Sociology 1301: Introduction to Sociology

 

BASIC INFORMATION:

 

• Class Synonym: 08344, Class Section: 032
• Instructional Mode: Lecture, Blackboard, Exams, Quizzes, Essays, Email, Class Discussions.
• 16-Week Course: August 25, 2003-December 10, 2003
• Class Meets: Bldg 2000, Classroom 2118, Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 8:00am-8:50am.
• Office Hours: Bldg 2000, Office 2111: Monday & Wednesday, 8:50am-9:35am.  Friday: 8:50am-11:30am.  Other times by appointment.
• Primary Phone: (Home) 512-837-2935.  You may leave a message.
• Phone to Use Only During Office Hours: 512-223-4828 or 2223-4827.
• Fax: 512-837-2935
• Email: alfredcm@austin.rr.com
• Web: http://alfredcmaldonado0.tripod.com/acm/
• BlackBoard: http://acconline.austincc.edu/?bbatt=Y 
• Getting Started With Blackboard: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/student/default.htm
• Blackboard FAQs: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/student/stfaq.htm
• REQUIRED: A working email account is required in this class.
• REQUIRED: Access to and proficiency in Blackboard required in this class.

THE NATURE OF THIS SOCIOLOGY CLASS:

 

1.  Soci 1301: Introduction to Sociology (3-3-0).  Introduction to theoretical perspectives and research pertaining to society and to the relationship between society and the individual. Covers the basic elements of society, such as culture, social structure, social groups, social class, race, gender, social institutions, social processes, and social change.  There is an emphasis on developing critical thinking skills and oral/written communication skills. 

 

2.  Course Objectives:

• Student retention, academic success, high self-esteem, and assertiveness.
• Student comfort in seeking instructor assistance and engaging in class participations.
• Critical thinking skills as an indispensable component of Sociology and life.
• Sociological perspective: application of core concepts and research to everyday social processes.
• Student mastery of the scientific method and its critical application to societys institutions.
• The Essay as the articulation of integrated Sociological knowledge.
• Historical contexts for sociocultural change through different historical eras.
• Class presentations as one forum for student dissemination of Sociological knowledge and research.
• Less provincialism, parochialism, rote learning, common sense, and passive note-taking. 
• Recruiting students to Sociology.

3.  Sociology, A Social Science Based on the Scientific Method (Research Facts):  Sociology is one of the younger behavioral sciences with important intellectual and philosophical linkages to Psychology, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, and other social sciences.  Sociology is the scientific study of social relationships in societies.  Sociology is a social science that uses the Scientific Method.  Science is a process that never ends and does not know Final Truth because it is not a closed system.  It is also critical that we include Historical Analysis to understand Institutional relationships and changes in their Historical Contexts. 

 

• IMPORTANT:  Sociological research and knowledge is not based on sacred scriptures, faith, myths, divine truth, revelation, intuition, conventional wisdom, what everybody knows, common sense, revealed Word from deities, visions, inspiration, awakenings or instincts.  This is a social science course based on the scientific method.  This course is NOT a course whose knowledge and research methods are based on church, sect, or cult theology or sacred scripture or divine truth.  While we do study the Sociology of religion, it is within the discipline of Sociology and its methodology that religions and religious institutions are studied, described, analyzed, and critiqued to see how they develop and change over time.

CLASS ADMINISTRATION:

 

1.  Required Textbooks Package.  John J. Macionis, Society: The Basics, 7^th Edition.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004.  Alfred C. Maldonado, Readings in Sociology.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Printing, 2003.  Required Text, Reader, and Study Guide are purchased as one package. 

 

• Please Note: If you intend to sell your books back to the Bookstore at the end of the semester, make sure you have the texts that came in the package you bought.  Otherwise, the Bookstore will not buy incomplete packages.

