Psych 1: Introduction to Psychology
Saddleback College
SYLLABUS


Ticket Number
Units 3

WEB PAGE
You can access my web page if you go to your internet service provider, click on file, open, and type http://saddleback.edu/faculty/bferguson/psych
You will find links to all of my courses and to Blackboard on that site.

CONTACT
Phone: (949) 582-4816
Office: BGS 343
Email: bferguson@saddleback.edu

OFFICE HOURS - ONLINE AND BY APPOINTMENT

Textbooks: Psychology Essentials, Second Edition
Author: Santrock       ISBN 0-07-293762--9


COURSE DESCRIPTION
The basic psychological concepts underlying human and animal behavior in such areas as learning, motivation, perception, growth and development, personality, and social behavior.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define the term psychology and demonstrate command of basic vocabulary in psychology.
2. Recognized the difference between the science of psychology and pseudoscience, differentiating between anecdotes and information obtained using the scientific method.
3. Differentiate between applied and experimental psychology in relation to different types of psychologists and what they do.
4. Distinguish among the major theoretical perspectives in psychology (behavioral, psychoanalytic, cognitive, physiological, and sociocultural).
5. Identify or describe how psychological data are gathered and evaluated, and where bias may enter the research scheme.
6. Explain how psychological theories are used to describe, understand, predict, and control or modify behavior.
7. Recognize misuses and unethical applications of psychological principles.
8. Evaluate sources of information in psychology using traditional scientific techniques.


ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Cheating of any sort will not be tolerated. Any student who is caught cheating will receive a zero on that assignment of exam. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

• Looking at another student's paper during an exam
• Using any notes/electronic devices not approved by me during an exam
• Talking to another student about test material during an exam
• Plagiarism - Using someone else's words or ideas, and presenting them as your own


COMMUNICATION
Email is the best and fastest method of communicating with me.
You must note .... in the subject line of all email sent to me. My email is filtered and anything that is not labeled automatically gets deleted.

If you send email from an address other that your school address, make sure that your full name is also included.

I answer questions in a first in first out basis.

Feedback on assignments will be given in several ways:

• Via discussion response (either an overall class response or individual responses on the discussion board).
• In the gradebook in your assignment area.
• Mailed back to you on papers submitted in hard copy.


NETIQUETTE
Proper netiquette is important when taking an online class. There are many useful resources on the web that can guide you in this arena. Please remember that using the written word as we do in an online class can be difficult. Your responses can be misinterpreted by others so be careful with your entries.

Good online netiquette sources to check out are:

  • Netiquette basics
  • Emoticons

ASSIGNMENTS
Click on the ASSIGNMENTS link in your Blackboard homepage every Monday of each week to access your course responsibilities. The assignment will terminate the following Sunday night at midnight. No late work will be accepted.

Assignments for this course consist of:

6 - discussion postings - 30 points
To post, go to your Blackboard homepage, click on discussion board, the assignment, add new thread, and then type your message. Keep it brief. One paragraph please. (SEE BELOW FOR POSTING RECOMMENDATIONS.)

4 - twenty five question, multiple choice tests - 100 points
You will have a test every two weeks. The test will be posted for one day on the Thursday of test week and you will have one chance to complete the test. Once you begin the test, you must complete the test. Treat each test as though you were sitting down for a classroom exam.

4 - short written reflection/application activities. Choose any "APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE" or "SHARPEN YOUR THINKING" exercises from the end of any chapter in the textbook that is a current assignment and write one page about the activity. Apply the information from the chapter to your life. - 40 points
Type your paper (one page) and save in word.
Turn in your paper by clicking "VIEW/COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT" below. Do not email. You must enter your name in the comments box.
To locate and attach your paper click "BROWSE". Then click "SUBMIT" to send your file to me.

2 - Three page Observation/Analysis papers, one to be turned in mid semester and one to be turned in at the end of the semester. Choose any psychological disorder and write a paper addressing the following issues: DESCRIPTION OF THE DISORDER, CAUSATION OF THE DISORDER, AND TREATMENT OF THE DISORDER. - 30 points

Turn in your paper by clicking "VIEW/COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT" below.
Do not email. You must enter your name in the comments box.
To locate and attach your paper click "BROWSE". Then click "SUBMIT" to send your file to me.

THIS WILL HELP YOU WITH THE TESTS: STUDY THE FOLLOWING SEGMENTS FROM EACH CHAPTER IN THE BOOK; chapter questions, flashcards, glossary, Internet exercises, weblinks, FYI's, labeling exercises, animations, interactive activities, and around the globe.

