PSY 101 Section 004 - Introductory Psychology – 4.0 Credit Hours

Fall Semester 2024

Monday and Wednesday 5:00pm – 6:50pm*

1281 Anthony Hall

*Lectures and/or due dates may change in weeks with break days and holidays – always check the schedule

Instructor: Dr. Lucy Thompson (pronouns - she/her) – aymorluc@msu.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or by appointment) via Zoom.

Book here and a Zoom link will be sent: https://calendly.com/lucythompson/dr-thompson-s-office-hours

Graduate TA: Kalei Glozier (he/him) – glozierw@msu.edu

Office hours: Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Book here and a Zoom link will be sent: https://calendly.com/glozierw-msu/30min

Undergraduate TA: Medha Mangina (she/her) - manginam@msu.edu

Office hours: Mondays/Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. via Zoom

Book here and a Zoom link will be sent: https://calendly.com/manginam-msu/office-hours-psy-101

Undergraduate TA: Emily McCarthy (she/her) - mccar577@msu.edu

Office hours: Mondays 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Book here and a Zoom link will be sent: https://calendly.com/mccar577-msu/officehours

Undergraduate TA: Eshana Mistry (she/her) - mistryes@msu.edu

Office hours: Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom: https://msu.zoom.us/j/2248711599 Password: 366911

Undergraduate TA: Charlotte Schultz (she/her) - schul767@msu.edu

Office hours: Mondays 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Book here and a Zoom link will be sent: https://calendly.com/schul767-msu/office-hours?month=2024-08

Time Zone: All times listed in the syllabus are East Lansing, MI time. Make sure to adjust if you are in a different time zone.

Technical Assistance: The first week has a course orientation, which will help you to learn how to navigate the course. Please take time in the first week to familiarize yourself with the syllabus and course information in D2L. Dr. Thompson does not expect any of us to be perfect with the various forms of technology we will be using for this course. If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem, you can: Visit the D2L Help Site – https://help.d2l.msu.edu/

Call the D2L Help Line – (517) 432-6200 or (844) 678-6200

Visit the MSU Tech Support Site – https://tech.msu.edu/support/help/

Call the MSU Tech Support Line – (517) 432-6200 or toll free (844) 678-6200

E-Mail: All official course communication will happen with your MSU email account. You should communicate with your assigned TA in the first instance. TA’s are assigned based on your TA group number in D2L. To find your group number in D2L, click ‘Communication’, then ‘Groups’. The TA allocations are as follows:

Group 1: Kalei Glozier (he/him) – glozierw@msu.edu

Group 2: Medha Mangina (she/her) - manginam@msu.edu

Group 3: Emily McCarthy (she/her) - mccar577@msu.edu

Group 4: Eshana Mistry (she/her) - mistryes@msu.edu

Group 5: Charlotte Schultz (she/her) - schul767@msu.edu

Who to contact about what:

If you have a quick question about the course, email your TA in the first instance. Your TA has taken this course and can help with questions and clarifications. You are more likely to get a quick response from your TA because they work with smaller groups of students. If your TA cannot answer your question, they will forward it for Dr. Thompson’s review. Dr. Thompson and your TA will respond to your email within two business days during working hours (8am – 5pm Monday through Friday). Please follow up with us if you have not heard back after two business days. Please note, we will not respond to emails outside of business hours (i.e., during evenings and weekends).

If you are having difficulty with the course, please see Dr. Thompson or your TA in office hours as soon as you can. We will not know you are struggling unless you tell us.

If you are interested in a particular topic and have more questions, or if you need support or would like to talk more about an idea from class, please come to Dr. Thompson’s office hours. One of her favorite things is discussing your ideas and interests!

E-Mail Policy: E-mail is the best way to get a hold of your assigned TA and/or Dr. Thompson. However, please use the following guidelines when communicating via email:

First, ask yourself this question: “Can this question be answered by looking in the syllabus or looking on the D2L course site?”

We have spent a lot of time preparing the course materials so you have all the information you need to succeed in this course. It is your responsibility to read that information.

Decide if email is the best option before you send. If your question is complicated or will need further discussion, do not just automatically send off an email. Come to office hours instead. Some things are better discussed face to face!

Use PSY 101 in the subject line. That makes it clear you are a student in this course asking a question. This helps to prevent e-mails from going directly to the junk folder.

When using your phone to send an email, remember you are writing to a professional person who is doing their job, not sending a text to a friend. Treat every email as professional communication. We are in a place of work.

Use the appropriate salutation. Please address every email properly.

For your professor, you should say “Hi Dr. Thompson” or “Hello Dr. Thompson”.

For one of the TAs, you should say “Hi [First Name]” or “Hello [First Name]”.

