Dr. Steven Mark Sachs       Los Angeles Valley College

Fall, 2011

Section 3334   6:45p.m.–9:55 p.m.   Wed    Behavioral Sciences 104

PSYCHOLOGY 1: Introductory Psychology

Syllabus

NAVIGATING THE SYLLABUS

Here are the main sections in this Syllabus. You may scroll through the whole thing or click on the item to jump directly to the portion of the Syllabus in which you are interested.  You may click on the compass symbol  anywhere in this document to return to this NAVIGATING section.
  

Press HERE to go to Additional Links of Interest  (including SAMPLE EXAMS and SAMPLE SYNTHESIS PAPERS!) 

NOTE:  A downloadable copy of this Syllabus is available online.  It is in “pdf” format, so you must have the free software “Adobe Reader” on your computer.  You can get Adobe Reader at:  http://www.adobe.com.  Click on the “Get Adobe Reader” button and read the next screen carefully so you get the correct version for your computer.

The Syllabus file is here:  http://www.SachsAcademics.com/PsychSyllabusFA11.pdf.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  The formal statement of learning objectives for this course is:  Students will be able to evaluate behaviors and mental processes using basic psychological concepts and theories.  It's a pretty good description of what you'll be learning over the semester!

DETAILED COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Here's the formal list of lecture objectives:

1. Evaluate the various psychological approaches to understanding human behavior such as: psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, biopsychological, and/or cognitive theories.
2. Examine Psychology's origin and history.
3.  Differentiate between "pop" psychology or pseudopsychology (e.g. astrology) versus scientific/research methods and/or psychological theories and research findings.
4. Examine concepts, theories, definitions and key terms in psychology and apply them to real life situations.
5.  Compare and contrast various psychological theories, research, and/or ideas from each of the major psychological areas.

TEXTBOOK: Text for the course is: Baucum, D. and Smith, C.  Kagan and Segal's Psychology: An Introduction (9th ed.):  Ft. Worth: Harcourt Press, 2003.

Bought a used book?  See the Addendum at the end of this Syllabus for how to proceed.

Thinking of selling your book when class is over?  There are tear-out pages for homework.  Note that photocopies of homework pages are acceptable BUT all answers must be in original RED ink in your own cursive handwriting.

CONTACT:    If you need to contact me, use FromYourStudent@SachsAcademics.com.  The class web site (and my teaching schedule and background) can be reached at http://www.SachsAcademics.com.  My on-campus phone number is (818) 947-2627, but the e-mail address would be much better to use.

EXAMS & MAJOR QUIZZES:  There will be two Exams: one Midterm (worth 1000 points) and one cumulative Final (worth 1500 points). The Final will consist of approximately 1/3 material from the first half of the class and the remainder from the second half of the class. There will be UNANNOUNCED Scan-Tron or paper-and-pencil quizzes (collectively worth 500 points).  Please obtain Scan-Tron Forms 882 THAT ARE NOT WRINKLED by the end of the second week of class.  Point values are explained below.   Please expect seating to be changed during exams and some quizzes.

QUICKQUIZZES:  During several classes, you will be given a QuickQuiz.  These will require you to submit something (draw something, answer a question, create a diagram, or whatever) on a 3x5 card.  ENSURE THAT YOU BRING AT LEAST ONE 3X5 CARD WITH YOU FOR EVERY CLASS, BEGINNING THE THIRD WEEK OF CLASS.  QuickQuizzes will be worth 100 points collectively for the semester.  These QuickQuizzes may be administered at any moment of the class session other than during an announced break.  They will usually last approximately two minutes.

Repeating Students:  You may use your earlier-semester scores for the 3x5 Exam Questions, the book work (folder), and/or the Synthesis Paper if you give me a signed request and evidence of your scores (other than exam question credits) by the fourth week of class (that's the deadline for making such a request).

