Psychology 2: General Psychology, Spring 2024
Location: CC1 203
Time: M/W/F 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Schedule #53019

Instructor:  Charles Hoge				
					
E-mail: charles.hoge@fresnocitycollege.edu

Course Description:

Scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Topics include history, methodology biopsychology, lifespan development, sensation and perception, consciousness and altered states, learning and memory, thought and language, intelligence, motivation and emotion, personality, psychopathology and therapy, stress and health, and social and cultural influences.

Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe and understand the origin of psychology as an independent discipline and be able to
compare and contrast its major theoretical perspectives.
2. Describe and understand the research methods used in psychology within the context of the ethical
principles and codes of conduct.
3. Demonstrate information competency by locating, analyzing and summarizing sources of
psychological information from various resources such as newspapers, popular magazines, peer reviewed journals, and the internet.
4. Describe and understand the biological factors that affect human thinking and behavior.
5. Describe and understand the influence of psychological, biological, social and cultural factors on
human behavior, mental processes, psychological theories, research and practice.
6. Describe and understand the biological and psychological influences that affect sensation and
perception.
7. Describe and understand variations in states of consciousness.
8. Describe and understand theories and research related to the biological, psychological, cultural and
social influences that affect development throughout the lifespan.
9. Describe and understand the theories and research related to learning, memory, thinking, and
intelligence.
10. Describe and understand the biological, psychological, social and cultural influences that affect
motivation and personality.
11. Describe and understand the biological, psychological, cultural and social influences that affect
stress, mental health, therapeutic approaches and outcomes.
12. Describe and understand theories and research related to the biological, psychological and cultural influences that affect social behavior.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand psychology as a scientific discipline that relies on empirical evidence to evaluate and
support its claims.
2. Understand human behavior and mental processes within the context of psychological, biological,
social and cultural influences.
3. Apply basic psychological principles to themselves and others in everyday life.
4. Understand psychology as a broad discipline that includes many areas of inquiry and practice which are guided by established ethical principles and codes of conduct.

Required Text:

King, L. (2018). Experience Psychology (5th ed.). McGraw Hill. 

Canvas:

Canvas is the Course Management System chosen by the California Community College system for delivering high-quality online courses.  You can access canvas by going to https://scccd.instructure.com

Username: Your 7-digit student ID number. 
Password: If you have not previously changed your password, it is: 
    First name initial (upper case) + last name initial (lowercase) + date of birth (mmddyy)
    Example: John Smith born on July 9th of 1988	Password =Js070988

If you do not know your password and need assistance: (559) 499-6070
If you are officially enrolled in the course, you should be automatically loaded onto the site by the college. If you need help using the site, please notify me, ask a tech at the computer lab, or click on the Cengage Technical Support link in canvas. You should log on to this course several times a week to check for announcements, assignments, as well as other course materials. If you do not have a computer, make sure you set aside some time to get into the computer lab.

Attendance & Drop Policy: 

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and be in their seats once the class begins. Leaving class before the end of the class period is considered an absence. If, within the first two weeks, you are absent, you can be dropped from the course. I can also drop students who have four absences before the end of the ninth week. If you want to drop the class, and you want a W instead of an F, it is still your responsibility to make sure you have dropped. After the ninth week, no one may be dropped from the class.  

Course Requirements:

1.	Exams (400 points)

There will be two exams, each worth 200 points. The two exams will consist of 100 multiple choice questions. Both exams will be held in-class. Exam dates are available on canvas and the course syllabus.

2.	Chapter Quizzes (120 points)

There will be twelve quizzes worth 10 points each. Quizzes will consist of 10 multiple choice questions based on concepts from one chapter each. All quizzes are available in the module section of canvas. Due dates are available on canvas and the course syllabus.   

3.	Written Assignments (200 points) 

There will be two written assignments, each worth 200 points. Instructions on how to complete the two written assignments are available in the module section of canvas. All written assignments will be submitted electronically through canvas. Due dates are available on canvas and the course syllabus. 

4.	Topic Reflections (60 points)

There will be six lecture reflections, each worth 10 points each. Instructions on how to complete the six lecture reflections can be accessed in the module section of canvas. Due dates and are available on canvas and the course syllabus.
 
5. Ice Breaker (20 points)
During the first week of the semester, there will be an ice breaker worth 20 points. Instructions on how to complete the ice breaker can be accessed in the orientation module.

