Kamehameha High School s1

KAMEHAMEHA HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT SCHOOL YEAR 2010-2011

COURSE SUMMARY ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR: KUMU KAUKA

OVERVIEW

AP Psychology is a one-semester, freshman-level college course that is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. By the time you complete this course, you should have a firm grasp of the numerous psychological terms and concepts, notable psychologists and their contributions, significant studies and the methodology used in psychological research, and the application of psychological theory within the various subfields of psychology. All students enrolled in this course are required to take the AP Psychology Exam. The pace of this course is extremely intense since, as with a typical college introductory psychology class, we cover the material (all nineteen chapters) in one semester (14 weeks). Fear not, however. The results of past AP Psychology Exams have demonstrated that our students are more than capable of handling the challenge (i.e., 96% of last year’s students passed with a 3, 4, or 5 on the exam—half of them earned a 5). We can and we will excel!

Students will be required to take the National Advanced Placement Exam in Psychology for obtaining college credit. AP EXAM FEE: $84.00 (approximate) - payable at the beginning of second semester.

PREREQUISITE

A short discussion with the instructor so that the student becomes aware of the extensive course requirements and workload in order to make an informed decision about whether or not he/she is willing to commit the necessary time and effort to succeed in this class. If the student decides to enroll in the course after this discussion, he/she should pick up the study materials (e.g., textbook, study guides, and CD) and begin preparing for class.

COURSE MATERIALS

Myers, D. G. (2004). Psychology (7th ed.). New York: Worth Pub. Straub, R. O. (2004). Study guide to accompany David G. Meyers Psychology, 7th edition. New York: Worth Pub. PsychInquiry. Software. New York: Worth Pub. PsychSim5. Software. New York: Worth Pub.

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.1 COURSE OBJECTIVES

The goals of the course are to: 1. Further stimulate a joy of learning (learning, in general, and learning psychology, in particular); 2. Increase students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in order to enhance academic success at the college level and beyond; 3. Foster greater confidence and self-esteem in students by teaching them to set high standards, to accept nothing less than excellence from themselves, and to establish a persistent desire and work ethic to achieve excellence; 4. Expose students to the world of scientific psychology so that they have a firm foundation from which to build their knowledge base through further study in college; 5. Sufficiently prepare students to pass the AP Psychology Exam (scoring a 5, 4, or 3).

Integration of Technology Kamehameha Schools provides access to many technological tools to enhance the teaching and learning process such as laptops, online resources, BlackBoard, probes, etc. We support the integration of technology as a critical component in preparing students to thrive in our global society. As appropriate to each course, teachers will provide further classroom expectations and guidelines as to the extent technology (e.g. laptops, websites, BlackBoard, etc) will be utilized for research, instruction, assessment, and communication purposes.

INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS

To meet the goals of this course, I will: 1. Set the level of expectation (i.e., standards for success on the AP Psychology Exam and in college); 2. Provide students with sufficient knowledge (through lectures, activities, handouts, and classroom demonstrations) to insure success in this course, on the AP Psychology Exam, and in their further educational pursuits in psychology; 3. Provide feedback so that students know which areas they have sufficiently mastered or those areas in which they need further study.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

To meet the goals of this class, students are expected to: 1. Study the material for mastery. To do so, you must: a. Read thoroughly. Don’t be satisfied with letting your eyes simply roam across the words. Understand what you’re reading. If you did not get the point of section that you just read, read it again and again until you have thoroughly consumed the lesson. If you’ve never done this before I challenge you to do so. With persistent practice, you’ll find that your academic success will be greatly enhanced and, more importantly, you’ll find greater pleasure in reading. b. Become an active participant in the learning process.  Think of examples from your own experiences that relate to what you’re reading or to what is being covered in class. Share these examples in class discussions to stimulate greater understanding of the material.

