Psychologypages

Start of School Year

2009-08-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome AP Psychology Students. I just finished reading your essays and boy do we have a lot of work to do between now and May 12th - the date of your AP Exam!

Hints and reminders:
STAY ON TOP OF THE READINGS
you have EVERY DAY!!!!!outlined for you. You come to class prepared having done the readings and prepared to participate in classroom discussions about the readings.

Homework:
September 8th we will have a quiz on chapter 1, you will turn in your SQ3R notes to me at that time.
I will be passing out an article with questions Monday 8/30. Answer the questions based on the article with clear, well thought out answers. This is due on Thursday 9/3, typed.
email me questions

Ms. T

2009-05-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Monday Memorial Day -Holiday

Tuesday we will head into the computer lab to get you going on your psychology project.

You will also need to take this survey from this link - while in the lab

This will help me reflect on my teaching from the last year and help make the course a better one!

Thanks

Ms.

Your Final Project

2009-05-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

AP Psychology Final Project Final Exam

I would like everyone to creat a multimedia type project that reflects two concept that we have learned in psychology this year.

This project can be an imovie format - see this link for tutorial

http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto

You can also use this format for making an iphoto booth

This project will be assessed in the following ways:

Next Thursday May 28th you will need to present to me where you are in your project. This can be reflected as a storyboard, outline, script or two page synopsis. Please email these to me at amytrusso@gmail.com. FYI you will be graded on this part of the project at 70% of your final grade. WHY ? I feel that the process is the most important part of the project as it reflects your thought process, your organizational skill set, ideas, and content mastery.

Sources – Keep track of all of your sources. Proper citations please. 10 points

15 Points What is the Main Idea or Theme?

15 points List three continuations of the main idea or theme in depth thinking.

15 Points How long will it be? How are you going to do this? What type of media are you going to use?

15 points List your script or order of events, use a story board, outline or summary.

If you would like to see the PBWorks page that I made including my imovie on existentialism click here

DUE DATE Your final is due on June 3rd at 8 am NO EXCUSES NO EXCEPTIONS

May 18th

2009-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Today we will be having scientists from UCSF come to our classroom to help us in brain dissections. Show up to class on time with questions and your enthusiastic self.
I will expect a report similar to a lab report detailing what you observed during the dissections.

Final Project
Your final project will be your final exam. Each of you (either in groups of 2 or 4) are required to create and present your final. Your final project is on a topic in psychology that you have discussed with me. The format must be a multimedia presentation. We will be heading to the computer lab this thursday and i will show you how to use the imovie and iphoto program . The format can also be a powerpoint presentation. You will be required to present it during finals week to the class. The idea would be that I would be able to use your presentation in my psychology class in the following years.
See Me for More Details.

AP Review

2009-04-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks -

Since this week is STAR testing your classes are limited. Make good use of your time by reviewing for your final exam. CLick here for the notes

I highly advise you to finish your SQ3R notes for Chapter 17 as we will begin the final chapter next week.

Start your AP review by looking over the review sheets and finding out what you are not familiar with and list these as priorities . Begin to study from these lists and your text book.
If you haven't turned in your "Choosing a Psychotherapist " article or Chapter 17 notes do so now.

Ms.t

AP Review

2009-04-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to start your review for the AP Exam. Some things that I would do NOW:

a) Purchase a review book from a book store (some are available online and USED).
b) Begin a review of the text book using the worksheet that I have prepared.

Click here for the worksheet.

This is the website for AP Central. AP Central has lots of great resources for helpful hints for the AP exam.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?student

Homework Due: Read Article " Choosing a Psychotherapist" and answer the assigned questions.

Monday April 13th

2009-04-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yes- there is school and it's a normal day. This week we will be finishing up psychopathology. Finish reading any part of chapter 16 and begin to prepare for a quiz this Thursday.

Your homework over break was to make/construct a crossword puzzle from chapter 16 - Psychological Disorders.

For Thursday:
Study for the quiz on chapter 16
Turn in all SQ3R notes on Chapter 16 as well as any missing or old work - The grading period ends this Friday so BE RESPONSIBLE

CLICK For HELP FOR AP EXAM HERE

You will find all sorts of helpful study aids here at the student pages.

Spring Break

2009-04-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

For those who may wish to get a start on studying for the AP exam here are some sources available to you.

Go to this website and check out the student categories-

http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/meyers6e

This site has flash cards for you to use/help you study.

March 9th

2009-03-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

We have begun to study chapter 15 Personality. The PowerPoint notes can be found in the margin for extra information. This chapter starts out discussing Sigmund Freud's contribution to the world of psychology and moves into a broader discussion of Carl Jung and others.
There will be two assignments due for this chapter.

