Syllabus
Course Schedule
Course Requirements
Grading Procedures

Professor:  Amy Jo Stavnezer
Office:  Morgan 109
Office hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1-2, or by appointment
Contact info:  ajstavnezer@wooster.edu, x2215

Required Textbook:
Myers, D. G. (2005). Exploring Psychology, 6th Ed. Worth Publishing: New York.
Supplemental readings will be provided on ERes (Electronic Reservation via Library website)
         Password: Psych100

Classroom Etiquette: 
The classroom is meant to be a learning environment, both from the instructor and from one another. However, learning is inhibited when there is a lack of respect for one another’s individuality as well as for the class as a whole. In order to better facilitate a beneficial environment for all, I have decided to set a few ground rules.

• BE ON TIME. People coming in late disrupts the flow of the class and places them behind in the material covered in class. Our class time is precious and limited, and no one would like to spend that time repeating material for late-comers. Occasionally, being late cannot be helped, and that is fine. But routine tardiness shows a lack of respect for the entire class, and it will not be tolerated.

• DO NOT PACK UP EARLY. As stated above, our time together is limited and we will use the entire 50 minutes.  Please do not begin to pack up until that time has expired, it disrupts your classmates who are trying to pay attention.

• RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN YOU WISH TO SPEAK. There are times when several people want to speak, so some just blurt out their responses. This behavior, especially when repeatedly perpetrated, takes away people’s equal access to the classroom forum. If you speak out of turn, you will be ignored.

• NO TALKING. Discussions or comments with your neighbors while I or one of your classmates is speaking is disrespectful to us all. If you missed something that was said, let us know and the speaker will repeat it.

• TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. Any phones or beepers will be turned off or otherwise silenced during class time. If your phone rings during class, leave, literally, take your stuff and leave.  I find this intolerable and completely disrespectful, this will be counted as one-half of an absence.

• Breakfast really is an important meal and should not be skipped.  If you need to, you can bring it to class as long as you are respectful and dispose of the trash at the end of class.

These rules may seem brutally obviously, but I am laying them out to let you know how serious I am about establishing a learning environment built on mutual respect.

Course Schedule:

Course Requirements:
The general format of this course will be lecture-based, HOWEVER, this does not mean that your only responsibility is to show-up to class and listen.  By taking an active role in your learning -- reading the text material BEFORE lecture, coming prepared with questions or comments, asking for clarification during lecture, meeting with other students in study groups, reviewing and recopying notes (see attached sheet on More Effective Note Taking Strategies) -- you will improve your learning and most likely your grade.

1.     Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes unless you have a valid medical excuse.  Your absences will be noted in the gradebook and will factor into your final grade.  Missing more than one-third of the classes throughout the semester (excused or unexcused) will be grounds for dismissal from the course.  You are expected to arrive on time, as class will begin promptly at 10:00, and arriving after that time will count as 1/2 of an absence.  Be aware that we will cover material and/or use examples in class that may not be available in your text but will be fair-game for tests or homework assignments. If it is necessary that you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a fellow student, and only after reviewing them may you set up an appointment with me if you have remaining questions.  Please do not ask me is you "missed anything important" I wouldn’t teach it to you if I didn’t think it was important.

2.     Readings:  As stated above, it is in your best interest to complete all reading assignments BEFORE class.  This does not mean simply skimming through the pictures while walking to class.  It means reading all of the information, taking notes on concepts that are unclear, formulating questions for clarification, and relating previous knowledge to new concepts (read pages 31-32of your text for useful reading strategies).  This will benefit you in multiple ways.  Being that this is an introductory course, there is a good chance that the vocabulary, concepts and theories are unfamiliar.  By reading the text prior to class, you will expose yourself to these new terms and when we cover them in class you will have a much better chance of understanding, rather than being bewildered by foreign concepts.  Repetition is a key in learning.  If you read before class and then hear the words again during class, you will have repeated your exposure to the material, thereby enhancing learning (not that 2 times is enough, but it is certainly better than 1).  In addition, I would like for us to use class time for examples, clarification and concept development instead of a vocabulary hour.

3.     Tests:  We will have 5 tests throughout the semester and you will have an opportunity to improve your lowest grade with an additional research assignment (more detail will be given on this later in the semester).  Please mark the dates of these tests on your calendar now, as they are not flexible.  The tests will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer. If you are unable to take a test at the scheduled time you MUST notify me as soon as you find out, but it MUST be BEFORE the scheduled test, and it must be for an extremely important reason.  If you notify me in a timely manner a make-up exam will be scheduled within two days of the original test date, if this is not possible, the make-up will be given during final exams.  If you do not notify me prior to the test time, you will be ineligible for a make-up exam. All students will have the opportunity to boost their lowest exam score by completing an additional assignment related to test-taking and study skills.  The assignment is already posted on the class website and it can be completed at any time, however only once by each student.  If you choose to do this extra credit assignment the last possible date I will accept it is December 7^th.