You can access the chapters by logging onto Blackboard, click on your class, course documents, and then on the chapters.

HOMEWORK SUBMISSION POLICIES
Homework folders are available for a week at a time.

The descriptions and submission directions for each assignment are in the folders.
Students are expected to use college level writing skills in all work including email and discussion postings.

Most discussions require a first posting early in the week to allow for question and answer time.

All other work is due by midnight on Sunday night.

LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Always save work with your last name and week i.e., Smith week one doc.


GRADEBOOK
To check your grades, go the student tools area and click on check grades.

For assignments submitted via the digital drop box, and for discussion postings, you will see a blank until I post your score.

Grades are updated each week, some scores post automatically, some do not.

Please wait until Wednesday after the work is due before inquiring about a score.

If you see a picture of a padlock that means something happened during submission and you need to contact me to reset the work for you.

POSTING TO A DISCUSSION BOARD
To Post:

  • Enter the discussion link from the home page or click the link in the assignment folder.
  • Click the title of the discussion forum you want to post to.
  • Click add a new thread, write your entry.
  • Use the spell check at the bottom of the dialog Box.
  • Click submit.

To Reply to classmates

  • Click on the title of their post.
  • Reply in the dialog box.
  • Click submit.

 

DISCUSSION GRADING CRITERIA

Participation in discussions is worth 30 points: guidelines for earning full credit are as follows:
  • Distribute posting evenly during the discussion (not concentrated all on one day or at the beginning and/or end of the period). Your original post and your discussion posts should be one paragraph.
  • Avoid postings the are limited to "I agree" or "great idea", etc. If you agree or disagree with a post then say why by supporting your statement with concepts from the readings or by bringing in a related example or experience.
  • Address the questions as much as possible. Stay directly on the topic.
  • Quote from the assigned readings to support your postings. Include links when you quote from other outside sources.
  • Build on other's responses to further develop threads.
  • Bring in related prior knowledge (work experience, prior coursework, readings, etc.
  • Use proper Netiquette.


HOW TO POST SUCCESSFULLY
Think of the assignment in terms of a dialogue not a writing assignment; engage in a discussion about the texts and issues of the course materials.

Elaborate one single idea and try to keep your message to one paragraph (150-200 words). Texts longer than that are harder to follow on screen. Better formulated, grammatically correct, clear posts attract more attention from both instructor and colleagues.

Before you post, think about the assignment first and jot down notes as you read.

Develop your initial post in a word processing program where you can edit; then post.

Respond to one of your colleagues who supports your opinions or one that lacks supporting evidence or seems to fall short on an aspect that you think is important or "devils advocate."

Avoid responses that offer only right and wrong perspectives and ignore other possible answers: pose open ended question that invite dialogs.

Cite and/or provide links to help your readers associate and/or find the source you are quoting.

Title your post with a descriptive and/or interesting topic to flag the instructor's attention and to solicit response from your colleagues.

After you have posted, check back to see if anybody has responded to you and keep the dialogue going.


GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING ONLINE DISCUSSIONS (EACH ASSIGNMENT)
0-2 points
No original postings (Replies do not count as original postings)

Too long/rambling/unorganized thoughts

Lack of respectful consideration of classmates opinions

Grammar and spelling errors detract from expression of thought/Incomplete response

Postings clustered all on one day


3-4 points
Appropriate, basic, original posting with at least 2 replies to classmates. (Appropriate replies to classmates go beyond social comment's such as "good idea' or "i agree")

Includes all information asked for

Postings spread throughout week

Spelling and grammar do not detract from meaning of post


5 points
Original posting contributes to overall learning and knowledge of the class. May include links to additional resources on the topic

Replies expand upon classmates contribution.

Succinct and to the point, yet complete

3 or more postings spread throughout the week without overpowering the topic

COURSE GRADING CRITERIA

90
-
100
%
=
A
80
-
89
%
=
B
70
-
79
%
=
C
60
-
69
%
=
D
0
-
59
%
=
F


SADDLEBACK STUDENT HANDBOOK
Please read about student services, student responsibilities, expectations for behavior and academic integrity.


IMPORTANT DATES
It is your responsibility to check the schedule of classes for dates to the following important deadlines:

  • First day of class
  • Add without instructor permission
  • Drop with refund
  • Elect CR/NC
  • Drop without "W" grade
  • Drop with "W" grade
     
Questions or comments
about this page may be sent to:
Robert W. Ferguson Ph.D		 Click to return to the
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