SOCIOLOGY 300: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Fall 2009 TELECOURSE
INSTRUCTOR: PAM FLAHERTY
3 UNITS
Class meets in RHS 263
This telecourse is designed to introduce students to the discipline of Sociology. We will begin
by studying basic sociological concepts and developing the sociological imagination, and
progress to learning how to apply the sociological imagination to everyday life. The televised
programs are augmented by the textbook and the telecourse study guide, in such a way as to
maximize the benefit to the student. This, of course, requires that students carefully view all
programs, read the assigned chapters and complete the assignments in the study guide.
You will need to purchase the following books:
1. Sociology in a Changing World, Eighth Edition by William Kornblum,
2. Telecourse Guide for Sociology in a Changing World, Third Edition by Jane A.
Penney This guide has been specially prepared to cover material in both the video and
text lessons.
Telecourse Activities
Quick Guide
1.
2.
3.
4.
Attend Orientation Session and 5 other meetings as assigned.
Follow "Review" steps in telecourse guide for each lesson. (see Review below)
Complete one exercise per lesson, under "Related Activities" in Telecourse Guide.
Take two Exams.
Each Lesson in your Telecourse Guide will have a review section with lesson completion
instructions. Most reviews ask you to do the following:
Review Activities
a. Scan the Lesson Focus Point Questions.
b. Read the assigned text pages.
c. View the video.
d. Your Review only: Write answers to the Lesson Focus Point questions.
e. Choose one "Related Activities" assignment in your telecourse guide at the end of
each lesson, and turn in to your instructor according to instructions below. Assignments
are due by the Friday after the weekly Sat/Sun video presentations.
f. Your Review Only: Take the Practice Test and check your answers with the Answer
Key located at the end of each lesson.
1
Instructions for submitting Related Activities Assignments:
There are 4 ways to submit assignments:
1. Drop the assignment off to Pam Flaherty's mailbox in Rm RN 226
2. Mail it to: Pam Flaherty BSS Division, 3835 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822
3. Drop the assignment off in person to Pam Flaherty's office in
RS 282.
4. Submit by email carefully following email instructions:
 email to flaherp@scc.losrios.edu
 Your name (last name followed by your first name), lesson# and
Related Activities #'s must be in the subject line of your email and on
the first page of any attachments.
 Do not send zipped files. If you are in doubt paste the assignment into
the email message.
Related Response Grading on email submissions
This semester we will go to paperless grading. After you submit your related response
you will receive a score for it by email. The score (a number 1-5) will correspond to
your grading rubric. Carefully read the rubric to see what your score means. All
questions about your score will be answered by the professor--either by email or by
phone conversation or by meeting in person. If you do not understand your numerical
scores it is highly advised that you make an immediate appointment with the instructor to
discuss your grades. ALWAYS SAVE COPIES OF YOUR WORK. Work can be lost
in cyberspace and/ or by instructor error.
I. Attend Orientation Session and five (5) other class meetings. The orientation session will be
held at the following time and place:
SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE
Thursday – August 27,2009
5:30-6:50
RHS 263
Anyone who cannot attend the orientation session MUST contact the instructor at 650-2940 or
at flaherp@scc.losrios.edu prior to August 27, 2009. (If it is necessary to leave a message,
please state your name and phone number clearly and repeat them once.)
II. View 22 telelesson programs entitled Exploring Society: Introduction to Sociology.
Programs can be viewed on AT&T Comcast Channel 15 on Saturday (first weekly 30 minute
program) and Sunday (second weekly 30 minute program) from 6:30-7:00pm or by request in
2
the Sacramento City College Learning Resource Center. Videos can also be rented by GOING
TO MEDIA CHECK-OUT IN THE LIBRARY AND REQUESTING THE VIDEO
PROGRAMS FOR THIS COURSE. (Cost is $20.00 for all programs for the semester.) Note
that Program repeats 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, repeat at the end of the semester.
III. Read the assigned chapters in the textbook, "Sociology in a Changing World, 8th edition,
by William Kornblum, published by Thomson/Wadsworth, at the assigned times.
