Advanced Placement Psychology
Dear Students and Parents:
I am ready to start the 2008 – 2009 school year. It is always great to see
familiar faces and meet new ones. I look forward to working with each of you
over the course of this school year.
General Information:
The Advanced Placement Psychology course is scheduled for the Fall Semester
ONLY. However, the test takes place during the second week of May 2009. The
particulars for setting up this course are based on the long duration between
completion of the course and the national exam. In other words, I will do my
best as the teacher to prepare each student with the necessary materials and
opportunities to do well on this exam.
I do provide review sessions throughout the Spring Semester so students can
have teacher led reviews. Calendars will be passed out during the Spring of
2009 that indicate scheduled review dates. I will require students to sign
up for each date, if a minimum of 3 students do not sign up the review is
cancelled. More information on this topic will follow in the coming months.
I will do my best to make this a successful, yet challenging course.
Sincerely,
Judy Martinez
AP Psychology 2008 – 2009
Mrs. Judy Martinez
Email: jmartine@nhcs.k12.nc.us Teacher Web:
http://www.teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/MrsJudyMartinez/uh1.stm
Contact numbers: 350-2089 ext 414; 686-0693 (home…before 9 p.m.)
The following outline for AP Psychology has been designed to prepare students
for proficient mastery of the AP Psychology Exam scheduled in May 2009.
The Course Direction:
1. Define and explain approaches to the study of behavior and mental
processes (Psychology)
2. Understand the application and process of the scientific study of
behavior and mental processes.
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 states of consciousness.
6. Define and explain theories of learning and associations.
7. Explain cognition and the relationship between memory, language and
thinking.
8. Define and explain theories motivation and emotion.
9. Explain the developmental process from birth through death.
10. Define personality and discuss various theories and assessment
techniques.
11. Identify psychological disorders, causes and treatments.
12. Define social psychology and the dynamics of groups.
During this course students will be assigned the textbook: PSYCHOLOGY 8th
ed, David G Myers (Worth Publishing)
A STUDY GUIDE to accompany the textbook will be provided, however, students
wishing to write in the study guide will be charged $30.00. The benefit of
this supplementary text is significant, allowing students to keep assignments
in their entirety as they prepare to study for the AP Examination in May
(remember this is a Fall Semester Course). Student answers will be submitted
on separate paper (kept in a spiral bound notebook just for the tasks
associated with the study guide) for those who do not make this purchase.
In addition to the textbook, the publisher provides an interactive website
for students to access. Students can use the ISBN number located on the back
of the text in an off-white box in the lower left hand corner. The website
address is located just below the box.
Additional Book Requirements:
1. THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT by Oliver Sacks
(Please have available by Friday, September 5, 2008)
2. To Be announced for the second nine weeks.
**Textbook costs are absorbent and the county budget is tight. Students are
asked to cover and care for the brand new text. Fines and charges will be
assessed accordingly.
Grading Policy:
*This course is weighted two points to account for the increased difficulty
and schedule demands that it places on students. The seven point grading
scale will be used.
*Tests and major projects (may include major essays) will be counted at
approximately 40% of the student grade. Classwork, Homework, Class
Participation, Quizzes and Labs will round up the rest of the grade.
*Students will have homework each night. The material that needs to be
covered to prepare for the AP Examination requires that students read the
text frequently, for some this will mean each night. This will also assist
students in preparing for classroom tests.
*Make-up work – Please keep me informed about excused absences by email or
phone call from a parent in addition to notes that must be taken to the
attendance office.
After school assistance is available on Mondays and Tuesdays until
4:30 p.m. (please remember that late buses only run on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
*Late work – point deductions will occur. A student submitting work late
should not receive the same grade as a student turning in work on time of the
same quality. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Late work is always graded “late”.
Expectations:
School and Board Policies are expected to be followed
1. Respect that each individual comes into the classroom to learn.
a. No “private or personal chatter” during classroom work time,
research, topic discussions, teacher lecture or cooperative assignments.
b. Respect and appreciate individual differences.
c. Come to class prepared with appropriate materials.
d. Sign out of the classroom when leaving with a note or otherwise to
indicate where you are going and how long you were there. Upon your return
sign in.
e. Tardiness to class without a note (from school personnel) is rude and
interruptive.
