First Day of Class

Welcome to General Psychology! Here is some information to help you do well this semester.
Modified: 2009-05-19

Who is your instructor?
Edward P. Kardas is full professor of psychology and is beginning his 29th year at SAU. He did his graduate work at LSU and his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Baltimore. He was an undergraduate for six years (three bad years and three good years) and received a grade of C in general psychology in the Spring of 1968. Kardas also taught at LSU-Eunice and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His professional interests revolve around teaching with technology, writing textbooks, and service to the Southwestern Psychological Association.

He is married (21 years!) to the former Julie McCuller of Texarkana and they have three children ranging in age from 11-18 years of age. Kardas likes to play golf whenever possible.

For the longer account about Kardas click here

What is general psychology?
General Psychology (GP) is perhaps one of the hardest courses in the department because it attempts to cover so much material in a short period of time (ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER). Later courses in psychology are much more focused than GP so they are not as intense.

The course begins with a look at the history of psychology, the research methods psychologists use, and the biological bases of psychology. Then the areas of sensation and perception are examined as are variations in consciousness. Learning and memory are covered next. Personality, psychopathology, and therapy close out the course. Understand that the list above by no means covers all of psychology, much must be left out. You should feel free to read and enjoy the chapters we do not cover in class

What happens in class?
Mostly, I talk and you listen and take notes. However, that process does not have to be dull and a lot of work. I will show you short movies, conduct brief demonstrations, and set-up opportunities for class participation. I expect you to have and ask questions often.

Notetaking and notetaking skills are also needed in class. However, nearly everything I say in class is available on the Web page. You should download and print those class notes and organize them in a three-ring binder. See below for instructions on how to download the lectures.

What materials do I need?
You will need the textbook for sure. This is not one of those classes where you can get away with not buying the text. Click on: Rathus, S. A. (2007). Psychology: Concepts and connections (8th ed. briefer). Wadsworth: Belmont, CA. to see more information about the book.

You will also need to download the notes. Go to: http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Courses/GPWeiten/default.html, there near the bottom of the page you will find links to specific lectures by chapter. Click on them as needed.

What about tests and grading?
Tests are a combination of objective items (multiple choice, matching, and true or false).

Grading Your grade is based on your total points (250 possible).
Your individual tests thus accumulate.
The more tests you take the more solid your grade is.
Eventually, gaps will appear between groups of students. My grading system finds those gaps.
At first (now), those gaps are small and arbitrary. But, eventually they will widen. Those gaps are the curve.

What about attendance?
Full attendance is expected. Roll, however, will not be called routinely. Past experience has demonstrated a strong positive correlation between class attendance and final grade.

What about extra credit?
There is no extra credit, so do well on your tests!

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