Brandeis SOC 104A - Sociology of Education Spring 2008

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Course DescriptionMy Life in School: A Critical Reflection - Due 2/08/07 Take Home Mid-Term Exam – Due 3/11/07“Class Dismissed Issue Analysis” - Due 4/11/07Course Schedule and Readings(schedule and readings are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor)Cultural and Social ReproductionStatus Attainment, Social Mobility, and StratificationSchool SegregationClass, Race, and Family Life: Part 3 –Religion:The Organization of the SchoolTAKE HOME MID-TERM DUEWho Teaches and Why? Issues of Student IdentityTuesday, April 15th McNulty Eitle, T. & Eitle, D.J. (2002) Race, cultural capital, and the educational effects of participation in sports. Sociology of Education, 75(2), pp. 123-46). College Life 101: From Kegs to KantMaintenance of Academic IntegrityBrandeis University SOC104a: Sociology of Education Spring 2008 Tuesday and Friday 9:10-10:30 Instructor: Michael P. Evans Email: [email protected] Mobile Phone: 508.878.1217 Office hours (Pearlman ): Tuesday: 10:30-11:30, Friday10:30-11:30 Or by appointment. Course Description This course is designed to engage students in a critical examination of sociological and educational theory as it relates to contemporary schooling in the United States. Class participants will interrogate the ways in which schools reproduce, reinforce, and challenge prevailing social, economic, and political relationships. Issues to be discussed include: the aims and objectives of education, the structure and organization of schools, curriculum development, social reproduction, family/school relationships, and the achievement gap. The role of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and religious identity will inform our investigations into these topics. Course Requirements and Assessment Attendance Participation, and Short Assignments: Assessment Ongoing It is essential to be present and well prepared in order to succeed in this class. While most classes will involve some lecture, I will also employ a variety of pedagogical techniques designed to increase your understanding of the course material. Attendance is mandatory and you will be assessed based on your in-class participation, small group work, and several short assignments. Warning! This course covers a lot of material and rather than overload you with readings, several theories, concepts, and scholars will be presented exclusively in class. The exams for this course will include material that is only presented in class. My Life in School: A Critical Reflection - Due 2/08/07 For your first written assignment you will be required to write a three to five page paper examining your own school experience. Describe the school community that you grew up in and analyze your experience in school using the critical lenses provided by the authors that we have studied in class. Some questions to consider: Who was included in your school community? Who was excluded in your school community? How would you describe the school curriculum? How would you describe the pedagogy of the teachers at your school? Did the school addressyour needs? Why or why not? Do you think that the school addressed the needs of others? Why or why not? Throughout this paper you should provide examples to support your claims and references to the course readings. Do not feel that you need to agree with the authors that we have read. You are encouraged to pose counter viewpoints with supporting evidence. Take Home Mid-Term Exam – Due 3/11/07 The mid-term exam will cover all of the material from the first half of the course. An emphasis will be placed on the practical application of theory. Students will demonstrate their mastery of this material by answering a series of short answer questions and essays generated from current events and scenarios described in the book, A Hope in the Unseen. “Class Dismissed Issue Analysis” - Due 4/11/07 For your final paper you will revisit the students, faculty, and community members featured in Meredith Maran’s book Class Dismissed. Describe in detail a situation/issue/theme from the book and analyze it using the sociological and education theories that we have discussed over the semester. You may wish to supplement your analysis with additional materials, but this is not required. Some possible issues might include: economic justice and the college application process, the benefits and challenges of small schools, teacher and administration relationships, social promotion, segregation within schools, etc. Please submit no more than 8 pgs. FINAL EXAM: The final exam will cover all of the material from the semester with an emphasis on the second half of the course. Please note that late papers will be docked a full letter grade for every day that the paper is late. Medical excuses are acceptable and will require a letter from your physician. *** PLEASE USE APA FORMATING FOR ALL PAPERS*** see the following website for guidance: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability you should contact me, and present your letter of accommodation, as soon as possible. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting academic accomodations you should contact Beth Rodgers-Kay at Undergraduate Academic Affairs (x63470, [email protected]) or the appropriate person in the Graduate School office. Letters of accommodations should be presented at the start of the semester to ensure provision of accommodations. Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively. Assignment Description Percentage Points Attendance, Participation, and Short Assignments 20% 100 pts. My Life in School 15 % 75 pts. Take Home Mid-Term 20% 100 pts. Class Dismissed Paper 20% 100 pts. Final Exam 25% 125 pts.Final Grades Points Resubmission Policies: - Short class assignments may not be resubmitted. - Rewrites of the “My Life in School” paper may be submitted for a maximum of 2 letter grades. For example, a “C+” paper can earn a maximum grade of “B.” - An extra credit assignment (TBD) will be made available to any student seeking to improve their grade on the mid-term exam (maximum of 2 letter grades). - Due to time restraints the Class Dismissed paper and exam may not be rewritten. - All students are encouraged to utilize office hours to


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Brandeis SOC 104A - Sociology of Education Spring 2008

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