Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Student Course Syllabus
Fall 2012
Course Prefix and Number: SOC 135-91
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Online
Introduction:
The online version of a course requires students to take a more proactive approach to their
learning. Keeping up with the course is the responsibility of the student as teachers are not there
to remind them to complete work or take exams. Please be prepared to accept these changes and
willing to accommodate time based on the amount of work each week. An example of the
importance of balancing time and work is during exam weeks in which you will need to study for
the exam, take the exam and complete the next week’s material. The course is regimented so
please take the necessary measure to keep up.
This course is a sociology of the institution of the family, including marriage. The goal of the
course is to explain why family structures vary, rather than to suggest strategies which produce
"good families". The reasons why families vary from what we commonly call "good" to "bad"
largely lie outside families proper, i.e., its relations to the economy, education, police, etc. We
use an interdisciplinary perspective drawn from sociology, anthropology, history and economics
in an effort to explain varieties of families. A critical task of the course is to show, through
comparative analysis of family structures, the relationship between the family and other societal
institutions.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name:
Contact information:
Doug Dowell
268-8591 email:
doug.dowell@heartland.edu
Location of instructor’s office:
ICB 2105
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours: M: 8:30 – 10:00
T: 8:30 – 9:15
W: 8:30 – 10:30
R: 8:30 – 9:15
Catalog Description:
The sociological investigation of marriage and family, with particular attention to the impact of
social institutions on marriage and family structure, various marriage and family arrangements
and their consequences, interactions within marriage and family, abuse, divorce, and widowhood.
Textbook Required: Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change, (6th Ed),
Schwartz and Scott, ITP/Wadswoth
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
(Indicate if course is General Education/IAI)
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or
A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum
described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities
participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for
more information.
Beliefs: The aim of sociology is to increase our understanding of the social world in which we
live. This understanding is extremely important for life in our society - from interpersonal
interactions and dealing with institutions to making sense of environmental and global issues.
Academic Discipline: Disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty will follow the guidelines set
forth in the 2008-10 Heartland Community College catalog.
Student Learning:
Learning sociology involves understanding the connection between the social and personal, and
the applicability of sociological concepts theories and research finding’s to one’s own
experiences and observations. Emphasis on the relevance of course material to our lives in class
discussion, assignments and exams will greatly increase the student’s understanding of and the
ability to do sociology.
Instructor’s Role:
The instructor’s role in teaching sociology is to facilitate the learning experience by
providing information, elaboration, stimulating assignments, and challenging exams.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to accomplish the following
sociological objectives:
Outcomes
1. Identify differences within family systems that are due to historical era, diversity (cultural,
racial, sexual) and changing gender roles.
2. Utilize sociological theories to help understand and explain family relationships.
3. Identify and appraise the various issues that are problematic for marriage and family situations.
4. Identify and analyze family issues using appropriate methods and sources in order to gain an
understanding of the cause, influence, and outcome of said issue.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between family upbringing and influences
outside the family unit, and how these affect one’s sense of self.
6. Describe how marriage and family values are communicated and taught to new members of
society via socialization, social institutions, mass media, and culture.
7. Identify significant processes included in family life cycles.
8. Analyze the multitude of relationships that exist in various family structures or forms.
9. Explain the various ways in which family structures form, and are influenced by personal
experiences and social events.
The above sociological objectives will be accomplished while implementing the college’s
following general learning outcomes.
D2 – Students
consider the views of
others in light of those
CO2 – Students
effectively deliver a
message via various
CT2 – Students
determine value of
multiple sources or
PS2 – Student identifies
the type of problem and
uses a framework to
persons’ experiences
and particular
understandings.
channels/modalities.
strategies and select the
most appropriate in a
given context.
solve the problem.
Course Outline:
1. Marriage and family over time 2. Studying marriages and families 3. Gender
4. Love 5. Dating, coupling & mate selection 6. Sexuality and intimate relationships
7. Nonmarital lifestyles 8. Weddings 9. Parenting 10. Work and the family 11.
Power, abuse, and violence 12. Divorce 13. Remarriage and remarried families
Methods of Instruction:
You will find that there is a great deal of consistency in the course content from week to week. A
typical week will consist of the following
1. Students will be expected to read the chapter.
2. Handouts, notes or both will be provided for the chapter.
3. Brief writing assignments given
4. A brief 5-10 question quiz
5. A brief discussion board post.
6. Occasionally a YouTube video
7. Occasionally a lengthier writing assignment.
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
The grading scale is as follows:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B 70 – 79 = C 60 – 69 = D 00 – 59 = F
Expected Papers, Exams, and Other Assignments.
