REQUIRED TEXT:

Davis, S.F., & Palladino, J.J. (2005). Psychology (4^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. To survey the theories and empirical findings that define knowledge within the subdisciplines of contemporary psychology.

2. To become familiar with the language of each psychological subdiscipline.

3. To understand how psychological knowledge is created.

4. To understand how the findings of psychological research are applied to real world concerns.

5. To think critically about both the creation and application of psychological research.

BLACKBOARD:

Throughout the semester, class assignments, handouts, and general guidance about various aspects of this course may be made available on Blackboard, Virginia Wesleyan College's on-line course management system. To log into Blackboard, you will need your VWC e-mail address as well as the last 4 digits of your social security number. Once in the system, you will find a course listing for General Psychology 201-03.

It is your responsibility to check Blackboard on a regular basis in order to download copies of materials you will need for in-class assignments and for homework. Further information about the use of Blackboard in this course will be provided in class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Exams: Four exams, including a cumulative final, will be given this semester. You are responsible for all assigned readings. Therefore, each exam will cover both book and lecture materials. The format of each exam will consist of some combination of matching, multiple choice, and short answer essay questions. Book questions are likely to be in the matching/multiple choice format. Lecture questions are likely to be in the short answer essay format. Exams 1, 2, and 3 will be worth a maximum of 60 points. The final exam will be worth a maximum of 75 points. Maximum points to be earned = 255. All exams will be taken in class except for the final exam. The final will be available on Blackboard at the end of class, December 7. You may turn this "take home" final in at my office any time between Reading Day, December 9, and the date and time of your scheduled final exam, December 12, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Please carefully observe this deadline. I cannot accept any final exams that are turned in after this time period.

Media Portfolio: To successfully complete this course, you are expected to create a "media portfolio" of newspaper and magazine clippings that illustrate psychological concepts. In completing this assignment, you should include samples from a wide variety of sources including, but not limited to, newspaper articles, movie reviews, magazines, editorial pieces, advice and/or medical columns, and/or cartoons. Each clipping must be annotated, i.e., you will need to tell me in writing the source of your article using appropriate bibliographic formats and explain how what you have read relates to a particular concept, theory, or research finding presented in your text or discussed during lecture. A minimum of 15 items, distributed ideally across, most of the major units of the course is required for the successful completion of this assignment. A maximum of 50 points may be earned for this assignment.

This assignment is due on December 5. If you turn your portfolio in early, it will be graded and returned to you as soon as possible. Your ability to intelligently and insightfully work with course material as well as the care you take in preparing your work will determine the number of points you will be awarded for your efforts. Please take into consideration that this assignment is to be done over the span of the entire semester and will be graded accordingly. (N.B. If you use library materials, you must provide Xeroxes of your clippings. Destruction of property not your own will result in an "F" in this course and a referral to the Honor Council.)

Homework: You will notice that 5 due dates for homework assignments are listed on this syllabus. Each one of these assignments is intended to help you master important course material and to allow you to be more participatory during class. Some of these assignments will be distributed in class. Others will be available on Blackboard. Because these assignments are meaningful only in the context of specific topics, they must be turned in on the dates indicated. Late papers will receive ½ credit if unavoidable absences occur. The first of these assignments is worth 5 points. The remaining five are worth 10 points each. Maximum total points to be earned for these assignments are 45 points.

Grades will be assigned as follows: 329 -350 = A; 315 - 328 = A-; 304 - 314 = B+; 294 - 303 = B; 280 - 293 = B-; 269 - 279 = C+; 259 - 268 = C; 245 - 258 = C -; 234 - 244 = D+; 224 - 233 = D; 210 - 223 = D-; 209 and below = F. If you convert points to percentages (points earned divided by points available), you will see that the cutoffs for A+'s, B+'s, C+'s, or D+'s are at 97%, 87%, 77%, or 67%, respectively; the cutoffs for A's, B's, C's, D's are at 94%, 84%, 74%, and 64%, respectively; and the cutoffs for A-'s, B-'s, C-'s, or D-'s, are at 90%, 80%, 70%, or 60%, respectively. An F would be earned if your percentage of points earned to points available corresponds to 59% or below.

POLICIES:

Expected Classroom Behavior: While in class, you are a member of a scholarly community. Please respect the work of that community by coming to class on time and prepared to learn. Persistent tardiness, talking to your peers about matters not related to our day's activity, reading the newspaper, doing work for classes other than psychology, and eating meals during class are examples of behaviors that show disrespect for one's peers as well as for one's professor and accordingly will not be tolerated.

Attendance: Regular attendance will serve you well. Lecture materials supplement as well as summarize your text. Furthermore, opportunities to participate in class activities, to ask questions of relevance to you, and to have concepts clarified and reviewed are an important part of your experience in this course.

Extra Credit: Extra credit may be earned in two ways.

1. You may receive extra credit for perfect classroom attendance. To receive a bonus of 5 points toward your final grade, your signature must appear on all attendance sheets. These attendance sheets will be distributed during the beginning of class throughout the semester on a variable interval schedule.

2. You may receive extra credit for participation as a subject in a senior research project. Each hour of such participation is worth 2 points. A maximum of 15 points may be earned.

Academic Honesty: Honesty is one of the most valuable assets that a member of an academic community possesses. In recognition of this fact, Virginia Wesleyan has enacted an honor code which is available to you in your student handbook. I adhere to this code explicitly and follow its recommended procedures.

Make-up exams: If a make-up exam is required due to extenuating circumstances, you must make every effort to notify your instructor of your situation, preferably prior to when the exam would be taken in class. In most instances you will have a week to take your make-up. Students who do not communicate in a reasonable and timely way with their professor about the need to take a make up exam and who fail to show up for their exam, will be given a grade of "0" for the missed work.

Incompletes: Incompletes will be arranged for severe emergencies only. Arrangements for incompletes MUST be made with the instructor prior to the end of the semester. A formal contract must be agreed to and signed.

Accommodations for students with special needs: Virginia Wesleyan College recognizes and is sensitive
to students with special needs. In accordance with Title 5, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the college provides reasonable accommodations based upon appropriate and recent medical or other documentation. Students' choice to use accommodations is strictly voluntary; in order to use accommodations, students must register with the Disabilities Coordinator, Fayne Pearson (phone 757-455-3246, or fpearson@vwc.edu ). Based upon an evaluation of the student's documentation and discussion with the coordinator, reasonable accommodations will be determined. Faculty will be notified at the designation of the students. Faculty may
request a week's notice if a student needs testing accommodations.

The instructor will make every effort to abide by the lecture topics and scheduled activities as set forth in this syllabus. However, it must be understood that changes may become necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

1. You are responsible for reading listed chapters in their entirety. The specific pages that are mentioned alert you to topics that will be discussed in detail in class. Reading these designated pages before the lecture for which they are assigned will provide you with a necessary context for understanding material discussed in class.