Clinton Community College

Plattsburgh, New York

Main page Intro home   papers learning objectives

Psy101  Introduction to Psychology
Fall 2008
June Foley, Professor
Office: 532
Phone: 562-4177

 
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 1-2:00 pm
I am often in my office outside of my office hours.  You can check my on-line schedule for my class times and times reserved for meetings, or just stop by to see if I'm there.
Overview
Course Description: A survey of the major areas and theories in psychology, introducing students to the research methods, terminology and diversity of contemporary psychology. 
 
Course Goals
  1. Students will be able to describe the scientific methods used to investigate human behavior in psychology.
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and analytically, applying the principles of good decision making and the logic of scientific inquiry.
  3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the connections between theory and practice, and be able to apply classroom learning to situations in life outside the classroom.
  4.  Students will be able to explain each of the basic principles of learning, including classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning.
  5. Students will be able to explain the basic principles of human thought including, how memory works, how people think and the failures of reason that are common, and the concept of intelligence and the influences on it.
  6. Students will be able to describe the ways in which other people and society influence our behavior, including the principles of conformity and obedience.
  7. Students will be able to describe the impact of genes on species typical behaviors and individual variations in behavior.
  8. Students will be able to explain the basic functioning of the human brain including how neurons work and the major areas of the brain and their functions.
Textbook
Weiten, Wayne (2008) Psychology Themes and Variations Briefer Edition. Clinton Community College
 
Supplements (Packaged with the textbook) an on-line (See course resources) study guide that makes an individual study plan for you based on your pre-test scores for each chapter.  The Thompson website also includes video clips, flashcards, puzzles, and much more.
 
On-line Quizzes:  This course requires chapter quizzes taken on-line through SUNY's Angle platform.  Quizzes are to be your own work.  Quizzes may be taken 2 times.  The second attempt will count.
 
Attendance
College policy is that students must attend class regularly. Students who miss more than 15% of class periods may be withdrawn from the course or given a grade of "F". Students will be marked present if they answer when roll is called in the first few minutes of class. Entering the classroom late is disruptive to me and to other students. Please make every effort to be on time.
 
College Policies
Students are expected to follow the College policies outlined in the College Catalog, pages 23-27.  These policies govern grading, standards for academic progress, attendance, and academic honesty.  It is important that you are aware of your rights and responsibilities according to these policies.
The Academic Honesty Policy applies to work completed on-line through CourseSpace.  Penalties for representing someone else's work as your own on a quiz, exam, or as part of a paper can be severe.  All written work is automatically submitted to Turnitin.com.
 
Materials
You will need a number 2 pencil for all exams. These are not provided by the college.
 
Exam make up policy
There will be 4 exams. Make-up exams will be given with written documentation verifying a serious and unavoidable situation only. No exceptions.  Exams may be taken early with prior arrangement.
 
Papers All written work in this course will be submitted through an Angel drop box that is a part of this course.
 
Late Policy--Papers
No paper will be accepted late without prior permission from the instructor. The late penalty will be waived for students who attend class on the day the paper is due and hand it in by 11:59 pm. 
 
Please keep all your exams, papers, homework, etc. until the semester is over in case of a discrepancy.
Calculation of Final Grade

 

15 Quizzes   
15%
3 Exams   
40%
1 Wiki research  paper
10%
1 Wiki Group  Project   
20%
1 Comprehensive Final Exam   
15%
Using my Office Hours
I want every student in this class to succeed. Please use my help. I will discuss your studying strategies and help you find better ones; I will review your papers before you turn them in; I will review material you find especially difficult. I enjoy outside of class contact with my students.
 
Course Outline and Assignments
All reading is to be completed BEFORE the class for which it is assigned.

 

Date Topic Reading Assignments in Weiten Assignments Due
8/25 Overview Syllabus  
8/27 Perspectives in Psychology Chapter 1  
8/29 Critical Thinking    
9/1 Experimental Design 33-41  
9/3 Descriptive Research Methods 42-61  
9/5 Designing Good Research    
9/8 Neurons 63-70  
9/10 Brain Structure 70-83  
9/12 Genes 84-95  
9/15 Sensation and Perception  97-119  
9/17 other senses 119-135  
9/19 Review/Catch-up day    
9/22 EXAM   Quizzes must be completed PRIOR to Exams. 
9/24 Sleep 137-155  
9/26 Hypnosis/Meditation 154-156  
9/29 Drugs 156-167  
10/1 Classical Conditioning 169-176  
10/3 Operant Conditioning 177-203  
10/6 Practice with CC and OC    
10/8 Memory 205-216, 223-226  
10/10 Forgetting 216-223  
10/15 Improving Memory and Its Falibility 227-233  
10/17 Decision Making 243-250  
10/20 IQ 250-256  
10/22 Critically Thinking about IQ 256-271  
10/24 EXAM   Quizzes must be completed PRIOR to Exams
10/27 Perception and Attribution 467-485  
10/29 Obedience and Conformity 485-499  
10/31 Analyzing social Influence    
11/3 Wiki Organizational meeting    
11/5 Wiki Research day    
11/7 Sex 279-288  
11/10 Emotion 288-303  
11/12 Childhood 305-312 Wiki Research Paper Due
11/14 Piaget 314-319  
11/17 Piaget and Kohlberg 319-320  
11/19 EXAM    
11/21 Wiki Posting day    
11/24 Modern Theories of Personality 349-371  
12/3 Stress Chapter 12  
12/5 Mental Illness 456-473  Wiki Due
       
 

 

Comprehensive Final Exam Schedule TBA
psy10101c  (9 am class)      
psy10102c  (10 am class)      
psy10103c (11 am class)