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ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2012
Course Title: General Psychology
Course Number: 10570-PSY 2012-D11
T/Th 8:00-9:15 am
Instructor: Matthew C. Barrett
Contact Information: matthewbarrett@sjrstate.edu (904) 699-6034
Required Text: Mastering the World of Psychology by Samuel E. Wood, Ellen Green Wood, and
Denise Boyd, 2011, Pearson Learning Solutions, Second Custom Edition for St.
Johns River State College (Taken from: Mastering the World of Psychology, Fourth
Edition)
SJR State
Catalog Description: An introduction to psychology designed especially for transfer students.
Major areas include: the nature of man, human development, motivation, abnormal
behavior, personality, learning perception, social behavior, brain - behavior,
relationships, physiology and animal behavior.
Course/ Student
Learning Outcomes: Students who complete this course shall obtain, interpret, and apply academic
principles from diverse sources to explain, evaluate, and analyze topics relevant to
General Psychology. Specifically students will:
1. Describe, define, and recall critical factual information concerning theories,
concepts, paradigms, and operational principles relevant to General Psychology.
2. Explain and interpret the above (theories, ...etc.) and their relevance within the
context of the science of developmental psychology.
3. Apply psychological constructs validly and accurately.
4. Analyze, contrast, and infer ideas that challenge and/or support current theories,
concept, paradigms, and operational principles.
5. Synthesize acquired material and use it to predict, hypothesize, and/or generate
new ideas germane to current psychological thinking.
6. Evaluate and assess established and/or novel psychological paradigms
consistently, systematically, and contextually.
7. Substantiate a grasp of the fundamental principles of learning theory through
their factual recognition and subsequent application and synthesis.
8. Substantiate a grasp of the fundamental principles of Freudian theory through
their factual recognition and subsequent application and synthesis.
9. Substantiate a grasp of the fundamental principles used in the classification of
mental disorders through their factual recognition and subsequent application
and synthesis.
Academic Integrity: Students in this class must know, observe, and not compromise the principles of
academic integrity. It is not permissible to cheat, to fabricate or falsify information,
to submit the same academic work in more than one course without prior permission,
to plagiarize, to receive unfair advantage, or to otherwise abuse accepted practices
for handling and documenting information. The grade for this course includes the
judgment that the student’s work is free from academic dishonesty of any type.
Violations or infractions will be reported to the Vice President for Student Affairs
and may lead to failure of the course and other sanctions imposed by the College.
Academic Some assignments in this class will rely on the use of an anonymous grading number.
Integrity (cont.): This number must be kept confidential at all times. Sharing this number with another
student is considered cheating, and will be treated accordingly.
Grading: The final grade will be based on earning points in four main categories:
Quizzes 150 pts (10 pts each)
You will have 15 quizzes this semester. With each chapter, you’ll receive primer
questions to research as you listen to the lecture and study the textbook. These
questions will prepare you for a timed, multiple-choice, open-book quiz taken on
Blackboard. Quizzes will open (become available) after the first applicable lecture,
and will close at 10:00 pm on the Saturday following the last applicable lecture (see
course outline). If you miss a quiz or get a low score, you may write a small essay
(see below) to replace or improve the quiz grade.
Tests 150 pts (50 pts for Midterm and 100 pts for Final)
Just as the primer questions prepare you for the quizzes, the quizzes will prepare you
for the midterm and final. You will take these in the classroom, as shown on the
course outline. If you miss a test or get a low score, you may write a large essay (see
below) to replace or improve the test grade.
Wiki Editing 150 pts
In addition to Blackboard, this class has its own wiki—a special website that can be
changed and modified by visitors. You’ll use this wiki to help you study, but you’ll
also improve it for future users. Progress on the wiki is based on effort rather than
skill—put in the time, and you’ll get the points. Thirty minutes of continuous work
is worth ten points. Extra points over the 150 required will roll over into
participation (see below).
Class Participation 150 pts
Class participation comes in many forms, but everyone needs to actively
participate—merely sitting in class is not enough. Some days I will have an
assignment in class for participation points, but these are not the only sources of
participation points—see the wiki for a complete list. Extra points over the 150
required will roll over into wiki editing (see above).
Additional Essays
Point Options: Essays are an alternative to tests and quizzes. If you prefer not to take a quiz/test
(some people just don’t test well), OR if you know you will miss a quiz/test, OR if
you get a low score, you may submit an essay to replace or improve the grade. Essay
prompts, due dates and rubrics can be found on the class wiki.
