1. Free-Response Questions
An Introduction
and
Trial Run

2. The What’s and the How’s
You will be given two free-repsonse questions on the AP Test.
50 mins. to complete this section
The questions test your knowledge of psychology, NOT your writing skills.
The questions are all given point values.
These points are very very important to recognize
Sometimes you will be asked to…
Define, Identify, or Explain

3. Steps to writing a good essay…
1. Read the questions carefully
access points before you write (points normally range from 7-14) (10-11)
ALWAYS answer question in order it is asked
Budget 20 minutes per essay, 10 minutes for revisions

4. TOP 10 ESSAY TIPS Avoid diatribes against anything
Use terminology from the field of Psych
Avoid “information dumping” (aka BS)
Say it and move on- Don’t overwrite
Write for your audience
Take your time- Be content specific
Take a breath and reflect
Highlight key elements of the question and respond to those directly
Budget your time- both questions have equal weight
Practice! Let’s do that now 

5. A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
Step 1
How many Points?? 8

6. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)

7. Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo

8. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo

9. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo
Effects of the drug on Alzheimer’s symptoms

10. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo
Effects of the drug on Alzheimer’s symptoms
Participants who receive the drug

11. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo
Effects of the drug on Alzheimer’s symptoms
Participants who receive the drug
Participants who receive placebo or no drug

12. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo
Effects of the drug on Alzheimer’s symptoms
Participants who receive the drug
Participants who receive placebo or no drug
Gender, varying ages,
other medical conditions

13. Possible confounding variable
A neuroscientist thinks he has developed a drug that can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are in the initial stages of the disease. Design a research experiment that will support of refute his hypothesis. In your research design describe the following:
Sample
Assignment
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Possible confounding variable
How you would determine whether or not the drug is effective
portion of the population of Alzheimer’s patients (should be early stages)
Random assignment so equal chance of drug or placebo
Drug/no drug or placebo
Effects of the drug on Alzheimer’s symptoms
Participants who receive the drug
Participants who receive placebo or no drug
Gender, varying ages,
other medical conditions
Compare scores on tests or diagnosis

14. More Practice….
Explain the behavior and perceptions of the participants in the pep rally using the concepts below. Be sure to apply the concepts to the scenario in your explanation
Cocktail Party Effect
Conformity
Deindividuation
Figure Ground
Occipital Lobe
Procedural Memory
Sympathetic Nervous System

15. Got it??

16. Let’s Practice more…
Using the essay you wrote last night, trade with your group members and score each essay (you should read all essays in your group but not yours)
First…. how many points is this essay worth? 9
15 minutes to read 3 essays….

17. Scoring Guide Case Study- explanation, positive, negative (2 point)
Correlation Study- explanation, positive, negative (2 point)
Experiment- explanation, positive, negative (2 point)
Vitamin J on Memory
Case Study- key characteristic (i.e. before/ after research) 1 point
Correlation Study- key characteristic (i.e. connection made that vitamin J improves memory) 1 point
Experiment- key characteristic (i.e. experimental group and control group) 1 point