Psych Syllabus summer 2019

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LA VALLEY COLLEGE
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCH 001, 1872
SUMMER 2019
Instructor: Janet Carney, M.A., M.F.T.
Office Hours: daily by appointment, after class in classroom
Email: instructor.carney@yahoo.com
Meetings: 8-10:25, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes,
incorporating theories, concepts, and research findings. Topics include the biological bases of
behavior, gender and sexuality, human development, cognition and intelligence, consciousness,
learning, memory, motivation and emotion, personality, social psychology, psychological
disorders, therapeutic treatments, and applied psychology.
Student Learning Outcome: By the end of this course, students will be able to evaluate
behaviors and mental processes using basic psychological concepts and theory. More
specifically, the successful student of the course will be able to:
1. Evaluate the various psychological approaches to understanding human behavior such as:
psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, biopsychological, and/or cognitive theories.
2. Examine Psychology's origin and history.
3. Differentiate between "pop" psychology or pseudopsychology (e.g. astrology) versus
scientific/research methods and/or psychological theories and research findings.
4. Examine concepts, theories, definitions and key terms in psychology and apply them to real
life situations.
5. Compare and contrast various psychological theories, research, and/or ideas from each of the
major psychological areas.
6. Employ library and other research services to locate, critically analyze, and discuss full-text
peer reviewed journal articles on psychological topics; differentiate professional research
from nonpeer reviewed research.
Texts and Materials: Stapler, index cards and 3-hole punch.
TITLE PURCHASE
PSYCHOLOGY
https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology
Required
Attendance Policy
Students are responsible for arriving before class begins and remaining for the duration of the
course meeting. You may be excluded from the class if you miss 4 hours of class. You are likely
to be excluded if you miss either of the first two days of class. You must be officially enrolled in
the course to be eligible to participate and earn credit. Anyone not officially enrolled will not be

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eligible to take exams or turn in work for credit. It is your responsibility to confirm enrollment in
person when attendance is taken and to check your enrollment status through the online student
information system. If you do not hear your name in class or do not see your name on a sign-in
roster you will not be able to earn credit for the course under any circumstances.
An appointment is not a valid reason to miss class. When you make an appointment, work
around your school hours. Make learning a priority and work your appointments in at other
times.
Course Grading Standards
Letter
Grade
Percent of Total
Points
Grade
Points
A 90 - 100% 4.00
B 80 - 89% 3.00
C 70 - 79% 2.00
D 60 - 69% 1.00
F Below 60% 0.00
Grading:
All grades are earned and based on the student’s performance.
Assignment Points % of Grade Earned Points
Paper 1 100 10%
Paper 2 150 15%
Quizzes (2) 150 15%
Midterm 200 20%
Group Project 100 10%
Final Exam 300 30%
Total points 1000 100%
Teaching Methodology:
Lectures, discussions, experiments, and films are used to explain and to supplement the text.
The student is expected to read the material as assigned. It is the student’s responsibility to bring
up for discussion any material s/he does not completely understand.
Tests:
Two quizzes, a midterm, and a final exam will be given. All tests consist of true/false, and/or
multiple-choice questions. Quizzes have 20 questions, the midterm 50 and the final exam has
100. Scantrons in good condition are required for all tests.
Policy for quizzes NOT exams. You have two quizzes in this class and if you miss one of the
quizzes, the grade you received on the other will be the same minus 10%. To clarify, if you
earned an 80% on exam one, you would earn an 80% on quiz two minus 10% with the final

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percentage of 70% on the missed quiz. Please let me know in advance that you will be missing a
quiz.
Please turn off all electronic devices, remove hoods, remove hats or turn them backward, and
clear your desk. You will not be allowed to leave or answer your phone once you begin the
exam. Anyone leaving electronic devices on will be given an F on the test. Make sure there
are no markings on your desk. Please do not mark on your exams! Make any “reminder”
marks on the right side of your Scantron, NOT the exam. Note that anything presented in
class may be on quizzes or exams.
Study guides:
Slides for all chapters and summaries are posted:
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21APbC7_lXoKx9Uww&id=EF62DE2FDA80A79%2149
5305&cid=0EF62DE2FDA80A79
Make-up Policy:
NONE, there are NO make-ups for quizzes, exams or homework for any reason. Since
responsible behavior-including weekly class attendance-is expected of all students, absence from
a scheduled examination is considered an extremely serious matter. Tests must be taken on the
date scheduled.
Homework assignments are to be neatly prepared and submitted on the due date before the end
of class. You may upload your homework to Canvas if there is an emergency but it must
also be submitted on the due date before the end of class. No feedback will be given.
Work that is not stapled together will not be accepted. NO LATE HOMEWORK WILL
BE ACCEPTED.
Class Room Expectations:
As a courtesy to others and respect for the class, please turn off cell phones prior to each class.
Once the class has started, I expect you to remain in your seat for the entire session. If you leave
to answer your phone or “go to the bathroom” when it rings, it will be counted as ½ of an
absence. Texting is NOT allowed during class time. If I suspect that you are texting, you
will be dismissed from class for the day and counted absent. If you must have your cell
phone on due to an emergency please inform me before the start of class. You may not record
the class or use laptops or tablets. If you think you may need such assistance see
“Accommodations” below. Technological devices may only be used during the Group
Project.
PLEASE NOTE:
I WILL NOT REMIND YOU WHEN WORK IS DUE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO READ YOUR SYLLABUS.
REMEMBER NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED. PAPERS NOT STAPLED ARE NOT
ACCEPTED.
ALWAYS KEEP A BACKUP COPY OF YOUR WORK AND SAVE YOUR GRADED
PAPERS.

