For a Microsoft Word copy of the complete syllabus, click here.

Instructor: Beth Dougherty
Office: 12 pm til 12.45 in IC 1032, the Anthropology Prep Room.
Office hour phone: 630-942-2800 x2511
Email: doughert @ cod (dot) edu – Please put Soc in the header

Required Reading

Kendall, Diana. Sociology In Our Times. 6e McIntyre, Lisa. The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology

http://wikisoc.wetpaint.com/ The wiki website for our class..

All power points for this class will be available via blackboard (http://bb.cod.edu)

Course Description

Students explore the concepts and theories necessary to systematic understanding of our social worlds. Topics may include considering sociology as science, the nature of large- and small-scale groups, social stratification, historical eras, and social change, and will race, ethnic and gender relations.

Sociology 1100 Course Objectives

1. Identify the specificity of the sociological perspective
2. Demonstrate an ability to classify and analyze given sociological data
3. Compare and contrast the major sociological concepts and theories
4. Identify the different components of society and their interrelations
5. Analyze the social construction of deviance in society
6. Review the different theories of deviant behavior
7. Recognize the different forms of social stratification, by class, race/ethnicity, and gender within the United States and on a global scale
8. Differentiate between the different institutions of society and their theoretical analyses
9. Evaluate the changing structures and functions of the major traditional institutions: marriage and family, education, polity, economy, health, and religion
10. Assess the impact on society of the emergence of new institutional forms, e.g., the mass media
11. Review the societal impact of current trends in population and environment issues
12. Compare and contrast the different forms of collective behavior and social movements
13. Analyze the different models of social change

Classroom Conduct

1. Cell phones will be placed on silent, and there will be no text messaging or gaming during class.
2. We will treat each other with respect and patience, understanding that some of the issues we will discuss may touch upon hot topics for members of the class.
3. Each member of the class is responsible for completing their readings and assignments BEFORE coming to class.
4. If your behavior falls outside of those bounds, you will be asked to leave the classroom and docked half your participation points. If this behavior persists, you will be brought before the disciplinary committee.
5. Conversely, if something in class is disturbing you, please let me know.

Work Expectations The standard expectation of any collegiate student is that they spend, on average, one to two out of class hours per credit hour studying per week. Over a 16 week semester, that’s a minimum of 32 out of class study hours. Accelerated courses try to work some of this in to the semester in different ways, and one of the biggest differences. This means that for a 3 credit course you should have 12 additional hours of reading/homework/revision and research. As such classes like this are just a little more difficult to manage as work is due in a shorter time-frame. Self-motivation is key.

Course Grades
Discussion Points 100 points
Sociological Perspective Project 100 points
Theory Project 100 points
Online Activity Points 100 points
Key Concept and Terminology Exercises 80 points
2 Exams (110 points each) 220 points

Grade Scale
A = 90+% B = 80+% C = 70+% D = 60+% F = below 60%
Final scores will be curved in a manner that is not detrimental to good scores, but adjusts for poor scores through the use of a fairly standard bell curve system. See me for explanations if necessary.

Return policy for projects, quizzes and exams

I will endeavor to provide you with your marked assignments within a timely manner. This may be up to two weeks after the due date, as many of your assignments require close reading. Quizzes should be returned the next class period.

Discussion and Participation
100 discussion/participation points are for activity in-class. This reflects your arrival at class prepared and actively contributing to the course. Your participation helps your own learning process, but more importantly that of your class. We will be discussing the articles in the Practical Skeptic and how they relate to your readings in the main textbook. Learning is a collaborative exercise and by contributing in-class, you are actively engaging as both a teacher and a student! 50 of these points will be assessed based on group discussions and the short written responses and evaluations produced by those(so be sure to do your reading!) whereas the other 50 points will be determined by willing participation in in-class exercises and attentiveness.

100 online activity points are earned for posting on the online discussion forum. Each week there will be a reader response posted in regards to articles from the Practical Skeptic. Whether you are chatty or succinct, you will be expected to post a response to the question. I will also be looking to see that you have posted to the wiki or participated in other discussions at least two times this semester. I don’t want to make the wiki a labor, as it’s really a tool to help YOU not help me grade you. From discussions can arise new insights, as we see things from new angles.