Always sign off your e-mails with your full name, so we know who you are. Include a sign off like “Thanks”, or “Best wishes” with your name. This is a sign of courtesy.

Proofread your e-mail. Is your question clearly conveyed? Did autocorrect or ChatGPT make it sound super weird?

Be polite.

Please do not use abusive email behaviors.

For example, do not use abusive subject line behavior like typing the word “URGENT” in the subject line. You may think you are highlighting the actionable items in your email, but the perception from the receiver is that you are implying that your message is more important than any other correspondence the receiver might have received. This may be viewed as a sign that you do not respect or value the receivers’ right to manage their own workload and time.

This guidance is adapted from Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/pictures/egfj45ili/abusive-subject-line-behavior/?sh=21f183a3662d

When a TA or professor responds to help you via email, it is good practice to respond and thank them for their help.

Finally, emergencies can arise in life, but it is unlikely that a true emergency will arise in relation to this course (i.e., a situation that requires immediate action to be resolved - and cannot be resolved any other way). Please do not use the 'urgent' flag in your emails.

Most solutions to academic problems cannot be put in place immediately, and all emails will be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner regardless of how they are flagged.

See again the Forbes guidance, this time on issues with overusing the priority flag - https://www.forbes.com/pictures/egfj45ili/over-use-of-the-priority-flag/?sh=bc4d76069f6

More guidance on email communication in the academic context is provided in this link and this link.

Why is there so much guidance about email habits to avoid?

Answer – because this advice will serve you well in all professional settings!

Check your e-mail and course site regularly! During the course, we will e-mail you occasionally and post announcements on the course site often with important information and reminders. Please read these e-mails and announcements as soon as you receive them, and please set up D2L to forward course emails and announcements to your email address. See D2L for information on how to do this.

Course Webpage: On D2L (https://d2l.msu.edu/). This page will provide you with notes, readings, assignments, grades, and other important class information.

Required Textbook: To register and access the textbook and assignments, click on any assignment in the Week 2 D2L Module (e.g. Chapter 1 & 2 Pre-Test; Chapter 1 & 2 Homework; Chapter 1 & 2 Post-Test). This will take you to Connect registration (or login if you already have an account) and our book for this course. This will also link your Connect assignments to your grades in D2L.

Our textbook is King, L. A. (2024). The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View.

Again, our Textbook will be available via McGraw Hill Connect. You must purchase the version of the book with Connect (do not simply purchase the standalone eBook). We have a special price for this course, but you need to follow the registration instructions provided above to access the correct version and the special price.

Course Overview: The purpose of this course is to give you a broad introduction to psychology and critical thinking. The scientific investigations that make up psychology as a field are broad and far-reaching, and this class is your first step toward a greater understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Course Goals: There are three major goals for you in PSY 101. First and foremost, you will explore the field of psychology, which is both broad and, sometimes, complicated. In this course, you will be exposed to a variety of areas of interest within the field of psychology, as well as the research methods employed to investigate these areas. Second, you will learn the skills associated with scientific study and critical thinking. Whether or not you choose to continue studying psychology after this class, there are a number of basic scientific and critical thinking skills that will serve you well regardless of your area of study. These skills are an integral part of the psychological sciences, and you will learn to employ them in understanding the nature of psychology. Finally, you will apply the knowledge and skills gained in this course to everyday life. Unlike most other sciences, psychology is unique in its obvious relationship to our everyday lives. Studying psychology directly benefits you with a better understanding of yourself, others, and the world around you.

Learning Objectives: This course has six learning objectives, which will be achieved through a variety of activities and assignments. At the completion of this course, you should be able to:

Identify basic concepts and research findings, and give examples of psychology’s integrative themes.

Psychological science relies on empirical evidence and adapts as new data develop.

Psychology explains general principles that govern behavior, while recognizing individual differences.

Psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors influence mental processes and behavior.

Our perceptions filter our experiences of the world through an imperfect personal lens.

Applying psychological principles can change our lives in positive ways.

Apply psychological principles to everyday life.

Draw appropriate, logical, and objective conclusions about behavior and mental processes from empirical evidence.

Evaluate misconceptions or erroneous behavioral claims based on evidence from psychological science.

Evaluate basic psychological research.

Describe ethical principles that guide psychologists in research and practice.

Honors Option: An honors option is not offered for this course. There are standalone honors sections for 101.

Course Mode: PSY 101 Section 004 is meeting in person for all lectures and exams, but all tests and homework assignments will be online. You will need to have access to a computer with consistent access to a high-speed internet connection. Access to computers with consistent access to a high-speed internet connection can be found on campus if you do not have access at home.

