Advanced Placement Psychology

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Arianne Frink

Email: frinka@salineschools.org
Phone: 734-401-4252
Location: Room C141

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce you to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior
and mental processes of human beings and other animals. You will be exposed to the psychological facts,
principles, and phenomena associated with the major subfields within Psychology. You will also learn about
the methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

COURSE MATERIALS:

Myers, D.G. Psychology, Myers in Modules, 8th ed. New York: 2008

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

3-Ring Binder (2-3) where you will keep all module outlines and journal article reviews, notes and
handouts (14 divider tabs needed)
3x5 Flashcards
College ruled lined paper or spiral notebook

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Prepare to do acceptable work on the AP Psychology Exam.

2. Study the major core concepts and theories of psychology. Be able to define key terms and use
these terms in everyday vocabulary.
3. Be able to apply psychological concepts to your own lives, and recognize principles when
encountered in everyday situations.
4. Develop critical thinking skills, and become aware of the danger of blindly accepting or rejecting
any psychological theory without careful, objective evaluation.
5. Build your reading, writing, and discussion skills.

THE AP EXAM: MAY 1, 2017

The AP Exam will take place on May 1, 2017 and is approximately two hours long. The exam is made up of
two parts: Mutliple Choice and Free Response.
Multiple Choice:
70 minutes
100 questions
accounts for 2/3 of the final score
Free Response:
50 minutes
two essays
accounts for the final 1/3 of the exam score
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

QUIZZES/TESTS (50%): Each unit test will mimic the AP College Board Exam; there will be one essay and 50
multiple-choice questions. Tests will be timed according to the College Board guidelines in order for students
to practice exam-taking. Unit tests will progressively become cumulative. We will, as time progresses, take
released exams from the College Board.

ASSIGNMENTS (50%): The other 50% of your grade will come from assignments other than tests and
quizzes. The majority of this grade will come from completing daily module outlines and flashcards, but there
will also be projects and other assignments that go into the grade.
MODULE OUTLINES: Module outlines for the first few units in the textbook are available on
Google Classroom. While reading, you must take notes, which will allow us to engage in
discussion and allow you to take further notes during class. You can either download my outlines
from online to use as a guide or simply create your own outline based on the textbook. I will
periodically do a spot check of completing notes in class. Your module outlines will be
periodically collected and graded; the grade will be based on the thoroughness of both reading
and class notes. This doesnt mean taking massive amounts of notes; it means there will be
evidence that you have effectively covered all the pertinent information. You must have a system
set up where I will be able to tell which notes were completed before class and which were
added during lecture.
FLASHCARDS: Flashcards are mandatory first trimester. There are over 700 terms we will
cover over the course of the year, which will be made available on Google Classroom. They are
vocabulary terms that have proven helpful in reinforcement of the material, and they will come
up on the AP Exam. The terms are divided into units and you will be required to know them. You
must use actual note cards and the flashcards must be created by you. Electronic flashcards will
not be accepted. You will follow a prescribed format for each flashcard, as described by your
teacher.

OTHER: Also included in this category will be various assignments, such as labs write-ups and
other activities. There will be additional assignments after the College Board exam in May.
Details on these assignments will be forthcoming.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

