SPENCERIAN COLLEGE SYLLABUS COURSE #SOC214 COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Sociology (4 CREDITS) Prerequisites: None Instructor: Dr. Deanna Summers Email:
[email protected] Phone: 502-413-8699 x3239 Office Hours: Before and after class; by appointment on Plus Fridays Class Time: M-T-W-R 11:05-11:55am Sept. 29-Dec. 21, 2014 Course Description: This course examines basic sociological terms and concepts with an eye toward the practical and personal application that sociology has to offer the student. The difference between the complimentary natures of psychology and sociology are outlined enabling the student to understand the uniqueness of the two fields. Objectives: 1. To describe the field of sociology, some of its ramifications, and relate those to oneself. 2.
To explain how sociological imagination can be applied to an understanding of others in a social context.
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To discuss how an understanding of past and present sociological theories apply to one’s personal and business associates. To explain how social institutions can affect one’s everyday life.
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To describe advantages and disadvantages of social change, and how social movements begin.
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To explain how understanding cultural diversity affects one’s daily personal and professional interactions.
Text: Macionis, John J. Sociology, fourteenth edition, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012. Additional course materials and will be distributed in class and available on http://www.dr-dlmsummers.org/sociology. If you lose our course handouts, have questions about due dates, or need access to materials we covered in class, you should visit http://www.dr-dlmsummers.org/sociology Teaching Strategies and Student Expectations: A. Lecture and class discussion are supplemented with videos and guest speakers. Since 10% of the final grade is based on attendance and participation, student involvement plays an important role in the assimilation of the material. B. Assignments are due on or before the due date and will not be accepted late. Make-up exams are done solely at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis. Make-up exams will be given on the Friday immediately after the absence, and five points will be deducted. If the student cannot make-up the exam the first Friday, he or she may be allowed to make up the exam on the second Friday, but an additional five points will be deducted (for a total of ten points). No make-ups will be given after two Fridays. Make-up exams will be essays. 1
Class participation includes attendance. Students must actively participate in class, which includes attending class,
completing assignments on time, taking tests, and completing other required activities. In keeping with the policies outlined in the Medical Department Student Handbook, any student missing 8 hours of this course will be dropped from the course. No exceptions. Students who are dropped from this course should take any concerns regarding the dismissal from class to the Department Director on the date of dismissal. C. Student Behavior: In order to maintain a productive and positive learning environment, there are specific behavioral expectations that all students must abide by while in the classroom and on campus (see the Student Handbook). Students are encouraged to ask questions, interact in class, and to feel comfortable in this academic setting. Therefore, in order to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, specific disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated. Such disruptive behaviors include: disrespect toward classmates or the instructor, beepers and cell phones ringing, sleeping, early departure, persistent talking, lateness, repeated refusals to comply with instructions or deadlines, habitual interference with work or the classroom environment, and any other behavior that undermines the instructor’s ability to teach. Consequences for disruptive behavior include one, or all, of the following: grade penalties, verbal warning and counseling, written warning, temporary suspension, dismissal from class with an “F,” and/or referral to the Dean for disciplinary action. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Spencerian College recognizes and supports the standards set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2009, which are designed to prevent discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Disabilities are defined as mental and / or physical impairments which substantially limit one or more of a person’s major life activities, and which necessitate modifications to the facilities, programs, or services of the College. Spencerian College is committed to making reasonable accommodations for qualifying students in accordance with law and to creating full accessibility to campus facilities. Spencerian College cannot, however, make accommodations that are unduly burdensome or that fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s programs. Qualifying students need to file a Request for Accommodation form with the Compliance Office located in Student Services at the beginning of their program to ensure that the student benefits from the maximum assistance possible. Medical documentation of the disability and the requested accommodations must be presented in writing at that time. Evaluation: Examinations (4) = 45% There will be four exams given this quarter. Exam #1 (10%) will cover unit I and include 30 multiple choice and one openended question; Exam #2 (10%) will cover unit II and include and include 30 multiple choice and one open-ended question; Exam #3 (10%) will cover unit III and include 30 multiple choice and one open-ended question; Exam #4 (15%) will cover units IV and V and include 50 multiple choice and two open-ended questions. A study guide will be distributed before each exam that includes three-five potential open-ended questions. One (or two, for exam #4) of these questions will be chosen at random on the test day to be completed in class. Students may use one standard-sized sheet of paper with handwritten notes (front and back) during the exam. Participation = 10% Participation grades will be based on each student’s contribution to class discussions and activities (including the course field trip). Some in-class activities may be collected and graded. In-class assignments cannot be turned in late in the case of absence or a student’s lack of preparation. 2