Key Concept and Terminology Exercises

At the beginning of each class, there will be 10 minutes set aside to complete exercises that will consist of a mixture of multiple choice, matching, true/false or definition questions addressing key concepts identified in your readings for this week. This allows for a critical assessment of how well you are understanding your out of class reading and work. These key concept exercises also serve as a rudimentary study guide for the two exams. There are 9 Key Concept exercises, but the lowest score of these will be dropped. If you miss a class without making arrangements ahead of time, you will not be able to make that Key Concept exercise up, and it will be treated as your lowest score and dropped.

Exams

The two examinations will assess how well you have grasped the essential concepts examined in this class. There will be two components: an at-home assignment that will be distributed the week before and an in-class segment that will be assessed for comprehension of the basic material covered. The take-home segment will consist of 2-3 short answer questions, whereas the in-class segment will be comprised of multiple choice, matching and other scan-tron materials. Classes with exams scheduled will run to full time, as the exam will be timed to only take up to an hour of that class period.

Academic Honesty

Students will not receive credit for work that shows evidence of plagiarism or cheating Students have an obligation to exhibit honesty in carrying out their academic assignments. Students may be found to have violated this obligation if they plagiarize or cheat. Plagiarism and cheating will be considered serious ethical breaches. Plagiarism is defined as “presenting the work of others as one’s own.” Cheating is defined as “giving, taking, or accepting any illicit advantage for any course work inside or outside of the classroom.” A violation of academic integrity will result in zero credit for the assignment in question.

Presentation

All work done in class (i.e. quizzes) must be NEATLY written. If I can’t read it, I cannot grade it. Print if you need to. Each out of class assignment will have a separate grading rubric attached to it. All home work will be typed neatly, and turned in as a physical paper. If you are late, or cannot make it to campus to turn in an assignment, you may email it to me for verification of completion purposes. However, you must turn in a hard copy for evaluation purposes. I won’t grade emailed assignments.

Absences, late work and missed exams

In the case of an emergency, a student should contact me as soon as possible. If a student will be absent, an email or other communication should occur to make arrangements to obtain missed assignments or make up for late films. Students are responsible for scheduling their make-up time with me or contacting me for assistance if they fall behind due to a missed class. I will not remind you that you have deadlines or assignments you missed.

Exam make-ups without point penalties will be allowed only for excused absences that have been confirmed with the professor in advance or dire emergencies accompanied by appropriate documentation and communication. All other makeup exams will receive a 10 point penalty initially, with a one-week time-frame within which the make-up will be permitted. Beyond the 1 week limit, no unexcused make up will be allowed.

Late papers and projects will be docked 5 points per each day late and won’t be accepted beyond a week of the deadline. Again, communication is key. If you know it will be late for a legitimate reason, it’s always better to inform me ahead of time.

Late Drops and Incompletes

If you fail to attend class, I will NOT drop you. You will receive an ‘F’ for the course. If there is a critical event happening in your life that is interfering with your completion of the course assignments in a reasonable manner, and you discuss it with me like responsible adults, it will be possible to obtain (with appropriate documentation) a late drop slip or take an incomplete if you have extenuating circumstances. However, that requires regular and open communication THROUGHOUT the semester. I will not sign drop slips for “I don’t like my grade” or “I just kinda didn’t bother.”

Standing Challenge – Prove me wrong!!!

I have a standing challenge to my students. As we discuss in class, one of the only ways to PROVE a social scientific theory is to DISPROVE it. Be a good social scientist. If I present a theory that seems incorrect, or make a major error in my presentation of anthropological material, jot it down. Then go home, do research, and come back with a 2-3 page paper, with a minimum of 2 credible academic sources that DISPROVE what I said. Prove me wrong successfully, and earn a significant extra credit reward of up to 20 points!!!


Special Circumstances

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible and have the appropriate documentation available. The Office of Special Student Services Coordinator is located in Room 2001of the main campus or by telephone at 630.942.2154 or 942.2155. These accommodations and services are offered in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

The Most Useful Link You’ll Ever Find (for this class, anyway)

http://www.cod.edu/library/libweb/Fitzwater/gdsoci.htm - CoD’s library has a sociology reference page.

A Final Note

This course will cover material that may at times be offensive to people’s personal beliefs or morals. The purpose of this is not to shock, but to educate. If you are under 18 or potentially offended please come talk to me and we can determine if this course is the most appropriate for you. If there is a lecture, video, or discussion you would like to opt out of, feel free to let me know and we can arrange for an alternative assignment.

I look forward to getting to know you all,

Beth Dougherty