Download Course Syllabus Spring 2013 Soc 101 Introduction

HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring Semester 2013
SOCI-101/ 7863922/Introduction to Sociology
(3 Semester Hours)
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL:
OFFICE HOURS:
CLASSROOM:
CLASS TIME/DAYS:
Dr. Johnnie O’Tang,
Instructor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Adjunct Faculty Office...Main Campus
(410) 722-4800
[email protected]
After class or by Appointment Only
N-102
Fridays: 9:00 am to 11:50 am.
Course Description
Through this introduction to Sociology, the student will develop an understanding of the basic
concepts of Sociology including culture, socialization, social stratification and social change and
be able to apply these concepts to social problems and everyday life experiences. Students will
be exposed to sociological information and ideas which will help them understand and clarify
their own norms, values, and attitudes. Prerequisite: Eligible to enroll in ENGL-121. (3 hours
weekly)
A liberal education prepares students to lead ethical, productive, and creative lives and to
understand how the pursuit of lifelong learning and critical thinking fosters good citizenship.
General education courses form the core of a liberal education within the higher education
curriculum and provide a coherent intellectual experience for all students by introducing the
fundamental concepts and methods of inquiry in the areas of mathematics, the physical and
natural sciences, the social sciences, the arts and the humanities, and composition. This course is
part of the general education core experience at Howard Community College.
This is a writing intensive course that strengthens students' abilities to express his/her self in
writing: at least 60% of the final grade will be based on writing, both formal and informal, and a
total of at least 2,500 words of formal, graded writing is required.
Overall Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Define the sociological imagination and critically apply it to an analysis of his/her everyday
life experiences, and to contemporary social issues.
2. Identify the major analytical frameworks and theoretical perspectives in sociology, and
describe their differences in levels of analysis and explanatory assumptions.
3. Differentiate the major sociological research designs and correctly identify key components
of the scientific model as it used by sociologists.
4. Examine the essential components of the concept "culture" through cross-cultural and global
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comparisons, and sociologically analyze the increasingly multi-cultural character of
American society.
5. Identify the components of social structure, especially the concepts of status and role, and
explain how social structure shapes human belief and behavior.
6. Identify key structural agents of socialization and analyze the process by which humans
become socialized by these agents throughout the life cycle.
7. Explain human consciousness and behavior as a product of social interaction in the socially
structured contexts of peoples lived experiences.
8. Identify and/or describe the major dimensions of social stratification—including social
class, racial and ethnic, as well as gender inequalities—and be able to critically evaluate
structured inequalities on peoples life chances in American society.
9. Examine key social institutions—economy, polity, family, religion, etc.—from a
sociological perspective.
10. Demonstrate active listening and physical speaking skills by objectively restating material,
which has been verbally transmitted, through the effective use of appropriate language and
in a manner that is effectively understood by the receiver(s).
11. Effectively deliver a formal oral presentation in front of a group that communicates an
abstract or concrete idea in sociology so that the receiver(s) clearly perceives the intended
message.
12. Demonstrate active listening skills by objectively restating, in his/her own words, material
which has been verbally transmitted.
13. Demonstrate the physical ability to speak effectively so that the receiver(s) can understand.
This will include diction, pronunciation, enunciation, pace, pitch, and volume.
14. Communicate an abstract or concrete idea so that the receiver(s) clearly perceives the
intended message.
15. Effectively deliver a formal oral presentation in front of a group.
16. Demonstrate the ability to communicate using appropriate language.
Instructional Materials:
Ferris, Kerry and Stein, Jill. The Real World; Intro. to Sociology 3rd edition. W.W. Northern &
Company, Inc. 500 fifth Ave, New York, NY 10110.
Major Topics Covered
I. The Sociological Imagination
II. Theory and Research in Sociology
III. Culture, Social Structure, Socialization and Control
IV. Inequalities
V. Social Institutions
VI. Social Dynamics
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Course Requirements
The course will be conducted with a series of class lectures and class discussions where student
participation will be encouraged. Supplemental materials (audio, video, readings, etc.) will be
introduced to reinforce text readings. Grading procedures will be determined by the individual faculty
member, but will include the following:
• Tests
• Quizzes
• Writing Assignments
• Oral Presentations
Writing:
This course will meet the requirements for a writing intensive course. As such, sixty (60%) of the
grade will be based on the evaluation of a student’s written work.
Oral
This course will contribute 7.5 hours toward meeting the required 15 hours of instruction in oral
communications. As such, 7.5 hours of instruction will be dedicated to fulfilling the oral
communications objectives, with the student grades being based in part on the demonstration of
oral communication skills.
Other Course information
1. This course meets college definition for a social science general education core course.
2. This course meets college definition for a writing intensive course.
3. This course meets the Diversity Requirements for Career Programs.
4. This course meets the Oral Communications requirement.
Student Responsibilities
Each student will be given a course syllabus. PLEASE keep your syllabus handy and bring it to each
class session. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE INFORMATION THAT IS
CONTAINED IN AND ATTACHED TO THIS SYLLABUS.
Class Participation:
Class participation is required. Class participation includes meaningful discussion of assigned text
chapters and other required readings. Meaningful discussion refers to providing input that clearly
indicates that you have read the material and have some knowledge of it. Talking without knowledge
or focus and guessing at responses to questions does not reflect meaningful discussion. In order to get
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full credit for class participation, you should engage in meaningful discussion relevant to the course.
