MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
KENDALL CAMPUS, Rm. 4206
Fall Term 2005-1
Multiethnic America
SYG 2230-308145-/3 Credits
M/W 8:30-9:45 P.M.
INSTRUCTOR:
DEPARMENT:
OFFICE HOURS:
TELEPHONE:
E-MAIL:
WEB PAGE:
Teresita Pedraza Moreno.
Social Science, Rm. 6206
M/W 2:50-5:00 P.M., T/R: 10:10-12:30 P.M.
T/R: 2:50-5:00 P.M.; F: 12:00-4:00 P.M.
(305) 237-2443
tpedraza@mdc.edu
http://faculty.mdc.edu/tpedraza/
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Martin N. Marger, Race and Ethnic Relations. American and Global Perspectives,
Sixth Edition.
Alejandro Portes and Rubén G. Rumbaut, Immigrant America. A Portrait, Second
Edition.
SUGGESTED READINGS:
Majority and Minority: The Dynamics of Race and Ethnicity in American Life, by
Norman R. Yetman. (Any edition)
The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, The Underclass, and Public Policy, by
William J. Wilson.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the theory and problems of minority groups in American society.
The focus of the course is on structural inequality, institutional discrimination, and the
changing patterns of prejudice and discrimination. The course is grounded in a sociological
perspective, however, learning about the historical, political, and economic context under
which patterns of ethnic and racial stratification emerged is an inevitable requirement.
COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Competency 1:
The Student will demonstrate knowledge of the nature of ethnicracial relations by:
a. contrasting the concepts of race and ethnicity.
b. describing the synthesis between race and ethnicity.
c. discussing the development and functions of the ideology of
racism.
d. establishing the relationship between class and ethnicity.
Competency 2:
The Student will demonstrate knowledge of systems of ethnic
stratification by:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
analyzing the relationship between power and inequality.
identifying the dimensions of stratification.
discussing the relationship between stratification and ideology.
analyzing the origins of ethnic stratification.
explaining why ethnic stratification systems are identified as
majority-minority, or dominant-subordinate systems.
f. listing and describing the patterns of contact between different
ethnic groups: conquest, annexation, voluntary immigration,
and involuntary immigration.
Competency 3:
The Student will demonstrate knowledge of how systems of ethnic
stratification persist by:
a. identifying techniques of dominance.
b. defining prejudice and explaining its relationship to
stereotypes.
c. establishing the difference between prejudice and
discrimination.
d. differentiating between individual and institutional
discrimination.
e. discussing the various theories of prejudice and discrimination.
Competency 4:
The Student will demonstrate knowledge of different
patterns of ethnic relations by:
a. describing and contrasting the dimensions of assimilation:
cultural, structural, biological, and psychological assimilation.
b. describing and contrasting the dimensions of pluralism.
c. discussing how the various forms of assimilation and/or
pluralism have characterized American ethnic relations at
different times.
d. comparing and contrasting the three main types of multiethnic
societies: colonial, corporate pluralistic, and assimilationist.
Competency 5:
The Student will demonstrate knowledge of America’s ethnic and
racial diversity and how different minority groups have been
incorporated into the American stratification system by:
a. identifying the political and/or economic policies that promote
or obstruct immigration to the United States.
b. describing patterns of immigrant settlement and spatial
concentration and mobility.
c. identifying ethnic and class factors in upward mobility.
d. classifying immigrant groups according to the type of capital
the first generation brings to the host society: occupational and
economic adaptation.
e. identifying ethnic and class factors in upward mobility.
f. discussing immigrant/ethnic politics historically.
g. comparing and contrasting the contemporary immigrant
experiences of White Ethnics, Haitians, Hispanics, and Asians
with those of previous immigrant/native groups and their
descendants: Native-Americans, Mexicans, Africans, Chinese,
Japanese and White Ethnics (Irish, Poles Slovaks, Jews,
Italians, etc.)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Exams: There will be three exams. Each exam is worth 100 points. The first and
the last exam will consist of a combination of MULTIPLE CHOICE and TRUE OR FALSE
questions, which will be extracted from the text and material covered during class lectures
and discussions. The exam is composed of 50 questions (25 True or False Questions and 25
Multiple Choice Questions), each question is worth 2 points. The midterm exam will be a
Take-Home Essay Exam. To log in your must follow these steps:
Go to the website: http://turnitin.com. On the right hand corner, you must click
create a user profile.