Extra Credit
Apart from class participation, I like to reward good study habits. At the end of each
week, I will select one of the following at random to award with extra credit.
Anyone who turns in the work will get an extra 5 points per source.
Possible sources of extra credit:
Logic Puzzles--help develop a scientific mindset
Trivia Questions--stimulate deep processing
Chapter End Questions--stimulate long-term memory
Grading Scale: Points Percent Grade
540-600 90-100% A
480-539 80-89% B
420-479 70-79% C
360-419 60-69% D
< 359 Below 60% F
Final Grade Final grades will be calculated by adding the number of points earned in the four
Calculation: categories detailed above and dividing by the total points possible (600).
Note: Grades are not rounded up (for example: 539/600 points = B). Extra credit
is available as outlined above.
Make-up Policy: The make-up policy on quizzes and tests is to write an essay (see above). Essays
entered after the grading date (see wiki) will lose 10% (one letter grade). Wiki
assignments and class participation may be made up at any point in the semester
without penalty.
Attendance Policy: At the beginning of each class, there will be a sign-in sheet near the door. Make sure
to sign in or you will not be counted as present. Five minutes after class begins, I
will collect the sheet and mark anyone who arrives late. If you arrive after the sheet
has been collected, check with me at the end of class to make sure that you are
counted as present.
As stated in the student handbook you may receive an instructor warning when you
have missed the equivalent of three 50-minute class periods regardless of the reason
and may be withdrawn from the course by the instructor after the fourth 50-minute
absence. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from class. Do not assume that
the instructor will withdraw you. Do not stop coming to class without withdrawing
officially – protect your GPA. Withdrawals are done on-line at My SJRstate.
Disability Statement: Accommodations are available for students with disabilities; please visit the
Counseling Center.
Course Outline
Week 1 Aug 21-23 Introductions and Course Overview
complete wiki assignment 1
Sat Aug 25 10:00 pm Course Overview Quiz Closes
Week 2 Aug 28-30 Chapter 1—Introduction to Psychology
complete wiki assignment 2
Sat Sept 1 10:00pm Chapter 1 Quiz Closes
Week 3 Sept 4-6 Chapter 2— Biology and Behavior;
Chapter 3—Sensation and Perception
complete wiki assignment 3
Sat Sept 8 10:00pm Chapter 2 & 3 Quizzes Close
Week 4 Sept 11-13 Chapter 4—States of Consciousness
complete wiki assignment 4
Sat Sept 15 10:00pm Chapter 4 Quiz Closes
Week 5 Sept 18-20 Chapter 5—Learning
complete wiki assignment 5
Sat Sept 22 10:00pm Chapter 5 Quiz Closes
Week 6 Sept 25-27 Chapter 6—Memory
complete wiki assignment 6
Sat Sept 29 10:00pm Chapter 6 Quiz Closes
Week 7 Oct 2-4 Chapter 7—Cognition, Language and Intelligence
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Oct 6 10:00pm Chapter 7 Quiz Closes
Week 8 Oct 9-11 Midterm Review and Exam
keep working on earning wiki participation
Thurs Oct 11 Midterm Exam in class
Sat Oct 13 10:00pm No Quiz this week!
Week 9 Oct 16-18 Chapter 8—Human Development
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Oct 20 10:00pm Chapter 8 Quiz Closes
Week 10 Oct 23-25 Chapter 9—Motivation and Emotion;
Chapter 10—Health and Stress
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Oct 27 10:00pm Chapter 9 & 10 Quizzes Close
Week 11 Oct 30-Nov 1 Chapter 11—Personality Theory and Assessment
Fri Nov 2 ***Last day for student/instructor initiated course withdrawal with “W”***
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Nov 3 10:00pm Chapter 11 Quiz Closes
Week 12 Nov 6-8 Chapter 12—Psychological Disorders
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Nov 10 10:00pm Chapter 12 Quiz Closes
Week 13 Nov 13-15 Chapter 13—Therapies
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Nov 17 10:00pm Chapter 13 Quiz Closes
Week 14 Nov 20-22 Chapter 14—Social Psychology
Thurs Nov 22 ***Thanksgiving Holiday--No Classes**
keep working on earning wiki participation
Sat Nov 24 10:00pm Chapter 14 Quiz Closes
Week 15 Nov 27-29 End of Term Review
Sat Nov 31 10:00pm Wiki Editing Closes
Week 16 Dec 4 Final Exam Prep
Tues Dec 4 Last Day of Class
Thur Dec 6 8:00-10:00 am Final Exam