4 Tests
Weekly Quizzes
8-15 In-class
8-15 Disc board posts
1 Film Review
2 Writing Assign.
1 Final Exam
@ 100
@4-10
@ 04
@04
@ 30
@ 20
@ 100
400
60 - 150
32-60
32-60
30
40
100
Incompletes: An incomplete is only assigned in extreme cases. If an incomplete is needed a
student can make this request during my regularly schedule office hours or by appointment. The
student should be prepared to fully explain the reason why the incomplete is needed and also have
a schedule outlining the completion of the unfinished course work.
Extra Credit: Possible but not probable.
Make-up of tests and assignments: Make-up exams are only allowed under extreme situations
and you should contact the instructor as soon as the situation arises.
Deadlines: Due dates are set for a reason. Late work will not be accepted unless prior
accommodations with the instructor have been made.
General Information for Students
Testing Services (located in Student Commons Building 2001)
Testing Services provides a secure testing environment for students who are enrolled in online,
hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented disability; or need to take a makeup exam. Testing accommodations for students having documented disabilities must be arranged
by the student through Disability Support Services, and Testing Services will only administer
make-up exams at the request of the instructor. For more information, please call (309) 268-8050.
Services in Academic Support Center (Raab Road campus)
Library
The Library provides fast and free access to credible information from a full range of resources
including books, online journals, videos, newspapers, online music, class reserves, and
interlibrary loan. Individualize research by appointment or come in anytime. See the Library tab
in myHeartland, email library@heartland.edu or call (309) 268-8292 for details.
Tutoring Services
Tutoring Services provides tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students in Normal,
Pontiac, and Lincoln. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups
are also available by request. For more information about services available at each location,
please call (309) 268-8231 (Normal), (815) 842-6777 (Pontiac), or (217) 735-1731 (Lincoln).
Disability Support Services
Disability Support Services (DSS) ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to the
college’s programs, services and activities through the provision of reasonable accommodations
as mandated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DSS offers a wide range of services to support students with disabilities, including: assistive
technology, document conversion services, personnel, classroom and testing accommodations.
Students with a documented disability who wish to discuss academic accommodations should call
(309) 268-8259 for details.
Writing Services
Writing Services provides guidance for writers on assignment comprehension, critical thinking
and the stages of the writing process. Writing Services is staffed by English faculty with years of
experience in the teaching of writing. In every session, faculty work with writers to explore and
develop their own ideas as appropriate to the needs of their readers and to learn the rhetorical
strategies necessary for effective communication. For more information, please call (309) 2688231.
Counseling Services
The personal development counselor provides confidential and professional counseling for both
emergency and personal issues. Services also include referrals to local community resources. For
more information, please call (309) 268-8033.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning
cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification
of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or
administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in the college
catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were
your own.
Using another person’s project or another person’s work as if it were your own.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers. 7th ed. New York: MLA, 2009:51-61]
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism
may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or
expulsion from school in extreme cases.
Many plagiarism problems can be remedied by citing the sources of the original work.
When in doubt, cite the source according to the style your instructor directs. Usually this is APA
or MLA Style. Don’t be daunted by citing sources which are not books. You can cite everything,
including pamphlets, maps, cereal boxes, telephone conversations, movies, television shows,
Internet and world-wide web sites.
Syllabi disclaimer: This document is meant to be a guideline for student and class expectations.
There are certain aspects that will not be amended because they are policies of this institution.
However, the instructor holds the right to amend certain parts of this document at any time during
this semester in order to make certain that the class remains focused on its objectives and goals.
Course Calendar:
August 21-27
August 28 – Sept. 4
September 4-10
September 11-17
September 18-24
September 25-October 1
October 2-8
October 9-15
October 16-22
October 23-29
Chapter 1 Requirements
Chapter 2 Requirements
Chapter 3 Requirements
Chapter 4 Requirements Exam #1 over Chapters 1-4 available
September 12-20 in Testing Center
Chapter 5 Requirements
Chapter 6 Requirements
Chapter 7 Requirements Exam #2 over Chapters 5-7 available
October 3-11 in Testing Center
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
October 30-Nov. 5
November 6-12
November 13-19
November 20-26
November 27-Dec. 4
Chapter 11 Exam #3 over chapters 8-11 available October 31November 8 in Testing Center
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Thanksgiving Break – Additional study material online
Chapter 14 Exam #4 over chapters 12-14 available November 28
– December 6 in Testing Center