TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL
COLLEGE
PSY 201
General Psychology
Professor Jackie Kroening MA, BS
Office: 864-646-1430
PSY Office: 864-646-1425
www.lifetour.com
jkroenin@tctc.edu
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
COURSE COMPETENCIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrate knowledge of current
research methodology.
Demonstrate understanding of
theories, terms, and concepts.
Evaluate the relative importance of
biological, psychological and social
factors in human behavior.
Compare and contrast theories,
principles and concepts of
Psychology
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)




Theory - a proposed explanation whose
status is still conjectural, in contrast to wellestablished propositions that are regarded
as reporting matters of actual fact.
Psychological Theory - an explanation
using an integrated set of principles that
organizes observations and predicts
behaviors or events.
Principle - A rule or law concerning the
functioning of natural phenomena
Concept is a more definite, more unitary,
more complete type of notion or idea than is
a conception, which is more of an ideational
structure with a potential for realization
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
COURSE COMPETENCIES
Explore and examine your own feelings,
opinions, values, attitudes, and
motivations.
5.
Values – ideals that shape and give
significance to our lives. They are reflected
through the priorities that we choose, and the
decisions we make and actions we take.
1.
6.
7.
Critically evaluate and examine what is
read and presented with thoughtful
questioning.
Participate actively in class discussion,
projects, computer simulations, and
demonstrations.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
COURSE COMPETENCIES
8.
9.
10.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Interact effectively with other members
of the class, expressing ideas clearly
and treating others with respect.
Identify and use sources of
psychological information other than the
text.
Write well-organized, grammatically
correct, and thoughtful papers.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
11.
12.
13.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Evaluate the applicability of
theories and research finding to
other cultures.
Demonstrate an understanding of
ethical issues involved in the
study and practice of psychology.
Relate psychological concepts to
other disciplines.
METHODS OF
INSTRUCTION





Designed to make you THINK.
Pure memorization is not the intent.
It is expected that you will read and
study the material before each class.
Attend every possible class.
Master much of the material on your own
or ask about it in class.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
3 tests (15% each)
1 Final Exam
Reflective Journals
Group participation
Class participation
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
45%
15%
20%
10%
10%
*100%
Evaluation Strategies and Criteria
Tests (60% of grade)
Tests must be taken with the class on the designated date. No make-up tests will
be allowed. If it is necessary for you to miss an exam, the final exam will count as
two exams. (Bonus points will not be used) Notify the instructor before missing an
exam. It may be possible for you to take it with another class.
A. Tests Will Be Composed Of
Objective multiple choice, true-false, and/or matching questions designed to test
your knowledge, understanding and application of the basic information, terms,
concepts, theories, and research data.
B. Grading of Tests
In the grading of multiple choice and matching items, the student may disagree with
the answer designated as correct, though an effort will be made to keep these
questions clear and direct. To receive consideration for additional credit for his/her
answer, the student must explain in writing his/her reasoning for the answer
selected and/or his/her interpretation of the question and answers. These
justifications must be written at the beginning of the class after the test is returned.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Course WebCT

On the course Blackboard (WebCT) you
can do the following:





Check you assignment and exam grades
24/7.
Take example exams per chapter
Submit course journals
Access to course study materials
How to use Blackboard and login is
located at: WWW.tctc.edu then click on
Distance Learning & WebCT Login tab
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Evaluation Strategies and Criteria
Reflective Journals (Written Assignment)

You are required to keep a reflective journal throughout the
semester with critical reflections and reactions to each
chapter covered this semester, including discussion areas
that may not be covered in the textbook (class lectures), by
writing on what impact your learning has on your
professional and/or personal life. (All journals are
confidential)

A journal is a collection of written reflections on the chapters
from your textbook and lecture materials covered in class
during the semester. The written reflections should be
integrated with observations from related professional journal
articles, media articles, combined with scholarly reflective
analyses. All sources cited should be appropriately notated
using the APA format. The journal must not be a
regurgitation of text material.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Reflective Journals

(Continued)
One journal entry is required for each chapter covered in this
course over the semester and submitted every two chapters in
one file. Eight (8) entries total are required, including the final
journal to give an overview of psychology and reflective
summary of the course . For example: Best lecture and why,
worst lecture and why, improvements for the course.

Each journal entry should be double spaced with a double space
between paragraphs. Journal entries should include no less
than one typewritten page on each chapter. For any
references cited in the journal, you should also include a
reference listing at the end of the journal submission.

