Social and Behavioral Sciences Department
Principles of Sociology Online
SOC*E101 crn: 3602 sec: 12
fall 2008 semester 09.02.08 to 12.12.08
Instructor: Sandra Enders, MS, SYC
203-468-6277 (available 7 days 9:00am to 4:00pm)
Please use the course email system for routine correspondence!!!
Personal email for emergency use only: endersusa@comcast.net
EndersUSA Website: {http://endersusa.home.comcast.net}
This HCTC course is an introduction to the study of sociology, emphasizing the nature of social groups, institutions, interaction, and change in modern society. The course will cover culture, socialization of children and adults, sex and gender, race and ethnic relations, social stratification and inequality, and other topics such as education, health care, the family, crime, aging, politics and the state, religion, and work and the economy. Discussion and examples will focus primarily on the United States but with a strong global and multicultural component. This course is a three credit course, and is offered consecutively in the traditional 16 week format for the fall and spring semesters. The course consists of 15 weekly discussion board assignments, all covering topics in the textbook. This weekly assignment consists of 30% of the grade, and suggested due dates are posted with the assignment. There are also two ongoing discussions throughout the course both worth 10% each. One is concerned the various schools of thought in sociology and your interpretation of them, and the other is focused on a specific sociologist of your choice in history. There are three assessments, two which are in a multiple choice format for 20% each, and an ending course evaluation and reflection assignment for the remaining 10%. The course is based on a 1000 point grading criteria, which is seen below and detailed under the specific assignment area.
Textbook:
Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society
Comprehensive Paperbound, 4th Edition, 720 Pages
Margaret L. Andersen & Howard F. Taylor
ISBN-10: 0495007420 | ISBN-13: 9780495007425
Thomson Wadsworth Publishing © 2008
General Education Objectives:
A thorough study of the course should enable the student to:
1.2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences and their methods.
2.1 State a problem clearly.
2.2 Observe data accurately.
2.3 Analyze and organize facts and ideas.
2.4 Draw reasonable inferences from facts and ideas.
3.2 Receive and comprehend written and oral information.
3.3 Develop and explain a main idea.
3.4 Develop an argument to persuade an audience.
5.1 Recognize ethical issues, both personal and public.
5.2 Understand the consequences of a decision or a course of action.
Course Specific Objectives:
A thorough study of the course should enable the student to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the discipline of sociology, as related to the United States and other societies. Chapter specific objectives are listed under each weekly assignment lesson.
Course Grading:
|
Assignment |
Format |
% of course |
Points |
|
Weekly Chapter Questions |
discussion board |
30% (2% each week) |
300 (20 pts each week) |
|
Sociologist Assignment |
discussion board |
10% |
100 |
|
Self Discovery Assignment |
discussion board |
10% |
100 |
|
Exam I |
100 multiple choice chapters 1/2/3/7/8/9/10 |
20% |
200 (2 points each) |
|
Exam II |
100 multiple choice chapters 11/12/14/15/16/17/18/19 |
20% |
200 (2 points each) |
|
Final Course Evaluation & Reflection |
submitted individually |
10% |
100 |
|
|
|
|
1000 |
College Grading Scale:
|
Letter Grade |
Percentage |
GPA |
|
|
|
|
|
A |
93-100% |
4.0 |
|
A- |
90-92% |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
87-89% |
3.3 |
|
B |
83-86% |
3.0 |
|
B- |
80-82% |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
77-79% |
2.3 |
|
C |
73-76% |
2.0 |
|
C- |
70-72% |
1.7 |
|
D+ |
67-69% |
1.3 |
|
D |
63-66% |
1.0 |
|
D- |
60-62% |
.7 |
|
F |
0-59% |
0 |
On Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a legal violation and schools will often fail, or expel students for this type of behavior. Please be aware that plagiarism will not be tolerated and points will be deducted (under the research & knowledge learned area), or papers refused, if I find this does occur. If you are unsure of using the proper writing format or have any uncertainty of what plagiarism is, please review the Enders Writing Lab link below. Although there is no formal research paper due in this course, I will still be aware of the importance of this issue which shows poor academic behavior. In-text notation does not mean you can cite exact wording, it means that you are citing the original authors "idea" not the wording. You are to interpret the information and then paraphrase it "in your own words". If you are taking information straight from an Internet site, please make sure you clearly let us know.
