Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Advanced Placement Psychology
Synopsis of Course
AP Psychology is an entry-level college psychology course. It will serve two practical foci. It is
academic in orientation culminating with an AP exam in mid-May. It is also functional in orientation
allowing students opportunity to give personal application to the content of the course. Through the
development of critical thinking, and upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:
1.
define and explain at least four approaches to psychology
2.
perform scientific research and apply the scientific method to that research
3.
define and explain the biological basis of behavior
4.
explain the relationship between sensation and perception and the processes within
each relationship
5.
define and explain the various states of consciousness
6.
define and explain at least four learning theories
7.
explain cognition and how memory, language, and thinking are related
8.
define and explain at least four theories of motivation and emotion
9.
explain the developmental process from birth through death
10.
define personality and discuss its various theories and assessment techniques
11.
identify at least five common disorders and discuss possible causes and treatments
12.
define standardization and norms and use spreadsheets (Excel) to graph the results
13.
define social psychology and group dynamics
Materials/Supplies/Textbook Policy
The materials needed are your brain, a pen, paper, and a 3-ring binder to keep handouts, notes,
research, experiments, quizzes and personal journals (responses to various topics, ideas, and personal
insights).
Coon, Dennis. Introduction to Psychology Gateways to Mind and Behavior 2004 (Ninth Edition)
Supplement Texts:
Hock, Roger R, Forty Studies That Changed Psychology (5th Edition)
Useful Web Sites:
College Board AP Psych Outline:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/psych/topics.html?phych
Teacher web sites:
http://www.pointlomahigh.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=25497&type=u&pREC_ID=37
697
Student Expectations:
Advance Placement Psychology is the academically highest-level psychology course offered to
high school students. This course has the potential to provide college credit for students
successful in passing the AP Exam. Therefore, AP Psych students have very specific
expectations both academically and behaviorally:
 Read assigned text and supplement materials (Reading is an integral part of this
course, students must be disciplined and prepared for extensive reading and note-taking
in order to be prepared for the AP Exam)
 Participate as both team members and leaders, in discussions, activities…
 Turn in all assignments on time (late work is either not allowed or will result in drastic
reduction in points)
Mr. McElhaney
1052
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

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2014-2015
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Advanced Placement Psychology
Communicate effectively (orally and in writing)
Be responsible and self directed learner
Ask questions
Be courteous and use good conduct at all time- Make this a safe place to discuss heavy
issues (maturity is key)
All students are expected, but not required, to take the Advance Placement Exam.
Course Assignments
The following assignments constitute the majority of the AP Psychology course. It is your
responsibility to continually track these assignments and turn them in according to the proposed
timeline. Failing to do so will have a negative impact on your grade. There is an Orientation to
Psychology paper due by the end of the second week of school.
1.
2.
3.
Orientation to Psychology Paper Week 1 of course
There are two major research projects required for this course.
a. First Semester - select one of the major contributors to psychology from the list
provided and follow instructions for APA format writing techniques. The paper
should be 3-4 pages, typed, double-spaced, and 12-point Times New Roman or
Arial font. A form will be handed to you giving more detailed instruction.
b. Second Semester - select any topic relating to psychology based on the subjects
covered in the text. As above the format will be the same.
Web Research - each student is responsible to find one article from each chapter in
the book that reflects the topic of that chapter. A printout of the article can be
submitted for credit. These are worth 25 points each.
4.
Fiction and Non-Fiction reading- Throughout each semester students must read
texts that apply or investigate psychological phenomenon.
5.
AP Psychology Notebook - this is a collection of handouts, notes, quizzes, papers,
and reflections. This notebook will be collected and graded periodically
6.
Tests - one test per chapter. Each test will reflect the style of the AP Exam and will
be timed. It will consist of multiple-choice questions and 1 essay.
7.
Class Participation- There will be various written assignments and in-class
activities. Come prepared to discuss and interact with classmates on the topic at hand.
Grading/Assessments/Methods/Strategies:
Grades will be calculated based on student mastery of content and skills as measured by tests,
quizzes, essays, homework, discussions, in class participation and projects. A traditional ten
percent scale will be used to calculate letter grades:
A = 100-90 %, B 89-79, C = 78-69, D = 68-58, F= 57%.
Each assignment will be given a point value and will be broken down along this 10% scale.
Classroom Policies
Make Up Work and Attendance:
Assignments and points will be given each day. If students are absent they will miss points.
It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to come after school to ask for missed assignments and
make-up tests and quizzes.
If a student is absent when a homework assignment is due, they must turn in the assignment the
next day they attend school.
Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Advanced Placement Psychology
If students are absent and miss a test or quiz they must make up the missed test the day they
return.
The attendance office must clear all absences or no credit or makeup will be allowed.
Truancies will result in loss of grade points, lowered citizenship, and detention.