Homework
Continue with SQ3R Notes for chapter 15
Assignments:
1) Collage Project:
A) You are to make a collage of images from magazines, comics, media, words and drawings/images that you feel represent who you are. Because i am old and my eyesight is going, I would like the poster to be at least 8" x 14". I can provide you with the proper size paper if you need it.
B) the second part of this project is to ask someone that you feel knows you to make a collage of images that they feel represents who you are. This collage can be slightly smaller as an 81/2" x 11" will suffice.
C)I have passed out questions to answer 12 point font typed and in complete sentences please.

2) Another Article - I have prepared an article by Rotter, along with questions designed to assist you in analysis of the article.

Feb 20th

2009-02-20T07:29:00.001-08:00

Feb 20th -
Please keep on top of your reading schedule as we are pretty much aligned with the reading list I gave you on the first day of school. If you need a new copy there is a link on the blog find the list. Tuesday feb 24th we will have a quiz on chapter 12 and we will begin chapter 13 on Thursday.

Chapter 13 brings another project to learn from this time it will focus on Stress and Health and a Controlled Experiment. Details to follow.

Please remember to turn in to me your sq3r notes.

thanks!

Intelligence

2009-02-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

chapter 11 covers intelligence theories, intelligence testing, genetic influence verses environmental, and many more aspects to this complicated chapter.

Today, while I was administering the CHASEE test you were making crossword puzzles with questions from chapter 11. Thursday's class we will have a short quiz covering chapter 11. Mondays class will be an exam covering chapters 8-11

HOMEWORK
Due Thursday - crossword puzzle from Tuesdays class.
Quiz Thursday on Chapter 11

EXAM
Monday Feb 9th

Intelligence

2009-01-27T15:04:00.001-08:00

This week your sq3r notes are due for chapter 11. please turn them in by thursday.
Today in class i passed out an article to all students. If you were not in class please see me to obtain a copy.
Homework:
I would like you to read the article and take notes. Provide a one page summary of the article. Include in your summary a comparison to the corresponding section in chapter 11 from your text. Also include your own ideas or analysis of this article. This should be typed and at lease one full page.
see me with questions.

Final Exam

2009-01-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

Wednesday at 10:10 is your final for the first semester. I want to tell you that the final will be very difficult and I expect that you will need to study quite a bit. Click here for review questions

In addition I will include your final essay question ahead of time and will allow you to spend time at home outlining the essay, answering the question, organizing your thoughts and then devise a memory mnemonic to help you remember it for your final. Here is the question.

Elio has a theory that regular exercise can improve thinking. Help him design an experiment evaluating this theory.
Remember to first make an outline to help organize your thoughts.......
Remember to include everything you know about experiment design like: independent and dependent variables, control, type of study, experimenter bias......

good luck!

Behavorial Modification Project Questions

2009-01-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

Your project should be well under way at this point. I have received some questions regarding the best way to present the data that you have collected. Remember that you should have already collected data regarding the amount of times/day/hour....that you notice this behavior. You were also to understand the antecedents that occur prior to this behavior that you wish to change.

For example let's say I'm trying to quit swearing. I need to get a baseline or figure out how often I swear. I count the amount of times over two days that I swear. This information will be part of my data and will go on a graph. The third day I take a look at the antecedents or behavior that occurs prior to swearing. For example, on the third day I notice that I swear most often when I drive my car. This is an antecedent to the behavior that I would like to change. Over the next few days I would try to reduce my swearing by:
1) Knowing that every time i get behind the wheel I'm more likely to swear - so prepare ahead of time to say "shucks" or that "that person must be mentally challenged" instead of my usual cuss words.
2) Reward myself with 10 extra minutes in the swimming pool if I did not swear once in the car.
3) Observe this behavior over three days and get the data totals.

This data should be recorded and first put in a data table. I would then use the data from the table to display the results in a graphic form.

I would include all data on the graph using a separate color to display the first two days of observing my behavior, another color to show when I was observing the antecedents and finally a third color to show when I had my plan of using other words and reward system.

email me with specific questions
Happy New Year!

Dec 15th

2008-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

This week is the last week prior to our winter break. Remember that Tuesday the 16th is a minimum day. We are finishing up chapter 9 - memory and will have a quiz on this chapter on Thursday Dec. 18th. Please use your SQ3R notes to help you study and COME PREPARED!!!!

HOMEWORK

Over the winter recess you will be responsible for the behavior modification project. This project is explained and outlined in the following powerpoint. CLICK HERE

Remember that ALL concepts that you would like to try and test: example nail biting, arriving late to school need to be approved of prior to attempting. DO NOT try to attempt a change in behavior for any idea that has not met with my approval.