On Netiquette:
Netiquette is network or Internet etiquette, the proper manner to which you conduct your online communications. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal rules of cyberspace. Although the concept and its application by the nature of the Internet remain in a state of flux and vary from community to community, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) develops and promotes most of the standards. The Enders Writing Lab also includes information on this topic. Please briefly read through the link to familiarize yourself with what is available to you here. Some of my own annoyances are using all caps or no caps at all. I prefer using proper Standard English grammar in discussions rather than abbreviations in the classroom. Please be conscience that the topic of the course often deals with issues that may be sensitive to some, such as race, ethnicity, lifestyles, etc. I will tolerate derogatory remarks or bullying of your opinion. A strive for equality, a respect for diversity, and compassion for others is the essence of the study of sociology.
I have created a list of over 200 reliable research links for the social sciences. Keep in mind many of them are think tanks or university sites and may be biased. Remember almost everything on the Internet probably holds a bias of some kind, even government sites may tend to portray the current administration in a good light, however the sites listed at the link below all should have good strong current information.
Weekly Chapter Questions: (300pts/20pts per wk)
You will see 15 lesson assignments which are linked to 15 weekly discussion threads. Each one week includes chapter objectives, lecture notes, and essay questions. They are based on the topic of the week and are worth 20pts each week toward your grade. You are to choose two essay questions (approximately 150 to 250 words each) each week and answer them on the appropriate discussion thread which will be locked two weeks after the start date. This assignment can be completed with the textbook or any other outside resources available. This is an informal writing assignment, but please make sure you include any outside resources at the end of your post and backup your opinions with cited facts. You can have access to all discussions in advance and you are allowed to work in advance, but you will only have two weeks from the start date, and after that the thread will be locked. Please see below for the discussion schedule dates. Participation and interaction with other students posts is highly recommended and is included in the grading criteria below. This semester long assignment is worth 30% of the total grade!!!
Grading criteria for the weekly chapter discussion assignments:
|
grading criteria |
possible points |
|
participation in discussions |
30 / 2 |
|
textbook cited or outside resources noted |
30 / 2 |
|
content knowledge learned and research done |
210 / 14 |
|
proper use of grammar, spelling, organization, and staying on topic, submitted by duedate |
30 / 2 |
|
|
300 / 20 |
Weekly Topic Discussions:
Week 1 |
09.01 to 09.07 (closes 09.15) | Developing a Sociological Perspective (ch1) |
Week 2 |
09.08 to 09.14 (closes 09.22) | Doing Sociological Research (ch2) |
Week 3 |
09.15 to 09.21 (closes 09.29) | Culture (ch3) |
Week 4 |
09.22 to 09.28 (closes 10.06) | Deviance (ch7) |
Week 5 |
09.29 to 10.05 (closes 10.13) | Crime and Criminal Justice (ch8) |
Week 6 |
10.06 to 10.12 (closes 10.20) | Social Class and Social Stratification (ch9) |
Week 7 |
10.13 to 10.19 (closes 10.27) | Global Stratification (ch10) |
Week 8 |
10.20 to 10.26 (closes 11.03) | Race and Ethnicity (ch11) |
Week 9 |
10.27 to 11.02 (closes 11.10) | Gender (ch12) |
Week 10 |
11.03 to 11.09 (closes 11.17) | Age and Aging (ch14) |
Week 11 |
11.10 to 11.16 (closes 11.24) | Families (ch15) |
Week 12 |
11.17 to 11.23 (closes 12.01) | Education (ch16) |
Week 13 |
11.24 to 11.30 (closes 12.08) | Religion(ch17) |
Week 14 |
12.01 to 12.07 (closes 12.12) | Economy and Work (ch18) |
Week 15 |
12.08 to 12.12 (closes 12.12) | Government and Politics (ch19) |
| *Chapters 4, 5, 6, 13, 20, 21, 22, & 23 will not be covered in this course! | ||
| This course ends on 12.12.08 and grades will be submitted on 12.19.08 | ||
Sociologist Assignment: (100pts)
(duedate 11.02.08)
Choose a sociologist from the list below.