4.     Final Project – Movie Evaluation:  Instead of a cumulative final exam you will have a final movie project to complete.  This assignment involves choosing a movie (rated G-R), pretty much any movie that you want (it does not have to be a "psychological" movie).  You will write an evaluation of the movie and the behavior of the characters according to the following guidelines:  Using a variety of theories/concepts from the course and your textbook you will discuss how each theory/concept can be used to describe various scenes, event, people, thoughts, emotions and/or behaviors in the movie.  The final version of this assignment is due in class, May 3^rd.  Any assignment turned in after 10:00 am on that day will be marked as one day late and reduced 1/3 of a grade for each additional 24 hours late. The formal assignment is attached to this syllabus and is also posted on your website, but for now, start thinking about movies . . .

5.     Homework Assignments:  You are required to complete 4 homework assignments throughout the course of the semester. You will be able to choose those 4 from a possible 8.  These short writing assignments will be an in-depth examination of a brain-related concept or methodology that we discuss in class, and will help develop critical thinking and writing skills, as well as prepare you for the short answer section on the tests.  Most of the readings will be from The Society for Neuroscience Brain Briefings online, but for one assignment you will be asked to find your own popular press article on the brain and summarize and critique it.  They will be graded on a check+, check, check- basis.  You can continue to complete new assignments until you have 4 check+ grades, which can make a big difference in your final grade.  The assignments will be posted on the website as we cover the related topic and will be due via email one week later.  Absolutely no late assignments will be accepted (no excuses), they must be emailed prior to the start of class on the due date. Please do not wait until the final 4 assignments to complete this requirement, as you will have no choice in topic selection at that point, and the point is for you to choose topics that interest you.

6.     Research Participation:  It is my hope that you will choose to be a participant in the experiments going on this semester in the Psychology department.  As a participant you will have first-hand experience with experimental procedure and design, which will supplement our in-class discussion nicely.  You will be given extra credit for participating in these experiments, each 30 minutes of experiments will count as 1 percentage point added to your participation grade, up to a total of 8% points. If you sign up for an experiment and then skip your appointment (without canceling) you will lose the number of extra credit points you would have gained from that experience.  The experimenter’s time is just as valuable as yours, so please respect their time and efforts to collect data toward there project and show up when expected.  In order to prevent this from occurring you should always write down ALL of the experimental information given, experimenter’s name, room number, time, date, phone number. You will sign up for some experiments through an online service at Experimentrak.

7.     Code of Academic Integrity:  It is expected that you will fully abide by the Code of Academic Integrity as written in the Scots Key (http://www.wooster.edu/policies/scotskey.pdf).  The placement of your name, student number or signature on all assignments and tests will represent your pledge that the Code was upheld.  As a reminder, here is the Preamble of the Code of Academic Integrity:  "The academic program at The College of Wooster seeks to promote the intellectual development of each student and the realization of that individual's potential for creative thinking, learning, and understanding. In achieving this goal, each student must learn to use his/her mind rigorously, imaginatively, and independently. An atmosphere in which each student does his/her own work, except under circumstances in which the instructor indicates that additional aid is legitimate and profitable, is necessary for genuine academic mastery. This implies that it is each studentÕs responsibility neither to seek nor to use aid, but to utilize his/her own mind, talent, and inner resources to the fullest extent possible. It also places on each student an obligation not to offer or make available unauthorized sources of aid to other students, knowing that such aid is detrimental to those students and to the College community. Finally, each student must be responsible for the maintenance of an atmosphere of academic integrity by confronting violators or reporting any actions that violate its principles, since such violations ultimately harm all members of the community. These principles merely carry out the general purpose of the College to be a community in which the members find it right and necessary to promote the fullest learning by everyone. In other words, a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity conflicts with the values, work and purpose of the entire College community and is not merely a private matter between an individual faculty member and a student." Cheating in any of your academic work is a serious breach of the Code of Academic Integrity and is grounds for an F for the entire course.  Such violations include turning in another person's work as your own, copying from any source without proper citation, going beyond what is allowed in a group project and lying in connection with your academic work. You will be held responsible for your actions. If you are unsure as to what is permissible, please consult your instructor.

Grading Procedures:

5 Tests	14% each (70%total)
4 Homework Assignments	10%
Movie Evaluation	14%
Attendance	4%
Participation	2%

 

 Your final grade will be determined by the average of all scores above, weighted as indicated.

A	93+	B-	80-82.5	D	60-69.5
A-	90-92.5	C+	77-79.5	F	below 60
B+	87-89.5	C	73-76.5
B	83-86.5	C-	70-72.5