Class participation may include in-group and individual in-class assignments as well as engaging in
discussions on current events. All assigned reading must be completed prior to in-class lectures. This
would familiarize students with new concepts, terminologies, etc. Student will forfeit class
participation points with 2 or more absences……bonus ONLY (10 points).
Attendance:
You are expected to attend all classes on time. Class attendance is essential because you will get
more out of the class and the instructor can more effectively help you in areas that you need to
improve. Furthermore, you are required to participate in class discussions, as they are an integral part
of this course. Roll call will be taken at the beginning of each class session by the professor. Only one
absence is allowed without penalty.
Late Arrivals:
You are expected to be punctual so as to avoid disturbing other classmates. If you are late to class,
take your seat as quietly as possible so that other class members will not be disturbed. If you are
tardy more than twice, each subsequent instance of tardiness will be considered an absence. Make
sure that I record your attendance on that day if you arrive after roll call. Adjustments to attendance
records will not be made for previous class days.
Early Departures:
If you must leave class early for an appointment, etc., please inform me before class. It is not
acceptable for you to get up and leave class on a whim. Should that happen, you will be marked
absent for the day.
Classroom Behavior:
While in my class, I expect adult, college-level behavior. I will NOT tolerate immature, disruptive
behavior. Disruptive behavior includes unauthorized talking, moving about in the classroom and
antisocial, aggressive behavior. Please, resist the temptation of bringing your Significant Other (your
friend, spouse, children etc.) to class without prior approval). Pagers and cell phones are not allowed
to be on when class is in session. Please read the College Policy on Disruptive Student Behavior.
Academic Integrity Policy
Howard Community College holds its students to high standards of academic integrity and will not
tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception. Such acts of intellectual dishonesty
include, but are not limited to, cheating or copying, fabricating data or citations, stealing
examinations, unauthorized use of instructor editions of textbooks, taking an exam for another,
tampering with the academic work of another student, submitting another’s work as yours own,
facilitating other student’s acts of academic dishonesty, using Internet sources without citation, or any
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other form of plagiarism. For more details on Howard Community College Academic Integrity
Policy, please contact your Campus Academics Office.
Points Distribution:
Quiz (1)………………………………………40 points ( Open book and notes)
Article Review (2) …………………………. 50 points (25 points each)
*Group Presentation (Oral) …………………50 points
Pop quizzes (2) ……………………………. 30 points (15 points each) “No Make-up”
Research Paper/Essay …………………….. 100 points
Midterm Exam …………………………… .100 points
Final Exam ………………………………... 100 points
Total
470 points
*Students will not be allowed to participate in the group presentation in “Absentia.”
Oral Presentation (50 POINTS):
Students will be expected to work in small teams or groups to provide a 30 to 40 minutes class
presentation regarding a specific sociological phenomenon. The presentation should provide recent
empirical information that is available regarding the sociological concept assigned.
At the time of the presentation, the students will provide for fellow students a detailed outline of their
presentation which identifies the main points to be communicated, as well as a bibliography of the
resources/articles used. Students on each team are strongly encouraged to work together to obtain
relevant information, prepare handouts, and develop the readiness to present fully in class. The
presentation, outline, and handouts should be presented in a well organized fashion. Grading criteria
for the presentation is provided below. Presentation topics will be announced and assigned to each
group on the first day of class.
Grading Criteria for Oral (Group) Presentation:
Content ………………………….. 25 points
Presentation style ……………….. 20 points
Outline/Handouts………………... 5 points
Final Score……………….………50 points
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P.S. Please confer with the instructor if there are questions. In addition, ONLY one Score will be
awarded to each group and not to individual members of the group.
Grade Distribution:
Points
Percentage
470 - 400 =A
90%-100%
399 – 330 =B
80%-89%
329 – 260 =C
70%-79%
259 – 190 =D
60%-69%
189 and below =F
50%-59%
Weekly Schedule of Assignments
DATE
Week 1
2/1
Week 2
2/8
Week 3
2/15
Week 4
2/22
Week 5
3/1
MATERIAL COVERED
Introductions
Pop quiz # 1
Chapter 1: Sociology and the Real World
Chapter 2: Studying Social Life: Sociological Research Methods
Research Topics Issued
Chapter 3: Cultural Crossroads
Chapter 4: The Self and Interaction
Quiz # 1 ...Chapters 1-3
Chapter 5: Separate and Together: Life in Groups
Article Review # 1 Due at beginning of class
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Week 6
3/8
Week 7
3/15
Week 8
3/22
Week 9
3/30 – 4/5
Week 10
4/12
Week 11
4/19
Week 12
4/26
Week 13
5/3
Week 14
5/10
Week 15
5/11-17
Chapter 6: Deviance
Chapter 7: Social Class: The Structure of Inequality
Chapter 8: Race and Ethnicity as Lived Experience
(Research Paper Due 3/015/13)
Midterm Exam Chapters 1-8
Spring Break………….College Closed
Chapter 9: Constructing Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 10: The Macro-Micro Link in Social Institutions: Politics,
Education, and Religion
Chapters for Group Presentations ONLY
Chapter 11: The Economy, Work, and Working Group 1
Chapter 12: Life at Home…Group 2
Chapter 13: Recreation and Leisure in Everyday Life Group 3
Group Presentations
Chapter 14: Health and Illness Group 4
Article Review # 2 Due using Chapter 15
Chapter 16/ Review for Final Exam
Chapters for the Final TBA
Final Exam Only As Scheduled by the College Without Exception
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