Welcome to Psychology 110! This website is a suppliment to the course materials.

SYLLABUS
Psychology 110: 
Instructor: Russ Lewis
Office JHG 268 Phone: 824-1861
Email: Russ.Lewis@kctcs.edu
Madisonville KCTCS Website: http://www.kctcs.edu
Spring, 2008

Required Text: Gerrig, Richard J. and Zimbardo, Philip G. (2007). Psychology and Life (18th Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson. IBSN: 0-205-49846-9.

Office hours will be established at the first class of the semester. Other times by appointment.
Official Course Description

A survey course in psychology designed to give the student an introduction to the history, methods, and content of modern psychology. Topics include the history and systems of psychology, psychological research, physiological psychology, personality, abnormal behavior and social psychology.

Course Overview/Objectives

Welcome to General Psychology. This course contains a synopsis of the field of psychology that encompasses the history of the science to the most recent perspectives. In this course you will receive information regarding research and experimentation that have lead to current psychological theory, as well as the most prominent "schools" or areas of psychology. The questions we shall endeavor to answer with regard to psychology are: What is psychology, how did we get to this point in psychology, how is psychology practically applied and what is the future of psychology? In its most simplistic definition, psychology is the study of the individual in society. That leads me to the goals:

1. To expose you to the basic theories, tenets and trends in historic and contemporary psychology in an effective learning environment.
2. To introduce you to the practical application of psychology.
3. To provide the student with a learning environment that optimizes her/his internalizing of the basic principles of psychology as evidenced by the student's being able to demonstrate such in written word, verbalizations, and positive test performance.
4. My last goal, as always, is to give you an opportunity to learn why people are as they are. It is my fervent belief that with greater understanding of the "human condition", the greater the probability of having positive interpersonal and professional experiences.

You may have noticed there were no directives such as, "you will learn" stated in the goals. This is by design, because it is not my job to force learning upon you. I know from experience that learning, while a very serious endeavor, can be highly enjoyable. With that in mind, it is incumbent on you to learn, and I will vehemently try to provide you with an enjoyable, effective (and hopefully fun) environment where you can learn everything you chose to learn about psychology.

Class Policies and FYI

· Class participation, and subsequently attendance, is important to the learning process for me and for you. So, please be ready to participate when you attend. Attendance deficit of 6 or more classes for classes that meet twice weekly, or a deficit of 3 or more classes for classes that meet 1 time weekly, may, at the discretion of the instructor, in correlation with the participation and current grade level of the student in question, may result in a final grade of "E" effectively failing the class.
· Work turned in after announced due dates are subject to lowering of grade at the discretion of the instructor.
· Supplies needed for effective class engagement are left to the student's discretion.
· Withdraw from class will follow the policy as outlined in the 2007-2008 KCTCS Catalog.
· There will be three (3) tests, including a comprehensive final examination. These will cover both lecture and reading assignments (whether or not reading is covered in class).
· Do not be late for tests/final examinations. If you are late you are subject to be dismissed from the test. Dismissal from the test/final examination will result in a grade of zero (0) for that test/final examination. Do not miss tests/final examination. No "make-up will be allowed (except at the discretion of the instructor), and the result will be a zero (0) for that test/final examination.
· There will be five (5) page, double-spaced "term paper" utilizing a minimum of 5 references/resources. (See the schedule on previous page for deadline). The topic will be to choose a person or historic event in psychology that has, in your opinion, made a significant impact (positive or negative). Use references, facts and supposition (light on the supposition) to justify your stance. Your topic must be approved prior to the dead line, which is the date of your first test. The paper is due on second class prior to the final exam (refer to Class Schedule Topics/Reading Assignments on the previous page). For each day the paper is late, the grade will be reduced by one (1) letter grade. After day 5 grade is an "E".
· Grading will be as follows: 3 tests-60% of Total Grade; Term paper-20% of Total Grade; Attendance & Participation-20% of Total Grade.
· Grading scale is: 90-100="A"; 80-89="B"; 70-79="C"; 60-69="D"; 59 and below equals an "E" (or failing grade).
· Plagiarism on term paper = failing grade on term paper.
· I will make myself very accessible via office hours, e-mail and phone (to be provided at 1st class). So, please contact me if you feel the need.
· As a general rule, there are no make up examinations. IMPORTANT: Make up examinations are permissible solely at the subjective discretion of the instructor.
· Students are expected to follow the "KCTCS Code of Student Conduct", found at the web site, www.kctcs.edu. Please show courtesy and respect for others in your class. Place all cell phones and pagers on silent operation, or turn them off. All guests brought to class must be pre-approved to attend by the instructor prior to bringing them to class. Any student, who creates disruption interfering with learning, will leave the class.
· The instructor reserves the right to change any and/or all scheduled class dates, exam dates or due dates for term papers or other course work.
· Do not bring children to class without 1-week prior approval. Under no circumstances bring children under the age of 6 years old to class. My decision will be arbitrary, and final.
· No electronic devices will be allowed for use in class, except for individuals cleared with a disability to use such devices, or at the discretion of the instructor.
· Inclement weather policy: When possible, the college will hold classes during inclement weather. If the college so chooses, there will be a modified class schedule. Otherwise, all classes will occur at their scheduled times. Modifications in schedule will be announced by 7:00 am on radio and television stations for day classes, and by 4:30 pm for evening classes. Announcements will be made on the following stations:

RADIO TELEVISION
WKTG-93.9- FM-Madisonville WFIE Channel 14
WSTO-96.1 FM-Owensboro WTWV Channel 7
WHRZ-97.7 FM-Providence WEHT Channel 25
WYMV-106.9 FM-Madisonville
WMJL-102.7 FM-Marion
WNES-105.0 FM-Greenville/Central City
WFMW-73.0 FM Madisonville
WTTL-1310 AM-Madisonville
NOTE: If local school systems cancel classes, then any classes held at locations in that school system will also be cancelled.

· Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course you are required to contact the Disability Resource Coordinator, room 112 of the LRC, (270) 824-1670.

Any changes in this syllabus will be announced in advance during class.

KCTCS General Education Competencies

I. Communicate effectively.
Students are required to communicate effectively using standard written English. Writing will be assessed via the term paper and essay questions on the tests. The Community College System Rules (CCS) Section V, 2.32 state, "All faculty are expected to call attention to and penalize for errors in English usage and require the rewriting of papers which do not meet acceptable standards." Therefore, you will be graded on all applicable grammatical and spelling rules as well as content of your term paper. In order to practice basic computer skills, such as keyboarding, assigned reports should be typed. Students will be assessed on their ability to comprehend what they have read and what they have heard via testing on course text(s), lectures, and discussions.
o Read and listen with comprehension: as evidenced by appropriate reiteration of class presented information and written factual and abstract/novel application of internalized information heard and read in a 5 page written "term paper". Additionally evidenced via correct answers to test questions.
o Speak and write clearly using Standard English: as evidenced by verbal class participation (both questioning and answering questions), and by writing a 5 page "term paper".
o Interact cooperatively with other using both verbal and non-verbal means: as evidenced by awaiting turn to speak, not interrupting others, not speaking while others are speaking, not otherwise engaging in behavior that is distracting or rude to other persons in the class, and by following the "KCTCS Student Code of Conduct" while participating in class discussion and/or other class activities.

II. Think Critically.
By employing Creative Thinking, students are expected to elaborate upon knowledge to create new thoughts and/or processes. Creativity is demonstrated by being able to take experientially gained knowledge/information and to use this knowledge/information to
successfully engage in a novel situation or novel task. This will be demonstrated by the students in class verbalizations and in the writings contained in their term papers. Students will be assessed on their abilities to interpret, analyze, and summarize a variety of materials by studying and compiling reference and resource materials into a written report indicative of an understanding of problem solving by synthesis of ideas. With regard to ethics and values, students are expected to demonstrate awareness of ethical considerations in making value choices and verbalize such in class discussion and in written form. Students will be exposed to the ethical principles that guide psychological research (as well as research in general) and practical application of psychology in class
work, written term paper, and through lecture. Students will be held to those standards and additionally academic ethics and values including plagiarism and cheating. By use of the textbook(s) and the reference materials for writing their term paper, students are expected to understand, analyze, and summarize, and interpret a variety of reading materials, including the mathematical aspects inherent in behavioral statistics contained in psychology research.
o Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions: as evidenced by utilizing Internet acquired resources in creating the "term paper". Further evidenced by contact with the instructor via E-mail communications, and accessing syllabi and other course specific documents posted in various KCTCS Internet domains.
o Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and or integrating a variety of materials: as evidenced by abstract application of internet resources/information, book acquired information, class lecture, and information acquired from periodical publications in writing a novel 5 page "term paper". Further evidenced by correct answers to test questions that require inductive reasoning.
o Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data to solve a problem: As evidenced by in-class study and explanation of basic behavioral statistics, including but not limited to, correlation coefficient, Cattel's Factor Analysis, and basic psychological research interpretation.

III. Learn Independently.
Students will demonstrate their ability to learn independently by means of preparing a writing assignment that will include references/resources, choice of topics, current world and social implications. Students will share in discussion of current events and the related psychological aspects of such events from world, national and local news, as well as the implications for them personally, in the public forum of the classroom.
o Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information: As evidenced by completing a 5 resource, 5 page term paper applying a psychological aspect/theory to an event or person.
o Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas: as evidenced by participation in class discussion on APA and research ethics and social psychology. Also, utilize information to write a 5 page "term paper" that examines how a psychological aspect and modality that is based on another person's (theorist/researcher) perspective and ideas.
o Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situation: as evidenced by correctly answering test questions in the academic milieu, iteration of "real life" experiences and how the studied and lectured upon class material relates to those experiences in class discussion, and the discussion during class participation of how various psychological disorders effect and are effected by public opinion and public reaction.
o Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products: as evidenced by creation of a written "term paper" that applies the individual student's ideas in a novel way to explain a person's behavior, or person's behavior subsequent to an event (i.e., the most likely cause of Nero's burning of Rome, The effect so the introduction of the birth control pill in the 1960s, respectively).

IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments.
Psychology by inherent nature explores the human condition from complex cultural, historical, and physiological perspectives, not only from each individual's perspective, but also from an integrated dynamic view of these perspectives. This includes how the relationships of the individual affect society/culture and physical environment, and how the society/culture and physical environment affect individuals.
o Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage and culture: as evidenced by correctly answering questions regarding the history of psychology and both evolutionary psychology and social psychology.
o Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical environment: as evidenced by correctly answering test questions regarding physiological, neurological, and environmental psychology and the effects of drugs, physiological deprivations/excesses and toxins on the psychological makeup of the individual.
Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural global community: as evidenced by correctly answering test questions regarding social psychology and culturally induced behavioral differences and historically culturally biased psycho diagnoses. Further evidenced by participation in class discussion regarding culturally induced behavioral differences and historically culturally biased psycho diagnoses.