Course Format: Lectures will not just be a repetition of reading, but rather will make space to clarify, extend, and illustrate specific concepts from the readings (with a focus on difficult concepts and critical ideas). The only way to develop the skills this course is designed to nurture is through lots of practice. Therefore, much of our regular lecture periods will be spent working through and discussing examples to illustrate the course material. This "working through" will involve participation, including discussion and polling, which will involve answering questions live during class.

Unit Structure: The course is broken up into four units with 2-3 topics per unit. Lecture notes and readings will be provided as we work through the topics. Each unit will have multiple Tests, Homework, and In-Class Participation assignments (amount for each depends on the unit). At the conclusion of each unit there is a Unit Exam, and the Homework for that unit will also be due. See below for details and the course schedule at the end of the syllabus for dates and times.

Weekly Structure: Weekly modules (containing Lecture notes, Readings, Links to activities etc.) will open in D2L at 4pm the Friday before the week is set to begin. In each content week you will be expected to complete the readings, come to the lectures, participate in the in-class activities (when applicable), and take the pre-and post- tests (when applicable). As a 4-credit, 16-week course, you are expected to spend about 10-12 hours each week on course material. This should look like 3-4 hours of reading and taking notes on the readings, 4 hours of coming to lecture, 1 hour to review the previous material, 1 hour for pre-tests and post-tests, and 1-2 hours of planning, reading, and working on Homework.

One of Dr. Thompson’s goals is to help you find rest (maybe even some fun!?) on your weekend, so the weekly structure is designed to help achieve that goal. You can use your weekend however you see fit – catching up on previous content for exams, getting ahead on the next week’s content, or doing absolutely nothing for the course – but please know that is why activities and assignments close at 4pm on Fridays.

Activities and Evaluation Criteria

You are required complete the following activities:

Orientation Quiz: This quiz assesses your understanding of the course policies as outlined in the syllabus and introduction video that is available on our D2L course site (https://d2l.msu.edu/). You can take the Orientation Quiz as many times as you like in order to maximize your score. Be sure to read this syllabus first! The Orientation Quiz is worth 10 points and determines 2% of your final grade. It will open 8/26/24 at 7am and will close 9/20/24 at 4pm.

Pre-Tests & Post-Tests: Each unit content week has a pre-test worth 5 points and a post-test worth 5 points. There are 10 pre-tests and 10 post-tests in total. These tests take the place of a standard quiz and are designed to help you study. See the posted study tips for more information.

Only your top seven pre-tests will be counted toward your final grade for a total of 35 points (7% of your total grade). Your three lowest scored pre-tests of the semester will be dropped.

Only your top seven post-tests will be counted toward your final grade for a total of 35 points (7% of your total grade). Your three lowest scored post-tests of the semester will be dropped.

Pre-Tests will open at 4pm on Friday before the week is set to begin so you can try them over the weekend if you like. Pre-tests will close / are due by 4pm on Friday of the week they are due (unless stated otherwise). Note that is East Lansing, MI time. See the course schedule at the end of syllabus for dates.

Post-tests will open from 7am on Monday of the specific week and will close / are due by 4pm on Friday of that week (unless stated otherwise). Note that is East Lansing, MI time. See the course schedule at the end of syllabus for dates.

You can take the pre-tests and post-tests as many times as you like throughout the time they are open.

These tests are designed to take 20 minutes to complete 10 questions. However, you will have 60 minutes to complete each one. This is to accommodate any students with extra time via RCPD.

Each test question is worth 0.5 points each.

Please note each test will close at 4pm on the Friday due date (again, East Lansing, MI time), so if you start at 3:55pm on the Friday due date you will only have 5 minutes to take the test.

Pre-tests and post-tests will be graded automatically, and your score will be automatically imported into D2L. D2L will always save your highest score.

Again, you can take the tests as many times as you like throughout the time they are open.

Makeup Pre-Tests and Post-Tests: There are no makeup tests. This is because of the large number of drops (3 for pre-tests; 3 for post-tests), the unlimited number of times you can take the tests, and the extended time that the tests are open (at least 7 days).

This is capped at three total drops with no makeups because any further drops mean you have not had the opportunity to demonstrate a sufficient level of mastery consistent with the course goals.

Use your drops wisely! Look at over the course schedule at the end of the syllabus for due dates and plan accordingly. For example, a common strategy is to save one or two drops for the end of the semester when you are juggling more course work.

