PSYCHOLOGY 202 (Introduction to Psychology II)                         
Professor Ronald Boykin, instructor
e-mail: rboykin@nvcc.edu or nvboykr@nvcc.edu (leave phone number)

TEXTBOOK:

1. Be able to describe, orally and in writing, topics important in the sub-fields of psychology. (e.g. learning, memory, etc.)

2. Be able to critically evaluate ideas, theories, and research findings presented in the text and by others; be able to integrate your own personal experiences with material in the course.

3. Be able to appreciate the complexity of behavior, in terms of causal factors.

4. Be able to use the course to help you gain a better understanding of your own behavior.
 

FORMAT:

The course will combine lecture and discussion.  You are strongly encouraged to be active in your approach to learning in this class by contributing to discussions and asking questions or making comments during lectures.  There are several advantages for you if you do so:  first, you will be less likely to get bored; second, you will probably get a better grade; third, you will practice the skills involved in thinking critically, asserting yourself, and making the most of situations in which you choose to put yourself; finally, you may even find that you enjoy the course.  You must participate in all classroom activities.  Failure to do so can result in your withdrawal from the course.
 
 
 

EVALUATION:

Three multiple-choice/essay exams.  Class discussion of reading material is an integral part of this course.  You should almost always have read the material before coming to class.  Hopefully, the readings will be interesting and the discussion stimulating.  I reserve the right to give short, unannounced quizzes on the basic material as a way of encouraging and rewarding reading the material before class.  Any unannounced quiz will count 5% of your final grade.  Values for the announced quizzes should be reduced equally in order to have total points equal 100.

It is important that you take the exams when they are scheduled.  If you find that you are unable to take an exam at the scheduled time (due to your illness, or the death of someone close to you), you must call me immediately. When you call, leave a telephone number where I can reach.  I reserve the right to require that you provide some documented proof for your absence if your attendance is below 80% or you have already missed taking an exam on time.

If you miss an exam without a valid excuse, you may make up the exam, but there may be a penalty of two letter grades (20 points).  Failure to contact me prior to an exam to let me know you can't make that exam may make you ineligible for any curve on that exam.  Failure to contact me by phone after an exam if you miss that exam may cost 1/2 letter grade.  Exams must be made up before the next  scheduled class.

Each exam grade will count one-third of your final grade.  Your median final grade will be computed, as well as the mean.  The mean of the two grades will be used to determine your final letter grade.
 

GRADES:  Will be assigned as follows:
 
  A:   90-100%;    B:  80- 89;     C:  70- 79;     D:  60- 69;      F   Below 60%
 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Your enrollment in this course constitutes a commitment to attend class.  I encourage you to feel a sense of ownership of this course. Also, others can only benefit from your knowledge when you are in class to share it.

I assume that you will attend every class but one (anyone can miss one class for any reason) unless you are ill or have had a death of someone close to you.  Attendance will be favorably considered in determining your final grade in borderline cases (one or two points below a higher letter grade).  0 or 1 absence = 2 extra points added to your final grade average.  2 absences = 1 extra point.  Missing more than five hours of instruction, for any reason, will result in withdrawal from the course (with F if you are failing the course at the time).

A  policy is also in effect to minimize coming late to class, leaving early, and/or frequently coming and going during class.  Late means arriving more than five minutes late or leaving more than five minutes early.  Any 3 of any of these violations  in 4 consecutive class meetings converts to 1 absence (first instructional periods are also counted separately).  First instructional periods will be counted separately as well as together with second periods.  Only 0 or 1 late = 1 extra absence.

 You must attend at least 50 minutes of a60- or 75-minute instructional period to becounted present for that period.  You are allowed to leave only once after 50 minutes without being counted absent for that period.

The row of seats nearest the door are for late arrivers.  Seating in this row is at the absolute discretion of the instructor.
 

WEEK                  TOPIC                                             CHAPTER

      1     Syllabus; Learning (video)                                       8
      
      2     Operant Conditioning; Classical Conditioning           8

      3     Memory                                                                  9
        
      4     Thinking                                                                10
      
      5     Language; video; Exam 1 Review                          10
     
      6     Exam 1 (Chapters 8-10); Personality                    15

      7     Exam 1 Feedback; Social-cognitive; Self                15

      8     Social Psychology                                                  18

      9     Intelligence; Exam 2 Review                                   11

     10    Exam 2 (Chs. 11, 15, 18);  Disorders                    16

     11    Exam 2 Feedback; Anxiety; Mood                         16 
      
     12    Therapy; video                                                       17
      
     13    Behavior; Cognitive                                                17
      
     14    Stress, Health; Summary; Exam 3 Review               14

     15    Exam 3 (Chs. 14, 16, 17)
      
     16    Exam 3 Feedback

NOISY CELL PHONES AND PAGERS DISRUPT CLASS.  IF YOURS GOES OFF, YOU MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND BE COUNTED ABSENT FOR THAT INSTRUCTIONAL PERIOD.  IF IT GOES OFF DURING AN EXAM, YOU MAY LOSE UP TO FOUR POINTS ON THAT EXAM, AND BE REQUIRED TO FINISH THE EXAM IN THE TESTING CENTER.