PSYCHOLOGY 100

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Instructor: Jennifer Merrill

Office: 1122. Office hours held MWF 9:00-10:00 a.m., T 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Phone: (650) 738-4379

E-mail: merrill@smccd.edu

Web site: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/merrill/index.html

COURSE INFORMATION:

Dept. number and section: Psychology 100 JA 39405

Hours: 3 hours lecture per week

Grading Method: Letter grade

Prerequisites: Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 836.

Transfer and GE: Transfer credit UC; CSU (D3), IGETC (Area 4)

Required Text: Myers, David G.. Exploring Psychology (7^th ed.). New York, N.Y.:

Worth Publishing.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this class:

- Students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.

- Students will be able to respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, use the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.

- Students will be able to understand and apply psychological principals to personal, social, and organizational issues.

GRADING

Final grades will be based on a percentage of total points. Student grades will be based on the following:

EXAMS - a total of 220 points possible

Your first three exams will consist of 40 multiple choice items, each question worth one point and one short answer question worth 10 points. Your final exam will consist of 70 multiple choice items, each worth one point, and is cumulative. For each exam you will need a Scantron 886 and a number 2 pencil. Make-up policy: Make-up exams consist of 5 short answer/essay questions. Make-up exams will be given directly after your final examination. Cheating policy: Students caught cheating during any exam will be subject to “Consequences of Academic Dishonesty” as outlined in the Student Handbook. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more information. Electronic translation devices are not permitted. You may use hard copy translators, which must be presented for inspection before each exam.

EXPLORATORIUM – 50 points possible

The Exploratorium is a great place to apply concepts and theories presented in class.

We will visit the Exploratorium as a group on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. The admission rate is $10.00. You will be given an Exploratorium sticker that must be attached to your assignment as proof of attendance.

This assignment is due April 14, 2009, at the beginning of class. After that time, and for each day it is late, I will deduct 10%. (For more information on this policy, see the section on Homework Assignments.)

I will be posting the specific assignment on the bulletin board of my web site later in the semester.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Throughout the semester I will be assigning material to be completed outside of class. Due dates and points will be given at the time of the assignment. These assignments will be due at the beginning of class. After that time, and for each day they are late, I will deduct 10%. For example, if an assignment is due Tuesday and you turn it in Tuesday after class, 10% is deducted. If you turn it in Wednesday, 20% will be deducted, Thursday, 30%, etc.

EXTRA CREDIT – 10 points possible

There are many ways to earn extra credit in this class. You may attend workshops, campus sponsored events, read articles on reserve it the library, or apply concepts learned in class to things presented in the media. You may earn two points for each extra credit submission, and may earn no more than a total of 10 extra credit points. Points earned will be added to points already earned. EXTRA CREDIT MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 5, 2009. Please see the Bulletin Board of my web site for more specific information about extra credit opportunities.

*FINAL GRADE SCALE

Final grades are based on a percentage of points earned. Please keep all graded work until the end of the semester. Ninety percent of points earned is an A, 80% is a B, 70% is a C, 60 % is a D and 59% and below is an F. You can keep track of your grade at all times by recording your scores below. Also, please feel free to check your grade at any time during my office hours.

Exam 1 _____/50 Homework _____/_____

Exam 2 _____/50 Homework _____/_____

Exam 3 _____/50 Homework _____/_____

Final Exam _____/70 Homework _____/_____

Exploratorium _____/50 Homework _____/_____

Extra Credit _____ Homework _____/_____

*Points and number of assignments are subject to change.

BASIC INFORMATION

1. I will shut the classroom door after taking roll and going over the daily agenda. If the door is closed PLEASE DO NOT COME IN. Please contact a classmate to get notes/assignments missed.

2. As stated above, assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class. If you are ill, have a work obligation or some other emergency, you may e-mail your paper to me. It MUST be received during the class time when it is due. After the beginning of class, and for each day it is late, I will deduct 10%.

3. If you are late to any exam you will be asked to take a make-up exam at the end of the semester.

4. If you choose to withdraw you must do so using the WebSmart system. Failure to drop in a timely manner may result in an F in the class.

5. Attendance will be taken daily. Students missing more than five classes (T/Th class) or seven classes (MWF class) may be dropped by the instructor.

6. Please turn off all pagers and cell phones before class begins. In case of emergency - and only in these cases - the cell phone may be placed in silent mode. At no times are cell phones to be answered or used in class for any purposes.

7. All submitted work must be typed (double-spaced) and stapled.

STUDENTS WITH DISBILITIES

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise me during the first week of class. To be provided with the appropriate accommodations, you will need to obtain a signed form from the Disabled Students Programs and Services (650-738-4280).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic dishonesty is a grave mistake and one that I do not take lightly. It includes cheating and plagiarism and should I find you doing either I will adhere to the consequences as outlined in the Student Handbook. I strongly suggest you refer to the Student Handbook for Skyline College’s definitions of cheating and plagiarism as well as consequences.

READING/ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE*

1/20 – 2/10 Introduction to Course

Chapter 1 - Thinking Critically with Psychology

Chapter 2 - Neuroscience and Behavior

Chapter 5 - Sensation and Perception

2/17 EXAM #1 (chapters 1, 2, 5)

2/24 – 3/24 Chapter 6 - States of Consciousness

Chapter 7 – Learning

Chapter 8 – Memory

EXPLORATORIUM ASSIGNMENT DUE APRIL 14

3/31 EXAM #2 (chapters 6, 7, 8)

4/14– 4/28 Chapter 10, Motivation