion
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 10, pp. 334-369
Ch. 11, pp. 370-419
SET: Star Wars
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Theories of Motivation
Hunger
Theories of Emotion
Stress
CASE STUDY: Barbie
VIDEO:
Castaway
Drive
COOPERATIVE GROUP: Emotional Expression
ACTIVITY: Social Readjustment Rating Scale
DRA: Sex
VISUALS:
Edvard Munch
Color of Feelings
Maslow’s Hierarchy
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Weeks 9 & 10
December 7-11; 14-18
CUMULATIVE REVIEW
SEMESTER EXAM
AP Psychology
M. Foster
Weeks 1, 2, 3
Syllabus
Quarter 3
Development
January 5-8; 11-15; 18-22
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 4, pp. 98-137
SET: Scavenger Hunt/ Lifeline
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Theories of Development
Childhood
Adolescence
Adulthood/ Aging
DRA: Parenting Styles
Autism
CASE STUDY: Lawrence Kohlberg
ACTIVITY: Millennials
VIDEO: Fly Away Home
LITERATURE:
Make Way for Ducklings
“Remembrance”
TEST/ FRQ
Week 4
January 25-29
Intelligence
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 9, pp. 310-333 (partial)
SET: Marshmallow Test
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
IQ
Multiple Intelligences
Testing
CASE STUDY: Alfred Binet
VIDEO: The Brain
ACTIVITY: Remote Associates; the Rebus
QUIZ
Weeks 5 & 6
February 1-5; 8-12
Personality
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 12, pp. 420-457
SET: Oreo Cookie Test
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Psychoanalysis
Personality Theories
Testing
CASE STUDY: Archetypes
VIDEO:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Sleeping Beauty
Lord of the Rings
Dead Poets’ Society
LITERATURE: Rapunzel
VISUALS:
ACTIVITY:
Rorschach/ TAT
Presidential Personalities
Big Five
DRA: Defense Mechanisms
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Weeks 7, 8, 9
Abnormal Psychology
February 15-19; 22-26; 29- March 4
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 13, pp. 458-495
Ch. 14, pp. 496-527
SET: Kaleidoscope
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
DSM-V Classification
Anxiety/ Dissociative Disorders
Mood Disorders
Schizophrenia
Personality Disorders
CASE STUDY: Sybil
ACTIVITY: Walk Around the Block
READ-AROUND
VIDEO:
As Good As It Gets
Schizophrenia
Analyze This!
MATRIX:
Methods of Therapy
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
TEST/ FRQ
Week 10
March 7-11
Social Psychology (partial)
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 15, pp. 528-571
SET: Word Search/ Quiz
FREUDIAN SLIPS
NOTES:
Social Cognition
Social Influence
The Group
VIDEO:
Basic Instinct
Lord of the Flies
Stanford Prison Experiment
CASE STUDY: Kitty Genovese
COOPERATIVE GROUPS: Social Relations
ACTIVITY: Personal Space
Breaking Social Norms
Attribution Scale
AP Psychology
M. Foster
Weeks 1, [2], 3
Syllabus
Quarter 4
Social Psychology, cont.
Myers, Exploring Psychology
Ch. 15, pp. 528-571
March 14-18; [Spring Break]; March 28- April 1
[SEE ABOVE]
TEST/ FRQ
COMMON QUARTER PROJECT: Consciousness
Weeks 4, 5, 6, 7
AP REVIEW
April 4-8; 11-15; 18-22; 25-29
STUDY STATIONS:
Wired
Dinner Party
Words, Words, Words
FRQ’d
Psycho-graphics
PRACTICE EXAMS
AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM
Week 8
Rats!
MAY 2, 2016 12 NOON
May 2-6
COURSE EVALUATION
HOW TO:
Critique a Film Indiana Jones
Review an Article “Empathy”
Week 9 & 10
Psychology on the Screen
May 9-13; 16-20
MOVIE MENU:
12 Angry Men
Secrets of the Wild Child
Shrek
Temple Grandin
Teenage Brain
FINAL ESSAY: Horton Hears a Who
SENIOR FAREWELL
Week 11 & 12
A Social Life
May 23-27; 30- June 2
COOPERATIVE PAIRS:
Hi- Lo Game
GUEST SPEAKER: Psychology of Dress
ARTICLE:
“What’s Your Tribe?”
PERSONAL APP:
Introvert- Extrovert
Birth Order