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HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS: 

A. Timely completion of all "Associated Reading," as listed in the Chapter Plan/Schedule portion of this Syllabus.  Click HERE to see that plan.   NOTE:  The standard expectation for typical lecture-based college classes on a semester system is three hours per unit per week in homework and study.  For this class, assignments are predicated on NINE hours (3 units x 3-factor) per WEEK, minimum, in study and homework.  If you cannot manage this time commitment, it will be better to enroll in college later when you have enough time for it.

B. Completion of all Active Learning Reviews, Practice Tests, and Exercises in the Study Guide for assigned chapters.  These will be turned in in a SUBMISSION FOLDER on exam dates.  You will earn 150 points for each complete, on-time submission of this work. TO OBTAIN CREDIT you must place the book's hand-completed tear-out sheets (or copies of book pages with your original cursive handwriting in RED INK on the copies) in your letter-sized SUBMISSION FOLDER (with your name on the tab).  The submissions must appear in the exact order they were assigned (e.g., Study Guide sections for chapter 5, then 4, then 7, etc.)  See the Psychology Schedule for the correct sequence.  PLEASE STAPLE EACH INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER'S PAGES TOGETHER (this is a requirement).  For the final exam, only include the Study Guide sections for the work/chapters assigned after the midterm.

Note that if you use the tear-out sheets, the books will not be returnable to the bookstore.  On the other hand, keeping your Psychology 1 textbook provides you with an excellent reference for the future.

MORE ON THE SUBMISSION FOLDER:  On the Midterm Exam day and the Final Exam prep day noted in the Schedule, you will submit these tear-out sheets, each chapter stapled as a group, in a cheap, paper or card, LETTER-SIZED  (not legal-sized) SUBMISSION FOLDER with your name on the tab (so it must have a tab).  It is IMPERATIVE that you use the SAME folder for both the Midterm and Final Exam submission.  Your Midterm credit is recorded exclusively inside your folder, and if you submit a different folder at the time of the Final Exam, you will have no credit (zero) for your Midterm submission.  Folder grading looks like this:  "F" means Full credit (it doesn't mean fail!); you get "F" if you have done 100% of the assigned work and you use a correct folder.  "P" means Partial Credit; you get "P" if you turn in between 50% and 99.9% of all work, if you use an incorrect folder, if you don't staple each chapter together, if they're in the wrong order, or if you choose not to follow another instruction.  "N/C" means No Credit.  You get N/C if you turn in less than 50% of the work.

C. Timely completion of one Synthesis Paper. This paper will be worth 250 points. PLEASE FOLLOW EVERY ONE OF THESE DIRECTIONS IF YOU WISH FULL CREDIT: 

The technical requirements are:  You must use MLA Format for the paper EXCEPT:  The heading may be single-spaced; 12-point fonts must be used; and you should have neither a title page nor a page number.  You can learn MLA Format at the Writing Center.  The paper needs to be EXACTLY ONE 8.5x11" page (longer papers and papers not in MLA format will be returned and may be fixed and submitted late for up to half credit).  Please do NOT include a report cover.  Papers are only accepted on paper (not via e-mail).  MAKE SURE THAT YOU RETAIN A COPY OF THIS AND ALL PAPERS YOU EVER SUBMIT TO ANY CLASS, but submit the original.  While normally this is not an issue, you should be prepared to explain and defend your paper orally.  Note the due date for this paper in the Schedule portion of the Syllabus. 

The website has SAMPLE papers for you to view and includes a section on common ERRORS students make in doing these papers. 

Here are the directions for the paper:

    1.  Use the LAVC Writing Center in the Humanities Building for your editorial work on the paper (not just for MLA Format information).  Go to them with a draft of your paper at least two weeks before the paper is due.

    2.  Describe and interpret an element or event in your life experience.  YOU MUST FOCUS ON YOURSELF.  In doing so, clearly and explicitly employ concepts and terminology that were discussed in class.  The tighter your focus, the better.  Use flawless English.  Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and organization will affect your score.