Homework = 15% Students will prepare for class by reading the assigned textbook and completing reading responses over selected chapters. There is a total of 23 homework assignments and students must complete any 15 of the 23 assignments for their homework grade. A template for responding to the chapters is provided with this syllabus. Students may choose to photocopy the template or write/word process their homework assignments. See the attached addendum for more information on homework assignments. Homework assignments will not be accepted late for any reason. Students who earn a √+ on their homework assignment will earn a 100% on that assignment and one point extra credit on their exam. If a student completes more than 15 homework assignments, the highest 15 scores will be used in the calculation of their final grades. Competency Paper = 30% The competency paper, which is described in detail in a separate page in this syllabus, will be a research paper based on a field trip we take as a class. The Competency paper is a mandatory competency for this course. Failure to complete this project or failure to achieve a minimum score of 70% on this project will result in failure of the overall #214 course regardless of grade status on other items in the course. If the minimum score of 70% is achieved on the project, the final overall course grade will then be calculated based on the weighted percentages listed above for other course items. A minimum overall grade of 70% is required for the final course grade. Introduction to Sociology Tentative Class Schedule, Fall 2014 Unit I: Understanding Sociology Week 1 9/29 Introduction to the Course 9/30 Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective HW #1 on chapter 1 due by the beginning of class 10/1 Chapter 1, continued 10/2 Chapter 1, continued Week 2 10/6 Chapter 2: Sociological Investigation HW #2 on chapter 2 due by the beginning of class Bring in ideas for our class field trip and your availability. 10/7 Chapter 2, continued Unit II: Society and the Individual 10/8 10/9
Chapter 3: Culture HW #3 on chapter 3 due by the beginning of class Test #1 on chapters 1, 2, and associated class materials. Extra credit earned from homework assignments #1-3 will be applied to test 1.
Week 3 10/13 Chapter 3, continued 10/14 Chapter 4: Society 3
HW #4 on chapter 4 due by the beginning of class 10/15 Chapter 5: Socialization HW #5 on chapter 5 due by the beginning of class 10/16 Chapter 5, continued Week 4 10/20 Chapter 6: Social Interaction in Everyday Life HW #6 on chapter 6 due by the beginning of class 10/21 Chapter 7: Groups and Organizations HW #7 on chapter 7 due by the beginning of class 10/22 Chapter 9: Deviance (we are covering chapter 8 later in the course) HW #8 on chapter 9 due by the beginning of class 10/23 Chapter 9, continued
Unit III: Social Inequalities Week 5 10/27 Review competency paper assignment and begin collecting scholarly research. Bring in a one-page overview of what you plan on researching (and how) for your competency paper. 10/28 Chapter 10: Social Stratification HW #9 on chapter 10 due at the beginning of class 10/29 Chapter 11: Social Class in the United States HW #10 on chapter 11 due at the beginning of class 10/30 Test #2 on chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and associated class materials. Extra credit earned from homework assignments 4-8 will be applied to exam #2. Week 6 11/3 Chapter 10 and 11, continued 11/4 Chapter 12: Global Stratification HW #11 on chapter 12 due at the beginning of class 11/5 Chapter 13: Gender Stratification HW #12 on chapter 13 due at the beginning of class 11/6 Chapter 13, continued Week 7 11/10 Chapter 8: Sexuality and Society HW #13 on chapter 8 due at the beginning of class 11/11 Chapter 14: Race and Ethnicity HW #14 on chapter 14 due at the beginning of class 11/12 Chapter 14, continued Unit IV: Social Institutions 11/13 Chapter 16: The Economy and Work HW #15 on chapter 16 due at the beginning of class
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Week 8 11/17 Test #3 covers chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 8 and associated class materials. Extra credit earned from homework assignments 9-14 will be applied to test #3. 11/18 Chapter 17: Politics and Government HW #16 on chapter 17 due at the beginning of class Optional (ungraded) drafts of competency paper are due. 11/19 Chapter 18: Families HW #17 on chapter 18 due at the beginning of class 11/20 Chapter 19: Religion HW #18 on chapter 19 due at the beginning of class 11/24-11/28 Thanksgiving Break Week 9 12/1 Chapter 20: Education HW #19 on chapter 20 due at the beginning of class 12/2 Chapter 20, continued 12/3 Chapter 21: Health and Medicine HW #20 on chapter 21 due at the beginning of class Competency Paper Due on Turnitin at the beginning of class 12/4 Chapter 21, continued Unit V: Social Change Week 10 12/8 Chapter 22: Population, Urbanization, and Environment HW #21 on chapter 22 due at the beginning of class 12/9 Chapter 23: Collective Behavior and Social Movements HW #22 on chapter 23 due at the beginning of class 12/10 Chapter 24: Social Change HW #23 on chapter 24 due at the beginning of class 12/11 Chapters 23 and 24, continued Week 11: Finals Week Date of test #4 TBA. Test #4 will cover chapters 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and associated class materials. Extra credit earned from homework assignments 15-23 will be applied to exam #4.