Tardy Policy:
If students must come late to class they should not talk to the teacher or interrupt the class when
they come in. Students should sign the tardy sign in sheet, sit down, and begin work and I will
speak with students at the end of class. Students who come late to class will be assigned
detention and citizenship will be lowered.
Seating Charts will be used. All students will sit in assigned seats.
Supplies Needed: Binders, textbooks, paper pencils, pens,
Academic Honesty:
Thank you for always doing your own work and trying your best.
Academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating) will result in severe consequences that may result in
an F – U in the Course.
This syllabus can be amended at the discretion of the instructor.
Cut Here
Student __________________________________
Student E-mail_____________________________
Parent Signature___________________________
Parent E-mail:_____________________________
(Please print)
Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Advanced Placement Psychology
AP Outline
1. History and Approaches
2. Research Methods
3. Biological Bases of Behavior
4. Sensation and Perception
5. States of Consciousness
6. Learning
7. Cognition
8. Motivation and Emotion
9. Developmental Psychology
10. Personality
11. Testing and Individual Differences
12. Abnormal Psychology
13. Treatment of Psychology
14. Social Psychology
AP Psychology Year Outline
First Semester
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ch. 1 History and Approaches (2 weeks)
Ch. 2, Biological Basis of Behavior (2 weeks)
Ch. 5 Sensation and Ch. 6 Perception (2 weeks)
Ch. 15 Stress and Health (1 week)
Ch. 3, 4 Developmental Psychology (3 weeks)
Ch. 7 Consciousness (2 weeks)
Ch. 8 Conditioning and Learning (2 weeks)
Second Semester
8. Ch. 9, 10, 11 Cognition and Memory (2 weeks)
9. Ch. 12 Motivation and Ch. 13 Emotion (1 week)
10. Ch. 14 Personality (2 weeks)
11. Ch. 18 Social Psychology (1 week)
12. Spring Break Review (TBD) (1 week)
13. Ch. 15 Abnormal Psych (1 week)
14. Ch. 16 Treatment (1 week)
Exam Monday May 4, Noon
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Advanced Placement Psychology
Semester One
Weeks 1-2
Psychology Orientation Essay Assignment
History and Approaches (2–4%)
Research Methods (6–8%)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods 12
Ethics in the practice of Psychology
Week 3-4
Biological Bases of Behavior (8–10%)
Chapter 2 Brain and Behavior 56
Nervous System
Neurons
Neural Transmitters
Brain Anatomy
Glands and Behavior
Week 5-6
Sensation and Perception (7–9%)
Chapter 5 Sensation and Reality 174
Sensory systems
Private Sensations
The eyes/brain/chemical and neural elements of senses
Controlling Pain
Chapter 6 Perceiving the World 212
Perception
Size, shape, brightness, stereoscopic vision
Adaptation
Gestalt Principles
Depth perception
Illusions
Week 7
Chapter 15 Health, Stress, and Coping 548 (1 week)
Week 8-10
Developmental Psychology (7–9%)
Chapter 3 Child Development 92
Heredity
Nature vs. Nurture
Emotional Attachment
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Stages
Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural Theory of Learning
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Advanced Placement Psychology
Chapter 4 From Birth to Death: Life-Span Development 136
Life Stages
Sibling Rivalry
Learning Disorders
Erikson, life span and development
Aging and Death
Week 11-12
States of Consciousness (2–4%)
Chapter 7 States of Consciousness 250
“The Doctors”
Altered States of consciousness
Brain Waves and Sleep
Hypnosis
Psychoactive Drugs
Week 13-14
Learning (7–9%)
Chapter 8 Conditioning and Learning 292
Week 15-16
Review for Final
Semester Two
Week 1-2
Cognition (8–10%)
Chapter 9 Memory 330
Chapter 10 Cognition, Language, and Creativity 366
Chapter 11 Intelligence 402
Week 3
Motivation and Emotion (7–9%)
Chapter 12 Motivation and Emotion 430
Week 4-5
Personality (6–8%)
Chapter 14 Personality 508
Week 6-7
Social Psychology (7–9%)
Testing and Individual Differences (5–7%)
Chapter 18 Social Behavior 666
Chapter 19 Attitudes, Culture, and Human Relations 696
Attitudes and Behavior: Fundamental attribution error, roles,
Festinger and cognitive dissonance
Mr. McElhaney
1052
2014-2015
Point Loma High School
(619) 223-3121ext. 1052
Advanced Placement Psychology
Group Influence: Asch and conformity, Milgram and obedience, facilitation and loafing,
Janis and groupthink
Prejudice and Scapegoating, Altruism: Darley and Latané
Spring Break (Review Activity)
Week 8-9
Abnormal Psychology (7–9%)
Chapter 16 Psychological Disorders 586
Week 10-11
Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5–7%)
Chapter 17 Therapies 628
Week 12,13,14
Review, Projects, and Final Exam
AP Exam May 5, Noon
Project: Brave New World