AP Psychology

Fall 2015-Spring 2016

Central East High School
____________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Teresi
Email: cteresi@centralusd.k12.ca.us

Room: 903

Website: mrsteresi.weebly.com
Google Classroom: Class code is xzch1u
Course Description:
The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and
mental processes of humans and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and
phenomena associated with each of the fourteen subfields within psychology. Students will be provided with a learning
experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. Additionally, students will be
prepared to pass the AP Psychology exam.

Texts/Materials:

Our primary, adopted text is Psychology, AP Edition by Philip Zimbardo

It is highly recommended to purchase an AP review book such as
o Barrons or Strive for a 5

Students will study the 14 subcategories within psychology though not necessarily in this order. The title
of each subcategory and their focus area are listed below:
Unit I: History and Approaches
1. Foundations in philosophy
2. Theoretical approaches in explaining behavior
3. Different domains of psychology
4. Major historical figures
Unit II: Research Methods
1. Types of research
2. Independent, dependent, confounding, and control
variables
3. Difference between descriptive and inferential statistics
4. Ethical issues in research
Unit III: Biological Bases of Behavior
1. Basic processes and systems
2. Influence of drugs on neurotransmitters
3. Endocrine system
4. Nervous system and its subdivisions and functions
Unit IV: Sensation and Perception
1. Sensory transduction
2. Sensory processes
3. Common sensory disorders
4. Role of attention in behavior
5. Major historical figures
Unit V: States of Consciousness
1. States of consciousness and their impact on behavior
2. Sleep and dreaming
3. Hypnosis
4. Psychoactive drugs, dependence, addiction, tolerance,
and withdrawal
Unit VI: Learning
1. Classical, operant, and observational learning
2. Schedules of reinforcement
3. Insight learning, latent learning, and social learning
4. Key contributors to the field of learning
Unit VII: Cognition
1. Differentiate systems of memory
2. Principles that underlie encoding, storage, and
construction of memories
3. Strategies for memory improvement
4. Problem-solving strategies
5. Characteristics of creative thought and creative thinkers
Unit VIII: Motivation and Emotion
1. Apply basic motivational concepts to understand behavior
2. Motivational theories
3. Theories of stress

4. Theories of emotion
5. Key contributors to the field
Unit IX: Developmental Psychology
1. Interaction of nature and nurture
2. Conception and gestation
3. Maturation of motor skills and cognitive abilities
4. How sex and gender influence development
Unit X: Personality
1. Compare/contrast major theories on personality
2. Research methods used to investigate personality
3. Assessment strategies
4. How culture influences personality
5. Key contributors to personality theory
Unit XI: Testing and Individual Differences
1. Define intelligence and how its measured
2. Theories of intelligence
3. Test design
4. Interpret the meaning of scores/normal curve
Unit XII: Abnormal Behavior
1. Contemporary and historical conceptions of what
constitutes a disorder
2. DSM as the primary reference for diagnosis
3. Major diagnostic categories
4. Strengths and limitations of various approaches
5. Positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels
6. Intersection between psychology and legal system
Unit XIII: Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
1. Major treatment orientations used in therapy
2. Compare/contrast different treatment formats
3. Effectiveness of specific treatments to address specific
problems
Unit XIV: Social Psychology
1. Apply attribution theory to explain motives
2. Structure and function of group behavior
3. Attitudes and how they change
4. Processes that contribute to differential treatment of
group members
5. Impact of social and cultural categories on self-concept
and relations with others
6. Variables that contribute to altruism, aggression, and
attraction
7. Important figures in social psychology

Students will be required to complete key assignments for each unit of study. The key assignment either highlights an important feature or
enables the student to more fully interact with the content in the specific area. The following are possible key assignments for each unit:
Unit 1 Mind, Behavior, and Psychological Science
Unit 8 States of Consciousness
Statistics Lab
Dream Journals
Unit 2 Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Human Nature
Unit 9 Motivation and Emotion
Create your own brain mobile
Case Study
Unit 3 Sensation and Perception
Unit 10 Personality
Station labs
Personality Portfolio
Unit 4 Learning and Human Nurture
Unit 11 Social Psychology
Behavior Modification Experiment
Breaking Social Norms or Pay it Forward
Unit 5 Memory
Unit 12 Psychological Disorders
Mnemonic Devices
Case studies of various disorders
Unit 6 Thinking and Intelligence
Unit 13 Therapies for Psychological Disorders
Differing Intelligence test analysis
Skits or Story Books
Unit 7 Development Over the Lifespan
Unit 14 From Stress to Health and Well-being
Personal Development Scrapbook
Personal Evaluation and Plan

