Study Strategies

Paper Topics:

(links to be provided)

Sample Tests:

Test 1 (With answers)
Test 1 (Blank)
Test 2 (With answers)
Test 2 (Blank)
Final (With answers)
Final (Blank)

Exams & grades:

(links to be provided)

Class notes: 
See syllabus.

Laboratory Participation

Instructor

Name: Timothy P. McNamara 
Office: 509 Wilson Hall 
Phone: 20070 
Office hours: Monday 3-5; Thursday 1-3; and
by appointment.
email: t.mcnamara@vanderbilt.edu

Teaching Assistants

Name: Kim Curby Office: 220 Wilson Hall Phone: 21558 Office hours: Tuesday 2-4; Wednesday 11-12; and by appointment. email: kim.curby@vanderbilt.edu

Name: Lu Li  Office: 613 Wilson Hall Phone: 37899 Office hours: Thursday 3-4; Friday 10-12; and by appointment. email: lu.li@vanderbilt.edu

Texts

Psychology: The Adaptive Mind (3rd Ed.) by James S. Nairne.
Study Guide for Psychology: The Adaptive Mind (3rd Ed.) by Janet D. Proctor

Course Requirements

Exams. All of the exams will be closed-book, objective exams, containing multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions. The final exam is cumulative (i.e., it will test all of the material covered in the course).

Exam Schedule: 
 

Exam 1	February 4
Exam 2	March 18
Final	April 25 (An "alternate" final will not be given.)

Make-up Exams. No make-up tests will be given; no exceptions. I will be happy to reschedule an exam if you contact me at least 24 hours before the time of the exam and have a legitimate reason for being absent from the university on the regular day of the exam.

Thought Papers. You are required to write three "thought" papers. These papers should be concise but eclectic, critical but constructive responses to an issue or a problem discussed in class or in the text during the preceding 4-5 weeks (since the last such paper). Topics will be assigned at least one week in advance. Each paper should be two pages, typed, double-spaced. Late papers will not be accepted. Collectively, these three papers will be worth 17% of your course grade.

Pop Quizzes: A small number of brief pop quizzes may be given at unpredictable times during the semester. They will count as extra credit.

Laboratory Requirement. For a description of the laboratory requirement, please consult the handout entitled, "Laboratory Requirement in Introductory Psychology." Please note that all students must satisfy the laboratory requirement by completing a total of 12 "units," either by participating in experiments ("Option 1") or by writing research reports ("Option 2") or by doing both ("Option 3"). The procedures for signing up for experiments are described in the document, "http://www.psy.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/chun/experimetrix.pdf." The cost of not completing this requirement may be severe (see below).  Please note that no experiments will be conducted after April 18th and that all research reports must be turned in by April 18th. Research reports should be turned in to the TAs.

Grading

All of your work will be graded on a standard decile scale:
 

93% and up	A
90-92%	A-
87-89%	B+
83-86%	B
80-82%	B-
77-79%	C+
73-76%	C
70-72%	C-
67-69%	D+
63-66%	D
60-62%	D-
59% and below	F

Your course grade will be computed by taking the weighted average of your grades on the exams and the thought papers: 
 

Papers (3):	17%
Exam 1:	25%
Exam 2:	25%
Final:	33%

Your final course grade will be adjusted downward if you do not fulfill the laboratory requirement: Your course average, whatever it is, will be reduced by 1% for each unit below 12. For example, if you have an average of 80% (B-) at the end of the semester and are missing 1 unit, your final average will be reduced to 79% (C+); if you are missing 4 units, your final average will be reduced to 76% (C); if you are missing all 12 units, your course average will be 68% (D+); etc.

Honors System

All work should be conducted under the Honor Code. All work should be your own. No help from other people or from source material should be available during the exams.