Hasker P. Davis

General Psychology

Psychology 100

Spring Semester 2005

Text:  Psychology: Themes and Variation 6^th edition, by Wayne Weiten.

Instructor:  Hasker P. Davis, Professor of Psychology.  Office Phone: 262-4148, e-mail hdavis@uccs.edu

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and by appointment, Office 4023 Columbine Hall.

Grading Policy: A twenty to twenty-five multiple choice question exam will be given for each chapter.  The time scheduled for an exam in class is the only time you may take tests. Your grade will be based on your average score for the best 13 of the 16 chapter exams plus your extra credits. A grade of A will be assigned for an average of 90% or higher, B for 80-89%, C for 70-79%, D for 60-69%, and F for an average 59% or lower. THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. YOU GET THREE EXAMS DROPPED. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO BE SICK, ATTEND FUNERALS, TAKE CARE OF SICK RELATIVES, OR EVEN SKIP AN EXAM. IF YOU MISS MORE THAN 3 EXAMS YOU HAVE MISSED AT LEAST 25% OF THIS COURSE AND SHOULD DROP.

Extra Credit: You may obtain up to 20 extra credits for this class. Twenty extra credit points moves you up one entire grade. Extra credit is given for your participation in experiments approved by the IRB and posted on the 4^th floor of Columbine hall next to room 430. Extra credits are to be turned when you have completed all tests on December 7, 2005. Each extra credit counts ½ percentage point on your final average.

You can earn up to 2 credits for a summary of an article from your Scientific American readings. You may do up to five articles allowing you to earn the 20 extra credits for a full change of grade. You can not advance more than one grade (e.g., C to B)

Your paper should be approximately two typed pages in length.  Your paper should do the following: 1) Summarize the article.  Do not merely rewrite sections of the article.  State in your own words the question or issue the paper is trying to address, what the researchers did to test their question, what they found, and what it means.  2) Relate what you read to something you learned in class.  This may be difficult if you write your paper early in the semester.  However, to the best of your ability, try to tie the article to other things you learned in introductory psychology.  3) Provide an evaluation.  That is, give me your opinion about the article.  Did you like it?  Do you agree with the findings?  Do you think the study was important vs. trivial?  What questions remain to be answered? Acceptable papers are worth 2 extra credit points.

Classroom Behavior/Student Code of Conduct: Each person in this class deserves to have a classroom environment that is free of disruption and distractions. Any student who disrupts, distracts, or in any way detracts from the learning environment in this class will be given one warning. A second incident will result in dismal from class for the day and a required discussion with the instructor during office hours before returning to class, and if that is not satisfactory the instructor will request an administrative disenrollment from the class. Any tests missed during an appeal of administrative disenrollment can be made up with a paper in APA style of approximately 10 pages.  It is important that the rights of those students who are here to learn are respected. Students are expected to behave appropriately during class. The instructor is the final arbiter of what behavior is appropriate and inappropriate. However, you may use the following principle to guide your classroom behavior: Your behavior should not be disruptive or distracting to the instructor or your classmates. This principle will help you determine appropriate classroom behaviors. This following list is not exhaustive.

1. Come to class on time. Your late entrance is distracting to everyone, especially your instructor.
2. Stay for the entire class period. If you must leave early, sit near the exit in the back and leave as quietly as possible.
3. Turn off beepers and cellular phones prior to coming to class. Take off Headphones. Cellular phones are not to be on at anytime during the class. If you are a physician (You must be on call) or have a verifiable reason (You must have documentation of need) to have your cell phone on, it must be on vibrate and you need to sit in the back row so you can leave to take any calls.
4. Talk only when you have been given the floor. Talking with the people next to you is distracting to everyone, especially the people around you. If you are asking your neighbor a question about the course, it is likely that everyone will benefit if you raise your hand and ask your question of the instructor. The only truly stupid question is the question that remains unasked and unanswered (with the exception of "Will this be on the exam?").
5. Be attentive. You may not realize it but it is distracting to your instructor if you read a newspaper in the back of the classroom or doze off during class. I cannot focus on the information I am trying to convey if I am worried about being boring.
6. Be respectful. It is distracting to have your feelings hurt.

Again, if your instructor finds that you are behaving inappropriately, you will be given one warning. The second instance of inappropriate behavior will result in expulsion from the class for the remainder of the day. If inappropriate behavior continues, further disciplinary action will be taken.

Academic Dishonesty: You are on your honor during test taking. If someone is copying from you, you need to get up and move to another seat. Cheating on an exam or knowingly allowing someone to cheat from your test will result in a grade of F.

An academic honesty offense is defined as the act of lying, cheating, or stealing academic information so that one gains academic advantage. Students are expected to neither commit nor assist another in committing an academic honesty violation. Additionally, it is the student's duty to report observed academic honesty violations. Any evidence of cheating or attempts at cheating will be dealt with severely.  At the very least, cheating will result in a score of 0 on the exam or paper for everyone involved.  Examples of culpable actions include displaying an exam for others to see, looking at another student's exam, and attempting to communicate with another student in any way while taking an exam. In the case of papers, taking credit for work that is not yours is considered plagiarism. It is very important that your work be your own.  If you wish to use ideas or a quote from any source, be sure to properly reference them by citing the author, source (book, article, website), and page number.

January 18, 2006: Introduction and Chapter 1

January, 23, 2006: Exam 1 on Chapter 1. Chapter 2

January 25, 2006:  Chapters 2.  Exam 2 on Chapter 2.

January 30, 2006:  Chapter 3.

February 1, 2006: Chapter 3 and Exam 3.

February 6, 2006: Chapter 4.

February 8, 2006: Chapter 4 and Exam 4.

February 13, 2006: Chapter 5.

February 15, 2006: Chapter 5  and Exam 5.

February 20, 2006: Chapter 6.

February 22, 2006: Chapter 6 and Exam 6.

February 27, 2006: Chapter 7.

March 1, 2006: Chapter 7 and Exam 7.

March 6, 2006: Chapter 8.

March 8, 2006: Chapter 8 and Exam 8.

March 13, 2006: Chapter 9.

March 15, 2006: Chapter 9 and Exam 9.

March 20, 2006: Chapter 10.           

March 22, 2006: Chapter 10 and Exam 10.

March 27, 2006: Spring Break

March 29, 2006: Spring Break

April 3, 2006: Chapter 11.

April 5, 2006: Chapter 11 and Exam 11.

April 10, 2006: Chapter 12.

April 12, 2006: Chapter 12 and Exam 12.

April 17, 2006: Chapter 13.

April 19, 2006: Chapter 13 and Exam 13.

April 24, 2006: Chapter 14.

April 26, 2006: Chapter 14 and Exam 14.

May 1, 2006: Chapter 15.

May 3, 2006: Chapter 15 and Exam 15, Chapter 16.

May 8, 2006: Chapter 16 and Exam 16.

May 9-15, 2006: Finals Week. There is no final for this course. Have a good holiday season.

Change in Schedule: The syllabus is subject to change by in class announcements. Thus, it is important to attend class.