SYG2000 – 2559 Introduction to Sociology : Spring 2016
Instructor
Dr. Athena Smith
Dates of
semester
Feb 8-May 6
Home Phone
813-465-8801
E-mail
[email protected]
Course Credits 3
Notes
Assignments open on a Saturday and close the following Friday at 11:30 pm.
You are expected to have access to a PC during this online course. Early
release of material is possible only for documented medical issues of military
deployment or jury duty. Please do your work early and do not postpone it for
Friday. If you do, then you do so at your own risk.
TEXT
SOCIOLOGY IN MODULES, by Richard Schaefer, third edition, McGraw Hill,ISBN:978-0-07802708-6
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is the study of society and its effects upon individual behavior. Emphasis is placed
on the group basis of society, points of conflict within societies, and societal trends in regard to
increased growth and changing institutions. This course partially satisfies the Gordon Rule
writing requirements outlined in the General Education
Tentative Schedule
Chapters
Tests
Feb 8-12
Ch 1.: Understanding sociology
Test ch1 Dch1
Feb 13-19
3. Culture.
Test ch3 Dch3
Feb 20-26
Chapters 4 and 5: Socialization and life
course. Social Interaction, Social Structure
and Groups.
Test ch4.
Dch5
Test ch 5
Feb 27-March 4
Chapters 7 and 8: Deviance, Crime and
Social Control. Stratification in the US.
Test ch7,
Dch7
test ch8
March 12-18
Chapters 9 and 10: Global Inequality. Racial Test ch9,
Dch10
and Ethnic Inequality.
testch10
March 19-25
Test
Chapters 11 and 12. Stratification by gender.
ch11,
Dch12
Stratification by age
test ch12
March 26-April 1
Chapter 13: The family and human sexuality
Test
ch13
Dch13
April 2-8
Chapter 14: Education.
Test
ch14
Dch14
April 9-15
Chapter 15: Religion
Testch15 Dch15
April 16-22
Chapters 17and 18: Health, population,
Test
Environment. Social movements and social ch17,
Dch17
change in the global community.
testch18
April 23-29 (late
submissions possible with a Written assignment
penalty until May 1
Discussions
IMPORTANT DATES
Please consult the Academic Calendar at https://www.spcollege.edu/calendar/
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Fifteen tests, the lowest one drops (350 points): In this course you are required to take
15 multiple choice open-book and timed exams, with the lowest grade dropping. Each test
is worth 25 points and consists of 25 multiple choice. Tests appear on a Saturday morning
and expire the following Friday evening at 11:30pm, ET. The correct answers will be
released after the deadline expires so please go back to check your answers and see
where you went wrong. Do study the chapter(s) and readings before taking the test.
2. Ten Discussions, the lowest one drops (90 points). There will be a discussion forum opening
every week (opens on Saturday, closes on Friday night at 11:30). You need to answer the
question with at least 200 words and comment to a classmate with at least 50 words.
Each discussion can give you 10 points (8 points for the answer and 2 for the comment.).Your
answers will be graded on content, grammar and syntax. So please make sure you use a spell
checker and review carefully your answers!
The discussion forum welcomes the free but civil exchange of diverse points of views.
Comments containing personal/group attacks or inappropriate language will be deleted.
3. Written assignment (60 points): You need to get at least a 70% in this assignment to pass
the course, as this is a Gordon Rule course. 1000-2000words, due April 29 at 11:30
pm. Late submissions are possible until May 1 at 11:30 pm with a loss of 4 points off per
day.
You have to watch one of the following documentaries
FAT, SICK AND NEARLY DEAD HYPERLINK (also on NETFLIX) or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjyLvBRwChw
or
GROWING UP TRANS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/growing-up-trans/
Or
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO http://www.veoh.com/watch/v18496223THBFsstz
Or
POOR KIDS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poor-kids/
Then answer the following questions. Make sure you number the answers. . You will need at
least three academic references besides the video. Make sure you use in text parenthetical
references, APA style, and a works cited page, also APA style.
http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book
1. Give a summary in no more than 100 words
2. What are the causes of the problem the video describes? (You need to research the topic for
this question. Write your in text references by using APA style).
3. Which segments of society benefit from this situation? (Do not answer that nobody benefits.
Some societal segments, do. Please think deeply about this and answer as a functionalist
would).
4. Conflict theorists would say that this problem is the result of competition between social
groups or social classes and the resulting inequality. Please point to parts of the video that
exemplify the conflict approach.