Exams (in person): Five exams will be given in person – four Unit exams, and one cumulative exam during the final exam period. Any material from lectures, readings, videos, and related materials are fair game for exam questions. Each exam will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions worth 1 point each. Therefore, each exam is worth 60 points (12% of your final grade). Your lowest exam score will be dropped. Therefore, your four best exam scores will account for 240 points (48% of your final grade). So, if you do well on the first four exams, your grade on the cumulative final exam will not matter. If you are comfortable with your grade, you do not need to take (or even show up for) the final exam. Or, if you do poorly on one of the first four exams, you can take the final exam to make up for it.

Exam Instructions:

A study guide will be posted for each exam.

BRING PENCILS AND AN ERASER! Exams are completed on paper using a Scantron form. Make sure you bring sharp pencils and an eraser to correct any errors.

Unit Exams (Exams 1-4) will begin at 5:00 p.m. The Final Exam will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Unit Exams 1-4 must be turned in by 6:50 p.m.

The Final Exam must be turned in by 12:00 p.m.

The Final Exam date and time is set by MSU and is the only time the Final Exam is offered. No early Final Exams will be given unless a student has RCPD Exam Accommodations, a religious holiday, or a required participation in a university-sanctioned event.

Exams will begin with detailed instructions. Arrive on time and do not miss these.

During exams, you may only have pencils and erasers at your desk.

Leave refreshments or other materials zipped up in your book bag or do not bring them at all.

Turn off anything that makes noise.

You are not permitted to wear headphones, ear buds, or wear hats with a forward-facing bill. You must also remove and put away smart watches.

Once the exam has begun, there will be no talking or disruptions.

Leaving the room is reserved for emergencies only.

If you arrive late, you may take the exam, but you will not be able to do this once the first student has completed and turned in the exam.

Wait at the back of the room to see Dr. Thompson for instructions if you arrive late for the Exam.

You need to show your MSU ID in order to turn in your exams. Make sure you remember this.

See the course schedule at the end of syllabus for dates and times. Please note that all times are East Lansing, MI time.

For those of you with extended time via your RCPD accommodations, please email Dr. Thompson a week before each exam to work out the appropriate accommodations.

Exam grades will be posted online once they are available from the scoring office and Dr. Thompson has reviewed and corrected any potential scoring errors.

Exam questions will not be posted after, but you may review your exams with Dr. Thompson during office hours. However, each exam must be reviewed before the next exam is given. For example, after Exam 2 has been given, you are no longer permitted to review Exam 1.

Makeup Exams: Plan to complete your exams during the day and time they are given. No makeup exams will be given unless you have a valid reason and supporting documentation (such as a doctor’s note), or other type of MSU-approved absence (such as grief absence). If you have a valid reason or approved absence, you must notify Dr. Thompson via email with supporting documentation within 24 hours of the closure of the given exam. You must include supporting documentation with any request for a makeup or extension for this to be considered. Failure to do so will result in you not being allowed to take the exam.

Makeup exams must be taken within 48 hours of the end time of the missed exam, so you need to be prepared to take the exam within this timeframe.

If your request is approved, your instructor will send you the arrangements, including exam time and location. You must attend at the specified time in order to complete the makeup exam.

Also, keep in mind the drops that are already built into the course for unexpected situations that are not considered valid reasons for an approved absence (for example, events like car trouble or technical problems are not considered valid reasons).

If you cannot take an exam because of a religious holiday, you must notify Dr. Thompson by 9/6/24.

If you cannot take an exam because of required participation in a university-sanctioned event (e.g., a commitment for a sports team - note that clubs are not included), or some other acceptable University-sanctioned event, you must provide official documentation and notify Dr. Thompson at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

In-Class Participation: Participation is a requirement for this course. To accomplish this goal, and build a sense of community in our (very large) class, we will be using polling during classes via the Connect platform. Participation points are allocated on a Weekly basis, with a total of 10 possible points per week. Polls will be distributed throughout each class and must be completed live in the classroom to earn credit. Instructions on how to access each poll will be provided in class when the time comes to complete them. Your participation in class will be counted towards your final grade for a total of 70 points (14% of your total grade).

In-Class Participation Instructions:

Polls will be given intermittently during each class session. You must be in the classroom to complete these polls.

There will be no polls in Week 1 to allow you time to register for Connect.

In Week 2, we will complete a practice polling session to ensure that everybody is connected and ready for the remainder of the semester.

Week 3 will mark the beginning of graded polling for in-class participation.

In-Class participation grades are calculated on a weekly basis – not lecture-by-lecture. This is because you need to engage fully in at least 7 of the course topics to demonstrate sufficient mastery of the topics.

In weeks with 2 lectures, you must complete the participation polls in both lectures to earn full credit.

