Principles of SociologySOC 231- Internet/ Web-based Fall 2018

Number of Credits: 3

Days Class Meets: Online

Meeting Times: N/A

Location: Online

Instructor: Aisha Coulson-Walters, LMSW

Office: Remote

Contact Phone: 269-358-8760

Contact Email: coulsonaisha@jccmi.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday’s 9-11 AM; Remote

Online: Jetnet

Course DescriptionWhat is Sociology:This course is an introduction to sociology, the systematic study of human behavior and social interaction. This discipline and its contributions to understanding the fundamental processes of social interaction. Includes the development of self, socialization, process, groups and social structure. This is an applied course; therefore, we will analyze sociological theory and perspectives through current events and social issues occurring today. These issues will be explored the lens of race, class and gender. You will be asked to apply critical thinking in the assessment of these social issues. Prerequisite(s) ENG 085 and ENG 090

Course Goals and ObjectivesUpon the completion of this course students will be able to:

Recognize the major schools of sociological theory, the associating theorist and its

societal impact.

Examine how sociological principles can be applied to all social interactions and social

issues by using appropriate critical thinking techniques.

Comprehend the use of information, including written, oral and electronic forms.

Identify and analyze the causes, conditions, mechanisms and consequences for

deviance and social change.

Understand and apply core sociological theories and their perspectives as it relates to

human behavior.

Demonstrate an understanding between individual and group dynamics, their values and

traditions across groups within the United States.

TextbookSociology in Our Times, Kendall, Diane. Wadsworth,11th Edition, 2018

Available in: Bound Book, Digital, eBook, Rental

Text Book Zero! This text is available in a digital format. Please see the links posted on our class Jet Net site or go to https://www.cengage.com/c/sociology-in-our-times-the-essentials-11e-kendall. This text is available to rent or purchase in digital format through the JC Bookstore.

Methodology/ Grading Procedures Review the weekly course assignments

Review lecture notes (if applicable)

Participate in weekly discussion forums

Complete assigned weekly quizzes (if applicable)

Complete all other assignment (s)

Grading Scale

GPA POINTS GRADE RANGE

4.0 1000-930 94-100%

3.5 929-900 89-93%

3.0 899-870 84-88%

2.5 869-830 78-83%

2.0 769-730 72-77%

1.5 729-700 66-71%

1.0 669-600 60-65%

0.0 599-0 0-54%

FailureAny circumstances under which a student could be dismissed from or failed in the course that is not

covered in other college publications. In pass/fail courses, a listing of minimal competencies.

Academic Honesty PolicyAcademic Honesty is defined as ethical behavior that includes student production of their own work and

not representing others' work as their own, by cheating or by helping others to do so.

Plagiarism is defined as the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

Submitting other's work as your own

Using data, illustrations, pictures, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without

adequate documentation

Reusing significant, identical or nearly identical portions of one’s own prior work without

acknowledging that one is doing so or without citing this original work (self-plagiarism)

Cheating is defined as obtaining answers/material from an outside source without authorization. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

Plagiarizing in any form

Using notes/books/electronic material without authorization

Copying

Submitting others' work as your own or submitting your work for others

Altering graded work

Falsifying data

Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical

Allowing your work to be submitted by others

Course ManagementYOU ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COURSE EACH WEEK

Time management is crucial to be successful in this course, therefore keep this in mind:

Regular engagement in the course, reading course content and completing assignments is

strongly correlated with survival in not only college but this course.

1. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, WHICH INCLUDES QUIZZES. Course readings – Students are expected to complete all required course assignments.

Students are accountable for ALL assigned material not covered through assignments, or video content, which may appear and be reflected on in quizzes, assignments or the final exam.

Respectful interactions – Students are expected to respond in a respectful manner that honors differences when interacting with the instructor and classmates whether in class or on online platforms (e.g. active listening in class, use of non-discriminatory language, use of constructive debate and feedback, appropriate and professional use of email).