Research the topic using multiple reliable sources (at least three sources).
Write an informal essay (approximately 600-800 word) and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.
Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays
Addams, JaneBerger, PeterCooley, Charles Horton Comte, Auguste Cox, Oliver Cromwell Darwin, Charles de Tocqueville, Alexis Du Bois, W. E. B. Durkheim, Emile Frazier, E. Franklin Gans, Herbert Goffman, Erving Hirschi, Travis
|
King, Martin Luther Lewis, Oscar Malcolm X Martineau, Harriet Marx, Karl Mead, George Herbert Merton, Robert Mills, C. Wright Park, Robert E. Parsons, Talcott Perrucci, Robert Reiman, Jeffrey
|
Rodney, Walter Simmel, Georg Spencer, Herbert Sumner, William Graham Sutherland, Edwin Thomas, W. I. Wallerstein, Immanuel Ward, Lester Frank Washington, Booker T. Weber, Max Wilson, William Julius Wysong, Earl Znaniecki, Florian
|
Grading criteria for the 10% Sociologist Essay:
(duedate 11.02.08)
|
grading criteria |
possible points |
|
participation in discussions |
20 |
|
textbook cited or outside resources noted |
10 |
|
content knowledge learned and research done |
60 |
|
proper use of grammar, spelling, writing organization, and staying on topic |
10 |
|
|
100 |
Auguste Comte Emile Durkheim Karl Marx Max Weber
Self Discovery Assignment: (100pts)
(duedate 11.30.08)
Choose TWO student activities below (50 pts each) from the various topics covered in this course.
Research the topic and ponder it in reference to your own life.
Write a short informal essay (approximately 300-400 words) for each and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.
Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays.
Developing a Sociological Perspective (wk1ch1)
The Sociological Imagination: Select a personal problem that you or someone around you is currently grappling with, like juggling work and school, peer pressures, finding adequate childcare, dealing with drug or alcohol abuse or other addictions, or securing school financing. First explain how you or they are coping with the problem as a “personal trouble,” and then have them consider how the problem is a “public issue,” and explain how sociologists analyze it as an issue.
Culture (wk3ch3)
Student Cultures: Describe the culture of a social group you are part of, or were a part of at one time, taking into account the characteristics and elements of culture described in the text. Explain whether the culture is the dominant culture, a subculture, or a counterculture, and describe its material and nonmaterial aspects.
Deviance (wk4ch7)
Being Deviant: Write a reflective essay of a time when you engaged in deviant behavior, or declined to participate in deviant behavior despite heavy peer pressure or other factors. Describe your feelings and thoughts while you were engaged in the behavior and afterwards, indicating whether or not you were “caught” or “labeled” for the behavior. What sociological theory of deviance best explains your behavior? What about your social characteristics (race, ethnicity, class, gender, and age) do you think that had an effect on how others reacted to your behavior? If you resisted the deviant behavior, how do you explain that? How did others react to you?
Social Class and Social Stratification (wk6ch9)
Social Class/Social Mobility: Write an essay describing the social class status of your parents and your own social class status, if you are not living with your parents. In addition to using the three indicators of social class, describe the lifestyle and other cultural features of your social class experience. What impact does race, gender, and age have on your experience and that of your family? Has your family, or particular members, experienced social mobility? What structural factors do you think contributed to this mobility? Compare your personal findings with national trends.
Race and Ethnicity (wk8ch11)
Ethnic Identity: Research and write an essay about your ethnic identity. If you have no strong ethnic identification, focus on the reasons why you have not developed such an identity and the implications of the lack of ethnic identity. Alternatively, if you have no specific ethnic identity, but identify as “White,” explore “Whiteness” and “white privilege” using some of the suggested resources in the textbook.