IV. Complete the study guide assignments in Telecourse Guide for Exploring Society:
Introduction to Sociology, 3rd edition by Jane A. Penney, published by Thomson/Wadsworth,
2007 at the assigned times. Complete one exercise under the title "Related Activities" for each
chapter. The "Related Activities" assignments (only) will be turned in for points. The assigned
"Related Activities" exercises should be placed in my mailbox in RN226, e-mailed to
flaherp@scc.losrios.edu or, dropped off (or under the door in my office, RS282 or mailed to
Pam Flaherty BSS Division, Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA
95822.. The due dates (by Friday after the Sat/Sun program) are guidelines for keeping up
with the course. However all related activities for programs 1-12 must be turned in by the
exam night for Exam #1 and Lessons 13-22 must be turned in by Exam #2. If you are turning
in work on review classes or the night of the exam you must bring hard copies of your work to
the exam.
Lecture and Review Sessions
These sessions will provide an opportunity to review course material and clarify any problems
which may arise. The lecture session is for clarification of the foundation material and to
return the first assignment. It is important that the first assignment be reviewed during the
lecture session, so it will not be accepted after that time. Review sessions are primarily for
questions, but I will also try to help you focus on the most important elements covered in that
section of the course. All in-class meetings will be held in RS271 from 5:30-6:55pm on the
following Thursdays:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Orientation:
8/27/09
Lecture:
9/3/09
Review #1:
10/8/09
Exam #1:
10/15/09 (Lessons 1-11)
Final Review :
11/19/09 (Lessons 12-22)
Final Exam :
12/17/09 RS263 (Lessons 12-22) Begins at 5:45PM
The class will meet on the Sacramento City College campus (RHS263) on the dates and for
the purposes listed in this syllabus. All exams will be preceded by a review session that will
help you prepare for the test. Please bring a picture I.D. to all exams.
Course Objectives
1) Demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the relationship between the
individual, culture and society.
2) Develop the ability to analyze everyday experience from a sociological perspective,
and learn to use the sociological imagination.
3) Compare, contrast and apply the major theoretical orientations in sociology to social
issues.
3
3) Analyze the societal dynamics of socialization, deviance, group interactions and other
social processes.
4) Evaluate social institutions such as the family, religion, educations and politics within
the context of the larger society.
6) Be able to identify how individual experience is affected by social forces for lifelong
personal growth and effective social skills.
Grading Criteria for Related Activities Assignments:
Each of the "Related Activities" assignments (one per lesson ) must be carefully
completed and must show evidence that the sociological imagination has been used in the
process of preparing it. Responses will be graded on a scale of "1" to "5" with a "5" being
superior. A "1" reflects little effort. A "2" has information that is inaccurate. A "3" is an
adequate answer. A"4" is an answer that shows some critical thinking and student has
provided at least one example of what they are discussing. A "5" shows a synthesis of
information, example (s) and has an evaluative component. All answers will be scored
higher if evidence of video and text integration are included.
Paperless Grading: Again, you will receive your score (1-5) by email (if you submitted
by email.) You need to look at the attached grading rubric to see what the score means.
If you want a higher score, you need to analyze what you are or are not doing in your
related responses, according to the rubric. It is advised that you consult the instructor
immediately if you have questions about your score.
Grades will be determined by a point system, which will ensure that your grade will be based
on your own effort and competence. Each person completing sufficient points will receive the
corresponding grade. A curve will be established at the end of the semester.
College guidelines for student conduct will be enforced. It is each student's obligation to
become familiar with those guidelines and abide by them. Grades in this class are established
on the basis of a curve, so cheating directly harms everyone who does not cheat. To
discourage this behavior, any student caught cheating will receive a "0" on the test or
assignment and will be required to sit in the front row while taking all future tests. Although
no one has ever cheated twice, anyone attempting to do so will be dropped from the course.
Please note that this class is a “Safe Zone,” which means that discrimination, jokes or
derogatory comments that target race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation,
language, age, etc. will not be tolerated. The Student Conduct guides for behavior (available
from any dean) will be adhered to.
Grading Scale
Two (2) exams @ 75 points each
Orientation assignment
22 Related Activities @5 points each
150 points
20 points
110 points
Total
280 points
Instructor will grade on a curve, roughly 90%-100% = A, 80%-89%=B, 70%-79%=C,
60%-69%=D, Below 60% = F.
4