Timely completion of written assignments – Students are expected to complete written assignments in a timely manner. Late assignments will only be accepted with prior approval from the instructor.

Ways that students can manage their enrollment in a course for special circumstances. Includes

withdrawal, and audit and incomplete grading procedures.

Makeup PolicyCourse material will be accepted on a limited and case by case basis.

HelpAvailable learning services or opportunities for students seeking help with their course work. May include

information about tutors, learning centers, reserved library materials, open labs, counseling services. It is

important to contact a Center for Student Success professional prior to the start of the semester in order

to receive accommodations in a timely manner. While we will make every effort to coordinate

accommodations in a timely manner, failure to self-identify prior to the start of the semester may delay

notification to instructors and timeliness of acquiring accommodations. Accommodations do not

automatically carry over to the next semester.

https://www.jccmi.edu/center-for-student-success/accommodations-for-students-with-disabilities/

Student ResponsibilitiesClass participation and contribution are essential to be successful in this course. You should read all

assigned materials and view all videos. Not all material is included in the discussions, but they are used

throughout the course for a variety of activities.

Given the asynchronous format of online instruction, students can take part in the class at multiple

times during each weekly module. It is recommended that student’s login to this course at minimum

3-4 times per week in order to stay up-to-date with assignments.

During each week, it is the responsibility for each student to participate in discussion forums, reading

materials, weekly assessments (quizzes) and all course assignments.

All work should be submitted through the course site as a permanent record. Assignments should be done in Word, in APA format. Assignments should be submitted on time. No late work is accepted without prior approval, if approved will be accepted at a 10% reduction in value for each week late. No late work will be accepted after week 10.

Attendance PolicyIn compliance with Federal Title IV funding requirements, as well as college initiatives, reporting of

student participation in classes will occur at three designated times each semester. Instructors will assign

one of three non-transcripted letter symbols to each student during each reporting period (see below).

Students identified as no longer participating will be dropped or administratively withdrawn from the class,

and students identified as needing academic assistance will be contacted.

Participation/Progress Symbols

H – The student is not doing acceptable work and needs Help to be successful.

Q – The student has not participated, and the instructor believes they have unofficially withdrawn

(Quit). These students will be dropped/withdrawn from the class.

V – The instructor Verifies that the student is participating and doing acceptable work.

CaveatStudent/ Instructor contract and classroom guidelines

The instructor can change the schedule/format of the course at any time to assist the learning involvement.

I am here to support your educational development. Please seek me out if you need further clarification and/or need to meet to discuss your individual learning objectives.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with concerns to avoid end of term problems. The instructor reserves the right to manage a positive learning environment whether

online or in person. Therefore, I will not accept inappropriate conduct within this course.

Assignments Assignment Description/Total Points

Weekly Class Quizzes- There will be a total of

(4) quizzes conducted during the semester. To

receive full credit for the quiz you must be in

class on time. If you are late you will only be

given partial credit. Each quiz is worth 25 PTS

Week of Quiz- 100 PTSOct 8th - Oct 14th, 2018 Quiz #1 = 25pts

Oct 22nd – Oct 28th, 2018 Quiz #2 = 25pts

Nov 12th- Nov 18th, 2018 Quiz #3= 25pts

Nov 26th – Dec 2nd, 2018 Quiz #4 =25pts

Class Participation/ Attendance and Discussion Assignments

Weekly Class Participation/ Discussion Forums- 600 PTS

Sociological Paper- Full Description Below November 11th, 2018 by 11:59 PM-200 PTS

Final Examination- Comprehensive DUE December 20th by 11:59 PM- 100 PTS

Sociological Paper AssignmentThis is an Application Paper, where you are asked to connect and apply your understanding of the

documentary “Slavery By Another Name”, to sociological concepts and principles found within your text

paper in addition to outside resources. . This paper should be between 4-6 pages excluding the Title and

work cited paper. Your works cited page must be in APA formate. I am asking that you respond to the

following questions: 1) What is the 13th Amendment and how might it have contributed to the modern day

Criminal Justice System (CJS)?; 2) How does this documentary demonstrate how the systems of

peonage, abject slavery, tenant farming and share cropping may have contributed to the illegal

imprisonment of African Americans specifically those living in the South?; From the Conflict Perspective,

how did the system of convict leasing contribute to the growing economic development of the United

States specifically in the southern region of the country? This paper is worth 200 PTS. Below is the rubric that will be used to grade this assigment.