Look on blog for APA format style - contact me with questions

Chapter 8 and Starting Chapter 9

2008-11-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

We are going to finish chapter 8 this week and begin chapter 9 on Thursday. My hope is to finish chapter 9 on the 18th of December with a final quiz on both chapters 8 and 9.
Chapter 9 is meaty - loads to memorize and think about.

Homework this week:
To Follow up with learning you are to report "A Day in the Life" Identify the types of conditioning and learning throughout your day. For example I start my day with an alarm clock ringing at 5:30am. Since I am conditioned to wake up with the alarm the CS is the alarm clock, the CR is waking up. Nowadays I wake up prior to the alarm going off. What would be the US or the UR?
DO this type of activity for things throughout one day in your life - for as many things as you can think of.
DUE Thursday 12/4.

Homework Over Thanksgiving

2008-11-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

While you are enjoying three days off from school i would like you to carve out some time to craft a two page essay on learning.

Since Chapter 8 in the textbook focuses on the first scientific experiments which show how learning takes place, I would like you to use that knowledge as a base to expand these ideas. Scour the internet, magazines, and newspapers for articles on learning, how people or animals learn. Compare and contrast your article to the information found in chapter 8 of your text. Answer the question what is the relationship between Skinner and or Bandura and or Pavlov and your article. Perhaps you may see a direct relationship between the two or perhaps you see no relationship but include why you see one or why you don't!.

This essay needs to be single spaced, typed, 12 point font and due Monday Dec. 1st.

Email me with questions.

Resources are posted on blog to help you - best might be psychology today - found online at SF Public Library all you need is the number on the back of your card and you are in!!

November 16th

2008-11-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

This week we will be finishing up chapter 7 and having an exam that covers chapter 4, 5, 6,7. This exam will consist of a 50 question multiple choice test and two essay questions. This test will focus on chapter 7. Please study for this test, it will not be easy.

Wednesday is the day that we are planning on taking a field trip to Buena Vista Elementary school. Plan to leave AAS at 1:45, as a group. We will meet by the 48 bus stop at 1:45, if you are late we will not wait and you will miss the field trip. I cannot be responsible for you if you come late to Buena Vista so BE ON TIME.
If I have not received your permission slip by Tuesday morning you will NOT be attending. NO LAST MINUTE PERMISSION SLIPS.

web quiz

Homework:

study for the exam.

States of Consciousness

2008-11-05T18:38:00.000-08:00

Your assignment over the next few days and through the weekend is to remember some of your dreams. One way to do this is to keep a pad of paper next to your bed. If you wake during the night write on the pad what you were dreaming about or what your were thinking. If you find that the night brings you an undisturbed well rested sleep you may wish to set your alarm for about five hours into your sleep. The alarm will wake you and you will have an opportunity to write down your dreams prior to falling back into a deep slumber. i recommend that you try this on a Friday or Saturday night so you arrive well rested to school on Monday.

Once you are able to record a few dreams think about what you were dreaming about (topics or themes) what kinds of sensations were you perceiving while dreaming (temperature, smells, wind) and did you experience any emotions?

Bring your sensations, topics and emotions to class for next Thursday, Nov 13th.

FIELD TRIP Wednesday Nov. 19th 1:50 - 3:15

Those who are interested in heading over to Buena Vista Elementary School to investigate Piaget's developmental stages will need a signed permission slip. We will be heading over to BV as a group taking the 48 bus. We will spend about 45 min at the school and you will be finished at about 3:15. This is an excellent opportunity to explore Piaget's developmental stages, experience the way a small child thinks and get extra credit for your Psychology Class.

Chapters 6 and 7

2008-11-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

This week we are going to finish up chapter 6 and move into chapter 7 "States of consciousnesses". Please finish up reading chapter 6, prepare to turn in your SQ3R notes Tuesday and you are having a quiz on chapter 6 Tuesday. Chapter 7 we will introduce this Thursday and there will be a weekend assignment associated with this chapter.

Homework:
Due Tuesday SQ3R notes chapter 6
Chapter 6 notes ( packet)
Quiz Chapter 6 Tuesday

October 27th

2008-10-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Monday we will be wrapping up sensation this will be followed by a quiz on chapter 5 Tuesday. Please study and finish up the chapter 5 notes for Tuesday.
Chapter 6 starts with selective attention.

Homework
Reading Notes Chapter 6
Study FOr Tuesday's quiz

October 15th

2008-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

According to your reading schedule we are to begin chapter 5 - Sensation. Please keep current on your reading list. I will try to provide the study guide notes that go along with chapter 7. Please keep in mind that this class is fast moving and some reading needs to be completed by you at home!Monday October 27th we will have a quiz on chapter 5.

