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AP Psychology

Economics

The economics course provides a brief overview of the major topics in the science of economics.  Students begin by studying the function of an economic system and comparing socialism and capitalism.  From the field of microeconomics market mechanisms and legal business organizations are studied.  Measuring the health of the United States’ economy, fiscal policy, monetary policy and international trade are topics from macroeconomics.  Students will be able to apply these and other topics to their personal life through the study of personal finance and entrepreneurship.

Course Outline

Unit 1 – The Science of Economics
Unit 2 – Economic Systems
Unit 3 – Supply and Demand
Unit 4 – Organization of Business

Unit 5 – Measuring Economic Performance
Unit 6 – The Government and the Economy
Unit 7 – Money, Banks and Credit
Unit 8 – Personal Finance

Grading Policy

Quarter Grade:
50% - Tests, Projects
30% - Homework, Class work and Quizzes
20% - Class Participation (Honesty and Work Ethic)

Course Grade:
40% - Each Quarter Grade
20% - Final Exam

• Assignments will be graded on a 100-point scale.  Specific requirements will be discussed as needed. 

• Late assignments will be accepted one school day past their due date with a twenty-point deduction. Assignments not received by then will receive a zero.

• Failure to hand in projects will result in automatic failure of the course.

• All exams must be completed within three days of their original administration.  It is up to the student to ensure that this is accomplished.  Failure to see to this will result in point deductions.

• In the event of a class cut or an unexcused absence, all work collected or test and quizzes given on that day will receive a zero.  This grade will not be dropped.

Classroom Expectations

All students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared with a textbook, folder textbook and writing utensil.  While in class, students are expected to follow all school rules.  Failure to meet these expectations will result in disciplinary action such as detention, phone call to parents or administrative referral.

AP Economics
Participation in Government

            The AP Economics course is a college introductory course in macroeconomics and microeconomics.  It offers an introduction to the academic study of economics.  The roles of the major decision-makers in our economy, households, businesses and government are studied in detail.  The focus of the course is to introduce ways to observe the health of the economy and to study the intricacies of the economy as a whole.
            On May 11 all students will take two AP exams, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.  Each AP test is a two-hour test consisting of 60 multiple choice questions and three free response questions.  Tests are rated on a scale of 1-5 and generally students receive college credit for a score of 3 or higher.  If you are interested, a more detailed description of the course and the test can be found at apcentral.collegeboard.com. After the tests are taken in May we will cover a unit on Participation in Government that will fulfill your government requirement.
            Schenectady County Community College’s University in the High School (UHS) offers an alternative method to receive college credit while taking this class.  Students can register with SCCC and pay tuition of approximately $75 in return for college credit.  Each semester in economics is treated as a different course, so you will have to register and pay twice.  A final grade is calculated for each semester and that goes on an official SCCC transcript.

Grading Policy

Quarter Grade:
50% - Tests, Projects
30% - Homework, Class work, Quizzes
20% - Class Participation (Work Ethic, Honesty)

Course Grade:
20% - First Quarter
20% - Second Quarter
20% - Third Quarter
20% - Fourth Quarter
20% - Final Project

Assignments and tests are graded on a 100-point scale.  Specific criteria will be discussed for each assignment.

• A midterm exam will be given during Regents week in January. It will cover all of the major topics on microeconomics.  It will make up 30% of your 2^nd Quarter grade.

• Homework assignments will be accepted one day past their due date with a twenty percent deduction.  Assignments not handed in by then will receive a zero.

• Failure to hand in any project will result in automatic failure of the course.

• All exams must be completed within three days of their original administration.  It is up to the student to ensure that this is accomplished.  Failure to see to this will result in point deductions.

• In the event of a class cut or an unexcused absence, all work collected or test and quizzes given on that day will receive a zero.  This grade will not be dropped.

• Students will be expected to read and take notes on all assigned chapters.  Open-note quizzes will be conducted from time to time to insure that this is accomplished.  

• Review/Application questions are assigned for each chapter.  These will be collected every Friday.  It is expected that these will be answered completely and neatly.  Each assignment will be given an appropriate point value and all the assignments will be averaged as one quiz grade in each quarter.

Classroom Expectations

All students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared with a textbook, folder textbook and writing utensil.  While in class, students are expected to follow all school rules.  Failure to meet these expectations will result in disciplinary action such as detention, phone call to parents or administrative referral.

Tentative Course Schedule

AP Psychology

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals.  Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology.  They also learn about the methods that psychologists use in their science and practice.
            All students will take the AP Psychology exam on May 10.  The AP test is a two-hour test consisting of 100 multiple choice questions and two essays.  Tests are rated on a scale of 1-5 and generally students receive college credit for a score of 3 or higher.  If you are interested, a more detailed description of the course and the test can be found at apcentral.collegeboard.com. After the tests are taken in May we will work on a final project.

Grading Policy

Quarter Grade:
50% - Tests, Projects
30% - Homework, Class work, Quizzes
20% - Class Participation (Work Ethic, Honesty)

Course Grade:
20% - First Quarter
20% - Second Quarter
20% - Third Quarter
20% - Fourth Quarter
20% - Final Project

Assignments and tests are graded on a 100-point scale.  Specific criteria will be discussed for each assignment.

• A midterm exam will be given during Regents week in January. It will cover all of the major topics on microeconomics.  It will make up 30% of your 2^nd Quarter grade.

• Homework assignments will be accepted one day past their due date with a twenty percent deduction.  Assignments not handed in by then will receive a zero.

• Failure to hand in any project will result in automatic failure of the course.

• All exams must be completed within three days of their original administration.  It is up to the student to ensure that this is accomplished.  Failure to see to this will result in point deductions.

• In the event of a class cut or an unexcused absence, all work collected or test and quizzes given on that day will receive a zero.  This grade will not be dropped.

Classroom Expectations

All students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared with a textbook, folder textbook and writing utensil.  While in class, students are expected to follow all school rules.  Failure to meet these expectations will result in disciplinary action such as detention, phone call to parents or administrative referral.

Tentative Course Schedule

Chapter 6 – Memory
Chapter 2 – The Biological Basis of Behavior
Test 1
Chapter 1 – The Science of Psychology
Chapter 3 – Sensation and Perception
Test 2
Chapter 4 – States of Consciousness
Chapter 5 – Learning
Chapter 15 – Social Psychology

Test 3
Chapter 7 – Cognition and Language
Chapter 8 – Intelligence and Mental Abilities
Midterm
Chapter 9 – Motivation and Emotion
Chapter 10 – Life Span Development
Test 4
Chapter 11 – Personality
Chapter 13 – Psychological Disorders
Chapter 14 – Therapies
Test 5