2.  Attendance Policy:

• How many unexcused absences (cuts) are permitted in this class without penalty?  FOUR. 
• What if the 5^th cut occurs before the last day to DROP the course with a W?  The student will be dropped with a W (Withdrew) regardless of his or her academic standing at that time.  Deadline for Withdrawl with W: Thursday, November 20, 2003.
• What if the 5^th cut occurs after the last day to DROP the course with a W?  The student remains on the class roll, cannot be dropped, and will receive the grade he or she had on November 20, 2003.  Such students will not be permitted to take any further quizzes, exams or other point-earning exercises or assignments.
• If you miss class because of an unexcused absence, ask one of your classmates if they want to lend you their notes.  You are responsible for all materials, announcements, assignments, changes, and any other course requirements, whether you are there or not.  And yes, you did miss something important. 

3.  Excused Absences.  RememberIf you cannot satisfactorily document an absence in writing in a timely fashion that I will accept, the absence is a cut or unexcused absence.  You must provide me with a timely written and acceptable reason on letterhead from the relevant professional (doctor, court administrator, insurance adjuster, etc.) clearly stating why you had to be elsewhere at the time of the class or exam or why you were too sick to attend on the day(s) and class period(s) you missed.  Written excuses from family, spouse, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, and lawyers are not acceptable.  All cases of illness must be documented by a physicians written explanation acceptable to the instructor.

 

4.  Death & Resurrection.  Any one close relative (parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, children, first cousins, in-laws, uncles, nieces, aunts, grandchildren) can die only once per semester.  Remember: if you cannot document an absence, that absence is not excused.  You must provide me with written  proof that you are a close family relative (the deceased is your son, daughter, father, mother, grandparent, sibling, in-law, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin; you must be listed on the memorial service program) of the deceased by submitting an acceptable obituary memorial program(s) or similar written document with your name listed as one of the surviving family members. 

 

5.  Unexcused Absences:  I have heard many awful, amateurish, unimaginative excuses.  SUGGESTION:  Save your FOUR permitted cuts for when you really need them.  Assume that tales of catastrophes that occur just before an exam or the day of the exam will not be believed unless documented in writing and accepted by me.  Should you come in late, it will be your responsibility to initial the class roll sheet when class is over, otherwise, if you do not, you will be counted absent.  I will not try to remember if you were there or not on that particular day.  Students who are late AND do not sign the class roll sheet on the day of the class will be counted absent and the absence stays if not corrected the same day by the student.

 

6.  Chronic Tardiness.  You may be counted absent if, in my judgment, you are persistently tardy (more than three or four times per semester), come to class late, and disrupt my lectures.  In addition a student who comes to class persistently late may have 20 points deducted from their semester point total after having being warned once by the instructor.  If tardiness still persists, the instructor may drop the student from the class regardless of the students current grade.  A student who leaves during class and does not return to class will be counted absent.  Understand that coming in late disrupts the class, including me.  Persistent tardiness is a sign of disrespect, rudeness, and is disruptive of the class.

 

7.  Make Up Exams:  Students with acceptable excused absences accepted by me may make up an exam within one week of the students return to the class.  

 

8.  Incomplete Grades:  Rarely given.  The criteria used to assess student requests for Incomplete are as follows:

• A student has made semester-long positive progress.  The student has a realistic chance of passing.
• The student makes the request before the final exam or I offer the Incomplete to the student.
• No failing grade on more than one major exam.
• A documented and acceptable sudden student or close family emergency or catastrophe.

9.  Cell Phones In Class:  Cell phones, beepers, etc., must be turned off during class.  Never have your cell phone on in my class.  I never want to hear cell phones going off in my class.  No exceptions.  One cell phone disruption will result in the student being warned to turn off the cell phone or beeper.  Thereafter, each time the cell phone interrupts my class, 20 points will be deducted from the students semester point total.

 

10.  Office for Student Disabilities.  Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.  (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 14).

 

11.  Scholastic Dishonesty.  Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students should be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework. (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32).  Scholastic dishonesty will result in being dropped from the class with an F.