If you miss one of two lectures in any given week, you will lose the points for that lecture, but you can earn partial credit for the lecture you do attend:

E.g. If you miss a Monday lecture with 5 participation points, but attend that Wednesday’s lecture with 5 participation points, you will have the opportunity to earn up to 5 participation points for that week.

In weeks with one lecture due to break days or holidays, all participation points will be assigned to one lecture.

Polls will be graded for both completion and accuracy. This means that some questions will ask for your opinion, while others will ask for a correct answer.

In total, we will complete graded in-class participation polling in 9 weeks of the course (see the schedule for specific days). Each week’s in-class participation activities are worth a total of 10 points. 7 weeks will count toward your final grade, for a total of 70 points (14% of your grade). 2 weeks will be dropped. This gives you the flexibility to miss 2 weeks without losing points.

Makeups for In-Class Participation: There are no makeups for in-class participation. This is because there are two drops, so you can miss 2 weeks of participation without losing any points toward your grade. Also, in-class participation happens live in class, and it is impossible to repeat the class. Once the class is done, it’s done. Therefore, you have two drops in the place of makeups.

This is capped at two total drops with no makeups because any further drops mean you have not had the opportunity to demonstrate a sufficient level of participation and mastery consistent with the course goals.

Use your drops wisely! Look at over the course schedule at the end of the syllabus for due dates and plan accordingly. For example, a common strategy is to save one or two drops for the end of the semester when you are juggling more course work.

Homework: Homework assignments will be given in each unit content week. Each homework assignment will consist of a selection of interactive activities designed to help you to dive deeper into the weekly topics. Homework assignments are worth 10 points each. In each assignment, there will be several activities with a total of 20 questions worth 0.5 points each. In total, 10 homework assignments will be given throughout the semester. Your top 8 homework assignment scores will count toward your final grade. Your 2 lowest scoring homework assignments will be dropped. Therefore, your homework assignments will count for a maximum total of 80 points (16% of your final grade).

Homework assignments will open at 7am on Monday in the specific week.

Homework assignments for each unit will close at 4pm at the end of each Unit consolidation week, so you have the whole Unit to complete them.

See the schedule at the end of this syllabus for due dates and times.

Research Experience: One fundamental way of learning firsthand about psychological research is to participate in research studies. You are required to earn 7 hours of research participation credits through the Psychology SONA system. Each half-hour is worth 2.5 points. Therefore, research experience is worth 35 points (7% of your final grade). You need to complete your hours before Friday December 6th, 2024, at 5pm, when the SONA system will close.

More detailed instructions for setting up your HPR / SONA account and how to sign up for research hours is provided in the D2L course under ‘Research Experience/SONA Info’.

Below are some highlights:

When setting up SONA sure that you are on the Psychology SONA site and signed up for the correct SECTION of PSY 101: We are Section 004.

Note that the Psychology SONA system may not open until Week 2 or 3 of the semester.

Make sure you are signed up in the Psychology SONA system. The Department of Communication Arts and Sciences also has a SONA site. We do not have access to this data and cannot grant participation credit for experiments done under the other site/college.

ALL SONA QUESTIONS, INACCURACIES, OR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO AUDRA JEFFREY: jeffre22@msu.edu. Your instructor and course assistants do not have access to SONA and cannot see your participation. We do not know how many credits you have until we receive the report from SONA at the end of the semester.

Make sure you enter your details correctly: It is your responsibility to sign up, participate in the experiments, and track your personal history on the computer. It is also your responsibility to enter your personal information (e.g. date of birth) correctly. You must also register with your MSU email address.

Students under 18 are ineligible for SONA experiments. Contact Audra Jeffrey (jeffre22@msu.edu), the SONA Student Coordinator, if you are under 18 in order to learn about non-SONA options for fulfilling your research education requirement.

Again, direct all questions about SONA to Audra Jeffrey (jeffre22@msu.edu).

Alternative to research participation: If you do not wish to participate in psychological research, you may write a research-based paper that is designed for this situation. Details about the paper requirements will be posted on D2L. All papers are due by Friday November 22nd, 2024, at 4pm. The assignment folder will close promptly at 4pm, and no papers will be accepted after this. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Turnitin will be used. Please see the ‘Use of Turnitin’ section of this syllabus for more information.

Extra Credit: You may accumulate an additional hour of research experience for 5 extra course points, which is 1% extra. You will receive course points for up to 8 hours of research participation but can receive partial credit.