1. Be prepared for this to take time. Your success in class is directly correlated to the time you spend
outside of class; a rule of thumb suggested by colleges is to spend about two to three hours outside of
class for every hour you spend in class.
2. Do the reading. In terms of the course assignments, nothing will occupy more of your time than
reading and studying the text. Research has shown that the strongest correlation of success in college
level classes is reading ability. If you are a good reader, you have a distinct advantage. If you are not
a good reader, know that it is going to require extra time and effort on your part to succeed.
 3. Take complete reading and class notes. Put them in your own words. Dont write down
something you dont understand without asking about it. Leave some blank space on each page to
make additions and clarifications. This will all be modeled for you. It is very important to review
your class notes each day while they are still fresh in your mind. Expand them, clarify them, and add
examples so that they will make sense when you go back to study from them later.
4. Learn to read more effectively. You can read more effectively by doing the following:
a. Read actively; dont just look at the words. If you spend a half hour reading, but are unable
to recall anything when you are done, you have wasted your time.
b. Preview a module quickly before you begin, and review the material frequently. Pause at the
end of each paragraph and summarize mentally, in your own words, what you just read.
c. Do not ignore pictures, diagrams, tables, and sidebars in your textbook. These features serve
to make the text more interesting and may include pertinent information. Also, the brain
LOVES visual imagery!
5. Create a vocabulary card file. Half of the battle is vocabulary. As mentioned, these flashcards are
required first trimester. Hopefully you will see the value in them (if you use them correctly) and will
continue this practice on your own for the rest of the year. As you make the cards, you are already
beginning to learn the vocabulary. The flashcards also provide an excellent means of review.
6. Cramming for tests is one of the worst ways to prepare for exams. The brain HATES this!
a. Space out your studying, you will process information much more effectively this way.
b. There are practice exams available online, they are an incredibly helpful way to study. You
can find them at the website listed in the textbook.
7. Stay motivated. Keep in mind that your level of motivation is much more important than your ability
level. If you want to succeed, and if you are willing to put in the necessary effort, you will succeed.
Attitude, study skills, determination and discipline count for more than ability.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Late assignments will not be accepted. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. This
refers specifically to module outlines and flashcards.
2. If you have an unanticipated excused absence (illness or family emergency) on the day of a test,
or the day an assignment is due, you must make-up the work on the day you return to school.
3. For planned absences (e.g. college visitation), please make arrangements with me in advance.
You are also responsible for obtaining any class notes/handouts from classes you have missed.
All make-up tests must be made up before or after school, not during class or lunch.
4. There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phone use in class. You will be permitted to use cell
phones only when explicitly stated by your teacher for educational purposes. If you are found
using a cell phone for anything outside of these purposes (this includes texting, social media,
etc.), your phone will be taken away for the remainder of the school day.
5. Relax and enjoy the class! We are going to have a great time learning some really cool stuff!

AP PSYCHOLOGY UNIT GUIDE

Units MODULES
1. Memory 24: Intro to Memory
25: Encoding Info
26: Retaining Info
27: Retrieval
28: Forgetting & Memory Construction
2. Intro to Psychology 1: History & Scope of Psychology including Approaches
2: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science
3: Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions
3. Neuroscience & Behavior
4. Nature/Nurture & Human Diversity
5. Human Development
6. States of Consciousness
8. Learning
7. Sensation & Perception
9. Thinking, Language & Intelligence
10. Motivation & Emotion
11. Stress & Health
12. Personality
13. Social Psychology
14. Psych. Disorders & Therapy
4: Neural and Hormonal Systems
5: The Brain
6: Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary History
7: Environmental Influences on Behavior
8: Prenatal development & the Newborn
9: Infancy & Childhood
10: Adolescence
11: Adulthood, and Reflections on Developmental Issues
18: Waking & Sleeping Rhythms
19: Hypnosis
20: Drugs & Consciousness
21: Classical Conditioning
22: Operant Conditioning
23: Learning by Observation
12: Intro to Sensation & Perception
13: Vision
14: Hearing
15: The Other Senses
16: Perceptual Organization
17: Perceptual Interpretation
29: Thinking
30: Language & Thought
31: Intro to Intelligence
32: Assessing Intelligence
33: Genetic & Environmental Influences on Intelligence
34: Intro to Motivation
35: Hunger
36: Sexual Motivation
37: Achievement Motivation
38: Theories of Emotion
39: Experiencing & Expressing Emotion
41: Stress and Illness
42: Coping with Stress
43: Modifying Illness-Related Behaviors
44: The Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective
45: The Humanistic Perspective
46: Contemporary Research on Personality
55: Social Thinking
56: Social Influence
57: Antisocial Relations
58: Prosocial Relations
47: Intro to Psychological Disorders
48: Anxiety Disorders
49: Dissociative & Personality Disorders
50: Mood Disorders
51: Schizophrenia
52: The Psychological Therapies
53: Evaluating Therapies
54: The Biomedical Therapies