INTRODUCTION

This web site contains the general instructions and lessons for PSY 101--General Psychology.

There are no prerequisites for this class.

The course aims to present significant theories and findings in the field of psychology, to acquaint you with the methods used by psychologists, and to show some applications of psychological knowledge.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Coon, D., and J. Mitterer, Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior, 11th ed. (with supplements), Wadsworth (Thompson Learning), 2007.

Karafa, T., and D. Coon, Study Guide to Accompany Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior, 11th ed., Wadsworth (Thompson Learning), 2007.

Your text suggests a variety of supplementary computer and Internet-based resources, including a course Web site: www.thomsonedu.com/psychology/coon. At the end of each chapter, the section “Web Resources” has links to related information.

Two multimedia CD-ROMS are designed for use with this textbook. These are PsychNow! Interactive Experiences in Psychology 2.0 and Sniffy the Virtual Rat, Lite

Version 2.0. At the end of each text chapter, you will find an “Interactive Learning” section that refers you to appropriate related materials on the two CDs. You may purchase them along with your textbook (see the book order form for the course). Again, these supplements are optional.

 

LESSON ASSIGNMENTS

The material in the course is organized into three units, each of which is comprised of two lessons dealing with different areas of psychology. Each lesson contains the chapters to read and an assignment for you to complete and submit to the IDL office. The assignments must be submitted, graded by me, and reviewed by you before the examination for that unit can be taken. You may submit more than one lesson at a time if you are able to maintain “A”s and “B”s on all your course work. You must complete all lessons in a unit including the examination for that unit before submitting lessons for the subsequent unit.

The SQ4R Method

Your Study Guide to Accompany Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior (hereafter referred to as the “Karafa & Coon Study Guide”) is designed to be used as you read the text material. It uses the SQ4R method described on pages 1-3 of the Introduction in your textbook. Read pages 1-10 of the Introduction in your textbook and pages v-viii of the Karafa & Coon Study Guide before beginning any work for Lesson 1. Complete the appropriate sections of the Karafa & Coon Study Guide as you do the reading assignments.

After working with the Reading Assignment using the SQ4R method, you are ready to begin your written assignment. Much of the written assignment will require that you demonstrate a mastery of the material covered by integrating concepts, giving original examples, and developing logical arguments using research and examples presented in the text to support a point of view. Rarely will you find “the answer” for your written work in the text. However, you will have to refer to the text and utilize the information there to develop your own responses to the writing assignment. This process of using the information in a personal and novel way will help you to remember and retrieve the information in the future. Try to view the writing assignments as another step in the process of learning the material. They will cover only a sample of the material you will be responsible for on the exams.