Cognitive Processes
Syllabus

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Text: Cognitive Psychology by Ronald Kellog

Suggested readings: The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks

Grading: The course is graded on a point system. There is a total of 390 points in the class. The first version of the Introduction and Methods sections is worth 30 points. The first exam is worth 50 points, the second and third are worth 80 points each, and the final is worth 80 points. The final version of the paper is worth 70 points. You may figure out your grade by multiplying by the percentage cutoffs (eg. 95% of 390 pts is 351 points for an A). You may earn extra points by participating in APPROVED experiments (3 points per experiments for up to three experiments). The grades are NOT curved nor do I give credit for "improvement".

Papers: Cognitive psychology is a laboratory science and all students will run a small experiment. You may work on the experiment in small groups (up to four people). The group as a whole may submit one article and one ethics proposal. HOWEVER, each person must write up their own papers and the papers must be substantially different from each other - you may not share the methods section. Each person MUST participate in the running of the experiment and write their own paper, it is an honor code violation if you do not do these things yourself. The papers must be written in APA format, I will provide handouts and instructions in class. Papers not in APA format are automatically given 0 points. Please note that you are getting graded twice on the same paper. There is a thirty point grading scale the first time you hand in the introduction and methods. A revised version of the introduction and methods must accompany the final paper. LATE PAPERS LOSE FIVE POINTS PER DAY (INCLUDING WEEKEND DAYS)!

Exams: If you have a documented learning disability please see me as soon as possible about accommodations. All arrangements MUST be made in advance of the day of the exam! If for a good reason you cannot take the exam on the same day as the rest of the class you may take a make-up exam. Make up exams will be different from the class exam.