Sociology 1301: Introduction to Sociology

Instructor: Alfred C. Maldonado, Ph.D.

BASIC INFORMATION:

• Synonym: 03640, Section: 015
• Instructional Mode: Lecture, Blackboard, Exams, Quizzes, Essays, Email, Class Discussions.
• 11-Week Course: May 28, 2003-August 11, 2003
• Class Meets Where & When?  Classroom 2120, Monday & Wednesday, 6:00pm-7:50pm
• Office Location & Hours?  NRG 2111, Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:00pm-5:50pm.
• Appointments by mutual agreement.
• Primary Phone: (Home) 512-837-2935.  You can leave a message.
• Phone Only During Office Hours: 512-223-4828 or 223-4827.
• Fax: 512-837-2935                                                                                            
• Email: alfredcm@austin.rr.com   A working email account is required for this class.
• Web: http://alfredcmaldonado0.tripod.com/acm/
• BlackBoard: http://acconline.austincc.edu/?bbatt=Y  Access to and proficiency in Blackboard required.
• Getting Started With Blackboard: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/student/default.htm
• Blackboard FAQs: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/student/stfaq.htm

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, and high self-esteem.

• 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 application to societys institutions.
• The Essay as the articulation of integrated Sociological knowledge.
• Historical contexts for sociocultural order and change through historical eras.
• Public presentation of Sociological knowledge and research.
• Less provincialism, parochialism, rote learning, common sense, and passive note-taking. 
• Recruiting students to the discipline of Sociology.

3.  Sociology, A Social Science Based on the Scientific Method:  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.  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.  IMPORTANT: 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 comparatively 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, 6^th Edition.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.  Alfred C. Maldonado, Readings in Sociology.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Printing, 2002.  Required Texts are purchased as one package.  Package includes free Study Guide.

2.  Attendance Policy:

• How many unexcused absences (cuts) are permitted in this class without penalty?  THREE. 
• What is the 4^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: Tuesday, July 29, 2003.
• What if the 4^th cut occurs after the last day to drop the course with a W?  The student remains on the class roll, receiving a grade based on the total points she or he earns for the entire semester. 
• If you miss class because of an unexcused absence, please try asking one of your classmate if they want to lend you their notes.  You are responsible for all materials, announcements, assignments, and changes, whether you are there or not.  And yes, you did miss something important.

3.  Excused Absences.  Remember: if you cannot satisfactorily document an absence 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 you missed.  Written excuses from family, spouse, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, and lawyers are not acceptable. 

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, etc.) 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 so many really awful, amateurish, unimaginative excuses.  SUGGESTION:  Save your three 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 and accepted by me.

6.  Persistent Tardiness.  You may be counted absent if, in my opinion, you are persistently tardy (more than three times per semester), come to class late, and disrupt my lectures.  Understand that coming in late disrupts the class, including me.  I have to stop the lecture to see who it is while you look for a seat.  A student who leaves during class and does not return to class will be counted absent.  Students who come to class persistently late may have 10 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.  Persistent tardiness is a sign of disrespect and is disruptive of the class.

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

8.  Incompletes:  Rarely given.  The criteria used to assess student requests for grades of 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 his or her cell phone or beeper.  Thereafter, each time the cell phone interrupts my class, ten 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. 

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

1.  Students Attendance extra credit:

1.  NO unexcused absences or cuts.80 Extra Points of Credit.

2.  ONE unexcused absence or cuts60 Extra Points of Credit.

2.  Presentation of Reader articles:  Up to 50 extra points er Two-student group for 30 minutes.  There are about 12 articles available from the Reader.  Why not volunteer to make a 30 minute report as part of a two-student group?  Reader Articles will receive priority over other non-Reader articles.  See Course Documents in Blackboard for documentation on Presentations Grading Criteria.  Each presenter is evaluated individually on the presentation.  Only group presentations are permitted, unless there is class time for individual presentations. 

3.  Presentations of Non-Reader articles:  Up to 50 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 own favorite social science book or work not on my list.  Subject to my approval, a group could make a presentation on that work. 

4.  You may write more than just one or two Essays during the semester.  You can do 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.  Six Quizzes (one chapter, 30 points; multiple choice) for a total of 180 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.

Quiz 2: Chapter 6, Deviance.