Methods of instruction will include, but are not limited to:

1. direct instruction (lectures, discussions, readings, and demonstrations specific for mastery of content)
2. self-directed learning reading the text, articles and content pertinent to the field of psychology
3. development of writing skills while students complete journals, analyses, and essays
4. use of a variety of instructional materials and resources including electronic media, professional journals, reference materials,
and textbooks
5. self-directed, cooperative, and collaborative learning opportunities to increase responsibility of students for their own
learning,
6. use of practice AP exams to determine preparedness
Grading Scale:
D- 60-69%
Grade Categories:
A- 90-100%
F- 0-59%
Exams/FRQs/Quizzes: 40%
B- 80-89%
Projects/Key Assignments: 30%
C- 70-79%
Classwork/Homework: 30%

Classwork/Homework Policy:
No work accepted after exam.
Absent work will be available on the Class Website. YOU are responsible for work when you are absent.
Students are expected to keep a well-organized notebook of all course-related materials (e.g. syllabus, lecture notes, study
guides, homework, quizzes, exams, handouts, etc.)
Contact me via email if you will be out for an extended period.
Tests: Tests occur after each unit of study. Students will review before each test. Students will not be allowed to use notes for the tests.
Tests are comprised of multiple choice and FRQs.
Misses Tests/Quizzes: Students with an excused absence on a day a test/quiz is given must make up the test Tuesday or Thursday at
lunch BEFORE the next exam. If a student is absent for an extended period (e.g. more than 5 days), an appointment for making up the
test must be made. Complete loss of credit for an exam will result if the exam is not completed by the following exam date.
Re-takes: You will be required to complete a review assignment prior to re-taking any exam. The re-take will be a different version of
the exam.
Classroom rules of Conduct:
Come PreparedThis means mentally as well as physically!! Leave your baggage at the door and be ready to immerse
yourself into History! Be in your seat and working on bell work when the bell rings.
Live Responsibly: Be accountable for your learning. Dont make excuses, make productive choices.
Act Safely- Always keep your hands and belongings to yourself. Bags should be hung on the back of your chair to avoid
accidents.
Work Together: Share ideas, listen, communicate, complete your fair share.
Show Respect: Only one person talks while everyone listens. Treat others with dignity and respect. Students should feel safe
to exchange ideas. Professional courtesy should always prevail. Respect school property as well as the property of others
This includes returning any borrowed materials to the owner in a timely fashion (e.g. lecture notes, handouts). No writing
on the desks.
TardiesSee Student handbook. School policy will be followed.
Cell phone use will be restricted according to class need! School policy will be followed.
COLLABORATING V. CHEATING: Collaboration is the discussion of material and assignments for
the purpose of attaining clarification and producing deeper insight. When collaborating,
explanations and answers should reflect ones own thinking and ideas. Cheating is the division
of the assignment designed to limit how much work one student must do; cheating is also the
acquirement of ones individual work to be replicated by another. Work that is replicated, to
any extent, will receive a 0 for both the student that acquired and provided the assignment.
Assignment #1 Due on First Day of Class

I have read the attached contract and agree to work with Mrs. Teresi to hold my
child responsible for completion of AP Psychology coursework.
Email ____________________________________________________
Phone # __________________________________________________
Parent Signature ___________________________________________
Please initial on one of the lines below:
My child is allowed to watch all or part of the listed videos appropriate for Psychology studies.
__________
My child is only allowed to watch PG rated videos appropriate for Psychology studies. My
student is responsible for stepping out of the room and completing an alternate assignment
during viewing time. __________
My child is NOT allowed to watch videos appropriate for Psychology studies. My student is
responsible for stepping out of the room and compelting an alternate assignment during
viewing time. ________
I have read and understand the attached contract and agree to hold myself
accountable for all AP Psychology coursework. I understand that Mrs. Teresi is

available to help me achieve success and will contact my parents should I fall
behind in my responsibilities.
Student Signature: ________________________________________________