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ASSIGNMENTS
Human Development Paper
Homework Due: Divorce and its effects on the development of children is the topic of this
paper. There are two parts to this paper. The first part is based on research and the second is on
your personal experience or that of someone you interview. Please research how a child your
subjects age, would typically be affected by a divorce and how their developmental stage
affected their reactions.
You must attach a peer-reviewed article and cite it at the end of your paper using APA
formatting. Remember that at different ages, children’s reactions vary. Some questions to
consider: Did the child you interviewed act as most children would at their age? How could the
parents have handled the situation more effectively? Did the child blame itself? How were
relationships with the parents affected? Did they act out, and did academic performance take a
downfall?
Everything must be in your own words. No quotes please. Write at least a full, one-page (top
to bottom margin), APA formatting. Please use the Writing Centers guide to APA. Work
must be stapled together with an index card attached by a paper clip with your name only. I
highly encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Lab. If they assist you with your work,
please attach their signature page to the back of your paper.
Grading: Your grade is determined by following the directions of the assignment, proper
grammar and spelling, APA formatting and your analysis of the effects divorce on children.
Writing Center
http://www.lavc.edu/getattachment/writingcenter/Handouts/Basic-APA-Format-Revised-ADA-
Compliant-2018.pdf?lang=en-US
ResearchPaper: 1/22
You will conduct survey research on any topic discussed in the book. The concept of your
research needs to be discussed with me before you begin. Before posting your survey of 10
questions I would like to go over them with you. You will post your questions on Survey
Monkey.
Your APA formatted paper should include:
1. Title page (one page)
2. Main body (two pages, no more than two and a half)
a. Introduction
b. Method
c. Data Analysis (chart or graph)
d. Conclusion
3. Reference page (one page)
Please include three peer-reviewed APA sources. Your paper must be in your own words and
no quotes please. You might download the APA formatting handout from the Writing
Center for assistance with formatting your paper.
Work must be stapled together with an index card attached by a paper clip with your name
only.
I highly encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Lab. If they assist you with your work,
please attach their signature page to the back of your paper.

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Grading: Your grade is determined by following the directions of the assignment, proper
grammar and spelling, formatting and your demonstrated understanding of APA formatting.
1. School library
http://www.lavc.edu/library/home.aspx
2. Writing Center
http://www.lavc.edu/getattachment/writingcenter/Handouts/Basic-APA-Format-Revised-
ADA-Compliant-2018.pdf?lang=en-US
3. How to Read a Scholarly Journal Article
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEVftUdfKtQ
4. How to Identify Scholarly Journal Articles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDGJ2CYfY9A
5. How to Evaluate Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ122WakNDY
6. How to use Survey Monkey
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Online-Survey-With-Surveymonkey
The Game Project
Your group will create an original game. The key requirement is that your game - - which can be
entirely unique or modeled after an existing game e.g., Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit-should be
designed so that advancement or success in the game is dependent on knowledge of
psychological concepts covered in the course.
Design the game for up to eight players, and so that it takes approximately 20-30 minutes to
play. The games must also include all props needed to play (e.g., dice, cards, board, scoring
sheets, etc.). Week 5, we will have a game day in which students get an opportunity to play one
another's games. This will be a fun way to review for the final exam. Grading: Your group
members, you, and professor will grade you according to your individual participation in the
project.
Accommodations
If you are a student with a disability and require classroom accommodations, and have not
contacted SSD, do so in a timely manner. SSD is located in the Student Services Annex, Room
175 or call SSD at (818) 947-2681 or TTD (818) 947-2680, to meet with an SSD counselor. If
SSD has already sent the memo to instructor confirming accommodations required by student for
this class, please meet with me to discuss arrangements.
Financial Aid Financial Aid is available! Call (818) 947-2412. Go to the Financial Aid Office in
the new Student Services Center, first floor. For more info:
http://www.lavc.edu/financialaid/index.htmlindex.html.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of others’ words and/or ideas without clearly acknowledging their source.
When you incorporate those words and ideas into your own work, you must give credit where
credit is due. Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is considered academic dishonesty and is
not tolerated. Anyone found to be plagiarizing or cheating on assignments (e.g., copying or
giving answers, using ‘crib’ sheets, etc.) will (1) receive a zero (fail) on the assignment, and (2)

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be referred to the Vice President of Student Services for further disciplinary action, following
due process. For further information on plagiarism, go to the Writing Center website
(www.lavc.edu/WCweb/plagiarism.html) and refer to the STANDARDS OF STUDENT
CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION in the current Schedule of Classes and Catalog.
Tentative Schedule
(subject to minor changes at my discretion)
Week Reading Assignments
1
July 15
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Research
Chapter 3: Biopsychology
2
July 22
Chapter 4: Consciousness
Chapter 5: Sensation
Chapter 6: Learning
Human Development
Paper: 7/25
Quiz: 1-4, 7/25
3
August 5
Chapter 7: Thinking
Chapter 8: Memory
Chapter 9: Life Span
Midterm: 1-8, 8/8
4
August 12
Chapter 10: Emotion
Chapter 11: Personality
Chapter 12: Social Psych
Chapter 13: Industrial
Research Paper: 9/12
Quiz 9-12, 8/15
5
August 19
Chapter 14: Stress
Chapter 15: Psych Disorders
Chapter 16: Therapy
8/21 Game Day
Party
Final 8/22
FINAL
Thursday
August 22
Time 8-10
Final Exam on everything
covered in class.
FINAL
I do not make a habit of reminding you of scheduling. Please come to class prepared.

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If you have any questions, please bring them up during class.
Mistakes can happen. Any errors found on the syllabus will be fixed ASAP and announced
in class.
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I do not make a habit of reminding you of scheduling. Please come to class prepared.