5. What social changes are needed to alleviate the problem?
.
The assignment will be graded as follows
Question 1: 5 points
Question 2: 10 points
Question 3: 15 points
Question 4: 15 points
Question 5: 5 points
Correct Documentation: 10 points (simply adding the URL will not get you any points).
Lack of documentation will cause the essay to be sent back to the student. Only when the
student resubmits with correct documentation, will the essay be graded. The submission date
will be considered the date of submission with documentation. If the student does not resubmit,
then the essay will be graded with zero points. You need at least a 70% on this assignment to
pass the course.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Prerequisite: (ENC 0020 and REA 0002) or EAP 1695 or satisfactory score on the SPC
placement test.
GRADING POLICY
450-500 A
400-449 B
350-399 C
300-349 D
Below 300 F
TEACHING MODE
The course will be taught using a variety of methods. There will be power point
presentations, online lectures by the professor that give you some extra thoughts on the
chapter, and discussions on interesting and controversial topics that will encourage civil debates
and development of critical thinking. There will be quizzes that test your learning of
material and a written assignment that will evaluate your analytical and writing skills.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance in this course will be registered through either taking a week’s exam or
participating on the discussion forum during a particular week, or submitting the written
assignment. Emailing the professor does not constitute participation. Students classified as “No
Show” for both of the first two weeks will be administratively withdrawn from any class which
they are not attending. The student’s financial aid will be adjusted based on their updated
enrollment status. If a student is administratively withdrawn from a class because they were a
“No-Show” during the first two weeks of class, financial aid will not pay for the class and the
student will be responsible for paying for that class.
Active participation is defined as NOT having more than two weeks of unexcused
absences. Accordingly, students who more than 2 unexcused absences will be reported to the
Administration at the 60% point of the course and a grade “WF” will be assigned. Students will
be able to withdraw themselves at any time during the term. However, requests submitted after
the last date to withdraw with a “W” will result in a “WF.”
Withdrawing after the “Last Date to Withdraw with a Grade of ‘W’” can have serious
consequences. If the student withdraws from a class after the deadline posted in the academic
calendar, the student will receive a final grade of ‘WF,' which has the same impact on the
student's GPA as a final grade of “F.” A “WF” grade also could impact the student's financial aid,
requiring repayment of financial assistance. Students should consult with an academic advisor
or financial assistance counselor prior to withdrawing from a class.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All discussion posts and assignments are graded for original thought and must be in your own
words. However, if you wish to use a borrowed fact from an expert source to add strength to
your argument or thesis, the borrowed idea—whether quoted or paraphrased--must be cited.
Plagiarism (copying or paraphrasing without citing the source) or cheating in an exam or an
assignment will result in an F (0 points) for the particular exam or assignment. Requesting
answers to the test from classmates or distributing answers to classmates will result in an F in
the course.
DISABILITY POLICY
Disability Resources staff can be reached at 791-2628 or 791-2710 (CL), 341-4316 or 341-4310
(SP/G), 394-6289 (SE), 712-5789 (TS), 341-3721 (HEC), 398-8284 (AC, MT), or 341-7913 (DT,
EPI).
MISCELLANEOUS
WHAT ABOUT MISSING DEADLINES?
For a successful online course, uninterrupted access to a PC and internet, and adherence to
course structure and deadlines are strict prerequisites. Most of the students who fail, do so
because of missed deadlines. There will be no extension for the exams or discussions. The only
time students may miss a deadline is when they are ill and they can provide me with a doctor's
diagnosis (not a receipt of the office visit) within three days after the deadline expires. In case of
a different type of emergency, please contact me within 1 day after the deadline to discuss what
type of documentation is needed. No situation can be classified as an emergency unless it can
be documented. If you go out of town on a business or personal trip, make sure you have
access to a computer. This is an online course after all. If your PC breaks down you should use
one in a library or a friend's house or an internet cafe. This is why it is extremely important to do
your work early in the week as many things may happen the last day. Early release of material
is not possible.
EXTRA CREDIT
There are no extra credit assignments in this course. You have ample opportunities to build up a
good grade. Please remember that the gradebook calculates the grades according to the given
formula and I do not interfere with the process.
SYLLABUS ADDENDUM
For more information on withdrawal policies, academic honesty, complaints policy and
emergency policies please go to "http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/" \t
"_blank"http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/