Psychology
106
Drugs
and Behavior
Fall,
2006
INSTRUCTOR:
Michael E. Oakes, Ph.D.
OFFICE
HOURS: 12:45-1:45 pm
T & Th: AMH 218 (or by appointment)
PHONE:
941-7895
WEB ADDRESS:
http://academic.scranton.edu/faculty/oakesm2/
E-MAIL: oakesm2@scranton.edu
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Liska, K.
(2003) Drugs and the Human Body (7th edition).
Articles are on electronic reserve at http://libres.scranton.edu/. I used the instructor’s name (Oakes) and the password behavior to get access.
DESCRIPTION:
This
course will examine interactions between drugs and behavior. Behavioral topics will include: tolerance,
addiction, learning, aggression, sexual behavior, eating, anxiety, depression,
and schizophrenia. Drug/drug categories
will include: alcohol, cannabis,
opiates, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety.
Social and legal aspects related to drugs will also be discussed.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
QUIZZES: Seven
quizzes will be given, each worth 10 points.
These will include multiple choice questions. All quiz questions will be over the assigned
readings from the electronic reserve materials.
The lowest quiz score will be discarded.
Thus, there are 60 points possible for all quizzes combined. THERE WILL
BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. Also, I will
deduct one quiz point if you show up late for a quiz. If you are more than 4-5 minutes late you
will not be allowed to take the quiz.
Students will have an opportunity to discuss the readings (i.e.,
articles quizzed over) after each quiz.
EXAMS: A total of four
exams will be given (not comprehensive) plus an optional final
(comprehensive). They will cover
material from the required books and notes.
Each will be worth 100 points.
The exam questions will be multiple choice. The chapters that each exam covers, as well
as tentative exam dates, are on the attached schedule. Note that there are two final exams, one is
mandatory while the other is comprehensive but optional and can be used to
replace a low previous test grade (i.e., for exams 1,2
or 3). Both final exams will be
administered during the scheduled final exam session. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP EXAMS, if you miss
an exam for any reason and still wish to complete the course, you can replace
the missing exam score (of zero) by taking the optional comprehensive
final. If
you should miss an exam a sufficiently compelling reason (i.e., a doctor's note
or a copy of a police report for an accident) for the absence must be presented
to the instructor in order for you to be allowed to take the optional
final. NOTE: Anyone caught cheating on a test will receive
a score of zero for that test (& they will lose their option to take the
comprehensive final) and other actions may be taken (I will follow the
university's policy on academic dishonesty).
ATTENDANCE: Attendance
will be taken periodically throughout the session. Those who miss class should
contact other students in the class and request to copy their notes. After three recorded absences
your course grade will be lowered
by one letter grade (e.g., from a B to a B-). ALSO, STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR FINDING OUT ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE SYLLABUS THAT ARE
MADE DURING CLASS.
GRADES:
There will be a total of 460 points that can be earned (plus an
additional 10 points of extra credit).
Grades will be assigned based on the scale below:
A
= 92% & up B+
= 86 – 89% C+ = 76 – 79% D+ = 66
– 69%
A-
= 90 – 91% B = 82 – 85% C = 72
- 75 %
D = 60
– 65%
B- = 80 – 81% C- = 70 – 71%
EXTRA
CREDIT: You may write
two short (2-3 pages each) reaction papers on two magazine or newspaper
articles (i.e., not from the required text or readings) related to the material
discussed in this course. The articles
must be handed in with the papers. In these papers you should describe the
article, explain why you chose it, and provide your opinion about the
information presented. Each paper will
earn you up to 5 course points. Both
reaction papers are due by Tuesday, December
5, 2006.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Electronic
reserve is abbreviated ER.
|
Week |
Date |
|
|
1 |
8/29,8/31 |
Liska (Chpts 1
& 4) |
|
2 |
9/5,9/7 |
Liska (Chpt 2
) quiz 1: ER Articles 1-5 |
|
3 |
9/12,9/14 |
Liska (Chpt
3) quiz 2: ER Articles 6-10 |
|
4 |
9/19,9/21 |
Liska (Chpt 5) |
|
5 |
9/26----------> 9/28 |
Exam 1 (chpts. 1-5
& notes) Liska (Chpt
9) |
|
6 |
10/3,10/5 |
Liska (Chpt
13) quiz 3: ER Articles 11-15 |
|
7 |
10/10,10/12 |
Liska (Chpt
10) quiz
4: ER Articles 16-20 |
|
8 |
10/19 |
Liska (Chpt 17) |
|
9 |
10/24--------> 10/26 |
Exam 2 Liska (Chpt 8) |
|
10 |
10/31,11/2 |
Liska (Chpt
7) quiz 5: ER Articles 21-24 |
|
11 |
11/7,11/9 |
Liska (Chpt
6) quiz 6: ER Articles 25-29 |
|
12 |
11/14--------> 11/16 |
Exam 3 Liska (Chpt 11) |
|
13 |
11/21 11/23 |
Thanksgiving Liska (Chpt 12) |
|
14 |
11/28,11/30 |
Liska (Chpt 14) quiz 7: ER Articles 30-34 |
|
15 |
12/5,12/7 |
Liska (Chpt 15) |
|
|
|
Exam
4 (not optional) & the optional final will be taken during
the scheduled final exam session. (Final exams December 12-16, 2006) |