Grading: Your final grade will be based on the following course points:

Requirement	Points	% of final grade
Orientation Quiz	5	1%
Top 7 (out of 10) Pre-Tests	35	7%
Top 7 (out of 10) Post-Post Tests	35	7%
Top 7 (out of 9) In-Class Participation	70	14%
Top 8 (out of 10) Homework	80	16%
Top 4 (out of 5) Exam Scores	240	48%
Research Experience	35	7%
Total	500	100%
Extra Credit	5	+1% potentially

The grading scale is as follows:

Total Points	Grade
447.5 – 500	4.0
422.5 – 447.49	3.5
397.5 – 422.49	3.0
372.5 – 397.49	2.5
347.5 – 372.49	2.0
322.5 – 347.49	1.5
297.5 – 322.49	1.0
0 – 297.49	0.0

Policy on grade changes: Extra credit is the only way to increase your point total if you are concerned about falling on the wrong side on one of these cut-offs. At the end of the semester, if you believe that an error was made in calculating your grade, please let Dr. Thompson know. Your grade will be checked and changed if an error was made. This is the only circumstance under which your grade will change. Under no circumstance will your grade be “bumped”, or a special extra credit opportunity be given. Please don’t ask. There will be no exceptions.

Cheating: Any student caught cheating on an exam, cheating on a test, cheating on Homework, cheating on Polling, or plagiarizing the Alternative Papers for Research Participation, will receive a zero for the assignment, a zero for the course, and be reported to the University. This includes sharing answers in any form via group messaging applications like GroupMe.

Academic Honesty: Any and all forms of cheating are unacceptable. Students are expected to complete tests, exams, and written assignments individually and without outside help. Any student caught cheating on tests, exams, homework, or in-class assignments will receive a zero in this course. The Spartan Code of Honor states, "As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do." In addition, Article 2.III.B.2 of the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) states that "The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards." The Psychology Department adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. For extensive details see Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide. Further information about cheating can be found on a website provided by the MSU Ombudsperson (https://ombud.msu.edu/resources-self-help/academic-integrity). Make sure you are familiar with MSU definitions regarding academic dishonesty. Ignorance is not an excuse.

Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also, you are not authorized to use the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any course work in this course. Students who violate MSU academic integrity rules may receive a penalty grade, including a failing grade on the assignment or in the course and may be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs. Contact Dr. Thompson if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course work. Or, for general examples of what constitutes plagiarism, see:

https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/plagiarism.html

Policy on Use of Generative A.I. (Artificial Intelligence): The policy of this class is that you must be the creator of all work you submit for a grade. The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class; therefore, any use of generative AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Michigan State University’s policy on academic integrity, the Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge and Student Rights and Responsibilities, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized generative AI tools will result in a score of 0 for the assignment.

Policy on Religious Observations: If you anticipate being unable to complete a graded portion of the course due to a major religious observance, please provide notice of the date(s) to Dr. Thompson, via email, by 9/6/24.

Note taking and recordings: As members of a learning community, students are expected to respect the intellectual property of course instructors. All course materials presented to students are the copyrighted property of the course instructor and are subject to the following conditions of use:

Students may not post recordings or other course materials online or distribute them to anyone not enrolled in the class without the advance written permission of the course instructor and, if applicable, any students whose voice or image is included in the recordings.

Commercialization of lecture notes and university-provided course materials is not permitted in this course.

Any student violating the conditions described above may face academic disciplinary sanctions, including receiving a penalty grade in the course.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued an Accommodations Letter. Please email this letter to Dr. Thompson at the start of the term and/or three weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date may not be honored. If you require testing accommodations (e.g., additional time.) you must contact Dr. Thompson and present your Accommodations Letter at least two weeks before the test date.

Academic Assistance: This is a university, and you are expected to produce college level work. If you have any trouble with the material covered in class, please make an appointment to speak with Dr. Thompson, or one of the course assistants. Additionally, the university has resources to assist students, such as the Campus Tutorial Center, the Campus Writing Center, Adult Student Services, and more. A lot is expected of you, but the university wants to help you to produce your best work.

Limits to Confidentiality: Essays, journals, and other materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University's student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues to protect the health and safety of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices (including the MSU Police Department) if you share it with me:

Suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child,

Allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and

Credible threats of harm to oneself or to others.

These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU Counselling Center: https://caps.msu.edu/

This is an MSU required mandate that Dr. Thompson and the Graduate Assistant(s) are required to follow as MSU employees. Given this, you should not disclose experiences of abuse or sexual violence related to MSU unless you are comfortable having this information shared with the Office of Institutional Equity. Despite the mandate, Dr. Thompson does not want to further the culture of silence surrounding abuse and sexual violence in this class. All are encouraged to use the resources listed below (not mandated university reporters) as they process their feelings and experiences in this course.