Quiz 3: Chapter 7, Sexuality.

Quiz 4: Chapter 9, Global Stratification.

Quiz 5: Chapter 12, Economics and Politics.

Quiz 6: Chapter 16, Social Change.

6.  Extra credit activities deadline:  Wednesday, July 23, 2003.

7.  Instructor-awarded extra credit:  I may reward a student with any number of extra credit points.  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.

7a.  However, please note.  After a student is exempt from the Final Exam and/ other assignments, the student will LOSE 15 points per unexcused absence if she or he cuts class(es) after being granted the exception and will have to take the Quizzes and/or Final.

8.  Exemption from the Final Exam, other assignments:  I may exempt a student from the Final Exam without penalty of loss of points or loss of grade, subject to 7a just above.  Exemption from the final may include extra credit points 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. 

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: 65 multiple-choice questions: 130 points.  Essay(s) optional.

·         Major Exam 4 is Class Participation: 130 points

·         Two Quizzes: 060 Points

• Total Points:  620 Points

2.  Course Point Total and Letter Grades Categories:

• A =558-620  Points  (90%--100%)
• B =496-557  Points  (80%---89%)
• C =434-495  Points  (70%---79%)
• D =372-433Points  (60%---69%)
• F =371 or fewer Points.  (59% or lower)

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 will have to find the 70-140 points elsewhere from among the extra credit opportunities. 

4.  Writing the Essay.  Essays must be between 5.5 to 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 spaced, and with the font not larger than 12.  The essays may be submitted electronically as an email or Word or WordPerfect document.  Articulation, continuity, coherence, integration, and command of the materials and facts count, as does style and expression of sociological information.  Submitted draft essays must be complete and must be at least five pages in length.  70-Point Essays and  35-Point Essays: What is the difference?

• 70-Point Essay.  Students who submit a timely full (at least five pages) draft of an essay question and make the required revisions are the ones who will earn the 70 points.  A timely full draft means 48 hours before the examination date, unless I change the submission deadline. 
• 35 Point Essay.  However, it is not a requirement that you submit a full draft.  You can just hand in an essay on Exam day, without any input from me or without 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 from me.  Very few students at this level can hand in a well-written college-level essay without instructor feedback, assistance, and review.

CALENDAR for SUMMER SESSION 2003:

Wednesday, June 4, 2003: Quiz 1 (Chapter 5: Groups &Organizations).

Monday, June 16, 2003: Quiz 2 (Chapter 6: Deviance).

EXAM 1:

Monday, June 16, 2003, 6:00pm: essay draft deadline.

Wednesday, June 18, 2003: Exam 1.  Total: 150 points:

Wednesday, June 18, 2003: 70-pint Essay due.

80 Points-40 multiple-choice questions from:

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

Wednesday, July 2, 2003: Quiz 3 (Chapter 7: Sexuality).

Wednesday, July 14, 2003: Quiz 4 (Chapter 9: Global Stratification).

EXAM 2:

Friday, July 18, 2003, 6:00pm: essay draft deadline

Monday, July 21, 2003:Exam 2.  Total: 150 points.

Monday, July 21, 2003: 70-point optional essay due.

80 Points-40 Questions from:

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

Wednesday, July 23, 2003:  Last Day for extra credit activities.

Monday, July 28, 2003: Quiz 5 (Chapter 12: Economics & Politics).

Tuesday, July 29, 2003:  Last day to drop the class with a W (Withdrew).

Wednesday, August 06, 2003: Quiz 6 (Chapter 16: Social Change).

EXAM 3 (FINAL EXAM):

Friday, August 08, 6:00pm: optional essay draft due.

Monday, August 11, 2003: Exam 3.  Total: 150 points.

Monday, August 11, 2003: 70-point optional essay due.

130 Points-65 Multiple-choice Questions from:

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

EXAM 4 (CLASS PARTICIPATION)=130 points.  (Semester-Long Process)  Class participation is the point equivalent of a major exam of 130 points.  I strongly encourage productive class participation that moves the class discussions forward and makes the classes more academically 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.  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, are prepared, and can articulate the primary points of the article.
• You may earn up to 15 points of extra credit (in addition to the 50 for the actual report) for a well-developed class presentation, since you are, after all, participating in the life and community of ideas and of the c