I look forward to a very interesting year with you, and there are a few things you need to do to prepare for that. Below are the summer assignments for this course.
If you ever have ANY questions, you can e-mail me at Lara.Herrera@BrowardSchools.com. Be sure to include your name and ap psych in the subject.
Assignment 1 is due by email to Lara.Herrera@BrowardSchools.com by Wednesday, August 10 at 10pm.
Assignments 2-4 will be due on the FIRST day of class. Late assignments will earn a maximum of half credit.
Assignment 1:
READ ONE of the books FROM THE LIST BELOW, and type your reaction for the book you read that discusses ALL FOUR of the following things:
1. Introduction: Identify a "common thread" or theme of the book. Use specific examples from the book to illustrate the theme.
2. Describe THREE (3) concepts that you learned from this book. For EACH concept:
-identify the concept
-explain how it is used in the book
-link the concept to another real-life situation that you can think of that's not in the book
3. In what ways does any part of the book reflect/connect with your personal experiences, or the experiences of the others in your life? Use AT LEAST TWO(2) specific examples from your life.
4. Conclusion: What is your general reaction to this book? (For example: Were you surprised; why? Why was it interesting? Did any parts have special significance to you? Did it change your perspective; how? etc.) Explain.
Your reaction paper is DUE BY EMAIL ON or BEFORE AUGUST 10th BY 10:00 P.M. to LARA.HERRERA@BROWARDSCHOOLS.COM.
It MUST be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 font, in essay form, and two to four pages long.
Please attach it to the email AND copy/paste it into the body of the email, just in case your attachment doesn't work.
Used and new copies of these books can be found on amazon.com, and you can read summaries of the books there. Also try half.com, or bn.com, and other book-selling sites to get the best price, or go to the local public library, where you can check out books for FREE! :)
BOOK LIST (Choose one):
Odd Girl Speaks Out: Girls Write about Bullies, Cliques, Popularity, and Jealousy, by Rachel Simmons
ADHD & Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table, by Blake E. S. Taylor
Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet. This is a personal story about Asperger's Syndrome, a type of autism.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks. This is a collection of stories about patients with unusual neurological disorders (also check out An Anthropologist on Mars, and Musicophilia, both by Oliver Sacks )
A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Imposter Poodles to Purple Numbers, by V.S. Ramachandran. This is a brief intro to neuroscience by a top neuroscientist. It's very interesting, but best suited to advanced readers.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, by Mary Pipher. This is a therapist's collection and discussion of patient stories involving teen girls.
The Six Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, by Sean Covey. This is a great guide for high school students. Be sure to get the book, not the workbook.
The Lucifer Effect, by Philip Zimbardo. This book is about why good people do bad things.
The Sociopath Next Door, by Marth Stout.
The Psychology of Superheroes: An Unauthorized Exploration (Psychology of Popular Culture), by Robin S. Rosenberg
The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture)
by Robin S. Rosenberg
by Robin S. Rosenberg
Feel free to check with me if you want to read another psychology or neuroscience book, or if you want me to recommend a book on a certain topic.
Assignment 2: Tutorials
Materials needed: Internet access & Printer
A. Go to www.worthpublishers.com/myers8e
Scroll down to the list titled “Student Resources” and click on “PsychSim PDF Worksheets.”
Click on and print the following two worksheets:
1. Psychology’s Timeline
2. Descriptive Statistics
B. Go back to the “Student Resources” list and click on “PsychSim Tutorials.”
On the next page that opens, click the ORANGE box that says “PsychSim 5 Tutorials.”
1. From the popup menu, choose “Psychology’s Timeline,” and use the tutorial to complete the worksheet you printed.
2. Go back to the orange menu and choose “Descriptive Statistics,” and use the tutorial to complete the second worksheet.
Bring the completed worksheets with you to turn in on the first day of class.
Assignment 3: Vocabulary Flashcards
Due on the FIRST day of class. ONLY HAND-WRITTEN FLASHCARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Materials needed:
Package of one hundred 3"x5" index cards (We use these all year, so feel free to buy them in bulk if you can find them on sale. Also, if you cannot purchase cards, you may cut paper into 3x5 pieces to make flash cards.)
Blue or Black Pen
Internet access
Instructions:
A. Go to www.worthpublishers.com/myers8e
Scroll down to the list titled “Student Resources” and click on “Flashcards.”
You will create a flashcard for each of the terms from the Prologue and Chapter 1.
1. On the front (blank side) of each card, copy the terms/names from the flashcards, and write your first name and last initial under the term.
There are 14 terms in the Prologue and 30 terms in Chapter 1. There should be only one term per card. (You are making flashcards to study from!)
2. On the back (lined side) of each card, copy the definition.
The definition must only take up the top half of the card,
so that you have room for class notes.
Materials needed: Internet access & Printer
A. Go to www.worthpublishers.com/myers8e
Scroll down to the list titled “Student Resources” and click on “PsychSim PDF Worksheets.”
Click on and print the following two worksheets:
1. Psychology’s Timeline
2. Descriptive Statistics
B. Go back to the “Student Resources” list and click on “PsychSim Tutorials.”
On the next page that opens, click the ORANGE box that says “PsychSim 5 Tutorials.”
1. From the popup menu, choose “Psychology’s Timeline,” and use the tutorial to complete the worksheet you printed.
2. Go back to the orange menu and choose “Descriptive Statistics,” and use the tutorial to complete the second worksheet.
Bring the completed worksheets with you to turn in on the first day of class.
Assignment 3: Vocabulary Flashcards
Due on the FIRST day of class. ONLY HAND-WRITTEN FLASHCARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Materials needed:
Package of one hundred 3"x5" index cards (We use these all year, so feel free to buy them in bulk if you can find them on sale. Also, if you cannot purchase cards, you may cut paper into 3x5 pieces to make flash cards.)
Blue or Black Pen
Internet access
Instructions:
A. Go to www.worthpublishers.com/myers8e
Scroll down to the list titled “Student Resources” and click on “Flashcards.”
You will create a flashcard for each of the terms from the Prologue and Chapter 1.
1. On the front (blank side) of each card, copy the terms/names from the flashcards, and write your first name and last initial under the term.
There are 14 terms in the Prologue and 30 terms in Chapter 1. There should be only one term per card. (You are making flashcards to study from!)
2. On the back (lined side) of each card, copy the definition.
The definition must only take up the top half of the card,
so that you have room for class notes.
Assignment #4:
Print your syllabus to bring with you on the first day of class. It will be posted here by August 20.
