Contact Information

If you have any concerns or problems that affect your performance in this course, please schedule some time to talk with me. This is a part of my job, it is not an imposition on me. It is especially important to talk with me when you experience events that:

• may affect or are affecting your performance in the course
• may cause or have caused you to miss class

I will do whatever I can to help you, as long as this help does not give you an unfair advantage. I will be in my office and will meet with whomever comes by on:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

This is the best time for you to ask me questions about the course material, or to talk with me about any other issues, concerns, or interests you have. You also may schedule an appointment to meet with me at other times.There are two other ways to contact me:

• You may call me at 480-423-6213. If I am not there, please leave a message with your name, your question or comment, and your phone number or e-mail address. Please speak slowly and clearly.
• You may send an e-mail to me at jeff.ricker@sccmail.maricopa.edu

Rule #1: If, for any reason, you are having trouble making it to class, get in touch with me right away.
Rule #2: If, for any reason, you are having trouble making it to class, get in touch with me right away.

Course Web Site

PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/ricker/psy101/

If you do not have your own computer or you need to check something on the web site while you are on campus, there are computers available in the Social/Behavioral Sciences Learning Center (SBLC) in Room SB-158. The SBLC is open from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays, and from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm on Fridays. There also are computers available in several other areas on campus.

On-Line Textbook

An Introduction to Psychology: The Science of Mind & Behavior
by Jeffry Ricker (2006)

The Table of Contents is at:
http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/ricker/psy101/readings/toc.html

If you have trouble accessing a section, please contact me immediately so that I can take care of the problem right away.

Course Objectives

I have two main goals for this course:

Goal 1
To help you gain a basic familiarity with some of the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of general psychology.

In order to accomplish this goal, topics from each of the following areas are discussed in depth:

• states of consciousness: dreaming, sleeping, & hypnosisthe structures and functions of the brainlearning and memorythe influence of social situationsthe influence of personality dispositions
• the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders

Goal 2
To help you learn how to study for a college-level course.

In order to accomplish the second goal, I provide a great deal of structure in this course. I teach you what to focus on when studying, what you should be studying each day, and ways to assess whether or not you are studying effectively.

Course Requirements

In order to do well in this course, you will need to learn a large amount of information. Thus, you should set aside at least six hours per week outside of class for studying.

A. Chapter Tests
The course is divided into six sections. At the end of each section, you will be given a test containing 50 multiple-choice questions. These questions will cover material from the textbook and the corresponding class discussions. No test will be dropped.

1. What to Study for Tests. See the Readings & Quizzes page for information about which textbook sections you should be reading for each test. The Daily Schedule Page also contains links to Practice Quizzes. 2. How to Study for Tests. See the How to Study for Tests page for information on how best to study for each test.

3. ESL Students. If English is not your native language, and you first learned English after about the age of eight years, you will be allowed to use a translation dictionary for all tests.

B. Participation
You will be expected to attend class regularly. You also will be given in-class assignments to complete. This will be explained in class.You also will be assigned the Scottsdale Test of Critical Thinking to take on-line. You will receive 10 extra-credit points for taking the test. This will be explained in class.

C. Final Examination
At the end of the semester, you will take a comprehensive final exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. These questions will be selected from the Practice Quizzes for the first five sections.

Grading

A. Grading Formula
Your final grade in this class will be based on the following formula:

• 90% of the Final Grade
  Scores on the Chapter Tests and Final Exam (≈13% for each test)
• 10% of the Final Grade
  Participation: Attendance + Assignments

B. Extra Credit
Each of the six section-tests will include five extra-credit questions for a total of 30 extra-credit points in the class. This plus the 10 points given for the Scottsdale Test of Critical Thinking total 40 extra-credit points for the semester.

No Other Extra Credit Will Be Given.

C. Grading Scale
The grading scale for this course is:

• A--88%B--78%C--65%
• D--55%

Because this scale has lower cut-offs than most standard scales and because I provide you with opportunities to earn extra–credit points, I am VERY strict about these cut-offs.

If you give me your permission, I will e-mail test scores and grades to you after each test. If you don't already have an e-mail account, it is a simple matter to obtain one (go to, for example, www.yahoo.com or www.hotmail.com).

Withdrawal From the Course

There are two withdrawal dates to remember:

• The last day that you may withdraw without my signature is March 3rd.
• The last day that you may withdraw with my signature is April 24th.

By this latter date, I will allow you to withdraw with a "W" if you have taken no more than three tests. If you take four or more tests, you will receive a grade at the end of the semester.If you miss one of the first three tests without making it up, you will be withdrawn from the course.

Missed Tests

There Will Be No Exceptions to the Following
Policies, Regardless of the Reason for Missing a Test.

A. Problems Arising on Test Days
If, on the day of a test, you get up late, your car breaks down, there is an accident on the freeway, aliens abduct you, etc., please get in contact with me as soon as possible. I will allow you to take the test on that day without penalty as long as you get in touch with me and arrange a time and place to take the test.Thus, as soon as you know that you're going to have a problem making it to class on a test day, contact me. If you do not contact me, you will need to arrange to take a make-up test.B. Make-up Tests
If you do not take a test on the day it is scheduled, you MAY be allowed to take a make-up test. Here are the ground rules:

1. One Missed Test. If you miss one test, you will be allowed to take a make-up test, even without an excuse. But you must make arrangements with me to do so. You have one week to take the make-up test. (For example, if the original test date is on Monday, you have up to and including the following Monday to take the make-up test.)2. Two Missed Tests. If you miss a second test, you must provide me with a documented excuse, which typically includes a piece of paper or some other concrete object. In addition, you must discuss with me the reason why you missed the test and (this is very important) obtain my permission to take the make-up test. In other words, you'll probably want to set this up before the test day if you know in advance that you will be missing the test. In general, remember this simple rule: do not assume that I will allow you to take a second missed test. You must obtain my agreement first.

3. Three Missed Tests. If you miss a third test, you will be withdrawn from the course.

Important Note

I may change any of the above information during the semester. I will notify you in class of any changes.