MSU Safe Place http://safeplace.msu.edu/	NRCDV http://www.nrcdv.org/	NNEVD http://www.nnedv.org/

(517) 355-1100

NCDSV http://www.ncdsv.org/	MCEDSV http://www.mcedsv.org/	No More http://nomore.org/

RAINN https://rainn.org/	The Joyful Heart Foundation http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

Feministing http://feministing.com/	Futures Without Violence http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/

Course Climate: We are all working toward the same goals in this course! By building a strong learning community from the start, we will benefit.

Inclusive Environment: MSU is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive community in which students, faculty, and staff can work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination. The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) reviews concerns related to discrimination and harassment based on sex, gender, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, disability status, and any other protected categories under the University Anti-Discrimination Policy (https://www.hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/university-wide/ADP_policy.html) and Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (https://civilrights.msu.edu/policies/rvsm.html). If you experience or witness acts of bias, discrimination, or harassment, please report these to OIE: http://oie.msu.edu/.

Student-student interactions: Part of being a strong group member is being a good listener, being motivating and empathetic, and providing constructive feedback. We will focus on these characteristics throughout the semester.

Student-instructor interactions: If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let Dr. Thompson know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional.

Disruptive Behavior: Article 2.III.B.4 of the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) for students at Michigan State University states: "The student's behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned." Article 2.III.B.10 of the SRR states that "The student and the faculty share the responsibility for maintaining professional relationships based on mutual trust and civility." General Student Regulation 5.02 states: "No student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action.”

Lying: Lying is an unacceptable behavior in both personal and professional relationships. Lying to get what you want is a manipulative behavior and will not be tolerated in this course. This includes lying to get an unfair advantage in a class or assignment. Do not do this!

Appropriate Netiquette: Below are the key elements that we can use together to build a strong learning community.

Be professional. Interact with your fellow classmates and instructor as you would in your professional life. Use appropriate language. Be clear and concise.

Have opinions but be respectful of disagreement.

Be cautious with humor or sarcasm. We do not want to create a dull environment devoid of fun, but it is very easy for these tones to be lost in text. If you want to make jokes or be sarcastic, indicate your intent with emoticons or a sarcasm tag “/s”.

Be kind. Be respectful.

Use of Turnitin: Consistent with MSU’s efforts to enhance student learning, foster honesty, and maintain integrity in our academic processes, instructors may use a tool called Turnitin to compare a student’s work with multiple sources. The tool compares each student’s work with an extensive database of prior publications and papers, providing links to possible matches and a “similarity score.” The tool does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred or not. Instead, the instructor must make a complete assessment and judge the originality of the student’s work. All submissions to this course may be checked using this tool.

Students should submit papers to Turnitin Assignments without identifying information included in the paper (e.g., name or student number), the system will automatically show this information to faculty in your course when viewing the submission, but the information will not be retained by Turnitin.

Disclaimer: Below is a general indication of when we will cover the topics in the course. However, as the instructor, Dr. Thompson reserves the right to adjust this schedule and activities according to the pace of the course and the needs of the students. This also includes making any changes that Dr. Thompson deems necessary to the details and/or policies listed in this syllabus. Check D2L regularly to keep up with the topics. You will be given updates and notice of any changes via email, so please check this regularly.

Also, please know that you are responsible for keeping track of all due dates.

We are so excited to learn with you this semester!