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Addendum: Make-Up Examinations
Students must plan to be present for all scheduled examinations in their courses. Unforeseen circumstances do arise at times and it may be necessary for a student to miss a scheduled examination in an emergent situation. IF make-up examinations are permitted in a course the examination must be made up on the Friday immediately following the scheduled exam date. Please see each individual course syllabus for examination make-up policies for that course.
All examination make-ups will be in Room 205 at 9am. Students must attend the examination make-up in appropriate uniform and with their student identification badge to be permitted to enter the testing area. Any student that arrives for testing inappropriately attired or without proper identification will not be permitted to sit for the examination. No student will be permitted to begin an exam after 10:30am. Test proctoring will end at 11am so any student arriving to the testing site after 9am may have a shortened testing time dependent upon the time allotted for that particular test.
Additionally, the make-up examination will most likely be given in an alternate testing format. Most make-up examinations will be essay or short answer. Students will not be given the same exact test that was given on the original examination date.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY!
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Addendum for Sociology: Homework Per the syllabus, all students must complete homework as a part of the total grade in this class. Homework includes activities and reading necessary to be successful in this course. The homework assignments are explained in this syllabus under “Evaluation” and due dates/assignments are listed on the course schedule included in this syllabus. Spencerian College assumes two hours of outside preparation for every one hour in a lecture course. Therefore, homework and course preparation is expected for all courses offered at Spencerian College in order for students to achieve the intended learning outcomes. Homework Grading Rubric: A+/A/AExceptionally thorough summaries and thoughtful responses to the reading material B+/B/BVery thorough summaries and thoughtful responses to the reading material C+/C/CAcceptable summaries and response D+/D/DSummaries and response severely lacking and incomplete F Minimal effort to receive a grade
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Sociology Competency Paper PROJECT PAPER FORMATTING INSTRUCTIONS The following are requirements for the paper portion of your Community Resource Competency: Page length
3-5 pages
Font Size
12 point
Font Style
Times New Roman
Cover Page
No
Reference Page
Yes (APA format)
Citations
Yes (APA format)
Abstract
APA format
Papers will be graded on both quality of content, as well as adhering to formatting requirements. Students MUST meet a minimum competency of 70% on this paper to pass the course (see syllabus). Students may choose any current social issue or social problem. Students are encouraged to connect this project to our course field trip. Part of gathering information should include one or more of the research method(s) discussed in this course, as well as background information and supporting facts. Background and supporting facts should be drawn from course materials that include at least three scholarly sources. Students who need assistance with the APA format may use internet resources, such as APA shortcut sheets online, may use the Learning Center Resources, or may make an appointment to meet with their instructor. Do not use the Microsoft Word APA formatting tools. These standards must be met within the time frame between week 5 and 9. The DUE DATE is 12/3/14. Once the final draft is submitted, it cannot be edited or resubmitted. Timeline Weeks 2-4: Brainstorm ideas for your paper; go on class field trip. Week 5: On 10/27/14, you need to bring a one-page overview on what you would like to research (and how) for your competency paper. We are going to review these assignments in class and then work in the library on gathering your research. Students who do not submit a thorough and thoughtful overview will receive a letter grade penalty on their final drafts. Weeks 6-8: Gather, analyze, and write research. Students may submit an early draft of their competency paper on 11/18 for my feedback. This is an optional, ungraded, assignment. Make sure that you have set up your account with Turnitin. Week 9: Submit final drafts on Turnitin before class on 12/3.
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Class Field Trip Spencerian College’s institutional accrediting agency, ACICS, requires that each class utilize a community resource each quarter. In this course, we are going to take a field trip to a location or event that allows us to exercise our sociological imagination. You are also encouraged to consider using the field trip to inspire your competency paper. The following information sheet will be used to collectively decide a site or event for our field trip. Submit this handout in class by 10/6. NAME: _________________________________________________________ On what days (including weekends) are you available for a field trip? Be very specific and include dates and times between 10/6 and 11/2
Do you have access to transportation or would you need to car pool?
How much could you spend for issues like parking or tickets to events?
What suggestions/ideas do you have for our field trip? Are there any events or exhibits you would like to see?
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