6. Group Presentation (200 Points)

There will be one group presentation, with students randomly assigned to one of seven different groups. Group assignments will be announced during class hours and posted to the announcements page on canvas. Instructions on how to complete the group presentation are available in the modules section on canvas. 

Late Assignments

You may turn in any assignment early and then replace it with a revised version right up until the due date. If you are concerned about the possibility of a last-second inability to submit an assignment on time, let me know as soon as possible. I am more than willing to give extensions on assignments if your reason for not submitting the assignment on time is explained at least one week following the initial due date. I maintain final decision on whether an extension on late assignments will be accepted.

Grades: 
There is a total of 1000 points that you can earn during the semester. Your final grade is based on the percentage of these points that you earn.  

A= 1000-900, B= 899-800, C= 799-700, D= 699-600, F= 599-0
Classroom Conduct: 

I assume that all students will conduct themselves as mature citizens of the college campus community and will conduct themselves in a manner congruent with college policies and regulations.  If you know about an event, such as a doctor’s appointment, that will conflict with completion of your assignment(s), let me know before said due date(s).

Class participation in the form of comments, questions, or discussion is highly desirable. For this to be effective, you must protect the rights of fellow students. Make sure that you are recognized before speaking, restrict your remarks to topics of direct relevance to the class, and give your peers your full attention when they are speaking, just as you do for me. In this way, we can all learn from each other.

All exams in this course are designed so that students will work on them alone.

Academic Dishonesty Policy: 

Cheating is the act or attempted act of taking an examination or performing an assigned, evaluated task in a fraudulent or deceptive manner, such as having improper access to answers, in an attempt to gain an unearned academic advantage. Cheating may include, but is not limited to, copying from another’s work, supplying one’s work to another, giving or receiving copies of exams without my permission, using or displaying notes or devices inappropriate to the conditions of the exam, or allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent the student.  

Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating: the use of another’s words or ideas without identifying them as such or giving credit to the source. Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, failing to provide complete citations and references for all work that draws on the ideas, words, or work of others, failing to identify the contributors to work done in collaboration, submitting duplicate work to be evaluated in different courses without the knowledge and consent of the instructors involved, or failing to observe computer security systems and software copyrights.
Incidents of cheating and plagiarism may result in any of a variety of sanctions and penalties, which may include a failing grade on the particular examination, paper, project, or assignment in question at the discretion of myself depending on the severity and frequency of the incidents.
Due Dates:

1. Topic Reflections:
i.	Ice Breaker………………………………………………………………………………….1/12/24
ii.	Topic Reflection 1………………………………………………………………………….1/12/24
iii.	Topic Reflection 2………………………………………………………………………….2/2/24
iv.	Topic Reflection 3………………………………………………………………………….2/16/24
v.	Topic Reflection 4………………………………………………………………………….2/23/24
vi.	Topic Reflection 5………………………………………………………………………….3/29/24
vii.	Topic Reflection 6………………………………………………………………………….5/10/24

2. Written Assignments
i.	Written Assignment #1…………………………………………………………………….2/16/24
ii.	Written Assignment #2…………………………………………………………………….4/19/24

3. Examinations 
i.	Midterm………………………………………………………………………………………3/6/24
ii.	Final…...………………………………………………………………………………………5/8/24

4. Chapter Practice Quizzes 
i.	Chapter 1 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….1/19/24
ii.	Chapter 2 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….1/26/24
iii.	Chapter 3 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….2/2/24
iv.	Chapter 4 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….2/9/24
v.	Chapter 5 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….2/16/24
vi.	Chapter 6 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………….2/23/24
vii.	Chapter 7 Quiz……………………………………………………………………………3/1/24
viii.	Chapter 8 Quiz……………………………………………………………………………3/15/24
ix.	Chapter 9 Quiz……………………………………………………………………………3/29/24
x.	Chapter 10 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………..3/29/24
xi.	Chapter 11 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………..4/5/24
xii.	Chapter 12 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………..4/12/24

5.	Group Presentation……………………………………………………………………….…4/24/24

Drop Deadlines:

Drop with a refund……………………………………………………………………………1/19/24
Drop without a W……………………………………………………………………………..1/28/24
Last day to drop with a W and no letter grade…………………………………………..…3/8/24

Holidays:
MLK Day.………………………………………………………………………………………..1/15/24
Presidents’ Day…………………………………………………………………………………2/16/24
Spring Break…………………………………………………………………………………….3/25/24-3/29/24