PSY 100, Section F001 (19797) Spring 2023

College of Staten Island, City University of New York

Online-Synchronous Fridays 9:05-12:05
Zoom Code 815-5925-9309

Professor: Dr. Sandra Hunt

Office Hours on Zoom: Thursday 5:30-6:30 PM (EST); Fridays 5:15-7:15 PM EST)
Email: [email protected] (use this email for a faster response); Faculty email:
[email protected]

Textbook: Psychology in Everyday Life, Fourth Edition, 2017. David G. Myers. New York:
Macmillan Learning. ISBN: 9781319133726. From 44.99. A pdf of the textbook is available
online in Blackboard.

Power point slides and other course materials may be downloaded from Blackboard. You will
find them in the content section.

Course Description:
A study of the important facts and theories concerning human behavior and its motivation.
Included will be research methodology; at least three topics from learning, cognition, testing,
physiology, and phenomenology; and at least three topics from personality, psychopathology,
emotion and motivation, history and systems, development, and social factors. Topics will be
related to major trends in recent cultural history and to current social and moral issues.

Psychology Department Learning Objectives:

1. Use a basic vocabulary of psychological terms and concepts.
2. Describe the broad scope of psychology and its relevance to a variety of fields.
3. Explain that knowledge is generated in the field of psychology through the scientific method
and the interpretation and evaluation of empirical data.
4. Begin to apply psychological knowledge to find solutions to diverse personal, interpersonal,
community, and workplace issues.
5. Think critically, at a rudimentary level, by analyzing assumptions and biases, and by
considering alternative explanations.

CUNY General Education (Pathways) Learning Objectives:

1. Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of view.
2. Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically.
3. Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions.
4. Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a discipline or interdisciplinary
field exploring the relationship between the individual and society, including, but not limited
to, anthropology, communications, cultural studies, history, journalism, philosophy, political
science, psychology, public affairs, religion, and sociology.
5. Examine how an individual's place in society affects experiences, values, or choices.
6. Articulate and assess ethical views and their underlying premises.
7. Articulate ethical uses of data and other information resources to respond to problems and
questions.

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 *****Additional Course Requirement: Research Participation Credits*****

Please read this section it its entirety. Students who do not fulfill the research requirement
will be awarded an INCOMPLETE as their Psy100 grade. This is a departmental requirement
and cannot be waived by the instructor.

The discipline of psychology utilizes the principles of scientific research to test its ideas. The
faculty in the Department of Psychology believes that all students enrolled in a Psy 100 course
should experience the research process. Therefore, students are required to participate in a
minimum of 4 half-hour units of research (Research Credits; RCs) to be accumulated
throughout the semester. Students can fulfill the RC requirement on-line in several ways
including participation in experiments or surveys, attending psychology department research
talks, completing an on-line ethics course, reading and responding to online articles or peer-
reviewed papers on psychology.

Your username and password needed to access your Research Participation System Account will
be sent to your CIX.CSI.CUNY.EDU email at the beginning of the semester (usually during the
first 2 weeks of class). You will access the studies through the SONA SYSTEM https://csi-
cuny.sona-systems.com/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f where you will input your username and
password. Important: If you encounter any difficulties using the research participation system
or do not receive a password, please contact the Research Administrator
[email protected].

Important CSI Resources:

Center for Student Accessibility
In accordance with federal law the College offers a number of resources for accommodating
individuals with disabilities. To learn about the accommodations and services that are available,
please contact the Center for Student Accessibility, 718-982-2510, Center for the Arts (1P),
Room 101, [email protected]

Counseling Center:
The Counseling Center provides individual and group counseling for students at the College of
Staten Island. We offer personal and academic counseling services. Students are given the
opportunity to explore issues that can help them achieve success. To make an appointment please
call 718-982-2391 or drop-in to 1A-109. Students can also be seen on a walk-in basis. Email:
[email protected]

IMPORTANT ACADEMIC DATES:

2/7/23 Last day to withdraw with a 50% tuition refund.
2/14/23 Last day to withdraw with a 25% tuition refund.
2/15/23 Course withdrawal period ends. A grade of “W” is assigned to students who
officially drop a class.
4/5-4/13 Spring Break
5/16/23 Last day of regular classes
5/17-5/23 Final Examinations

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How to do well in PSY 100:
- Attend class and stay for the full class.
- Participate in class!!!
- Be sure that your CSI email is working and check it regularly
- Read the assigned chapters.
- Keep your camera on as much as possible
- Take a Blackboard refresher course or get help from the student technology help desk if
needed.
- Login to Blackboard as soon as possible and begin downloading slides and reading
announcements.
- Complete the on-line assignments on time and maintain a frequent online presence.
- Come to class prepared to engage in class discussion.
- Use/Check Black Board regularly
- Do not miss ANY exams.

Attendance and participation are course requirements:

**Please note that this class is online synchronous (not asynchronous). That means that you are
required to attend lectures and stay for the duration to get attendance and class participation
credit. Although the University does not require you to keep your camera on, I may call on you
throughout the discussion part of the lecture and will expect a verbal reply or a reply in chat.
There may also be quizzes given during the lecture.

Per University “Attendance Policy” in Schedule of Classes: “A student who is absent in excess
of 15% of the class hours in the semester is assigned a grade of WU (withdrew unofficially),
subject to the discretion of the instructor. Fifteen percent equals six hours for a course that meets
three hours a week.” Please realize that this policy holds for excused and unexcused absences. It
is your responsibility to be in class during the scheduled times.

