Houston Community College: Southeast Campus
Department of Social Sciences
Sociology 1301
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Argo
CRN: 25354
CLASS DAY(S) & TIMES: MTTH – 8:00 am – 9:00 am
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2012
E-MAIL: Daniel.Argo@hccs.edu
PHONE: 713-718-2494
OFFICE HOURS: Available upon appointment
Required Text: John Macionis. Society: The Basics. 11th Edition
Course Descriptions and Goals
A survey course which focuses on the nature of human groups in American and
world societies, their social and cultural adaptations, and the impact which various
social processes may have on their social organization and social change. This class
represents a Core Curriculum Course. (HCC Catalog)
Students are expected to have accomplished the following goals by the end of the
semester:
1. Apply the three major perspectives in Sociology: Conflict Theory, Structural
Functionalism, and Symbolic Interactionism.
2. Identify the principles of the social science research process.
3. Evaluate the various aspects of stratification as they affect American society
and the world.
4. Evaluate the various aspects of the institutions of society as they affect
American society and the world.
Schedule of Topics
You should expect to cover a different set of topics each week. These will coincide
with the textbook. Each week will have a specific assignment due by the Saturday of
each week. The exams will cover at least two topics. The schedule will be posted
through the online classroom and be subject to change at my discretion. I will;
however, work to maintain the schedule to the best of my ability and provide, in
advance, notice of change to the schedule by the primary email address on record as
well as in the general information area of the classroom.
Attendance and Drop Policy
An instructor may, according to the rules of the college, drop a student after he/she
has missed six (6) hours of class time, provided that those six (6) hours are missed
prior to the official drop date. MY POLICY IS: In this class, after missing six hours of
instruction, provided the six hours are missed prior to the official drop date,
students will be dropped. The first week of classes is considered in counting the
absences. You may decide NOT to come to class. If this happens too many times, you
may suddenly find that you have “lost” the course. Poor attendance records tend to
correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you are
responsible for all materials missed.
Evaluation: Grading and Testing Policy
Your final grade will be cumulative of four in class exams, one final exam, one
written assignment, and a series of in-class assignments. The total amount of points
accumulated will be divided by 5 to decide your final grade. Extra credit will be
provided during the semester at the instructor’s discretion. Assignments that are
emailed will be required to be sent as attachments in the .doc or .docx formats
(Word 2007 formats). Other compatible formats will be accepted as well and any
document that cannot be opened will be returned and accepted back within 24
hours (counted as on-time). Assignments should not be sent as the body of the email
or they will not be accepted as on time. All assignments will require your name in
the top left corner of the assignment.
Tests 1-4 ……….............400 points
Final Exam …….............100 points
Various Assignments…..50 points
550 total points/5.5 = Final Grade
Testing
There will be 4 in class exams that contain 50 questions with a mix of multiple
choice and true/false. Most will be selected from the text, but a few may come from
class activities, lectures, and the study guide.
Make Up Exams
Plan to take all tests at the scheduled time. As soon as it becomes apparent that you
are going to miss a test, notify the instructor of the reason for your inability to take
the test on time. If the reason is acceptable, make arrangements to take the test no
later than the second class period after your return to class. Acceptable reasons for
missing a test include hospitalization, a death in the family, or detainment in
jail. Acceptable reasons do NOT include “I didn’t have time to study for the
test.” Documentation is required. Make up exams will be given at the end of the
semester during the week of finals.
Assignments and Readings
During my time away from the classroom it is expected that you will read and
comprehend the provided readings and text. We will discuss the assignments as
part of the lecture and your interaction will be expected.
Policy Regarding “W”, “F”, “I”, and Student Course Reinstatement Policy:
Withdrawal from a Course (W)
It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from a class and prevent an “F” from
appearing on your transcript. When considering withdrawal from a course,
remember the following information:
If you withdraw before the Official Date of Record, no grade is given and your
transcript reflects no record of the course.
A “W” (indicating withdrawal) appears on your transcript if you drop a course after
the Official Date of Record and before the final deadline.
College policy requires instructors to write “never attended” on the official roll sheet
next to the names of those students who do not attend class by the Official Date of
Record. If you do not attend class before the Official Date of Record, the college may
automatically drop you from the course.
To “attend class” in online distance education classes, you must log onto the course
in WebCT before the Official Date of Record. If you do not do so, “never attended”
will be marked on the official roll sheet. The college may automatically drop you
from the course, and you will be denied access to your course in WebCT.
A “W” (withdrawal) may negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid or
your visa status if you are an international student.
Students who take a course three or more times face additional tuition/fee
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. If you are
considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer
with your instructor / counselor as early as possible about your study habits,
reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation,
and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
The Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more
than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a
baccalaureate degree. This policy is effective beginning with the Fall 2007 semester.
