INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Fall 2005 SOC 1301, Section 001, Call # 12803
“
Discovery
consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking of something different.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Andrea Laurent-Simpson Meeting Time: MWF 11:00 – 11:50 Email: andrea.laurent-simpson@utdallas.edu Location: CB1.112 Office: GR 3.406 Credit Hours: 3 Office hours: M 12:00 – 1:00 Fax: 972 883-6297
Description:
An overview of the sociological perspective and its application to social research and social policy.
Objectives:
Introduction to Sociology is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain a greater understanding of the social world that humans have created through their unique ability to use symbols. My goal is to show students how to better comprehend their social worlds through an introduction to the following elements: -Major paradigms in the discipline -Research Methodologies -History of Sociology -Effect of culture, society, and socialization on the individual. -Use of the sociological perspective to examine stratification, race/ethnicity, and gender. -Major institutions, especially family, religion, and education, and their impact on social structures embedded below them. Most importantly, my goal is to ensure that students leave this course with a strong understanding of how to use sociology in their everyday lives.
Required Texts
: Macionis, John J. Society: The Basics. 8
th
Edition. Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN: 0131922440 Throughout the semester, I will assign readings that I will either give you in hard copy, as a link on WebCT, or as an article that you will need to locate on the JSTOR database at the library. These additional readings will be considered requirements for the course.
Prerequisites:
None.
Course Requirements
1. Class attendance and participation are vital to learning. Attendance will be taken at random throughout the semester. You must be present at the time of roll call. Each unexcused absence beyond one will result in the lowering of your
attendance/participation grade by 1% point. Note that attendance and participation are 10% of your overall grade. 2. Reading of all assigned materials prior to class. Please bring your books to class for reference purposes.
You are responsible for all of the material in your book whether it is covered in class or not
. I will also assign
required
readings throughout the semester that I will either give you or that you will find on the internet. 3. Satisfactory completion of exams, labs, and homework. 4. Labs/homework must be submitted in hard copy format at the beginning of the class date on which the assignment is due, via WebCT. Work will only be accepted via WebCT.
No late work will be accepted
.
Do not turn in work under my office door as this is a good way for it to be lost.
5. WebCT – It is imperative that you stay up to date with WebCT as I will use it to not only make announcements outside of class, but also to collect assignments. 6. Consideration for other students is conducive to everyone’s learning. Please arrive on time and
have cell phones turned off
. Verbal abuse of others, class disruptions, and sleeping during class will not be tolerated. 7. Scholastic integrity is key to a successful education. Please keep in mind that all work is to be done independently, unless otherwise stated by the instructor. If you are unsure of a situation, you must ask the instructor for clarification. Cheating in any way on any work in this class will not be tolerated and the student may be turned into the college for disciplinary hearings.
The minimum punishment for cheating in this class will be a 0 on the relevant assignment and/or exam
. 8. Students that intend to withdraw from the course must do so by September 2 to avoid getting a W. You must withdraw between September 22 and October 20 in order to receive a WP/WF. 9. If you stop attending class, but do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive an F. It is your responsibility to withdraw by using the forms found in the Admission’s Office. COURSE FORMAT It is my personal objective to facilitate student learning in any pedagogical way I can. This means that I will be using a variety of learning methods that include but may not be limited to reading assignments, lectures, class discussions, video clips, experimental labs, and creative thinking exercises. METHOD OF EVALUATION
Exams: 65% (20% exam 1, 20% exam 2, 25% final) Labs: 20% Attendance/Participation 10% Homework 5% AVERAGE Letter Grade Grade Descriptions as per CCCCD Catalog 90-100 A Excellent 80-89 B Above Average 70-79 C Average 60-69 D Below Average 59 and below F Failing Exams: Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions that cover material taken from class lectures, readings, handouts, and videos. Two exams and a final will be given with the final scheduled for Dec. 5 in our regular classroom. Exams will be cumulative. MINI SCANTRON BOOKS MUST BE BROUGHT TO EACH EXAM. STUDENTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN SCANTRON BOOK AND PENCIL. Labs: Five labs will be assigned on the website throughout the course of the semester. Students must choose two of the five labs and turn each of them in via WebCT by the beginning of class on the day they are due.
One lab choice must be taken from the first two labs, and one must be taken from the last three labs
. Please note that LATE ASSIGNEMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. **All labs must be typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins. Cited material must use
APA format
and a reference page must be included. See the following URL for help on this - http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/social_sciences/intext.html. This is a university level class, so I will
expect you to cite at least two journal articles
that support your position in each lab
(citing your book will not count towards this requirement)
. Points will be deducted if these requirements are not met. Length should be at least 3 pages and should not exceed 4 pages unless otherwise stated. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES.** Homework : Two assignments will be given via WebCT in the first part of the semester and will be due at the beginning of class on WebCT on the day that they are due. NO LATE HOMEWORK ACCEPTED. Work must be submitted via WebCT with the appropriate time stamp in order to receive credit. MAKE-UP POLICY
Exams
: Exams will only be made up in the event of a DOCUMENTED illness (only a doctor’s note will suffice) or emergency (death in the family or military orders). Make-ups will be short answer and essay format and must be scheduled by the student
within 24 hours
of the original exam date.
WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION
of the emergency must be in my hands as of your first return date to class (this means
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