Example:  Your Synthesis Paper might be based on how your behavior is different when you’re with family members compared to when you’re with your psychology professor.  Such a paper may draw on the Social Psychology and Personality lectures.  It could employ and specifically refer to attributions theory, situational specificity vs. trait theories, research on proximity and familiarity in interpersonal attraction, and/or the Milgram "Cyranoid" experiment.

D. Timely submissions of two separate sets of Exam Questions.  Each set will consist of three questions.  These questions will be worth 30 points each (so the total possible for each submission is 90). These are due as indicated in the Schedule information. TYPE or word-process each question onto one side of a separate 3"x5" piece of paper (thin paper is OK) with your name in the UPPER RIGHT CORNER of each one. Each is to be a four-choice, multiple-choice question (no True/False questions) from a different area studied in class.  Of course, the questions must be in your own words; you may NOT use questions anyone else created.  Indicate the correct answer with an asterisk (*). Rubber band or paper clip (do NOT staple) your cards together. Full credit is awarded only if you follow all directions, submit on time, and the questions are in correct format, in perfect English, and show that you understand the subject matter correctly.

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TIME LINES 

An assignment is considered on time if it is submitted during the first FIVE MINUTES of the class for which it is due. Late means turned in after those first five minutes but within one week of its due date.  Late work is worth a maximum of half credit.

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IMPORTANT NOTES

(1) No children, pets, or non-enrolled people are permitted in the classroom after the first week of class.

(2) You need to attend every class meeting, and you need to be on time.  Note the references to attendance points elsewhere in this Syllabus.

(3) Counselor’s tip:  If you decide to drop this (or any other) class, you must initiate the drop yourself online or at the admissions office.  The way our system works, if you do not drop a class and you stop coming, you can expect to receive a grade of Fail.  Do not assume you will be excluded; drop the class yourself if you decide not to continue with it.

(4) DSPS Students:  If you make arrangements with DSPS for a proctored exam, you must let me know at least THREE WEEKS before the exam date with an official DSPS written note handed to me (not just put in my mailbox).

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES: 

The ONLY extra credit opportunity that requires my pre-approval is #1, below.  You may do any or all of the others without my pre-approval.  As long as you do them properly and they are submitted on time, you may get credit for as many as you wish.  "Extra Credit" is extra:  You are not required to do any of these opportunities.

Extra Credit Opportunity #1:  Note: To receive credit for this assignment you must REQUEST AND RECEIVE DR. SACHS’ APPROVAL FOR THE CHAPTER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO on or before the deadline indicated in the class' Psychology Schedule.  Also, you must obtain a "receipt" from Dr. Sachs the day you receive approval, and this receipt MUST BE STAPLED TO THE PAPER YOU SUBMIT for you to earn any credit.

Some of the book’s chapters are not assigned in this course. You may request to do ONE non-assigned chapter.  You suggest which one you want, and I'll either approve or recommend you do a different one.  For your chapter: read and study it, and submit a one-page paper that teaches the reader TWO main ideas from the chapter.  You must use MLA Format, following the MLA format adjustments specified above for the Synthesis paper.  You must also submit all the Study Guide Active Learning Review and Practice Test materials (but not the exercises) for the chapter, ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF YOUR EXTRA-CREDIT PAPER.  This entire project is worth a MAXIMUM of 50 points. Presenting your paper’s ideas orally will increase your potential extra credit to 75 points.   NOTE the due date for the extra credit paper plus the Study Guide sections (due the same day) in the class sequence section of this Syllabus.  PUT YOUR LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, YOUR CLASS (TTH OR WED), AND THE WORDS, "EXTRA CREDIT CHAPTER X" (where X is the chapter you want to do) AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.  Extra credit assignments must be submitted on the exact day/time they are due (see the class schedule); they are accepted neither early nor late.