 

12.  Student Freedom of Expression.  Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions.  In any classroom environment that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many different viewpoints.  These differences and their expressions enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and

instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn.  On sensitive, emotional, controversial, and volatile topics and issues, students sometimes disagree not only with each other but with the instructor.  It is a requirement in this class that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions. 

 

13.  Writing Essays: The Format.  70-point Essays must be six pages in length (or somewhat longer if you wish, not counting a cover page if there is one).  The writer should use one-inch margins on all six pages, double spacing, and a font not larger than 12.  Submitted draft essays and final essays must be complete and a minimum of six pages in length.  The draft and final essays may be submitted as an email message (cut and paste in the body of the message), an email with a Word, WordPerfect, or MSWorks attachment, or on a diskette.  Articulation, continuity, coherence, integration, and command of the materials and facts count, as does style and expression of sociological information. 

 

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

1.  Students Attendance Extra Credit:

• NO unexcused absences/cuts.80 Extra Points of Credit.
• ONE unexcused absence/cuts...65 Extra Points of Credit.
• TWO unexcused absences/ cuts45 Extra Points of Credit

2.  Presentation of Reader articles:  Up to 30 extra points per Two-student group for up to 30 minutes.  There are seven articles in the Reader.  Why not volunteer to make a 30 minute report as part of a two-student group?  Reader Articles will receive priority over non-Reader articles.  See Course Documents in Blackboard for documentation on Presentations Grading Criteria.  Each presenter is evaluated individually on the presentation.  Group presentations are given priority, unless there is time for individual presentations.  If the presentation is done well, the individual earns another 15 extra credit points that go into his or her Class Participation point total.

 

3.  Presentations of Non-Reader articles:  Up to 30 extra points per two-student group for 30 minutes.  Students who volunteer for group class presentations, time permitting, can earn, depending on the amount of work required and how well the report is presented to the class and to me.  I will consider your favorite social science book or work not on my list.  Subject to my approval, a group could make a presentation on that work.  If the presentation is done well, the individual earns another 15 extra credit points that go into his or her Class Participation point total.

 

4.  You may write more than one or two70-Point  Essays during the semester.  You can write more for extra credit.  Two essays (140 points) are built into the scoring system for this course.  However, students may opt to write no essays, so long as they understand that they need to find the 70-140 points elsewhere among extra credit opportunities.  Conversely, students may opt to write more than one essay for any of the three major exams this semester, including the Final Exam.  All essays after the second essay are considered extra-credit essays. 

 

5.  You could write up to TWELVE short three-page, 30-point Essays during the semester.  Instead of writing a six-page 70-point essay, a student could elect to write a shorter, three-page essay addressing limited topics or issues.  I will provide the class with a list of acceptable text topics, articles, and Blackboard documents for this kind of short essay.  You may also select one of the articles in the Reader.  The same formatting applies as the larger essays, but in this case, the student does not have to submit a draft to me for review before the final submission on Exam day.  Each student may write up to two such small essays for each of the three exams or a total of six for the semester.  If you attend a tutorial and write a shorter 30-point essay, you will earn 10 points extra credit or 20 points if you write two short essays or more scored at 30 each, for each Exam. 

 

• Choose your topic from the approved topics sent to you by email.  The Deadline for submitting any or all short 20-Point essays is Wednesday, December 10, 2003.

6.  Six Quizzes (one chapter, 30 points; multiple choice questions) for a total of 120 extra credit points with the TWO highest quiz scores (potentially 60 points) included in and counting toward the course point total:

• Quiz 1: Chapter 5, Groups and Organizations.  30 points.
• Quiz 2: Chapter 6, Deviance.  30 points.
• Quiz 3: Chapter 7, Sexuality.  30 points.
• Quiz 4: Chapter 9, Global Stratification.  30 points.
• Quiz 5: Chapter 12, Economics and Politics.  30 points.
• Quiz 6: Chapter 16, Social Change.  30 points.