Course Calendar at a GlanceWeek Topic Required Reading Assignments/Activities

Sept 24th Introductions Chapter 1: The

Sociological Perspective

and Research

Read Chapter

What is the Sociological Imagination-

Discussion Forum- 100 PTS DUE September 30th by 11:59 PM

Oct 1st What is the

Culture Thing?

Chapter 2: Culture Read Chapter

Watch Cultural Genocide Video

Discussion Forum- 100 PTSDUE October 7th by 11:59 PM

Oct 8th Impact of

Socialization

Chapter 3: Socialization Read Chapter

Watch Feral Children Video

Discussion Forum- 100 PTSQuiz #1- 25 PTSDUE October 14th by 11:59 PM

Oct 15th Understanding

Social Structure

Chapter 4: Social Structure

and Interaction

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

DUE October 21st by 11:59 PM

Oct 22nd Groups and

Organizations

Chapter 5: Groups and

Organizations

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Quiz #2- 25 PTSDUE October 28th by 11:59 PM

Oct 29th Assessing

Deviant Behavior

Chapter 6: Deviance Read Chapter

Watch “Slavery by Another Name” for

Sociological Paper

Discussion Forum- 100 PTSDue Nov 4th by 11:59 PM

Nov 5th Understanding

Social Class

Chapter 7: Class and

Stratification in the US

Read Chapter

Watch Video on Social Class

Sociological Paper Due- 200 PTS

Week Topic Required Reading Assignments/Activities

DUE November 11th by 11:59 PM

Nov 12th Is Race Real? Chapter 9: Race Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Discussion Forum- 100 PTSQuiz #3 – 25 PTSDUE November 18th by 11:59 PM

Nov 19th What does it

Mean to be a

Feminist?

Chapter 10: Sex, Gender

and Sexuality

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Nov 26th Our

Relationships

Chapters 10 & 11- Sex,

Gender and Sexuality

Families and Intimate

Relationships

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Quiz #4- 25 PTSDUE December 2nd by 11:59 PM

Dec 3rd Our Education

System

Chapter 12.1: Education Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Discussion Forum- 50 PTSDUE December 9th by 11:59 PM

Dec 10th The Meaning of

Life

Chapter 12.2 Religion

(p.380-397)

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Discussion Forum- 50 PTSDUE December 16th by 11:59 PM

Dec 17th Health and

Society

Chapter 14: Health, Health

Care and Disabilities

Read Chapter

Watch assigned Videos

Final Exam- 100 PTSDUE December 20th by 11:59 PM

Important Dates: Fall 2018

DATE EVENT

SEPT. 24, 2018 FIRST DAY OF CLASS

SEPT. 4 – DEC. 20, 2018 SEMESTER DATES

SEPT. 18, 2018 IN-SERVICE DAY. NO CLASSES

OCT. 5, 2018 PATHWAY SHOWCASES DAY. NO CLASSES

NOV. 21 – 25, 2018 THANKSGIVING BREAK. NO CLASSES

DEC. 20, 2018 END OF FALL SEMESTER

Dec. 22, 2018 Grades Due

Sociological Paper Grading RubricLEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT

Criteria Mastery Effective Competent Minimal Unacceptable

Theory/ Research Application Weight 70%

140 POINTS

Submission demonstrates a full understanding of the sociological topic and masterfully connects ideas to sociological concepts with appropriate analysis.