Journals (every two chapters) are to be submitted through the
course Blackboard site. (http://tcwct6.tctc.edu assignment tab)
before midnight of the due date specified in your class schedule.
No late submissions will be accepted. Please note when you
submit a journal, it is strongly recommended that you keep an
ongoing copy of each entry on a USB Flash Drive. Make sure
that each entry (one file for two chapters) has your name, the
Chapter title/number and date of the reading. Attachments are to
be in doc, txt, or rtf format.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Reflective Journals
(Contuned)
What should be in your journal? Try to answer the questions
below:





What are your thoughts and feelings about the chapter topic
before you start reading it?
As you look back on the chapter and the lecture, what were
the most significant points for you to learn professionally or
personally (give details)?
In what ways was this chapter and the lecture, different from
other chapters?
Did you have any particularly meaningful learning or
experience you can relate to during the reading and lecture?
Did I do any professional or personal reflections during the
reading and lecture? What were your reactions to it?
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Reflective Journals
(Contuned)



How did you feel about the chapter and lectures as a
whole? What were the emotional highs and lows? Why did
you feel as you did? Is your inner self trying to tell you
anything about these feelings?
Did you find yourself worrying about anything that was in the
chapter or lecture?
Last, it is important to be honest when writing journals.
'Write how you really feel and not how you think you should
feel. Record what you really think, not what you believe you
ought to think' (Klug 2002: 56).
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Evaluation Strategies and Criteria
Class and Group participation

The evaluation of your participation will be on a
0-100 point scale based on the following
criteria:
100 - Volunteers for demonstrations, shares willingly with class,
participates enthusiastically in structured experiences,
stimulates
class discussion, asks relevant questions.
80 - participates enthusiastically in structured experiences,
contributes
to class discussion, asks relevant questions.
60 - cooperates in structured experiences, occasionally contributes to
class discussion, occasionally asks relevant questions.
40 - reluctantly participates in structured experiences, does not
contribute to class discussion, does not ask relevant questions.
0 - uncooperative in structured experiences, distracts from class
discussion and other learning activities.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Tri-County Technical College
Grading Policy





A (100 – 90) - Excellent "A" is used in GPA calculations,
earns credit hours, and carries a value of 4 grade points for
each credit hour.
B (89 – 80) - Above Average "B" is used in GPA
calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of 3
grade points for each credit hour.
C (79 – 70) – Average "C" is used in GPA calculations,
earns credit hours, and carries a value of 2 grade points for
each credit hour.
D (69 – 60) - Below Average "D" is used in GPA
calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of I
grade point for each credit hour.
F (59 – 0) – Failure "F" is used in GPA calculations, earns
no credit hours, and carries 0 grade points for each credit
hour attempted. (When the student retakes the course, the
"F" is negated and the higher grade is used in GPA
calculations.)
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Tri-County Technical College
Grading Policy


WF – Withdrawn – Failing “WF” is used in GPA
calculations, earns no credit hours, and carries 0 grade
points for each credit hour attempted. (When the
student retakes the course, the “WF” is negated; and
the higher grade is used in GPA calculations.) "WF"
may be given from the first day after the tenth week
through the last day of class before the final
examination period if the student is failing. (The time
period for awarding "WF" grades will be prorated for
ten-week summer session terms and for other terms of
varying lengths.)
W – Withdrawn - "W" is not used in GPA calculations,
earns no credit hours, and generates no grade points.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Attendance Policy

Any student who accumulates
more absences during the
semester than the class meets in a
two-week period is subject to being
withdrawn from the class. The
number of allowable absences during
the summer term or other terms of
varying length will be 10% of the total
number of class meetings.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Attendance Policy


Entering a class late is rude to your
instructor and to your classmates. If it
is unavoidable, apologize and explain
to your instructor after class.
Three tardies will count as one
absence, unless the instructor
decides to drop the student for
habitual lateness.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Attendance Policy




A student who arrives late may, at the discretion of the
instructor, be marked absent for that class.
A student who arrives late to class three times will
be marked absent for one class. For each three
late arrivals, another absence will be marked.
A student who continually arrives late to class is
subject to being withdrawn from the class.
In extenuating circumstances, a student may request
re-admittance to class by meeting with the instructor
and explaining the circumstances of the absences. If
the instructor agrees to readmit the student, the
student will be informed of the requirements which
must be met to successfully complete the course
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)
Policy On Academic Dishonesty





1. Academic dishonesty as used here includes using
another's work without giving credit to the source and
cheating.
2. Charges of academic dishonesty must be
substantiated by evidence.
3. The instructor has the option of dealing with a first
offense in one of two ways:
a. giving an "F" or a "0" for that particular
assignment.
b. demanding that the student redo the
assignment.
4. With second offenses, the instructor may assign a
grade of "F" for the course.
5. The student may appeal the decision to the
Faculty-Student Behavior Committee.
Some taken from Psychology (08/2012)