AP Psychology
T. Caperton – Room 1805
email: tcaperton@huntsville-isd.org
832-452-8934, cell
Text: Myers – Psychology for AP – you will be issued a text book.
Course description: The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the
systematic and scientific study of the behavioral 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 within psychology. In addition, ethical considerations are
examined as are methods psychologists use to explore the processes involved in normal and
abnormal perceptions.
Course Objectives:
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Students will study the major core concepts and theories of psychology.
Students will learn the basic skills of psychological research.
Students will be able to apply psychological concepts to their own lives.
Students will develop critical thinking skills through careful, objective, evaluation.
Students will build their reading, writing, and discussion skills.
Students will learn about the ethical standards governing the work of psychologists.
Materials:
You will be expected to come to class each day ready and equipped to learn. To do this, besides
a pen, pencil and paper you will need to have with you:
a.
b.
c.
Your textbook (I will issue you one, and have a class set for use here)
A spiral notebook for chapter outlines, vocabulary, and notes
notebook paper which can be turned in for class assignments
The binder will include the following sections:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Syllabus
Chapter summaries to include vocabulary and notes
Written work in preparation for the AP Psychology Exam
Graded work
Class structure:
This course is primarily a lecture format, so be prepared to take notes in class. I will have a
general outline for your class notes. You will also be exposed to videos and “fun stuff” activities
to reinforce understanding of the topics being taught.
Assignments:
The amount of material covered by the AP Psychology Exam demands all students read the
textbook for content. Most of the content will be reviewed by lecture, discussion, quizzes, etc. in
class. However, some content will be the responsibility of the student since there will not be
time in class to examine all the issues.
Text: You will read sections of the text as assigned for each unit. The amount varies depending
on the unit, but it will usually be about 30-40 pages per unit. Reading the text means completing
notes to include main topics, vocabulary, and people associated with the topic. Notes are turnedin for a daily grade.
Science Daily Articles: At least every two weeks, you will read an article describing some study
in the appropriate unit of psychology from Science Daily
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/mind_brain/); review of the article includes a short
summary and your impression as to the significance of the study/topic described; be ready to
share your article with the class. This will be for a major grade.
Outside Reading: During the course of the year, each student will read one book each semester
from the list I will give you. You will be required to write a report summarizing the main themes
of the work, author’s intent, relevance to psychology, and your opinion of it. This will be a
major grade.
Presentations: Students will make class presentations of articles from the book, Forty Studies
that Changed Psychology; presentations will be accompanied by a completed form to be
distributed to the class for study and assessment. This is a major grade.
Unit Tests: A multiple choice and free response question test (closed book) will follow each
unit. These tests are a major grade. I assume all students will be taking the AP Psychology
Exam, therefore the test will be timed using the same criteria. If you fail a test, you may choose
to correct your wrong answers to 100% following the format I will give you (maximum score of
75%). This must be accomplished within 5 class days of the test.
Late Work: All assignments are due on the pre-determined due date. No late work will be
accepted.
Course Planner (deviations from this schedule will be at my discretion):
Unit 1: History and Approaches (Unit 1, pp. 2-15)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 2: Research and Testing (Unit 2, pp. 19-46 and Unit 11, pp. 523-556)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 3: Biological Basis of Behavior (Unit 3, pp. 51-91)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Comprehensive Exam on Units 1-3
Unit 4: Sensation and Perceptions (Unit 4, pp. 115-169)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 5: Learning (Unit 6, pp. 214-249)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 6: Motivation and Emotions (Unit 8, pp. 327-406)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Comprehensive Exam on Units 4-6
Thanksgiving Break – November 25-29, 2014
Unit 7: Cognition – Memory, Language & Problem-Solving (Unit 7, pp. 255-322)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Christmas Holidays – (December 23 – January 7)
Semester Review and Finals (Jan 13-17, 2014)
Unit 8: States of Consciousness (Unit 5, pp. 175-210)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 9: Developmental Psych. (Unit 9, pp. 411-473)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 10: Personality (Unit 10, pp. 479-518)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Comprehensive Exam on Units 8-10
Unit 11: Abnormal Psychology (Unit 12, pp. 561-602)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 12: Treatment of Disorders (Unit 13, pp. 605-638)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
Unit 13: Social Psychology (Unit 14, pp. 643-692)
Test – multiple choice and Free Response Question
EOC TESTING: May 5-9, 2014
AP Psychology Exam – May 5, 2014, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Assessment:
Daily grades (40% of the semester grade) will be given for:
a. Chapter summaries (vocabulary, people, major concepts, themes)
b. Quizzes
d. Classroom participation
Major grades (60% of semester grade) will be given for:
a. Unit Tests
b. Reports on Science Daily articles (one per week)
c. Classroom Presentations
AP Psychology – Reading List
Pausch, Randy; The Last Lecture
deBecker, Gavin; The Gift of Fear
Dugard, Jaycee; A Stolen Life – a Memoir
Zimbardo, Philip; The Lucifer Effect
Perry, Bruce D.; The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
Orenstein, Peggy; Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New
Girlie-Girl Culture
Skinner, B.F.; Walden Two
Goleman, Daniel; Emotional Intelligence
Gladwell, Malcolm; Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking
Pink, Daniel H.; Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us
Christakis & Fowler; Connected: The Surprising Power of Social Networks and How they Shape
Our Lives
Rock, Andrea; The Mind at Night: The New Science of How and Why We Dream
LeGault, Michael; Think: Why Crucial Decisions Can’t be Made in the Blink of an Eye
Jamison, Kay Redfield; An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
Elyn R. Saks; The Center Cannot Hold, My Journey Through Madness
Oliver Saks; The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, And Other Clinical Tales
Name: ____________________________
Period: ________
Behavior Guidelines: This class is a learning environment.
There are Four Basic Rules (posted in the classroom):
Be on Time – in your assigned seat when the tardy bell rings
Be Prepared – bring paper, pen, pencil to class every day
Be Respectful – only one person talks at a time
Turn in all assignments – even if late
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2.
3.
4.
In addition, there are many school rules which you will be expected to follow. Especially:
The dress code will be enforced at all times.
no visible CD players, cell phones, or other electronic devices. If I see it, I will take it
and turn it into the office.
no cursing, swearing, loud outbursts or name calling.
To make these rules work, we will need to follow these procedures:
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Start each class by quietly working on the warm-up.
Stay in your seat (raise your hand if you need to get up for any reason).
Clean up your area and throw away trash after class.
Use the restroom before class, not during class.
If you have a health problem, go to the clinic before class.
Bring your notebook, paper, and pen to class each day
If you need a pencil sharpened, raise your hand and I will give you a sharpener
If you have a personal question, ask it after or before class.
If you need to see your counselor, do it before or after class, not during class.
Stay in your seat until the period is over.
Please make an appointment to see me for tutoring or to discuss grades, lessons, or assignments
before school, during lunch, or after school.
Consequences for disruptive behavior – behavior that interferes with instruction:
1. You have a choice – stay and learn or leave and spend time in ISS.
2. If your behavior is disrupting instruction, I will give you one warning.
3. If you continue to disrupt instruction, I will ask you to leave the class - you will take the
assignment with you and be expected to complete it for a daily grade.
4. If your disruptive behavior continues I will write you up, send you to your counselor, and
contact your parent/guardian
5. I will schedule a parent conference with your counselor for repeated misbehavior.
Please sign this form below and have your parent/guardian sign it too.
Return the signed form to me for a grade. This is a contract between you and me.
_______________________________
Student Name
_________________
Date
_______________________________
Parent/Guardian Name
_________________
Date