First Nine Weeks:
Percentages reflect emphasis on the AP Psychology Test
• Prologue “The Story of Psychology”
• Chapter 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science (7-9%)
• Chapter 2 Neuroscience and Behavior (8-10%)
• Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture of Behavior
• Chapter 5 Sensation (4%)
• Chapter 6 Perception (5%)
• Chapter 7 States of Consciousness (2-4%)
• Chapter 8 Learning (7-9%)
• Chapter 9 Memory (2-4%)
• Chapter 11 Intelligence (5-7%)
The Second Nine Weeks:
* Chapter 4 The Developing Child (7-9%)
* Chapter 12 Motivation and Work (4%)
* Chapter 13 Emotion (4%)
* Chapter 14 Stress and Health (1-2%)
* Chapter 15 Personality (7-9%)
* Chapter 16 Psychological Disorders (6-8%)
* Chapter 17 Therapy (6-8%)
* Chapter 18 Social Psychology (7-9%)
A few of the… Major Projects:
1. Famous Psychologist Biography. Includes role play, interview, 3 page
paper, and product.
2. Article Summaries. Includes copy of article, summary, appropriate
bibliography. Proper forms will accompany this assignment.
3. Controversial Issues Assignment. Take a side and use supporting
details from credible sources.
Materials/Supplies/ Textbook Considerations
1. 3 Stenographer (6x9) notepads per nine weeks.
2. a 3 ring binder (2” – 3”)
3. Pen, Paper, Pencil
4. Flashdrive (optional but will come in handy)
5. Teacher needs: Kleenex, Hand Sanitizer
Question Sets are assigned with each Chapter. These will be due on
the day of the coordinating Chapter Test.
**f.y.i. about Question Sets:
a. write out each question
b. each answer should be a minimum of 5 sentences
c. responses should include…connections to prior learning (can be
cross-curricular), predictions for future issues related to topic, personal
view on the topic…
AP Psychology Schedule of Topics
Week 1 - 2(Prologue and Chapter 1)
Required Topics
History of Psychology
Approaches to understanding behavior and mental processes
Careers in Psychology
Research Methods and Ethics…The Science of Psychology
Thematic Questions in Psychology…Nature v. Nuture Stability v.
Change Irrationality v. Rationality….
Trace the origins of psychology from ancient philosophies to Freudian
concepts into current ideas. Identify various careers in Psychology…What do
psychologists do? Understand the importance of data gathering and research
in psychology (all the methods). Differentiate between Correlation v.
Causation and Qualitative v. Quantitative. Understand the importance of the
scientific method and controls. Understand the choice of specific research
methods in conjunction with the hypothesis. Identify APA guidelines in
animal and human research. Understand advantages and disadvantages of
different research methods. Identify the elements that assist in eliminating
bias in research. Analyze Famous Experiments that serve as examples of
questionable procedures (John Watson, Philip Zimbardo) Differentiate between
types of research statistical measures (mean, median, mode, range etc.).
Explain how researchers use data to define trends and examine new hypotheses
Steno P Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Steno 1 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Essay…See 1 Steno Assignments. Create chart or thinking map to assist with
essay.
Yellow Pages assignment and Brainstorm. Homework: Research a specific
career in psychology
What’s up with that graph? And Did you read the fine print?
Advantages and Disadvantages of various research methods.
Bell Curve, Positive Skew, Negative Skew, Measures of Central Tendency and
standard deviation Assignment.
Naturalistic Observation
Hypothesis and the Scientific Method…
The Survey Says…
Test
Week 2 – 3 (Chapter 2)
Neuroscience and Behavior
Understand polarization, depolarization. Replication of all or none law.
Identify the CNS and PNS, the sympathetic and parasympathetic relationship
(fight or flight, afferent v. efferent, somatic or autonomic). Identify
neurotransmitters and their functions. Associate underproduction or
overproduction of neurotransmitters with specific abilities and
disabilities. Identify inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Understand the
process of reuptake and absorption of neurotransmitters along the neural
pathway. Analyze the function and process of neural imaging techniques (EEG,
PET, MRI, fMRI, and CAT). Identify location, function, and neurological
process of the brain stem, limbic brain, and cerebrum. Understand the
relationship between the limbic brain and the endocrine system. Understand
neural plasticity. Examine vocabulary specific to deficits of the brain.
Steno 2 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Steno 3 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Analogy of neural firing.
Neurotransmitter chart.
Understanding addiction.
Blow Pops and the Nervous System.
The Brain Dance. Mapping of the Brain. Teenage Brain Article.
Fight or Flight. Understanding the impact of STRESS on the brain.
Split Brain Simulation.
THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT
Examining symptoms, causes, and prognosis.
TEST
Week 3 – 4 (Chapters 5 and 6)
Sensation and Perception
Identify the concept of transduction. Identify process of hearing and
seeing. Identify functions and parts of ear and eye. Understand visual
cues. Function of taste, touch, smell, vestibular and kinesthetic senses.