Email Etiquette: For a quick response, email me at [email protected]. If you do not

include in the subject line “PSY100”, I may not read or respond to your email. Please include
the subject of your email in the subject line as well. Please use complete sentences and check for
spelling errors. Please sign your full name so I know who you are. I will email you at your
CUNY EMAIL ADDRESS.

Policies for Dishonorable Conduct and Cheating: Familiarize yourself with CUNY policies
regarding dishonorable conduct. No matter how mild or severe the cheating, it is entirely
unacceptable, and I will enforce the current policies to the fullest extent. At least 2 of the 3
Exams will be given during class time.

Classroom Behavior
Students are expected to behave appropriately during class. You may use the following principle
to guide your classroom behavior: Your behavior should not be disruptive or distracting to the
instructor or your classmates. This principle will help you determine appropriate classroom
behaviors. The following list is not exhaustive.
1. Come to class on time. Your late entrance is distracting to everyone.
2. Mute Zoom if there is background noise.
3. Stay for the entire class period.
4. Be respectful of other students’ viewpoints
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 6. Be attentive and pay attention to class announcements.

Grading:

Grades will be based on:

1. 10 Quizzes and 5 Class Activities or Video Assignments. The lowest 2 scores will be
dropped (15 total @ 5 points is 75 points minus 2 lowest dropped=65 points possible).
2. Three in-class exams (50 points each=150 points total).
3. Class participation 10-points
Extra credit-10 points possible (not mandatory)

Your final grade will be based on the percentage of total points you obtain in the course.
A: 92.5% and above. C+: 76.5 > %-score < 79.5%
A–: 89.5 > %-score < 92.5% C: 69.5 > %-score < 76.5%
B+: 86.5 > %-score < 89.5% D: 59.5 > %-score < 69.5%
B: 82.5 > %-score < 86.5% F: Less than 59.5%
B–: 79.5 > %-score < 82.5%

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Quizzes. There will be 11 quizzes during the semester worth 5-points each. They will be posted on
Blackboard and will be due prior to the next week’s class. These quizzes will help you better
understand and retain the course content and will prepare you to discuss that week’s topic chapter.

2. Video assignments/Class Activities, 5@ 5-points each

There will be several videos/class activities throughout the semester. In many cases, you will be asked
to complete an assignment based on the video.

*THERE ARE NO MAKE-UPS FOR QUIZZES OR VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS/CLASS ACTIVITIES ,

EVEN FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO DROP THE LOWEST
2 SCORES AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS 2 TOTAL (i.e., 10
points).

3. Exams (3 @ 50 points each):

All exams are open book/notes and at least 2 out of 3 must be done during (scheduled) class times.
Exams are 50 multiple-choice questions on what you have learned in the lectures, videos, and
textbook.

4. Class participation (10 points)

Interactive class discussions are an important part of this class. There are at least 3 ways in which
students are asked to participate: (1) Use of Zoom polling questions. (2) Making comments or asking
questions during class – Always encouraged and welcomed! (3) Participating in exercises during class.
(4) Discussing readings in text. The final participation grade in the course is determined in the
instructor’s sole discretion.

5. Extra Credit (10 points possible): Paper or presentation on a psychological disorder and how this
relates to your understanding of self and others. Please see Blackboard Extra Credit Folder for Details.

At the end of the course every point matters so please do not miss an assignment!!

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WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS AND LESSON PLANS
Please complete all readings prior to that week’s class.

Date Topic/Chapter Details

1/27/23 Introduction and Sign-up for extra credit.

Syllabus

Online quiz Syllabus: Completed in-class and

required for attendance

Chapter 1: Psychology’s
Roots, Big Ideas and
Critical Thinking Tools
2/3/23 Chapter 1-Online quiz due prior to class.

Video & Assignment-Classic Research in

Psychology-due 2/8/22

2/10/23 Chapter 2: The Biology Chapter 2, part-1, online quiz due prior to class
of Mind and
Consciousness

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2/17/23 Chapter 2 (Continued): Chapter 2, part 2 online quiz due prior to class
The Biology of Mind and
Consciousness Video & Assignment: Navy Seals Mental
training-due 2/24/23

2/24/23 Chapter 3: Developing Chapter 3 quiz due prior to class

Through the Lifespan
Video-TBD

3/3/23 Exam 1: In-class,

Chapters 1, 2, & 3.
(Open book and notes.
Due by end of class
period).

Chapter 6: Learning : Chapter 6 online quiz due prior to class

Video: Operant Conditioning & the Big Bang

3/10/23 Theory

Chapter 7: Memory

3/17/23 Chapter 7 online quiz due prior to class.

Video: Remembering & Forgetting-Assignment

Due 3/24.

Chapter 8: Thinking,
Language & Intelligence
3/24/23 Chapter 8 online quiz due prior to class

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 Chapter 10: Stress, Chapter 10 online quiz due prior to class
Health, and Human
Flourishing
3/31/23 *Exam 2—Online at home, Chapter 6, 7, 8 &
10, Due 4/7/23 by 9AM (Open book, open
notes).

4/7/23 No class (4/5-4/13 Spring Break)

Chapter 12: Personality Chapter 12 online quiz due prior to class

Video-Freud
4/14/23

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 online quiz due prior to class

4/21/23 Psychological Disorders
Video-Anxiety Disorders

Chapter 13:
4/28/23 Psychological Disorders Video-Psychotic Disorders
(Continued)

5/5/23 Chapter 14: Therapy Exam review

5/12/23 Exam 3: Chapters 11, 12, *Last Day of Class

13 & 14, In-class. (Open

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 book and notes. Due by
end of class period).

Final Exams: 5/17-5/23