SOC 231 - PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY*Distance Learning Course (3 credits)Fall, 2008Prerequisites: NoneCourse Description: The discipline and its contributions to understanding the fundamental processes of social interaction. Includes development of self, socialization process, groups and social structure. Application of sociological principles to our society by examination of relevant research (from 2005-06 JCC catalogue).Instructor Name: Norm Maison, Professor and Chair, Soc Sci. Dept., Jackson Community College, Jackson Michigan, 49201E-Mail Address; [email protected] Number: 517-796 -8507Office Location: McDivitt Hall, 142TEXT/RELATED MATERIAL:TEXT: Kornblum, William, SOCIOLOGY IN A CHANGING WORLD, 8th. Edition, Wadsworth Pub. Inc. REQUIRED Available at the JCC Bookstore. This is an excellent text, written by one of this nation's premier Sociologist. It incorporates the latest research into a practical, readable format.STUDY GUIDE : Kornblum, William, and Smith, Carolyn, Student Study Guide to accompany SOCIOLOGY IN A CHANGING WORLD.7th. Edition, Wadsworth Pub., Inc. REQUIRED . Available at the JCC Bookstore.This study guide provides you with a self-paced review of the text. Each chapter begins with an outline and learning objectives, followed by fill-in-the-blank reviews, a matching exercise in which key terms are matched with their definitions, a self-test consisting of 15 multiple choice and 5 true/false questions, and a short answer section that requires you to apply concepts presented in the text.I strongly recommend that you use the study guide consistently and faithfully throughout the course. Students who have done so in the past have found it an excellent way to further their understanding and apply the information presented in the text.WEB SITE : The publisher has developed an excellent web site for Sociology at: http://sociology.wadsworth.comTo access this site, do the following: Connect to the site, then click course materials, then select Sociology, then click on the cover of our text, then click ForStudents. This is an excellent site to further your understanding of sociology in general, as well as the text material. It features multiple-choice tutorial questions, flash cards,interactive exercises and other study related activities for each chapter. In addition, it contains Micro Case exercises, Internet links and other resources thatwill further your understanding of Sociology in a practical and theoretical way.A more detailed discussion of this web site can be found in the preface of our textbook.I do believe you will find this site an excellent ancillary to your study guide,and I cannot encourage you enough to us it for each and every chapter.Remember to purchase the correct text, including the correct edition. Having the correct text is your responsibility. Make sure you check the title and edition of the text before you purchase it!STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:To complete the course successfully, the student must fulfill the following requirements:1. Think deeply and critically about sociology.2. Read the required sections of the text and complete the corresponding study guide material.3. Take 2 Objective Tests on time.4. Submit the two Essay Tests on time ( i.e.when you take your objective tests).5. Earn a cumulative passing grade on all test/written assignments.TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:Perhaps my teaching/education philosophy can best be summarized in the wordsbelow. Please note that these words did not originate with me, nor do I know whooriginated them, or where they came from. But I believe in what is stated, and lead my professional and personal life accordingly. They form the basis of this class.Education is a high word…a lofty word. It is not socialization. It is not training. It is not indoctrination. It is the internalization of the life of reason within a domain of purposes and problems. It is the cultivation of the variety of modes of thought. It is the development of the power of knowledge. We are educated only when we are able to think within multiple fields and have the ability to learn to think in others. It would be odd to say that a person was well educated but not able to figure out 2the purposes, the questions, the information, the key concepts, the points of view, and so forth of their own thinking and that of others. Similarly, it would be odd to say of persons that they reason well, exceptfor their tendency to be unclear, inaccurate, imprecise, irrelevant, superficial, narrow minded, illogical, trivial, and unfair. PREPARATION:Throughout this class the emphasis will be placed on you mastering the material presented in both a theoretical and a practical context. Consequently, it is expected that you will devote sufficient time and energy to accomplish this goal. Exactly how much time (and energy) one should expect to expend each week is somewhat difficult to predict. Traditional learning theory suggests that you shouldplan to spend about 2 hours outside of class studying for every hour you spend inclass, per week. However, since we do not “meet” for any specific in class hours,it becomes a little more difficult to give you a “hard and fast’ rule regarding the time per week for studying and preparations. But, it seems to be the consensus of former Soc. 231 Internet students that you should expect to spend approximately 8 – 10 hours or so per week studying and preparing for the class. This time recommendation is dependent on your study skills, prior exposure to the material, etc. In any event, it is imperative that you understand that you will need to spend a significant amount of time studying for this class per week.To this end, you will find that I have constructed a” Suggested Study Schedule” for you, and it can be found in the Document section of the class web site. While I have not listed any time recommendations there, I have listed what topics and activities you should do per week. For the “What it’s worth” department, the No. 1 reason students do not succeeded in this class is that they simply do not spend enough time preparing. Itseems that some students think an on line class is somehow easier than a traditional one, and thus do not devote sufficient time to it. I caution you to consider this as you move through the class!ITESTS: There will be two objective tests, each covering 5 chapters of the text, and two essay tests in the class. Each objective test will consist of 50-75 multiple-choice