PSY 140 Introduction to Psychology Fall2011 Dr. Jacklyn Harrah Office: 143 James McDivitt Phone: ext. 8506 e-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: M-F 8:30-9:00, M & W 12:30-2:30, T & TH 11-1 Mailbox in office in McDivitt Hall Course Description This course is designed to introduce students to the study of psychology. It is intended to provide broad coverage of the field by presenting basic theories, research, and applied use of psychology. It will give students a background from which to either pursue more advanced psychological courses, or to retain the information as a basic knowledge of psychology in general. Areas that will be covered include: research methods, biological bases of behavior, human development, sensation, perception, learning, intelligence, motivation, emotions, personality, mental disorders and their treatment, and social psychology. These areas will be approached from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Text: Myers, D.G. (2010). Psychology (9th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.Readings The readings shown on the syllabus should be finished before coming to class. This allows you to participate in the lectures, discussions, and other learning activities. The textbook can easily impart information; the class sessions deal with how to understand and use the information. This is very important since it is often necessary to have read the text material to contribute to class discussion. You are responsible for all readings, whether they are discussed in class or not. Associate Degree Outcomes: Essential goals of the course include the achievement of several measurable outcomes defined by the college as vital to the educated individual at the Associate Degree Level. Two such goals are embodied in this course, and will be assessed. These two Associate Degree Outcomes are: • The ability to evaluate, interpret, and analyze information from both written and verbal sources (ADO #7, Critical Thinking); and • The ability to provide alternative interpretations of specific patterns of human behavior, consistent with current research and theories (ADO #5, Understanding Human Behavior & Social Systems). JCC Academic Honest Policy: Academic honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating, or by helping others to do so. Plagiarism: is the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: • Using data, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without adequate documentation • Submitting other's work as your own • Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical Cheating: means obtaining answers/material from an outside source without authorization. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: • Plagiarizing in all forms • Using notes/books without authorization • Copying • Submitting others' work as your own or submitting your work for others • Altering graded work • Falsifying dataCollaboration: While JCC encourages students to collaborate in study groups, work teams, and with lab partners, each student should take responsibility for accurately representing his/her own contribution. Consequences/Procedures: Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may penalize the student by taking appropriate action up to and including assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, report, exam, or the course itself. Instructors must document all instances of academic dishonesty beyond those of a very minor nature, in writing to the academic dean. The Office of the Academic Deans will record and track students who have been reported as having cheated. If the same student cheats in other courses, the dean will enact sanctions appropriate to level of infraction. The sanction will be selected in consultation with the involved faculty. The Dean can administer consequences up to and including suspension. Student Appeal Process: In the event of a dispute, all parties should follow the Academic Complaint policy. This policy is presented in Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and the Master Agreement. Classroom Expectations: This course involves a number of instructional formats. In order to facilitate the best learning possible, each student is asked to comply with the following expectations: • Only one person will speak at a time, so all can hear clearly. • Cell phones and pagers will be turned off during class meetings. • We will speak to each other with respect and civility. The Withdraw deadline for this semester can be found online through the academic calendar. If you do not wish to complete the class and receive a grade, you must withdraw by this date. The instructor may withdraw any student who does not complete assignments and/or tests in a timely manner. However, do not assume that I will withdraw you. All papers are to be turned in to the instructor, on PAPER, in class the day the paper is due. If this is not possible students should turn papers in DURING BUSINESS HOURS at the Main Office in McDevitt to the receptionist, who will initial, date and time the document and submit it to me. DO NOT slide papers under my office door, DO NOT leave them in my mailbox and DO NOT send them to me via email – papers submitted this way will not beaccepted or graded and will be considered missing. Late papers will be reduced by 10 percentage points each weekday the paper is late. Incompletes will be given only in accordance with JCC policy. (Excerpt from JCC policy; see instructor for a copy of the complete policy.) A student may request an incomplete from the instructor. The incomplete will be granted only if the student can provide documentation that his or her work up to that point is sufficient in quality, but lacking in quantity, due to circumstances beyond the student's control. Furthermore, a written plan for making up the missing work within one semester must be completed by the student. Final determination of whether an incomplete will be given is the instructor's decision. Course Evaluation and Requirements: There are four components to your grade in this course: 1. Quizzes: There will be eleven 20 question quizzes given after each “topic“ is completed (see Topic-Test Schedule for exact material to be covered on each test).