PSY 101 (Section 004) Course Schedule for Fall 2024
Week #: Dates	Topic(s)	Readings	Activities: Due Dates
Unit 1 Content	Unit 1 Content	Unit 1 Content	Unit 1 Content
1: 8/26 (Monday)	Syllabus; Getting to know the course	Syllabus; D2L Course Information Module; Week 1 D2L Module	Register for Connect
1: 8/28 (Wednesday)
2: 9/2 (Monday)	Labor Day – No Class!	Chapter 1 & 2; Week 2 D2L Module	In-class participation [practice only]: Wednesday (9/4): 5:00 – 6:50pm Labor Day: Chapter 1 & 2 Pre-Test & Post-Test due next week in Week 3.
2: 9/4 (Wednesday)	Intro to Psychology; Psychological Research
3: 9/9 (Monday)	Biopsychology	Chapter 3; Week 3 D2L Module	In-class participation 1: Monday (9/9) & Wednesday (9/11): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 1 & 2 Pre-Test [Combines both chapters]; Chapter 3 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 9/13 Chapter 1 & 2 Post-Test [Combines both Chapters]; Chapter 3 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 9/13
3: 9/11(Wednesday)	Biopsychology
Unit 1 Consolidation
4: 9/16 (Monday)	Study day for Exam 1: No class!	Exam 1 covers material for chapters 1, 2, & 3	Exam 1, Wednesday 9/18: 5:00 – 6:50pm Unit 1 Homework: 4pm on Friday 9/20 Orientation Quiz: 4pm on Friday 9/20
4: 9/18 (Wednesday)	Exam 1
Week #: Dates	Topic(s)	Readings	Activities: Due Dates
Unit 2 Content	Unit 2 Content	Unit 2 Content	Unit 2 Content
5: 9/23 (Monday)	Human Development	Chapter 9; Week 5 D2L Module	In-class participation 2: Monday (9/23) & Wednesday (9/25): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 9 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 9/27 Chapter 9 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 9/27
5: 9/25 (Wednesday)	Human Development
6: 9/30 (Monday)	Sensation and Perception	Chapter 4; Week 6 D2L Module	In-class participation 3: Monday (9/30) & Wednesday (10/2): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 4 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 10/4 Chapter 4 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 10/4
6: 10/2 (Wednesday)	Sensation and Perception
Unit 2 Consolidation
7: 10/7 (Monday)	Study day for Exam 2: No class!	Exam 2 covers material for chapters 9 & 4	Exam 2, Wednesday 10/9: 5:00 – 6:50pm Unit 2 Homework: 4pm on Friday 10/11
7: 10/9 (Wednesday)	Exam 2
Week #: Dates	Topic(s)	Readings	Activities: Due Dates
Unit 3 Content	Unit 3 Content	Unit 3 Content	Unit 3 Content
8: 10/14 (Monday)	Learning	Chapter 6; Week 8 D2L Module	In-class participation 4: Monday (10/14) & Wednesday (10/16): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 6 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 10/18 Chapter 6 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 10/18
8: 10/16 (Wednesday)	Learning
9: 10/21 (Monday)	Break Day: No Class!	Chapter 8; Week 9 D2L Module	In-class participation 5: Wednesday (10/23): 5:00 – 6:50pm Break Days: Chapter 8 Pre-Test & Chapter 8 Post-Test due in Week 10.
9: 10/23 (Wednesday)	Thinking and Intelligence
10: 10/28 (Monday)	Memory	Chapter 7; Week 10 D2L Module	In-class participation 6: Monday (10/28) & Wednesday (10/30) 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 8 & Chapter 7 Pre-Tests: 4pm on Friday 11/1 Chapter 8 & Chapter 7 Post-Tests: 4pm on Friday 11/1
10: 10/30 (Wednesday)	Memory
Unit 3 Consolidation
11: 11/4 (Monday)	Study day for Exam 3: No class!	Exam 3 covers material for chapters 6, 8, & 7	Exam 3, Wednesday 11/6: 5:00 – 6:50pm Unit 3 Homework: 4pm on Friday 11/8
11: 11/6 (Wednesday)	Exam 3
Week #: Dates	Topic(s)	Readings	Activities: Due Dates
Unit 4 Content	Unit 4 Content	Unit 4 Content	Unit 4 Content
12: 11/11 (Monday)	Personality	Chapter 12; Week 12 D2L Module	In-class participation 7: Monday (11/11) & Wednesday (11/13): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 12 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 11/15 Chapter 12 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 11/15
12: 11/13 (Wednesday)	Personality
13: 11/18 (Monday)	Social Psychology	Chapter 13; Week 13 D2L Module	In-class participation 8: Monday (11/18) & Wednesday (11/20): 5:00 – 6:50pm Chapter 13 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 11/22 Chapter 13 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 11/22 Alternative Papers for SONA Research Participation: Due by 4pm on Friday 11/22
13: 11/20 (Wednesday)	Social Psychology
14: 11/25 (Monday)	Psychological Disorders	Chapter 15; Week 14 D2L Module	In-class participation 9: Monday (11/25) & Wednesday (11/27): 5:00 – 6:50pm Thanksgiving Break: Chapter 15 Pre-Test and Chapter 15 Post-Test due in Week 15.
14: 11/27 (Wednesday)	Psychological Disorders
Unit 4 Consolidation
15: 12/2 (Monday)	Study day for Exam 4: No class!	Exam 4 covers material for chapters 12, 13, & 15	Exam 4, Wednesday 12/4: 5:00 – 6:50pm Unit 4 Homework: 4pm on Friday 12/6 Chapter 15 Pre-Test: 4pm on Friday 12/6 Chapter 15 Post-Test: 4pm on Friday 12/6 SONA System closes: 5pm on Friday 12/6
15: 12/4 (Wednesday)	Exam 4
FINALS
16: 12/9 (Monday)	Study day for Final Exam: No class!	Cumulative (Covers all topics)	Final Exam FRIDAY 12/13 10:00AM – 12:00PM
16: FRIDAY 12/13 10:00AM – 12:00PM	Final Exam (if needed)