Homework
Continue with your SQ3R notes and submit them Thursday for a grade.

Monday Oct 6th

2008-10-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

This week we will continue with chapter 4. By Tuesday I expect that you have read through infancy and childhood. Thanks to Shelia for picking up that I had Columbus day down as this Monday when it is really next week. So please come to school tomorrow and read in your book, take sq3r notes and prepare to discuss your readings with your classmates.

Homework:

Due Thursday:
Search the newspaper or the Internet for an article relating to developmental psychology. The field of developmental psychology is quite broad, so try to limit your article to a topic that appears in your textbook or is a story of current event.

Bring the article to class on Thursday and prepare to share out your findings. Prepare a short summary of the article to hand in to me as homework.

Test Prologue ch 1,2,3

2008-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday we are having a test on the prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3. The test will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and two free response questions. I suggest the following for preparation:
1) review your SQ3R notes
2) go over learning outcomes from your text book
3) read class notes

You will be presented with three essay questions and you will need to choose 2 to write on. When you receive your test READ THE ESSAY QUESTIONS FIRST - write a brief outline. Answer the multiple choice questions and return to complete the essay questions!

Homework:If you have not yet turned in your 1) Notes for chapter 3 or Study Guide for chapter 3 do so ASAP!

1) due thursday - Reading notes

Prenatal Development and the Newborn

2) STUDY!!!!!

Sept 24th -

2008-09-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

This week we will continue with chapter 3 Nature, Nurture and Human Diversity. Since the scores for the chapter two quiz were so low, I have decided to assign you more work at home. Each week I will provide you with a study guide for the chapter we are studying and you will be expected to complete the study guide by THURSDAY of that week. This is in addition to your SQ3R notes.

Remember back to school night is this Wednesday the 23rd. at 6:30.

Homework:
Please complete your SQ3R notes in addition to the study guide for chapter 3.

Grades will be available on line this week!

Ms.Trusso

Sept 15th - chapter 2

2008-09-14T08:15:00.001-07:00

This week we will be studying the brain and the endocrine system. This will bring us to the end of chapter two. This class moves quite fast - is very quick paced, please don't fall behind on your readings or assignments as this will mean certain failure!

You will have a quiz on chapter 2 this tuesday - the quiz will be a multiple choice quiz followed by a short response essay question.

Homework read and submit SQ3R notes through the end of chapter 2.
Prepare to present your naturalistic observation findings this monday - in front of the class.

We start chapter three thursday..........

September 8th

2008-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Monday we will finish up chapter 1 with some notes and a quiz.
Tuesday we will start on chapter 2 - understanding how the brain works and how this effects our behavior.
Thursday - we will look at real human brains - you will be able to identify the various brain structures.

Homework:
In addition to your reading you are also assigned a naturalistic observation project.
Click here for details.

this is due on thursday with your homework.
fyi you are not allowed to use notes on any test or quiz

Sept 1st

2008-09-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

This week we will begin chapter one. Please remember that this course moves quickly so you will be prepared for the AP Exam on May 12th. It is so important that you keep up with the readings, your SQ3R style note taking and do the practice quizzes!

Your Quiz on the prologue and chapter 1 will be on Monday Sept. 8th to help you prepare please take the practice quiz found on the blog ( found along the side bar).

The exam for the prologue, chapters 1 and 2 will be on Wednesday October 1st.

Homework due this Friday - Sept 5th - 1)Bring your notes (using the SQ3Rmethod) to class - i will grade them.
2) Take the test on chapter one - the link is found on this blog to the right. You can either print it out at home at school.

Questions???
Ms. T

ps. the notes are there to assist you and outline important subjects!

Summer Reading Lists

2008-06-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to AP Psychology. We are going on a journey inside the human mind to find out how our mind works in relation to our behavior. To get you warmed up to the idea of "what is psychology" I have set out two tasks for you to complete over the summer. A summer reading list if you please. Oh and please don't wait till August 15th to take this on, do it now. Trust me when I say that you will be so fascinated by all of this you will need the whole summer to chew on your own thoughts.

1) Read the book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" by noted neurologist Oliver Sacks.
Looking for a link to Amazon click here.
What to do? Read the book and make copious (many) comments in the books margins, highlight interesting sections and overall get a good sense of the book. During the first week of school you will be asked to write a paragraph essay on a section of this book so be prepared!

2) Read the following web article
http://www.arachnoid.com/psychology

Read the article "Is Psychology a Science" by Paul Lutus.

Prepare an essay on this topic. Sort out for yourself your views on whether you believe psychology to be a science or not.
Email me with questions!!!

Have a Happy Summer

Ms. Trusso