Gender
(wk9ch12)Gender Socialization: Reflect on the process of your own gender socialization. What were the expectations and influences of parents, peers, schooling, religious training, mass media, and other agents of socialization? How were gender-linked behaviors reinforced? Did they experience contradictory influences? Do they recall any particular events or turning points that marked a significant transition in your gender identity? What do your current interests, skills, interpersonal style, and occupational aspirations say about your conformity or deviation from the gender expectations that you grew up with? Do you experience pressure to conform, or experience negative consequences from over-conformity to gender expectations? What effect do race, class, age, sexual orientation, and other social factors have on your gender identity?
Families (wk11ch15)
Families and Social Policy: Select a major issue confronting U.S. families that interests you and argue for a policy direction to address the issue. Examples of projects might include the following: Should gay and lesbian marriages be legalized? What can be done to improve children’s adjustment to divorce? What can communities do to assist working families with children? How can the problems confronting female-headed households be addressed? What can be done to reduce or prevent domestic violence?
Education
(wk12ch16)Educational Autobiography: Following the introduction of educational issues and the reading of this chapter, write your educational autobiography. How were you schooled? What did you notice about inequalities in the school, about tracking, about the hidden curriculum, and teacher expectations? How did your educational experience affect your self-esteem and aspirations? How did you arrive in college? Writing this and sharing experiences with other students will set the stage for a serious consideration of educational policy.
Religion
(wk13ch17)Exploring Religious Traditions: Write a sociological description of a religious group that you know well or are interested in researching. Your description should include a discussion of how the religious group illustrates the six elements of the definition of a religion, the religious form, religious socialization processes of the group, and its type of organization. Also address how the group relates to social and political issues and tendencies toward racial prejudice, homophobia, anti-Semitism, or other forms of intolerance.
Economy and Work (wk14ch18)
Employment Outlook: Investigate the employment outlook for the occupation that you plan to enter. How are current trends in economic restructuring, demographic changes, globalization, and technological change affecting the field? How do you expect your own race, gender, class and other stratification factors to affect your advancement and experience in the workplace? In addition to consulting labor statistics and employment profiles through state and local employment offices or websites resources, you may also want to interview people currently working in the field.
Grading criteria for the Self Discovery Assignment:
(duedate 11.30.08)
|
grading criteria |
possible points |
|
participation in discussions |
20 |
|
textbook cited or outside resources noted |
10 |
|
content knowledge learned and reflection |
60 |
|
proper use of grammar, spelling, writing organization, and staying on topic |
10 |
|
|
100 |
Assessments:
Exam I: 10.13.08 to 10.26.08 (200pts)
Exam I will be all multiple choice (100 questions) and you will have a two week window (10.13.08 to 10.26.08) to take it. You will have a 48 hour time frame to start it, complete it, and submit it. That means that you can log in and out of the exam within 48 hours of clicking the start button. The exam will time out after the 48 hours if you do not complete it on your own. Make sure you click the save button on each question after you have chosen an answer. You have the option to change answers as long as you click the save button again. The midterm will cover the first half (chapters 1/2/3/7/8/9/10) of the text.
Exam II: 11.28.08 to 12.12.08 (200pts)
Exam II will be all multiple choice (100 questions) and you will have a two week window (11.28.08 to 12.12.08) to take it. You will have a 48 hour time frame to start it, complete it, and submit it. That means that you can log in and out of the exam within 48 hours of clicking the start button. The exam will time out after the 48 hours if you do not complete it on your own. Make sure you click the save button on each question after you have chosen an answer. You have the option to change answers as long as you click the save button again. The final will cover the second half (chapters 11/12/14/15/16/17/18/19) of the text.
Final Course Evaluation & Reflection: duedate 12.12.08 (100 points)
Write an informal essay (approximately 700 to 900 words) on what you have learned throughout this course concerning the three major schools of thought in the discipline of sociology, functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction. Which theory can you associate with yourself?