Extra Credit Opportunity #2:  An outstanding human communication book has techniques to help you be more effective in virtually all of your interpersonal communications.  Here is its citation for the book that should be available in the LAVC bookstore:  Lowndes, Leil.  How to Talk to Anyone.  New York:  McGraw-Hill Professional, 2004.  For up to 40 points of extra credit due on the general extra credit due date, you may read this book and create a NUMBERED LIST of each technique Ms. Lowndes provides in the book.  For each number, give Ms. Lowndes' TECHNIQUE NAME and ONE SENTENCE in your own words describing why and/or how the technique works.  Note that the assignment is NOT to state what the technique is.  FORMAT:  Your name and the class must appear at the top of the page.  Type or word-process.  NOT in MLA format.  PUT YOUR LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, YOUR CLASS (TTH OR WED) AND THE WORDS, "TALK TO ANYONE" AT THE TOP OF THE FIRST PAGE.  Scoring:  Everything done properly and everything in your own words:  100% credit.  Anything missing or done incorrectly but at least 80% done correctly:  50% credit.  Less than 80% correctly:  no credit.  Of course you must use your own words. Extra credit assignments must be submitted on the exact day/time they are due (see the class schedule); they are accepted neither early nor late.

Extra Credit Opportunity #3:  On the internet you may visit www.prisonexp.org after we have completed the Social Psychology section of class.  Respond with a MINIMUM of two sentences to each and every DISCUSSION QUESTION.  There is a LINK to these questions near the top of the page.  YOUR ANSWERS MUST SHOW THAT YOU SAW THE SLIDE PRESENTATION ON THE SITE.  In your submitted paper, identify each of the 16 discussion questions by their sequential numbers.  You must use MLA Format.  There is neither a minimum nor a maximum number of pages for this extra credit assignment.  PUT YOUR LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, YOUR CLASS (TTH OR WED), AND THE WORDS, "PRISON EXPERIMENT" AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.  The DUE DATE for this assignment is indicated in the class sequence section of this Syllabus.  Worth a MAXIMUM of 40 points.  Extra credit assignments must be submitted on the exact day/time they are due (see the class schedule); they are accepted neither early nor late.

Extra Credit Opportunity #4:  There is what I consider an excellent horror novel (some might call it a "psychological thriller") called, Special Delivery.  Here is the formal citation:  Sachs, Steven Mark.  Special Delivery.  Dallas, TX:  Durban House, 2008.  ISBN:  978-0-9800067-6-6.  Beware:  It has some pretty severe scenes that are not suitable for children or the weak of heart.  You may read the book and create a one-page report.  The report must follow the mechanical requirements of the Synthesis paper noted above (e.g., MLA format, etc.).  In your report, you need to choose ONE character from the book and detail some major psychological aspects of that character.  You MUST use concepts and terminology from either this class' lecture and/or the textbook.  You may earn a MAXIMUM of 40 points for your project.  Extra credit assignments must be submitted on the exact day/time they are due (see the class schedule); they are accepted neither early nor late.

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Grading

Grading will be based on reaching the minimum points shown below. Regardless of your point total, you still need to turn in all written homework assignments. 

A midterm make-up exam can be made available ON HANDWRITTEN REQUEST no later than the 11th week at HALF CREDIT ONLY.  There is no make-up for the Final Exam.  Total possible points are as follows:
 

Here are the Point Thresholds.  NOTE that these were changed

on 8/27/2011 (before semester start) due to administrative

regulations:

How to earn the points. 

NOTE that these were changed

on 8/27/2011 (before semester start) due to administrative

regulations:

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ADDITIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST
 

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Addendum for students who purchase used books: 

Some course credit derives from doing exercises in the textbook, and the pages on which those exercises are done are tear-outs.  Some students may have written on these pages in your book; others tore out those pages.  Somehow you must submit your own work on these pages, so you need to get clean copies of the assigned book homework pages and do your work on those clean pages.  Then you'll submit it in your own folder.  Alternatives include copying just those BLANK pages from someone else's new book, or whiting out or erasing another student's work and replacing it with your own IN YOUR OWN original HANDWRITING IN BLUE OR RED INK ONLY.

Syllabus is subject to change.

Rev. 08272011/1534