119 POINTS

Submission demonstrates a general understanding of the sociological topic and effectively connects ideas to sociological concepts with appropriate analysis.

98 POINTS

Demonstrates some understanding of the associated learning objectives presented in assignment.

84 POINTS

Submission demonstrates a minimal understanding of the sociological topic and minimally connects ideas to sociological concepts with appropriate analysis

0 POINTS

Submission does not demonstrate an understanding of the sociological topic and fails to connect ideas to sociological concepts with appropriate analysis

Mechanics and Readability Weight 15%

30 POINTS

Writing demonstrates mastery of all criteria. Assignment is clear and understandable. The assignment is free of punctuation or other grammatical errors.

25.5 POINTS

Writing demonstrates mastery of academic literacy standards. The assignment is clear and understandable. Writing contains only minimal punctuation errors

21 POINTS

Writing is unclear and/or disorganized in some areas of literacy standards. several grammatical errors but does not interfere with readability.

18 POINTS

Writing is unclear and/or disorganized in most areas. Assignment contains serious grammatical errors.

0 POINTS

Writing is unclear and/or disorganized. Writing displays frequent grammatical errors.

Structure, Organization, Format, AND Presentation Weight 15%

30 POINTS

Submission follows directions and includes most components indicated in the instructions. References are included and cited appropriately

25.5 POINTSSubmission follows directions and includes most components indicated in the instructions. Few formatting errors are present.

21 POINTS

Submission does not follow all directions and is missing some components indicated in the instructions.

18 POINTS

Submission follows minimal directions and is missing many components indicated in the instructions.

0 POINTS

Submission is not appropriate for assignment. Directions are not followed. Thoughts expressed do not incorporate critical thinking.

Discussion Forum Grading Rubric

QUALITY OF DISCUSSION POST

CRITERIA MISSING OR SERIOUS PROBLEMS

BELOW EXPECTATIONS

MEETS EXPECTATIONS

EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

EXEMPLARY

INITIAL RESPONSE Relevance to discussion topic

Total=30 PTS

0 PTSContributions are off-topic or distract class from discussion.

18 POINTSContributions are sometimes off-topic or incomplete.

11 POINTSContributions are relevant.

25.5 POINTSContributions are relevant and encourage others to engage.

30 POINTSContributions are relevant and promote in-depth analysis of material.

INITIAL 0 POINTS 9 POINTS 10.5 POINTS 12.75 POINTS 14 POINTS

RESPONSE Originality and references

TOTAL=14 PTS

No response submitted.

Responses are not original OR do not include references to course material to support points made.

Responses are original and include at least one reference to course material.

Responses are original and well thought out and include references from the course material. These materials are integrated into the response to display advanced learning.

Responses are original and well thought out and include references to material beyond what is provided in the course. This material is integrated into the response to display mastery learning.

RESPONSES TO OTHERSTOTAL= 25 PTS

0 POINTSNo response to others are evident.

15 POINTSResponds to only one student’s initial post.

17.5 POINTSResponses to two students’ initial posts. Responses not well developed and/or do not include both questions and comments.

21.25 POINTSResponses to two students’ initial posts are well thought out and replies to your own post are developed with questions and comments.

25 POINTSWell-developed, engaging responses that reply to more than two student answers and reply to student responses to your own post.

MECHANICS

Missing or Serious Problems Below Expectations Meets Expectations

Grammar and Style

TOTAL= 15 PTS

0 PTSResponse is not submitted.

9 POINTSResponse needs additional work to meet academic standards and include APA formatting.

15 POINTSWell-developed, professional message using APA formatting and in-text citations.

Frequency TOTAL= 10 PTS

0 PTSStudent did not post or respond.

6 POINTSStudent failed to respond to a peer on a discussion post but otherwise answered discussion question.

10 POINTSStudent responded to the discussion question and responded to a peer in a timely manner.