Examples & Tips for Your Personality Unit Project

Hi all!

With the deadline for your Personality Unit project approaching on Thursday, I know a lot of you will be turning your attention to that task over the next couple of days. I'm expected to field a lot of questions about this project, and that's fine. But, I thought I'd post some examples of how previous students have handled these projects so you have some ideas about how to begin your own.

Note: NEITHER of these examples is perfect, but they should give you an idea about how you might proceed with your own project.

Example: Option 1 (Note: This is a former student's project, shared with permission. I've added some comments so you can see how the person's work is using elements of strong argumentative writing while meeting the requirements of the project.)

Example: Option 2 (Also the work of a former student, edited to fit this year's requirements).

Project Resources
If you need them one more time, here are the project directions and scoring criteria:

• Project Option 1: Personality Self-Assessment
• Project Option 2: Character/Historical Figure
• Scoring Rubric (same for both options)

Big Five Inventory

For tomorrow's class, I'd like you to complete this Big Five Personality Inventory. You can record your results using this form, and may even wish to print off a copy if you'll be using this as part of the Personality Self-Assessment (project option 1).

Study Resources for the Personality Unit

As the results from Friday's quiz illustrated, this unit can be a challenging one for students. It's not enough just to know vocabulary, or to have a vague sense of the unit's concepts/research. You'll need to be able to distinguish between different major theoretical approaches to personality and to articulate their advantages and disadvantages.

If that seems daunting, don't forget that we still have one week to go (test on Monday, Feb 29). And, we have a scheduled study session on Sunday, Feb 28 at 5:00 PM.

When I've finished this unit's slides, I'll post them here (still a work in progress). I'll also post any resources we use at the study session (as it approaches). However, especially if the quiz was a rough one for you, it might be a good idea to check out some of these things:

• Your Multiple Choice study guide! (you got this after the quiz)
• Quizlet Flashcards for Personality Unit
• Review this list of the Unit Learning Objectives! Can you do all of these things?
• Here are the Slides we used at tonight's study session. You'll they are organized around this unit's learning objectives, so don't neglect those!
• Study Session Resources: Which One Doesn't Belong? (To check  your answers, click here)
• Study Session Resources: Kahoot - Defense Mechanisms
• Practice FRQ (sort of...a huge one, anyway)
• More practice MC Items on Personality
  

Slide Show from this Unit:

Crash Course Videos Missed class? Can't make sense of a specific personality theory? Maybe the nice folks at Crash Course can help. This first video addresses some of the more "historic" theories of personality (Psychoanalytic, Psychodynamic, and Humanistic): 

Trait Theory and Social-Cognitive Perspectives are addressed here: 

Defense Mechanisms Practice

Today in class we practiced identifying examples of Defense Mechanisms in action.

• Here are some additional practice items that people got to work on in class.
• And, here is the answer key so you can check your understanding.

Personality Unit Project Directions and Links

Today in class you'll be receiving directions for your personality unit project. Since some of the assessments for the project are available via hyperlink, I figured I'd post the documents here for your use.

• Project Option 1: Personality Self-Assessment
• Project Option 2: Character/Historical Figure
• Scoring Rubric (same for both options)

Development Letter Project

Clearly, in an attempt to stay warm on this very cold Valentine's Day, many of you have set fire to your class handouts, including the directions for your Development Letter.

At least, this is what I am concluding after responding to numerous panicked emails and texts requesting the link to the directions.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to start preparing a lovely Valentine's Day dinner for myself and the hubby, featuring our favorite foods: steak and cake.

Study Resources for your Developmental Psychology Test

Your first test of 3rd quarter is just around the corner, so you'll want to review carefully to start the semester strong! The resources posted here should help with your review, as should the MC study guide you received after last week's quiz.

• Quizlet flashcards will help you review vocabulary.
• Review your Unit Learning Objectives. If you are not ready to do each of these things, you're not ready for your test!
• If you finish the MC Study Guide and need additional practice, try these questions:
• Developmental Psych
• Child Development
• Sex and Gender Development
• If confused about certain course topics, or if you have been absent, consult the Slide Shows below. 
• For additional explanation, you might wish to view these Crash Course videos (note: these move pretty quickly and should be supplemented with retrieval practice for best outcomes).
• The Growth of Knowledge (Cognitive Development)
• Monkeys and Morality (Social and Moral Development)
• Adolescence 
• Study Session Resources: (I will post more as I finish building them...perhaps finalizing the slides after Tuesday's study session)
• Practice FRQ + Commonly Confused Term Pairs
• Slide Prompts for Review
• Also, I will leave a Socrative practice review up for your use tonight (rm 109495), if interested.

Snow Day Assignment - Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Greetings, AP Psych students!

Given the weather predictions for today, it turns out we'll not see each other in class. But, we also can't afford to fall behind in our studies, so you've got a (brief) assignment to do for AP Psych today.

Required:

1. Use your text (print or online*) to complete this worksheet on Nature-Nurture issues in Development. If you have access to a printer, you may print your own and fill it out, OR you can make a copy of the file and complete it in Google Docs. You will earn points for completion. Note: Make a note of any questions you have about these topics. I will set aside time for answering questions, but (because of our lost class time) I will not be lecturing on this material. However, we still need to know it for tests/quizzes.

Optional: Other Good Stuff to Do:

1. If you haven't completed your AP Exam Registration Form, today would be a good day to fill it out and get payment ready.
2. Your Reading Quiz on Unit IX will still be on Thursday, so today would be an excellent day to finish up that reading!
3. You can certainly preview (and begin, if you like) working on your Development Project, which is a letter to your hypothetical future child. I was planning on introducing this in class today, but now that may have to wait until Thursday. This is not due until February 15th, but perhaps you want to start thinking about it and organizing your ideas.

*Panicking because you can't remember your login information for the etext? Follow the link, click "log in" and then request to have your password emailed to you.