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.2  Ask questions whenever you need further clarification of the material.  Take notes in class. Not only does this help you to acquire the material but it also keeps you physiologically and mentally active. 2. Come to class prepared. Remind yourself of the objective each day—to excel in all you do and consume as much knowledge as possible—and come prepared to learn. 3. Complete assignments on time. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. If you need to ask about late work, you’re in the wrong class. 4. Keep track of your progress (KS Connect). 5. Initiate study help sessions if your grade is less than satisfactory (B- or lower), if you need further clarification of the content material, and/or if you need help with skill development.

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT

Each week we will follow the same format. 1. By Monday, you should have read the chapter (or chapters) that we will cover that week and have completed the respective study guides. So each Monday, we will maintain the following procedures: a. Turn in your completed study guides at the beginning of class. b. Pick up my lecture notes for the unit. These notes contain additional information to supplement the text. These notes will also contain various handouts and activities that you may do on your own. I strongly suggest you do most, if not all, of these activities. They will benefit you in two ways: first, and most importantly, the activities will enhance your acquisition of the material, and secondly, the points that you gain from doing these activities will be added to the objective section of the unit exam. c. We will also take a short 10-point quiz at the beginning of class. 2. Each Thursday, you need to pick up the objective and free response exams. Both sections are due at the beginning of class on Friday. The free response section must be typed (single spaced). Note: It would be preferable to hand these exams out on Friday, but you’ll already have much to do each weekend preparing for the next unit. Previous students have not found this format to be a problem. I’m sure that you’ll do fine as well. Oh yes, I realize that take home exams also open up the possibility to cheat. So I want you to remember this point: cheaters cheat themselves (particularly in this case). Their cheating ways (and minor successes) usually lead them to take bigger risks and eventually they get caught (when it really hurts). More importantly, deep down within them resounds a vast emptiness because, more than anyone else, they know that they lack the skill and moral fiber to succeed through scrupulous means. I don’t have to know who cheats, the cheater knows. I trust that each of you is honorable and will succeed on your own merit. Don’t cheat yourself. 3. Each Friday, you should begin reading the next chapter (or chapters) and completing the respective study guides.

COURSE CURRICULUM

The course curriculum is based on the AP Psychology Course Description and includes all of the major content areas that will be covered on the AP Exam.

Content Area Percentage Goals

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.3 I. Methods, Approaches, History…………………………………. 7-9%  Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science  Approaches 1. Biological 2. Behavioral 3. Cognitive 4. Humanistic 5. Psychodynamic  Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research  Statistics 1. Descriptive 2. Inferential  Ethics in Research

II. Biological Bases of Behavior…………………………………. 8-10% A. Physiological Techniques B. Neuroanatomy C. Functional Organization of Nervous System D. Neural Transmission E. Endocrine System F. Genetics

III. Sensation and Perception…………………………………… 7-9% A. Thresholds B. Sensory Mechanisms C. Receptor Processes D. Sensory Adaptation E. Attention F. Perceptual Processes

IV. States of Consciousness……………………………………… 2-4% A. Sleep and Dreaming B. Hypnosis C. Psychoactive Drug Effects

V. Learning…………………………………………………….. 7-9% A. Biological Factors B. Classical Conditioning C. Operant Conditioning D. Social Learning E. Cognitive Processes in Learning

VI. Cognition…………………………………………………… 7-9% A. Memory B. Language C. Thinking D. Problem Solving and Creativity

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.4 VII. Motivation and Emotion……………………………………. 7-9% A. Biological Bases B. Theories of Motivation C. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain D. Social Motives E. Theories of Emotion F. Stress

VIII. Developmental Psychology…………………………………. 7-9% A. Life-Span Approach B. Research Methods (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional) C. Heredity-Environment Issues D. Developmental Theories E. Dimensions of Development 1. Physical 2. Cognitive 3. Social 4. Moral F. Sex Roles, Sex Differences

IX. Personality…………………………………………………… 7-9% A. Personality Theories and Approaches B. Research Methods C. Assessment Techniques D. Self-concept, Self-esteem E. Growth and Adjustment

