HDCS 1300 Spring 2019 FTF

HDCS 1300 HUMAN ECOSYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE S PRING 2019

Instructor: Rana Rifai

E-mail:

Blackboard Email

O FFICE H OURS : By Appointment

Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 1304 or equivalent.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an introduction to the study of human and consumer needs, values, and goals in relationship to natural, man-made, and behavioral systems within the context of dynamic technological change. The Prerequisite is ENGL 1304 or equivalent.

This is a writing intensive course across the disciplines of social sciences, retail and consumer science, and technological change. One major paper and several shorter papers are required in response to the issues and ideas presented. Research principles are emphasized and required as part of the course.

TEXTS

Required: Human Ecosystems and Technological Change, 7 th

edition

Author: Ezell at al., Published by MCG CUSTOM

ISBN:

9781260039283

*This book has the above title on the cover, but is listed with the following title at the UH Bookstore: HDCS 1300: TAKING SIDES MODULES AND

AUTHOR MATERIAL. Author: Finterbusch, 7th edition

Recommended: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, most current edition

COURSE OBJECTIVES

HDCS 1300 introduces the student to research techniques and lays the foundation for the student to conduct research in the social sciences, or any other field. To this end the student will learn to:

1.

Recognize the issues that impact the relationships and interactions between the human being and essential social interfaces such as the family, the workplace, the education systems and the global economy.

2.

Develop and express ideas clearly regarding current human-related issues.

3.

Communicate persuasively a position regarding current human-related issues, while helping the audience understand the issue.

4.

Analyze the opposing views (the pros and cons) of theoretical and practical solutions regarding current human-related issues.

5.

Examine current human-related issues from positions of neutrality and using skills of analysis and critique, speak to the soundness of the positions

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6.

Support and defend their positions regarding current human-related issues through research and resource identification.

7.

Demonstrate sound research techniques, exposition, and persuasive skills through written papers while focusing on current human-related issues. To this end the student will learn to:



Formulate a research question or problem



Indentify basic principles and knowledge related to their research question



Develop a research plan to address the question



Collect information to resolve the question or problem



Demonstrate awareness if responsible conduct of research



Articulate their findings through written presentations

8.

Present ideas in oral, written and visual literacy skills that are appropriate in exchanging messages appropriate to current human-related issues.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Writing Assignments

There will be three writing assignments, one of which is a longer research paper, and a final analytical paper. All assignments MUST be submitted using the link provided for turnitin.com. All assignments submitted in this class must use APA.

Papers must use APA style for parenthetical references and bibliographical information.

Papers not following directions and not using APA will not be accepted and will be given an automatic 0.

Please NOTE: NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

Papers are due on the date and at the time prescribed on the Assignment link on

Blackboard. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Blackboard and its functions, to make sure you have no difficulty upon the required posting of the first paper.

*Papers not meeting these requirements will not be accepted.

Group Presentation

Each group is responsible for one or more presentations over assigned topics from the Human Ecosystems and Technological Change book. Groups will be formed in the first two weeks of class. You will use the online sign-up sheet to join a group.

The syllabus designates which groups will cover which topic. Your group number will determine your topic. Each student is completely responsible for joining a group and participating in any group activities.

Reading Tests/Quizzes

Reading tests will cover the information in the text and the classroom lectures.

Please see the agenda portion of the syllabus for Test Day dates.

APA

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When writing at the college level, you must utilize sources to present credibility and you must learn how to adequately cite your sources using the methods given by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Papers that do not adequately incorporate APA will not be accepted in this class!

There is a PowerPoint Presentation that provides many useful tips on the basics of

APA available on Blackboard, as well as the APA Manual (5 th edition).

A definition of plagiarism (taken directly from the site: http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/plagiarism.shtml):

Using someone else's ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as our own, either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism. "Ideas or phrasing" includes written or spoken material, of course — from whole papers and paragraphs to sentences, and, indeed, phrases — but it also includes statistics, lab results, art work, etc.

This is not taken lightly in this class so be sure to follow all directions given on APA.

Participation

Your participation grade will be derived from your attendance and additional assignments

(see “Other Assignments” below). You are expected to be in class and prepared by having read the assigned texts and being as familiar as possible with the issues to be discussed.

