Psychology


Psychology CP Syllabus

Course Overview

This course is designed to be a study in human behavior. Topics covered during the duration of this course will include history, sensation, perception, learning, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, treatments, and development. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the science of psychology.

Required Text

Richard A. Kasschau: Understanding Psychology. 2003, McGraw-Hill. New York, NY.

Course Materials

  • Chromebook (fully charged)

  • Earbuds

  • Pen or pencils

  • Notebook Paper

  • Binder



Course Requirements:

  1. Attendance: As a result of block scheduling, you are only permitted five absences per semester in each class. Any unexcused absences and/or parent excused absences after the fifth absence will result in the student needing to complete seat time recovery in order to not fail the class due to attendance.

  2. Make-Up Work: All make-up assignments (classwork, homework, quizzes, tests, etc.) are due within FIVE (5) class days of your return to school. Any work, including tests and quizzes, not completed and/or turned in within the five-day period will be assigned a grade of zero. In accordance with our school-wide late work policy, ten points will be taken off the late work for every day the work is late. For any missed assessment, it is the responsibility of the student to coordinate a time to make up the missed assessment with the teacher within the five days of returning back to school.

    • Field Trips and “Principal Approval” absences are not a part of the five days to make up work


  1. Materials Needed:

  1. Pen or pencil

  2. Chromebook (and charger)

  3. Paper

  4. Notebook

  5. Colored pencils/markers if wanted - I will have colored pencils in class.


  1. Class Rules:

  1. Students will be on time.

Be seated in your assigned seats when the tardy bell rings. Go to the restroom, the water fountain and/ or your locker BEFORE you get to this class. If you are late to class, you must obtain a tardy pass from the front office.

  1. Students will be prepared. This means you will have the required class materials in class every day.

  2. Be respectful at all times. Please raise your hand before speaking, and do not talk while someone else is talking.

  3. Electronic devices (cell phones & Chromebooks, etc.) ONLY ALLOWED when indicated by the teacher.

Chromebooks will need to be charged and ready to use for classroom assignments/activities.

  1. There will be no music listening devices permitted during lectures and assessments. If the class is working on an independent assignment, students may listen to music at an appropriate volume.

  2. Your own work should be turned in to receive credit - no cheating or copying other students' assignments.

  3. Do not work on any other subjects during this class unless instructed otherwise.

  4. Procedures for leaving the classroom:

    1. For the first 10 and last 10 of each class, going to the restroom or going to the water fountain is off limits.

    2. Stay in your seats until the bell rings, and I dismiis you. In other words, do not line up at the door.


  1. Consequences:

  1. Verbal Warning

  2. Parent Contact

  3. Before/After School Detention

  4. Referral


Grading Procedures:

Minor Assessments (Classwork, homework, quizzes, activities, etc.) = 40%

Major Assessments (Tests & Projects) = 60%

Final Exam (to be taken in January)– 10% of the student’s F1 grade

Grading Scale

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 60 -69

F: below 59 - No GPR point credit


MAKE-UP WORK POLICY:

  • Make-up work is defined as work not completed or turned in due to a student’s absence.

  • This policy is set by the district.

  • Students may be allowed to make up work due to absences that are excused, unexcused or related to discipline with no penalty within 5 days or a reasonable time according to GCSD board policy.

  • If a student misses work due to an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to coordinate time with the teacher within 5 days of return to make up the work. Any work not submitted within the 5 day makeup period will turn into “late work.”

  • Alternative assignments may be given for performance-based tasks that cannot be recreated in a make-up format.

  • If a student is present on the day a test, quiz or project due date is announced and then absent on the day of the test, quiz or project deadline, he/she must be prepared to take the test, quiz or turn in the project on the day he/she returns to school.

  • Field trips and participation in other extracurricular events (such as athletics) are considered attendance days. Work missed due to such events can be submitted electronically by midnight on the day that it is due. Items that cannot be submitted electronically should be submitted the following attendance day.

  • Students are encouraged to utilize the before and after school tutoring programs to complete make-up and late work in a proactive manner.



LATE WORK POLICY:

Teachers reserve the right to alter this policy based on extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the administration.

  • Late work is defined as work not completed/turned in on time even though the student attended the class.

  • Any assignment which is not turned in on time will be deducted 10 points off of the original grade earned for each school day the assignment is late up to five days.

  • After five days, the student will be assigned a 0 for the assignment.

  • Late work will not be accepted after the end of a grading period.

  • Students who have 504/IEP/ESOL accommodations specifically allowing for extra time may exceed the 5 day window to maintain compliance with their respective educational plan.

  • Students are encouraged to utilize the before and after school tutoring programs to complete make-up and late work in a proactive manner.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Units/Topics

Q1

1-Approaches to Psychology and Perspectives/Foundations

2-Memory and Cognition

3-Learning

4-Biological Basis of Behavior/Neuropsychology

5-Sensation and Perception

6-Motivation and Emotion

Q2

7-Theories of Personality

8-Psychological Disorders and Treatments/Therapies

9-Development

10-Stress and Health

Review for Finals

Final Exam (January)



PARENT COMMUNICATION:

I will contact parents when students are having problems with their grades, attendance, or behavior. Parents can keep track of grades by checking progress reports and report cards. Parents can use BackPack to check grades, attendance, and messages from me.

Parents may contact me at any time by calling 355-2848 and leaving me a message on my voicemail or by e-mailing me at dfish@greenville.k12.sc.us. Email is the easiest way to communicate.


Videos

  • Crash Course Psychology by topic

  • TED Talks

  • Discovery Education

  • BBC

  • PBS

  • National Geographic

  • YouTube videos related to specific psychology topics if approved as "Watchable by Greenville County Schools"

These will be previewed before being shown in class.

  • Television episodes and movies may be shown that directly relate to psychology topics and have activities to go along with what we view. Examples: The Three Faces of Eve, A Beautiful Mind, Inside Out, The Grinch, Spongebob. This will vary depending on the available time and class interest.

Permission slips will be sent out in advance if needed.