Identify the major rules of Gestalt perception. Distinguish between
monocular and binocular cues. Examine WEBER’s Law, absolute threshold, and
the just noticeable difference.
Steno 5 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Steno 6 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Identify and Label parts of eye, ear, tongue, and nose.
Thinking Map…Process of Seeing and Hearing.
Illusions
Gibson’s “visual – cliff” experiments. What is depth perception (S)?
Why Gestalt Clues matter?
Sour v. Sweet v. Salty. v. Bitter What about Hot and Spicy?
Gate Control Theory of Pain and the Phantom Limb.
Perceptual Influences.
Essay: Neural Plasticity key to survival in a seeing and hearing world.
Test
Week 4 – 5 (Chapter 7)
Consciousness
Analyze the theories of sleeping. Examine and analyze theories of dreaming.
Identify major stages and characteristics of sleep. Distinguish between REM
and NREM sleep. Identify major sleep disorders, causes, and possible
solutions. Differentiate between consciousness, subconscious, and
unconscious. Identify categories of biological clocks and circadian
rhythms. Examine how drugs change or alter consciousness.
Steno 7 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Be Here Now…Conscious, Subconscious, Unconscious
I’m all out of rhythm.
Why I like to sleep?
Quality Sleep Quiz
Sleep Chart
Dream Theory and Application
Drugs and Consciousness
TEST
Week 5 – 6 (Chapter 3 and 4)
Nature, Nurture, and Human Diversity / Developmental Psychology
Understand the influence of genetics and environment on development.
Understand how a characteristic is inherited (recessive or dominant).
Differentiate between inherited and heritability. Examine the significance
of twin and adoption research. Examine the connection between natural
selection and mating preference. Investigate how environment impacts
neurological development. Understand the influence of cultural priorities on
individual development. Examine the development and influence of gender
roles.
Understand the development is a continuous process. Understand that
maturation should be automatic. Identify and distinguish between the various
stages of development (before and after birth). Analyze development in a
cognitive (intellectual), physical, moral, emotional, social, and personal
context throughout the lifespan. Identify specific disorders that may
present in-utero, after birth, early childhood, middle childhood,
adolescence, early adulthood and throughout the aging process. Identify
specific research that assists our understanding of the developmental process
and expectations.
Steno 3 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Steno 4 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Debate on nature v. nurture
Genetic Variation
Natural Selection…”Heeeyyyyyyy”
Theories
Problem Solving and Parenting.
Shopping for boys v. Shopping for girls
Research and Development
Dr. Seuss’ ARE YOU MY MOTHER
Piaget and Toys
Adolescence…EDWARD THE EMU
Memorization Quiz
Aging, Death and Dying
TEST
Assignment: Famous Psychologist Project
Week 7 (Chapter 8)
Learning
Understand that learning can occur for an organism in a variety of ways.
Identify specific characteristics that distinguish classical conditioning
from operant conditioning, social learning, and principle learning. Identify
and understand Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, Bandura, and Piaget’s impact on the
study of conditioning and learning. Examine the advantages and disadvantages
of punishment and reinforcement. Understand and differentiate between
reinforcement schedules.
Steno 8 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
What is autonomic?
Kool-Aid experiment
Identify the specific timing and processes of conditioning. (Using examples)
Thanksgiving Dinner and Bandura (reciprocal determinism)
Systematic Desensitization, Aversion Therapy and Phobias
Is Fear really a gift…connections to conditioning
TEST
Week 8 (Chapter 9)
Memory
Identify aspects of the various theories of memory. Examine the process for
short and long term memory. Differentiate between the various types of
memories. Distinguish between recall and recognition in testing. Identify
techniques that enhance or increase memory. Identify elements that block
memory either in encoding, storing or retrieving. Examine and understand the
significance of the research of Herman Ebbinghaus.
http://apa.org/monitor/jan00/pi4.html Article on Elizabeth Loftus and the
incidence of False Memory as it influences court decisions. Use this website
(or another to find three cases in the legal system where Loftus’ eyewitness
studies were correct and analyze the circumstances that led to wrongful
convictions.
Steno 9 Assignment (to include: vocab/question set/studyguide)
Thinking Maps (6)…the memory process
Scenarios…and memory
My own memory
Effortful processing and Study Habits
Class activities: Cueing, Priming, Multi-Sensory, Mnemonics, Elaboration,
and Shortcuts
TEST
Week 9
Famous Psychologist Project Workday (in-class)
Study for Midterm Exam
