SCHOOL:  SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL                                     COURSE TITLE: AP PSYCHOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR:  CALBI (H-4)                                          SEMESTER/YEAR: FALL 06/SPRING 07

 

 

Our AP Psychology (APPSYCH) Course is a college level course designed to facilitate the acquirement of analytical skills, factual knowledge, and writing abilities necessary to effectively comprehend and integrate the scientific study of human and animal behavior and mental processes to include all relevant theories, principles, phenomena, and psychologists which shaped the field of psychology as it exists today.  (See COURSE OUTLINE)

 

 

·        TEXTBOOK:    PSYCHOLOGY :  Eighth Edition: Carole Wade / Carol Tavris

                                

·        SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:   Study Guide required/ purchased 1^st week of class

   All other materials will be provided in class.

                       

·        INTERNET RESOURCES:          

Go to: http://teacherweb.com/CA/SouthHighSchool/Calbi/links1.stm

 

·        SUPPLIES: 

Go to:  http://teacherweb.com/CA/SouthHighSchool/Calbi/List0.stm

 

 

The following are required exam dates; there are NO make-ups

The APPSYCH Course Final:  Saturday, pril 28, 2007, 8:00am-12:30pm in H-4

The AP Psychology EXAM: Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 11:15 @ SHS Library

·        EXAMS:

1)      We will have difficult, cumulative 1 ½ -2 hour exams approximately every six weeks.  These exams will be similar in content and appearance to the actual APPSYCH exam.  Course standards and exam evaluation will be maintained at the college level.

2)      Focus on the growth of your essay writing abilities.  Concentrate on your progress more than your grade!

 

·        ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION

1)      Short (5-10 minutes) quizzes will be given often.   NO make up quizzes will be permitted. 

 

2)      Attendance and participation are crucial to your success in APPSYCH.  A maximum of three absences will be permitted the fall 2006 semester and two absences (before the AP Exam) the spring 2007 semester.  This includes activities.  After the maximum absences are reached, grades will be lowered by ten points per absence.

 

·        CLASS PRESENTATIONS

Each student will be responsible for developing and teaching a 45-50 minute PowerPoint lesson plan on a particular aspect of psychology to be determined by a lottery in the first week of class. 

 

 

1)  Grade Construction:

 

Summer Assignments:                                                                                 =   50  points

APPSYCH Monthly Exams:                                                                       = 500  points

      APPSYCH Final Exam:                                                                              = 150  points

      AP Exam                                                                                                    =   50  points

      Individual Presentation                                                                                =  100 points

      Homework/Classwork/Quizzes                                                                   =  150 points

      Absences                                                        1stSem 3=0 – n(10))

                                                                             2ndSem 2=0 –n(10)             = -(n(10))points

     ______________________________________________________________________

     TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS:                                                                     =  1000 points

 

2)       Grade Scale:                90-100%  = A

80-89.9% = B

70-79.9% = C

60-69.9% = D

  0-59.9% = F                     No Rounding

 

3)      Grades will directly correlate with the amount of points earned.  No grades will be given; do not ask for a grade you did not earn.  However, I do make mistakes from time to time, so if you have questions or need clarification regarding a grade, feel free to come and talk to me during, before or after class/school. 

 

4)      Cheating is extremely hazardous to your APPSYCH existence, and is likely to be fatal. 

Ø      Presenting work that you did not do with you name on it is cheating.

Ø      Using another person’s words or thoughts without giving them credit is called PLAGIARISM.  Plagiarism is cheating.  (and it is illegal)

Ø      When in a partnership or group, not doing your share of the work is cheating…  yourself and others.

Ø      Lying to me or to your classmates, or allowing others to lie for you, is cheating.

Ø      Cheating is unacceptable; cheating is wrong; cheating will result in a non-recoverable “0”

      grade and automatic “U”.  DON’T DO IT.

 

 

 

q    Check out textbook and attend meeting to receive summer agenda and group assignments.

 

 

q    Immense amount of reading and writing throughout the year to build content, analytical skills and writing abilities.

 

q    Each 5-6 weeks there will be 2-hour exams:  multiple choice questions and free response essay questions.

 

q    Individual Presentation: Teach assigned psychology topic complete with lecture, research, experiments, audio and/or video clips, graphics, psychologists’ profiles, illustrations, quiz, outline/study guide, sample free response essays, and applicable supplemental readings.

 

q    Completion of Winter Break Individual Study Packet

 

q    Completion of Spring Break Individual Study Packet

 

q    Minimum 3-5 (depending on your progress at this point) evening/Saturday study sessions prior to AP Exam in May.

 

q    Completion of Final Exam (3 hrs, two Saturdays prior to AP Exam) 

 

q    Completion of APPSYCH Exam

 

q    Completion of course assessment questionnaire (after AP Exam)

 

q    Contribution to South High APPSYCH website

 

 

 

All assignments should be:

1)      ON TIME.  Late work will be marked down 10% each day it is late.  No work will be accepted that is more than two days late.  A “0” grade will be given on the third day.

2)      Ready to turn in when the bell rings. Papers turned in after the bell rings will be considered late.

3)      Neatly and legibly typewritten on standard white paper.

4)      10-12 normal size font and single-spaced.

5)      Labeled with your name, date, and period in the top right hand corner of each page.

6)      Paper clipped or stapled at the top left corner.

 

 

TALK TO ME.

1)      In person is best!  7:30am any morning 

By arrangement:  7:00-7:30am, after school

2)      A note in my box with a coversheet containing my name, the date and time.

3)      Email to Jillybeans63@hotmail.com  (I check this 2x per week)

 

·        Keep the lines of communication open.  You may get frustrated or lost.  Talk to me before you get angry. 

·        Procrastination will be your worst enemy.

·        Self-control, motivation, organization, and discipline will be your best friends.

·        Necessities will be:  Study partners and the ability to contribute to and utilize study groups.

 

 

While I am happy to talk to your parents and/or guardians and welcome them to visit our class anytime (prior notice required), YOU and ONLY YOU are RESPONSIBLE for your assignments, attendance, timeliness, and grades.  No notes/excuses from parents will be accepted.  If you choose to give your responsibility to your parents, friends, or others; you alone, will be subject to the consequences of their actions.  Again, this course is designed at the college level.  YOU are completely responsible for meeting its requirements

 

 

 

Each and every one of you has the potential to receive an “A” in AP Psychology and pass the APPSYCH Exam.  More importantly, you each have the opportunity to experience the fascinating journey into the behavior and mental processes of humans and animals.   Roll up your sleeves, open your mind, and let’s begin.