6.  Extra credit activities deadline:  Wednesday, November 19, 2003.

 

7.  Instructor-awarded extra credit:  I may reward a student with any number of extra credit points for excellence as a student.  I may exempt a student from the final exam or other assignments if, on the basis of consistently excellent performance, I conclude that the student has earned the extra credit and/or the exemption.

 

8a.  Exemption from the Final Exam and other assignments:  I may exempt a student from the Final Exam without penalty of loss of points or loss of grade.  Exemption from the final may include extra credit points me to elevate a student to a higher grade or to enable a student to pass the course.  This will be used sparingly. 

 

• A student with an A average going into the Final Exam will be automatically Exempt from the Final Exam and possibly one or several Quizzes.  Subject to 8b.

8b.  However, please note.  After a student is exempt from the Final Exam and/ other assignments, the student will LOSE 25 points per unexcused absence if she/ he cuts class(es) after being granted the Exemption and will then have to take the Quizzes and/or Final Exam if his or her grade then falls below the A minimum of points.  So, if you lose your Exemption because of unexcused absences after it is awarded to you, and you fall below the minimum points for an A, you will then have to take the Quiz(zes) and/or Final Exam if you want to make an A.

 

THE GRADING SYSTEM:

 

1.  Major Exams and Quizzes:

·         Major Exam 1: 80 points & one 70-point essay = 150 points

·         Major Exam 2: 80 points & one 70-point Essay = 150 points

·         Major Exam 3: 110 points.  Essay(s) optional.

·         Major Exam 4 (Class Participation) = 150 points.

·         Three Quizzes = 60 points.

• Total Points = 620 Points.

2.  Course Point Total and Grades:

• A = 558--620  Points  (90%-100%)
• B = 496--557  Points   (80%--89%)
• C = 434495  Points  (70%--79%)
• D = 372--433  Points  (60%--69%)
• F = 371 or fewer Points.  (59% or lower)
• The official grades, scores, unexcused absences, etc. will be those posted in Blackboard.

3.  Note: The 620 course point total includes two 70-point essays worth 140 points.  No one has to write any essays for any exams.  However, students who elect not to write one or two essays for exams must find the 70 or 140 points elsewhere from among the many extra credit opportunities or the student will end up with a much lower grade.  The two essays represent 22% of your total point total in this class.

 

4.  Writing the Essay.  Essays must be six pages in length (or somewhat longer if you wish, not counting a cover page if there is one).  The writer should use one-inch margins on all six pages, double spacing, and a font not larger than 12.  Submitted draft essays and final essays must be complete and a minimum of six pages in length. 

 

The draft and final essays may be submitted as an email message (cut and paste in the body of the message), an email to me with a Word or WordPerfect attachment of a the document, or on a diskette.  Articulation, continuity, coherence, integration, and command of the materials and facts count, as does style and expression of sociological information. 

 

5.  70-Point Essays and 35-Point Essays: What is the difference?

 

• 70-Point Essay.  Students who submit a timely six-page draft of an essay question by the posted deadline and make the required revisions I require are the ones who will earn the 70 points.   
• 35 Point Essay.  However, it is not a requirement that you submit a full draft.  You can just submit a finished essay on Exam day, without any input from me and without your submitting it to me as a draft.  Be aware, however, that such essays (without prior submission of full draft, without prior review by me, and without any revisions I ask being made) will earn no more than 35 points.   
• Why the difference?  The grading structure is designed to strongly encourage students to write and to submit their work to me for review, constructive criticism, and feedback.  Very few students at this level can develop a well-written college-level essay without instructor guidance, feedback, assistance, and review.  This requirement is designed to foster communication and discussion between instructor and students. 

CALENDAR for FALL SEMESTER 2003:

 

Monday, September 15, 2003: Quiz 1 (Chapter 5: Groups & Organizations).

