• AP Pscyhology 2020-2021 Course Syllabi 

    ADVANCED PLACEMENT Pscyhology

     

     

     

     

    Dear Student:

     

    Congratulations on your course selection of Advanced Placement Psychology. You have made a wise yet demanding choice. You will have the opportunity to find out what makes people tick and have a better understanding of yourself as well. I have high expectations for this class and demand students who are willing to put in the required effort necessary to succeed. My goal is for every student enrolled in the class to take the AP Exam in May, giving you the chance to earn college credit. That requires dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work on both our parts.

     

    AP Psychology is a year-long course comprised of fourteen extensive units which will introduce you to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.  The ultimate goal of this course is for you to perform well on the AP Psychology Exam administered by the College Board of Review. Therefore, it is the expectation that all students will be taking the AP Exam in May to earn college credit. 

     

    CURRICULAR OBJECTIVES

    1. Introduction, History and Methodology

    2.Research Method


    3. Biological Bases of Behavior


    4.  Sensation and Perception


    5. States of Consciousness


    6. Learning


    7.   Cognition (Memory, Thinking, Problem Solving, Creativity and Language)


    8.  Motivation and Emotion; Stress & Health


    9.  Developmental Psychology


    10.  Personality

    11.  Testing & Individual Differences

    12. Disorders & Abnormal Psychology

    13.  Treatment of Psychological Disorders

    Here is what you can expect in this course…

    •   A lot of independent reading from the text and selected primary sources
    • A great deal of class discussion, lecture, and interactive demonstrations/labs
    • Practice tests that will prepare you for the May exam
    • Projects (group and individual) that will help you apply course material
    • Quizzes & Exams.  You will find these very helpful when it comes to how well you are taking your notes.  If you don’t read, and re-read, you will not do well on the quizzes/tests
    • I promise that I will do MY best to prepare you in the best way I know!

     

    By the end of the year you will be better critical thinkers and will have mastered the content of Introductory Psychology at the college level!

    AP Pscyhology is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policy-making and implementation. It is a year-long course at San Leandro High School intended to meet or exceed the introductory one-semester government course offered at colleges and universities.  The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the various elements of government and politics in the United States and how they work together to produce public policy. 

     

              It examines the critical relationship among the various institutions, government, groups and ideas that make up the dynamic political arena in our country.  This course helps the student to become familiar with the various ideas and theories used to analyze and predict political behavior and the terminology useful in describing and discussing politics. 

     

    It is critical that we, as a society, are familiar with what our government is, and what our government does in order to maintain a system in which an active citizenry controls policy making outcomes.  You will, over the year in this class, learn the generalities and intricacies of the system to help you play a strong role in the process.

     

    Activities include essays, tests, intensive note taking, debates, research projects and use of primary and secondary sources.  Emphasis is on the analysis and interpretation of factual information as it pertains to U.S Government.  The course is designed to give students the opportunity to interact with college-level material.  This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Exam.

    TEXTS

     Myers David G; & DeWall Nathan C.  Myer's Psychology:  for the AP Course 3rd Edition 

     

    OTHER MATERIALS

     

    Other material included but not limited to: news footage and documentaries; Pschology Today; Crash Course 101; various documentaries coverage and current events materials; numerous websites.

     

     

    GRADING SYSTEM & METHODS OF EVALUATION: 

     

    Competency will be measured by quizzes, previous College Board tests, essays, projects and topical papers. 

     

    Can include but are not limited to:

    o   Quizzes on daily/weekly readings

    o   AP style multiple choice and free response tests

    o   Socratic discussion participation and evaluation

    o   Major research projects

    o   Class activities

    o   Current events assignment 

     

    GRADES

     

    College Board Guidelines will be adhered to.  Grades are calculated on a total point system:

     

    Participation                                                    20%

    Class Work                                                      10%

    Homework/Projects                                        20%

    Tests/FRQs/Quizzes                                        50%

    Extra Credit (where opportunity allows)

     

    PARTICIPATION

     

    Participation will be an integral part of the class and will be included directly into the grade.  Participation will be defined as bringing materials to class, attending class, being on time, staying awake with head off the desk, participating positively in activities, responding when called upon, following my basic classroom rules and having assignments completed and on time. 

     

    This course is set up to be equivalent to a college class. There will be a large amount of reading, discussion and note-taking, followed by evaluation, synthesis, critique and overall analysis of information. The course will also include in and out-of-class essays, quizzes, multiple choice exams and verbal participation.

     

    Students who want to be successful should possess the following characteristics:

     

    • Critical thinking skills
    • Intellectual maturity
    • Cornell note-taking skills
    • Personal discipline and self-motivation
    • Passion for learning and at least some interest in becoming politically aware
    • Higher level reading comprehension skills
    • The ability to hear opposing views and respectfully disagree

     

    MAKE UP

     

    Make up work will be accepted for excused absences only. Excused absences have to clear in 5 business days.  No late work will be accepted.  1 day out = 1 day to make up!  Make up test must be completed before the next scheduled test.   Quiz make ups will be scheduled once a week.  Video viewing will be scheduled once a week.  My discretion.

     

    THE AP TEST

               

    The AP Test for Pscyhology will be administered in May 2021.  It is a 60 multiple choice and 4 free-response question test.  Taking the test comes with a nominal cost, $95.00 but passage of the test earns college credit in political science at most major universities in the U.S.  It is my expectation that you will sign up for the AP Test; it is, after all, what the course is/was designed for. Look up your preferred colleges and universities’ policies on awarding AP credit for more specific information