AP PSYCHOLOGY

2019 – 2020
Ms. Sweda

Welcome to AP Psych! This course will introduce you to psychological

facts, principles and phenomena associated with the field of
psychology. You will also learn about the ethics and methodology
psychologists use in their science and practice. The aim of this course
is to provide you with a learning experience equivalent to that
obtained in most college introductory psych courses, and prepare you
to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May.

Text: Myer’s Psychology for the AP Course, 3rd Edition, David G.

Myers & Nathan DeWall

Course Topics:
1. History of Psychology, The Approaches & Research Methods
2. Biology & Behavior
3. Developmental Psych
4. Sensation and Perception
5. States of Consciousness
6. Learning
7. Memory
8. Thinking, Language & Intelligence
9. Motivation, Emotion, Stress & Health
10. Personality
11. Psychological Disorders (Abnormal Psych) & Therapy
12. Social Psychology

This course includes a midterm and a final exam!

Helpful Tips:

 STAY ON TOP OF ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES:

http://sweda.weebly.com! Bookmark this website! It will be
updated every Monday.

 Purchase a Barron’s AP Psychology (7th edition) Review Book!

This will help you review topics throughout the year and will be a
big help preparing for the AP exam. All students will be required to
purchase a Barron’s book to complete review work for the AP exam.

 Create a “file” of vocabulary cards! This will help prepare you

for the AP exam.

You will need:

1. a 3-ring binder to keep class notes & handouts – it is very
important that you are organized! Make sure you have loose
leaf paper.
2. 12 tabs for your 3-ring binder. Each unit should have its own
tab.
 3. a folder for returned tests and essays.
4. index cards for vocabulary.

WHEN YOU’RE ABSENT… extra copies of all assignments and

handouts are kept in the classroom. Remember to get missing lecture
notes from a classmate!

Extra help is available ____________________________. Please see me if

you are unable to meet at this time so that we may make alternative
plans.

Grading Policy:
1. Tests, Essays, Projects (40%)
 Tests will be given at the end of each unit. They will usually
include 40 multiple-choice questions and/or an essay question.
You will always be notified of tests at the beginning of the week.
If you are absent the day before the test, it does not excuse you
from the test. If you are absent for a test, it is your
responsibility to make it up during an extra help session within
1 week!
 Projects will not be assigned every quarter, but will be a major
component of your 4th quarter average.
2. Modules & Writing Assignments (25%)
 This will consist mostly of reading assignments and completing
“modules.” You must complete all reading assignments in order
to succeed in this class. Modules will be collected and returned
to you and should be kept in your notebook. Any work not
completed in class becomes the responsibility of the student. 10
points will be deducted for each day a homework assignment is
submitted late! Also, if you miss class but are in the building,
your module/assignment is still due!
3. Quizzes (25%)
 Quizzes may be given at the end of each topic/module and will
consist of a variety of questions. They may be closed or open
notes.
4. Class Participation (10%)
 Let me hear what you have to say!

A NOTE ON STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY… time management and

preparedness are expected of AP students. Therefore, I do not accept
parent notes regarding late or missing homework assignments. I
also do accept notes regarding late or missing projects or papers.
Furthermore, when projects and papers are required to be typed, I do
not accept e-mail attachments or flash drives. Projects and papers
must be printed and submitted to me in class.

DUE DATES ARE IMPORTANT… all late assignments will lose

points for each day they are turned in late. Be sure to hand in your
work on time! Assignments can always be made up for partial
credit.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with and follow the Board of Education’s
Academic Integrity Policy # 5129. Failure to follow the polices may result in disciplinary action.
 The 2020 AP Psychology Exam will be on Tuesday, May 12 at
12:00.

Throughout this school year, we will be viewing excerpts from a

variety of feature films and documentaries. Excerpts from the
following feature films may be used in class:
Awakenings A Life Without Pain
Alive
Mad Hot Ballroom Dead Poets Society
Schindler’s List
Rain Man Three Identical Strangers
Twinsters

A note to parents: if you object to your student viewing any of

these excerpts in class, please sign and note this on the space
provided and return it to class.

Student Name
_________________________________________________
Parent Signature _________________________________________________
Notes _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________
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