 

 

EXAM 1:

Thursday, September 25, 2003, 6:00pm: Essay Draft Deadline.

Monday, September 29, 2003: Exam 1.  80 points (40 multiple-choice questions from):

• Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective/Research
• Chapter 2: Culture
• Chapter 3: Socialization

Monday, September 29, 2003: 70-point Essay Due.

 

 

Wednesday, October 1, 2003: Quiz 2 (Chapter 6: Deviance).

 

Wednesday, October 8, 2003: Quiz 3 (Chapter 7: Sexuality).

 

Monday, October 20, 2003: Quiz 4 (Chapter 9: Global Stratification).

 

 

EXAM 2:

Thursday, November 6, 2003, 6:00pm: Essay Draft Deadline

Monday, November 10, 2003:Exam 2.  80 points (40 multiple-choice questions from):

• Chapter 8: US Class & Social Stratification
• Chapter 10: Gender Stratification
• Chapter 11: Race & Ethnicity
• Chapter 14: The Education Section only

Monday, November 10, 2003: 30-point Essays Due.

Monday, November 10, 2003: All 70-point Essay Due.

 

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2003: Quiz 5 (Chapter 12: Economics & Politics).

 

Wednesday, November 19, 2003: Last day for extra credit activities.

 

Thursday, November 20, 2003:  Last day to drop the class with a W (Withdrew).

 

Monday, November 24, 2003: Quiz 6 (Chapter 16: Social Change).

 

Wednesday, November 26, 2003: Library/Study Day.  No class today.

 

Monday, December 10, 2003: Last day to submit any and all remaining 30- and 70-Point Essays.

 

 

EXAM 3 (FINAL EXAM):

Thursday, December 4, 2003, 6:00pm: Optional Essay(s) Draft Deadline.

Wednesday, December 10, 2003: Exam 3.  110 points (65 multiple-choice questions from):

• Chapter 14: The Medicine Section only
• Chapter 13: Family and Religion
• Chapter 15: Population & Demography

Wednesday, December 10, 2003: 30-point Optional Essays Due.

Wednesday, December 10, 2003: 70-point Optional Essay Due.

 

 

EXAM 4 (CLASS PARTICIPATION)=150 points.  (Semester-Long Process)  Class participation is the point equivalent of a major exam (130 points).  I strongly encourage productive class participation that moves the class discussions forward and makes the classes more academically stimulating, challenging and interesting.  The primary goal is to develop critical thinking skills in the exchange and debate of ideas and knowledge.  It is not about being right.  It is about making the effort and doing your best to think Sociologically.  Here is what constitutes Class Participation as I define it:

 

• Speaking up in class and engaging in class discussions.  You help me move the class discussions forward in a constructive, positive, challenging, and helpful fashion.  You assist me in making the class more interesting, relevant, and fun.  It is not about being right; it is about your making your best effort to engage in critical thinking.
• You communicate with me via email when you need assistance of some sort; not just idle chatting.
• You visit me during office hours for help with your work, particularly your essay questions.
• You volunteer to do a class presentation(s) with another student(s) and you do it very well.  I can tell you read the material, you are prepared, and you can articulate the primary points of the article.
• You may earn up to 15 points of extra credit (in addition to the possible 50 points for the actual report) for a well-developed class presentation, since you are, after all, participating in the life and community of ideas of other students and of the class.
• You can earn up to 20 points of extra credit if you work with me to develop and write your essay or essays.
• You can earn up to 20 points of extra credit if we have any voluntary and informal essay-writing sessions during the semester when I meet with a number of students (at least six students) and you attend.  And, then follow that up with an essay that earns you 70 points.  The two go together: you do not get any credit for attending a session or sessions if it does not result in a 70-point essay.
• You meet with me to discuss materials that will be on a test or a quiz.
• Everybody in the class will receive 40 points for class participation even if they never engage in any of these activities.  For more points, follow the guidelines in this Class Participation section.