X. Testing and Individual Differences……………………………… 5-7% A. Standardization and Norms B. Reliability and Validity C. Types of Tests D. Ethics and Standards in Testing E. Intelligence F. Heredity/Environment and Intelligence G. Human Diversity

XI. Abnormal Psychology……………………………………….. 7-9% A. Definitions of Abnormality B. Theories of Psychopathology C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology D. Anxiety Disorders E. Somatoform Disorders F. Mood Disorders G. Schizophrenic Disorders H. Organic Disorders I. Personality Disorders

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.5 J. Dissociative Disorders

XII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders……………………… 6-8% A. Treatment Approaches 1. Insight Therapies: Psychodynamic/Phenomenological Approaches 2. Behavioral Approaches 3. Cognitive Approaches 4. Biological Approaches B. Modes of Therapy (e.g., individual, group) C. Community and Preventative Approaches

XIII. Social Psychology…………………………………………… 7-9% A. Group Dynamics B. Attribution Processes C. Interpersonal Perception D. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience E. Attitudes and Attitude Change F. Organizational Behavior G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Week 1 (January 10-12): Prologue (The Story of Psychology) Week 2 (January 16-19): Chapter 1 (Thinking Critically with Psychological Science) Week 3 (January 22-26): Chapter 2 (Neuroscience and Behavior) Week 4 (January 29-February 2): Chapter 3 (The Nature and Nurture of Behavior) Chapter 4 (The Developing Person) Week 5 (February 5-9): Chapter 5 (Sensation) Chapter 6 (Perception) Week 6 (February 12-15): Chapter 7 (States of Consciousness) Week 7 (February 21-23): Chapter 10 (Thinking and Language) Chapter 11 (Intelligence) Week 8 (February 26-March 2): Chapter 8 (Learning) Week 9 (March 5-9): Chapter 9 (Memory) Week 10 (March 12-16): Quarter Final Review and Exam

Week 11 (March 19-23): Chapter 12 (Motivation and Work) Chapter 13 (Emotion) Spring Break (March 26-30): Chapter 14 (Stress and Health) Week 12 (April 2-5): Chapter 15 (Personality) Week 13 (April 10-13): Chapter 16 (Psychological Disorders) Week 14 (April 16-20): Chapter 17 (Therapy) Week 15 (April 23-27): Chapter 18 (Social Psychology) Week 16-17 (April 30-May 11): Review and Practice AP Exams

PsyAP Kauka.doc 4/29/2018 p.6 May 15, 2007 AP Psychology Exam

May 22-24, 2007 Quarter Final Exam

GRADING PROCEDURES

3 rd Quarter (40% of semester grade) 4 th Quarter (40% of semester grade) Exams Exams Objective exams 40% Objective exams 40% Free response exams 20% Free response exams 20% Homework packets 20% Homework packets 20% Quizzes 10% Quizzes 10% Quarter Final Exam 10% Quarter Final Exam 10%

Cumulative Final Exam (Objective + Free Response) 20% of semester grade

A word of caution: Please note that failing to turn in an assignment results in your earning a zero on that assignment, which could be as much as 58% worse than an F.

The Grading Scale

Letter Range in Letter Range in Grade Percentages Grade Percentages

A 93-100% C 73-76% A- 90-92% C- 70-72% B+ 87-89% D+ 67-69% B 83-86% D 63-66% B- 80-82% D- 60-62% C+ 77-79% F 0-59%

STUDY HELP

Students are encouraged to initiate study help when, and as often as, desired. I will be happy to meet with students during my unscheduled periods or during period 9.

EXTRA CREDIT

The operative word here is “extra.” That is, students are expected to expend sufficient time and energy to prepare for exams and complete the assigned work to achieve an A. Students who do not expend sufficient effort on the assigned work, do not deserve the opportunity to increase their class average by doing supplementary work. Therefore, extra credit work is available only to those who have completed all assignments on time and have consistently met the high quality standards—that is, students who are achieving an A or B+. Of course, you must initiate the dialogue.

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