Principles Of Sociology--Soc 231 Dr. Loren Wingblade Syllabus 243 McDivitt, 796-8585 [email protected] Soc 231 is really your first course in the science of sociology. It is a one semester course that should prepare you for every other higher course that you will take in sociology. Each chapter of your book Essentials of Sociology by James M. Henslin is a separate subdiscipline within the field of sociology. As with any science, sociology has terms and specialized “catch” phrases which you need to be conversant within the field. There will be three miniquizes in the course accounting for 60% of the student’s final grade. Twenty percent will also be assigned to the student based on class attendance and participation during class discussions of the films shown in class. An additional twenty percent will be based on three short papers (of course you can write more) that will be handed in during the course of the semester. These three papers will be added together and treated as an extra exam. Each quiz will cover both the chapters to be read (in Henslin) and the lecture material about equally. During the lecture part of the course, I plan to cover much more material than is presented in your book. Each quiz will consist of approximately 10-20 multiple choice questions (except the final exam). Also, student attendance is expected at each class (except, of course, for health reasons or other emergencies). Now, for the serious part of the syllabus--grades. After the first exam, I will set the curve for every test (of the same format) for the rest of the course. If we have an exam with a different number of questions-- I will have to reset the curve for the class. I will then “overlook” the exam with the lowest score. I prefer the word “overlook” to the word “drop” because I really look at all the scores to see how you are doing in the class. But for the sake of a final grade I will not count as heavily the exam which is the lowest. However, all paper and tests must be written or taken. I have a strict policy that papers written on films shown in class are due two weeks after the film is presented. Our course outline below is rather ambitious, so I will try to cover all the topics but covering any one of these areas adequately is more important than completing the book or finishing the syllabus. I urge students not to miss or postpone an exam. In my experience students who do so usually score lower on exams when they are postponed. I will give make-ups only within ten calendar days of the classroom examination if there are extenuating circumstances. Week Topic Chapter Exam 1 The Sociological Perspective 1 2 Research Methods 1 Quiz 1 3 Socialization 3 4 Society & It’s Organization 4 &5 5 Culture & Deviance 2 & 6 6 Stratification 7 & 8 7 Inequalities: Gender, Race & Age 9 & 10 8 The Family 12 (Extended) Quiz 2 9 Religion 13 10 Education 13 11 Medicine in class notes 12 Population 14 13 Politics 11 14 The Economy 11 15 Social Change 15 16 Miscellaneous (War) in class notes Final Exam ALL TOPICS AND EXAM SCHEDULES ARE TENTATIVE!Additional concerns: I. Goals for the course: A. Examine problems and issues related to life and the behavior sciences in general and sociology in particular, using appropriate critical thinking techniques. To learn to initiate and sustain a discussion of meaning of specific behavior patterns. Has a personal response to new scientific findings. ADO 5, proficient B. Apply the scientific process and related techniques, as employed by science in general and the social sciences in particular. Expand vocabulary, learn to minimize bias, looks and weighs evidence, poses questions and conclusions. ADO 7, proficient C. Understand individual and group differences, and show appreciation for the traditions and values of various groups in the United States. II. At some point near the end of the term you might get a series of assessment tests--showing how much (or how little) you have learned in this course. The board of trustees of JCC requires this information. III. Two pet peeves: (1) People who talk all the time (especially during films) and (2) students who pick and choose what they wish to learn by attending class selectively. DON’T. Sooner or later (more likely sooner) you might be ejected from the class by instructor initiated drop. You will feel bad about this if it happens, but we must get through the material in the course. If you are disturbing someone else from learning, you must go. Be warned! IV September 29 will be a special day on campus. This day has been designated project success day-no classes. The day will be divided up in roughly three concurrent sessions: (9:45, 10:45, and 1:00). I will give you extra credit in this class if you attend one or more of these sessions. And I may ask some of you specifically to attend if your performance in class is marginal. Even though no classes will meet on that day--I will be in my office from about 10:30 until 4:30. If you are having problems with the class, or other concerns which you would like to discuss, I would enjoy talking with you. Or you just might want to discuss something with me. I have found (that for some reason) students who get to know their instructors, face-to-face, do better in class. I have no explanation for this, I just know that students improve when they talk to their instructor. It’s a real phenomena. V. I will give you my office hours in class. If you at some time during the course forget or misplace my office