LECTURE:

1010D 6.0

Tuesday 2:30-5:30

CLH-L

INSTRUCTOR (Fall Term):

Dr. Doug McCann

Room 247 Behavioral Sciences Building

Email: intropsy@yorku.ca (this is my Intro Psych email address)

Office Hours: Tues 12-1 (drop in hours - no appointment is necessary)

(NOTE: I read course emails on Tuesdays).

Fax: (416 )736-5814

TEXT:

Weiten, W. & McCann, D. (2010). Psychology: Themes and Variations (2nd Canadian Edition). Toronto, Canada: Nelson Education.

The textbook comes packaged with Concept Charts (Ideal for studying) and PsykTrek (a CD study/review tool).

SECRETARY:

Room 282 Behavioral Sciences Building

416-650-8488 ext. 58488

TEACHING ASSISTANTS: (see sidebar for office hours and contact info)

TA’s are responsible for those students with last names as below

Students will be assigned to a specific Teaching Assistant alphabetically by the students last name (check the website about two weeks into the course to find out who your assigned TA is). This is an administrative decision and is designed simply to facilitate organization in the course. With a course enrollment this large, its important that each student have someone who is familiar with them and their grades etc. The teaching assistant to whom you are assigned will be keeping your exams and is the person you should visit to inquire about grades or to see your exam.  If you have trouble meeting their office hours because other courses conflict simply contact them and they will arrange to transfer you to another TA whose hours you can make. Of course, since all the TAs will be familiar with course content feel free to drop by anyone’s office hours to make inquiries.

Each of the TAs will be available for two hours each week for consultation regarding text readings, exams, grades, study habits, etc..

If you are having trouble with the lectures or the text visit the TAs. The TAs also will be happy to talk with you about improving your study habits and about graduate school in psychology and careers in psychology. The TAs will keep the written exams in order that students may examine their exams, the right answers, and receive feedback from the TAs regarding how they are doing and how to do better. THE EXAMS WILL NOT BE GIVEN BACK TO STUDENTS BUT WILL BE KEPT BY THE TAs. No appointments are necessary for any of our office hours.

If you have a problem, drop by and see us or email - perhaps the easiest and fastest way to reach us about a problem is to email us. If you email us we often can answer your question or solve your problem very quickly. If that doesnt work make sure to drop by and see us in person during our office hours.

GRADING:

In this course your work will be graded with percentages. However, in the grade report given by the University to you at the end of the year, only letter grades are used. Listed below is the conversion table used in this course (note: the nature of the conversion may change across courses).

NOTE: GRADE CONVERSION TABLE USED IN THIS COURSE

(other courses may use a different conversion schedule)

A+ : 90-

A : 80-89

B+ : 76-79

B : 70-75

C+ : 66-69

C : 60-65

D+ : 56-59

D : 50-55

E : 48-49

F : -47

EVALUATION OF STUDENTS:

Tests

Student evaluation is based on two components. 4 equally weighted exams constitute 96% of your final grade. Each tests counts 24% toward your final grade.  In the Fall term, these tests typically consist of 75 multiple-choice questions and one essay question. (The format may change slightly in the winter term). Typically the essay questions deal with material discussed in lectures that is not discussed extensively in the text. The Unit tests deal primarily with material discussed in that unit; that is, they are noncumulative.

4% of your grade comes from your participation in the URPP (Undergraduate Research Participant Program) research opportunities. The URPP coordinator will visit our class in the first few weeks of the course to describe the URPP program and your participation in it.  All Introductory psychology students can receive 4% for participating in 6 hours of research run by the URPP. The 4% is added on to your exam grades to give you a final grade out of 100%.  You can contact them at urpp@yorku.ca. If you have any concerns regarding urpp points or participation, email them, not your instructor or TA.

MISSED TESTS:

Make-up exams will be scheduled for students who can supply a physicians note. In order to apply for a make up exam you must use the attending_physician_statement.pdf.

This is the only form Dr. McCann will accept.

The note must specify the date(s) of the illness and include a phone number where the physician can be contacted. Travel plans do not constitute a legitimate reason for missing a test. A medical illness is the only legitimate reason for missing a test. If anything else happens, get documentation, a copy of the obituary, court documents, etc..

If you do miss a test notify the TA by email indicating the reason for the absence. As soon as you return to school you must bring the Attending Physicians Statement form to the TA for authorization. The TA will set a makeup time. According to Departmental Policy, you must write the make up exam when scheduled by the instructor/TA (unless you have a previously scheduled exam at the same time).

IMPORTANT DATES:

Last day to enroll without permission of instructor

Full course Sept 26

Last date to enroll with permission of course instructor

Full course Oct 29

Last date to drop courses without receiving a grade

Full course Feb 11

Note: Continuing Study in Psychology

The Senate of York University has passed a regulation stating that students must obtain a minimum grade of C (4.0) in AS/SC/PSYC 1010.06 in order to be permitted to pursue a degree in Psychology or to take any further course work in psychology even if they do not plan to major in Psychology. This regulation applies to students wishing to take Psychology courses in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences. The regulation applies to students who enter the university in FW 96 or after.

COURSE FORMAT

The lectures will discuss and expand upon text readings. You should note that although not all text material will be discussed directly in class you are responsible for the material for test purposes. In addition, some of the lectures will discuss material not available in the text. Again, you are responsible for this material. If you miss a class, try to borrow notes from a classmate. This course will be conducted primarily in a lecture format (there are no tutorials). When studying for tests, do not study just from the text or just from the lecture notes.

Films and videos will be shown from time to time and general questions derived from this material may appear on tests. Periodically, research demonstrations and experiments will be conducted in class. These are generally designed to illustrate important concepts or to give experience in participating in a subject role in research. Although direct participation is voluntary, it is encouraged and the results of any such exercise will be discussed in class where relevant and questions based on this material may appear on tests. If in doubt as to the material to be examined on tests, please ask the TAs or Dr. McCann.

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM

The University does not look favorably on cheating of any kind - the penalties are harsh indeed. Become familiar with the rules and regulations regarding cheating/plagiarism published in the University Calendar. See the University Calendar for more detail.