There may be future penalties imposed.
If you MUST withdraw, visit with your instructor, a counselor or online student
services associate prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class BEFORE the “Last Day
for Administrative / Student Withdrawals” posted in the HCC Schedule of Classes.
Instructors are no longer allowed to process a “W” on their final grades – YOU are
responsible for processing the paperwork in a timely manner.
Failure of a Course (F)
You will receive an “F” in this class if your grade is less than 60%. Receiving an “F”
(failure) may negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid. It is YOUR
responsibility to submit college-level quality work in a timely fashion or to
withdraw yourself from the course by the deadline if you cannot complete your
work satisfactorily.
Incomplete (I)
You will receive an “I” (incomplete) ONLY in the event of a documented emergency
situation that prevents you from completing the last assignment, such as the final
exam. You must speak with your instructor as soon as possible in the event of such
an emergency to arrange a course completion schedule. If you receive an “I”, you
must arrange with the instructor to complete the course work before the end of the
next long semester. After that deadline, the “I” becomes an “I/F”. All “I”
designations must be changed to grades prior to graduation. The changed grade will
appear on your record as “I/Grade” (ex: “I/B”).
Scholastic Integrity
In a higher learning institution, honor and integrity is even more important than just
a letter grade in the grade report. One should be mindful that dishonorable acts
such as cheating, texting, photocopy, plagiarism, etc. reflects DIRECTLY upon the
integrity of one’s self, and it can lead to immediate “F” in the course as well as
further actions taken by the HCC as a whole.
Disability Notification
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision,
hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the
Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester.
Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by
the DSS Office. Mrs. Baldwin is the Southeast College’s DSS Counselor. Her
telephone number is (713) 718-7218.
Student Handbook
Students are expected to obtain and understand the current HCC student handbook.
Student Course Reinstatement Policy
Students have a responsibility to arrange payment for their classes when they
register, either through cash, credit card, financial aid, or the installment plan.
Faculty members have a responsibility to check their class rolls regularly, especially
during the early weeks of a term, and reconcile the official class roll to ensure that
no one is attending class whose name does not appear on it. Students who are
dropped from their courses for nonpayment of tuition and fees who request
reinstatement after the official date of record payment of tuition and fees who
request reinstatement after the official date of record (OE date) may be reinstated
by making payment in full and paying an additional $75 per course reinstatement
fee. A student requesting reinstatement should present the registrar with a
completed Enrollment Authorization Form with the signature of the instructor,
department chair, or dean who should verify that the student has been regularly
attending class. Students who are reinstated are responsible for all course policies
and procedures, including attendance requirements. A dean may waive the
reinstatement fee upon determination that the student was dropped because of a
college error. The dean should note the nature of the error in a memo to the
registrar with appropriate documentation.
Expectations of Civil Conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally in their communication
with the instructor, their classmates, and college staff and administration. Behavior
inappropriate to the collegiate setting (including but not limited to
abusive/derogatory/threatening/harassing language directed at the instructor or
towards other students, staff or administrators) will not be tolerated, and may
result in removal from the course if severe and/or repeated.
HCC Policy Statement - Students’ Responsibility to Read the HCC DE Student
Handbook/Student Services
The Distance Education Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique
to the DE student. Students should have reviewed the handbook as part of the
mandatory orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the
handbook's contents. The handbook contains valuable information, answers, and
resources, such as DE contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance
requirements, etc.), student services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.),
course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars.
Refer to the DE Student Handbook by visiting this link: http://de.hccs.edu/de/destudent-handbook
HCC Student Course Grade Appeal Procedure
Any student who takes issue with the course or how it is taught should first express
his or her specific concerns to the instructor. Any challenges to the final course
grade are governed by the HCC Student Course Grade Appeal Procedure. The
following statements are excerpts from the Procedure:
(http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students/student-rights-policies-procedures)
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“A student has a right to appeal a grade that the student believes was
contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was based on
bias, caprice, or computational or clerical error.”
“Faculty members have a right to have the grades they assign upheld unless
it is clearly demonstrated that a grade was contrary to procedures as
specified in the course syllabus or was based on bias, caprice, or
computational or clerical error.”
“The student has the burden of proof. The student must present clear
evidence that a grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course
syllabus or was based on bias, caprice, or computational or clerical error.”
Student Responsibilities
Attend class, be on time, and participate in discussions and activities.
Read and comprehend the textbook, articles, and print outs
Complete the required assignments and exams.
Ask for help when there is a question or problem.
Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, and all assignments.
Notice of Instructors Right to Make Changes to the Syllabus
The instructor has the right to adjust and make changes to the syllabus at his
discretion with those changes being made available to the students.