IB/AP Psychology
Mr. Woodside
Nogales High School
(626) 965-3437 x3543
[email protected]
Edmodo Group: IB Psychology Mr. Woodside, Code: 3tk75i

Course Description:

IB/AP Psychology is an entry-level college psychology course. This class conforms to the IB standards for Psychology and the College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Introductory Psychology Examination. It covers the following topics: methods, approaches and the history of psychology as a science, biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, cognition, motivation and emotion, development psychology, personality, testing and individual differences, abnormal psychology, treatment of psychological disorders and social psychology.

Objectives:

-Students will examine various theories about human development, mental processes, behavior and interaction.
-Students will be introduced to the terms and concepts that psychologists use, and the special topics which draw people to psychology.
-Students will learn about the relationship between psychological findings and their own lives.

Student Expectations:

-Students will be expected to be on time to class and ready to start working when the bell rings.
-Students are expected to be in class on a regular basis in order to keep up with assignments and important information.
-Students will be expected to complete all assignments and homework on time and to the best of their ability.
-Students are expected to participate in class discussions, role-playing, and group activities and other in-class assignments.
-Students are expected to follow the simple class rules at all times.

Student Behavior:

You are to be commended for taking on the challenge of a college-level course during this year. If the effort is put in, the rewards can be significant. It is our goal to create a level of understanding and interest in psychology that will benefit you in this class and the rest of your college-level classes. Punctuality and excellent attendance are required and necessary to succeed in this class. Therefore, the Nogales High School attendance policy will be strictly enforced. In addition, all students are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a college setting. Those who do not can expect fair and consistent disciplinary consequences for their inappropriate actions or attitudes. Students who continue to display inappropriate behavior in class will be dropped from the course. It is also expected that students will come to class with the appropriate materials every day.

Textbooks:

Zimbardo, Philip G. Psychology, AP Edition, 2010
You are responsible for reading and studying the survey text. While much of the text will be discussed in class, some of it will be covered through independent learning. Everything in the book and supplemental readings is going to be on the IB and AP exams, so you are expected study all of it. Failure to read the entire text will likely have a negative impact on your grade. The workload for this course will be heavy at times. There will be a significant amount of required reading for this course. In addition to the reading required from the textbook, additional reading will be assigned during the semester including primary and secondary documents like news articles, research reports, and case studies

Notebooks:

Each student must maintain an IB Psychology notebook. Students are required to purchase a large three-ring binder with a set of dividers. The notebook must be organized in the following fashion:

Section 1- Class Notes and Chapter Questions
Section 2- IB Section: Biological Level of Analysis
Section 3- IB Section: Cognitive Level of Analysis
Section 4- IB Section: Sociocultural Level of Analysis
Section 5- IB Section: Abnormal Psychology
Section 6- Networking Assignments and AP Review Materials
Section 7- Miscellaneous

This binder will be collected at the end of the year and graded but should be maintained throughout the year in order to help the student prepare for exams.

Grades:

Since our objective will be to prepare you for both the IB and AP exams that are administered in May, exams and quizzes will make up 40% of your grade. During the first semester there will be two college-level exams (a midterm exam and a final exam). In the second semester, there will be a midterm and a final project. There will also be various quizzes, and a variety of writing assignments and projects designed specifically to aid you in preparing for the end of year exams. Very little extra credit is offered; do not count on using it to save your grade. Whatever grade you earn at the end of the term is the grade you earn in the class. There is no negotiating.

Grade weights are as follows:

Exams/Quizzes: 40%
Assignments/Essays/Projects: 30%
Participation: 30%

Every student will be expected to take either the AP Psychology Exam or the IB Psychology Exam. The cost of the AP exam is $86, at full price, but is discounted for any student eligible for free or reduced lunch. Please see Mrs. Hall if you have any questions. The IB Exam is $157 for registration and $108 for the exam itself. There is also a discount available for the IB exam for students eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Additional Information

**** All due dates for various assignments are final!!!! If you have an excused absence on the date an assignment is due, the assignment will be due the day you return to class. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!
****Any assignments turned in after the due date will only receive half credit!!!!
****All work, unless otherwise specified, MUST be completed using black or dark blue ink.

Course Outline

Unit I: History, Perspectives, and Research Methods

Unit II: Biological Level of Analysis

Unit III: Cognitive Level of Analysis

Unit IV: Socio-cultural Level of Analysis

Unit V: Abnormal Psychology

Unit VI: Sensation and Perception

Unit VII: Learning

Unit IV: States of Consciousness

Unit VII: Emotion and Motivation

Unit VIII: Psychological Development

Unit IX: Personality

Unit X: Testing and Individual Differences