This may require further research of the topics as you read through the book.

Other Assignments and Lectures

A Blackboard Practice Assignment may be given to assure that you are familiar with

Blackboard and how to submit assignments. You will also need to make sure you view all course material and Lectures posted by the instructor. These are generally found in the

Lectures folder in Blackboard.

GRADING

Connect and In-Class Quizzes

Group Presentation(s)

Papers

Paper 1

Paper 2

Research Paper

Final Analysis

10%

15%

20%

20%

25%

45%

10%

100%

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend all classes. Students who miss a class due to illness or a family emergency must provide the appropriate documentation to receive credit for a missed participation activity. Attendance will be taken randomly either by a call of the roll or by signing a sign-in sheet. The instructor may drop the student one letter grade (10 points) after 3 absences. It will continue to drop for every class missed after that point.

The instructor considers excuses on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please contact the instructor. In cases of severe weather conditions, please check the course on

3


Blackboard to make sure there are no class interruptions posted. Please also view the UH website for any emergency campus closures that may occur:

uh.edu/emergency

.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

The University’s Honor Code states, “We will be honest in all our academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.” Students are expected to do original work. Penalties include failure of the entire assignment (zero points) and referral to the department chair for consideration of additional action.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

All electronic devices such as cell phones and pagers must be muted or turned off during class, so as to avoid the disruption they tend to cause. You may tape record classes with permission from the professor. Listening devices such as iPods are unacceptable in class and should be put away. You may, of course, take notes on your laptops; but activity unrelated to class is not acceptable. Should it become apparent that such activity is occurring, you will be asked to put away your computer.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students who require individualized accommodations for this course must inform the professor in order that appropriate arrangements can be made. For information about services provided by The Center for Students with Disabilities, please call 713-743-5480.

LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES

Learning Support Services, a part of the Counseling and Testing Service, provides small group and individualized peer-tutorial instruction. This is designed to assist students in their academic work. Workshops are offered in both study and college survival skills.

These services, supported by student service fees, are located in the Cougar Village –

Building 563. For specific information, call 713-743-5411.

UNIVERSITY SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES AND OTHER EXCUSED ABSENCES

Students who participate in University sanctioned activities such as sports, band, orchestra, conferences, etcetera must provide the professor with written documentation from the professor or department that sponsors the activity. With official documentation, you will be allowed an excused absence if you miss a participation activity.

BLACKBOARD

This online classroom will be an integral part of this class. You will be required to log on several times a week to check for additional information or changes to the syllabus or your group. All assignments will be turned in online. Blackboard may also provide you with the additional reading selections that pertain to the class. Be sure to sign on during the first week so as not to fall behind; and be aware that your progress and attendance to Blackboard will be monitored. This will be a part of your participation grade.

A Note Regarding Online Communications: Any communications made on Blackboard should be of a purely academic nature. Any communication not maintaining this standard will be unacceptable. This translates to mean that you may not use contemporary computer

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HDCS 1300 HUMAN ECOSYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE S PRING 2019 abbreviations, such as letters and numbers for words and non-standard acronyms.

Additionally, you must capitalize the first person personal pronoun, I. Please realize this is an academic environment and you may not use the colloquial abbreviated language you use to create text messages and chat messages.

Support for students using Blackboard Vista is available in these ways:

1. Online at http://www.uh.edu/blackboard under “Student Help”.

2. By phone at 713-743-1411, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except university holidays).

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INSTRUCTOR

All written communications with the instructor are expected to use Standard English with the associated conventions. (This is particularly applicable to the capitalization of the first person pronoun!) You will need to factor in a 24-48 hour wait time for emailed responses to questions.

Please be advised that this is a tentative course syllabus/calendar. This syllabus is subject to change. It is your responsibility, as a student, to make sure that you are informed about any changes. Students may be informed about changes through either verbal or written means. Also, additional information or reading material may be assigned, either verbally or in written form, throughout the course of the semester. You, as the student, are responsible for making sure that you have this information or material.