2.. Identify yourself as a student. Click Next.
3. Enter your class ID: 1331375 Password: 308148. Click Next
4. Enter your email address. Click Next.
5. Enter a password. Click Next.
6. Enter your name. Click Next.
7. Choose and answer a security question. Click Next.
8. Click on I agree.
9. Now you can upload your paper.
Exam Dates: The first exam is tentatively scheduled for Monday, September 26th.
The First exam will be Wednesday, October 12th, and the Final exam is scheduled by the
College Administration on Monday, December 12th, from 8:55 to 10:25 p.m.
Research Project and Essay “Artifact/Identity Memory: Worth 100 Points.
Students will conduct research on one of South Florida’s numerous ethnic subcultures. The
research must combine secondary sources (books, newspapers, magazine or web articles)
with information obtained through interviews with members of the community that is
investigated. Students may incorporate pictures, video, music, and/or other media or
artifacts in their class presentation. Essay: Each student is required to write a 2,000 word
essay based on the community research project. The essay, properly written in academic
format, including a bibliography or list of sources consulted is due on November 20, 2005.
No essays will be accepted after that date. The essay must be submitted through
TurnItin.com. Papers that the website identifies as plagiarized will received a grade of F.
(No points)
Papers that have less than the required 2,000 words will not be read, and will be
assigned a grade of F (No points). Papers that the website identifies as plagiarized will
received a grade of F. (No points)
GRADING POLICY, AND GRADING SCALE:
Final grade will be determined by obtaining the average of the sum of the
student’s highest grade from: the first or the second exam, plus the grade obtained on
the final exam, plus the grade earned from the research project/presentation/essay.
Example:
Exam 1 = 60 (Lowest Grade is Dropped)
Midterm = 78
Final
= 84
Essay = 78 SUM of Midterm + Final + Project-Essay = 240/ 3 = 80.
Final Course Grade 80 = B.
SCALE:
90-100 = A
89-80 = B
79-70= C
69-60= D
59-0 = F
MAKE UP POLICY:
Make-ups will be given only to those students who can bring a doctor's note
indicating the inability of the student to be present for the scheduled exam due to illness.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are responsible for signing the attendance roll every class as soon as they
enter the classroom. Final grade will not be affected by attendance. Students, however, are
responsible for all material covered in class regardless of their absence.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:
The classroom is a learning environment; talking and-or disruptions while the
lecture is being given or discussion is taking place is rude and inappropriate behavior. Those
who engage in distracting or disruptive behavior will not be allowed to attend class.
Cellular phones are to be silenced prior to entering the classroom. Students are required to
take notes and ask questions during class, inasmuch as they are responsible for all material
covered in the texts and the lectures.
INCOMPLETE GRADES:
Incomplete grades will be assigned at the instructor's discretion.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWING FROM THE COURSE.
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH A GRADE OF W: Nov. 1st.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF LECTURES
(Students are expected to complete the readings by the end of each week)
Week 1.
Week 2.
Week 3.
Week 4.
Marger, Chapter 1 and Portes and Rumbaut, Preface to the First Edition.
Marger, Chapter 2 and Portes and Rumbaut, Chapter 1-Introduction.
Marger, Chapter 3.
Marger, Chapter 4.
Week 5. EXAM I - Marger, Chapter 5,
Week 6. Portes and Rumbaut, Chapters 2, 3.
Week 7 Portes and Rumbaut, Chapter 4 Marger, Chapter 7 – Take Home
Week 8. Marger, Chapter 8.- MIDTERM EXAM IS DUE
Week 9. Marger, Chapters 9 and 10.
Week 10. Marger, Chapters 11 and 12.
Week 11. Portes and Rumbaut, Chapters 5 and 6.
Week 12. Portes and Rumbaut, Chapter 7 and Conclusion.
Week 13. Marger, Chapters 13 and 14.
Week 14. Marger, Chapters 15 and 16.
Week 15. Marger, Chapter 17.
Final Exam: Monday, December 12th.