UH CAPS Statement

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can help students who are having difficulties managing stress, adjusting to college, or feeling sad and hopeless. You can reach CAPS (www.uh.edu/caps) by calling 713-743-5454 during and after business hours for routine appointments or if you or someone you know is in crisis. No appointment is necessary for the “Let's Talk” program, a drop-in consultation service at convenient locations and hours around campus.  http://www.uh.edu/caps/outreach/lets_talk.html

University Grading Scale

A = 94 and above

A-= 90-93

B+= 87-89

B = 84-86

B-= 80-83

C+= 77-79

C= 74-76

C-= 70-73

D+= 67-69

D = 64-66

D-= 60-63

F= 59 and below

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HDCS 1300 Human Ecosystems

Spring 2019

Tuesday, January 15

Class Overview

Thursday, January 17

Lecture: Writing Matters – Part 1

*Discuss Groups

_____________________________________________________________________________



*Sign-Up Sheets released

*Discuss Paper 1



_____________________________________________________________________________


Meet with Groups


Group 1.1: Is Same-Sex Marriage Harmful to America? P 4

Tuesday, February 5

Group 1.2: Does Morality Need Relligion? P 16

APA Lecture

Thursday, February 7

Group 1.3: Should Abortion Be Restricted? P 31

Group 1.4: Can Women Have It All? P 42

Thursday, February 7 – Connect Quizzes Due


Independent Study

Tuesday, February 12: PAPER 1 DUE at 11:59 p.m. on Blackboard


Group 1.5: Does the Cultural Environment Influence Lifespan Development More Than Our

Genes? P 63

Group 2.6: Should Prostitution Be Legal? P 83


Group 2.7: Should Recreational Drugs Be Legalized? P 93

*Discuss Paper 2

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Group 2.8: Should the United States Be More Restrictive of Gun Ownership? P 108

Group 2.9: Is Affirmative Action Still Necessary? P 125

_____________________________________________________________________________


Group 2.10: Should Physicians Be Allowed to Assist in Patient Suicide? P 139

Group 3.11: Should the World Continue to Rely on Oil as the Major Source of Energy? P 155


Group 3.12: Does Immigration Contribute to a Better America? P 167

Group 3.13: Is Warrantless Wiretapping Ever Justified to Protect National Security? P 178

____________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, March 5

Independent Research

Tuesday, March 5 - PAPER 2 DUE at 11:59 p.m. on Blackboard

Thursday, March 7

Group 3.14: Is Torture Ever Justified? P 190

Group 3.15: Are Barriers to Women’s Success as Leaders Due to Societal Obstacles? P 206

March 11 – 16 : SPRING BREAK

___________________________________________________________________________


Group 4.16: Is Bigger Government Better Government? P 226

Group 4.17

: Is Overseas Outsourcing a Good U.S. Business Strategy? P 236


Group 4.18: Is the Gender Wage Gap Justified? P 256

Group 4.19: Is Minimum Wage Justified? P 268

_____________________________________________________________________________


Group 4:20: Does Capitalism Have Serious Defects?

Group 5.21: Should Parents Be Able to Genetically Engineer Their Children? P 304


Group 5.22: Should Advertising Directed at Children Be Restricted? P 310

Group 5.24: Can the Tendency of Media to Employ Stereotypes Be Reduced? P 333

__________________________________________________________

Tuesday, April 2

Group 5.25: Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe to Eat? P 343

Group 6.26: Does Technology Invade Our Privacy? P 358

Thursday, April 4

Group 6.27: Do Video Games Increase Aggression in Teenagers? P 375

Group 6.28: Is Excessive Use of Social Media a Form of Narcissism? P 380

April 4 – LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A “W”

_________________________________________________________________________

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Independent Study

Tuesday, April 9: RESEARCH PAPER DUE at 11:59 p.m. on Blackboard


Group 6.29: Is Free Will an Illusion? P 396

Group 6.30: Does Social Media Have Largely Positive Impacts on Its Users? P 406

_____________________________________________________________________________


Group 7.31: Does Grading Help Students Learn? P 423

Group 7.32: Do Innate Gender Differences Influence How Children Learn? P 435


Catch Up Day

____________________________________________________________________________


Group 7.34: Do American Schools Need a Common Curriculum? P 459


Last Class Day

Tuesday, April 30: Final Paper Due at 11:59 p.m. on Blackboard

Assignment Due Date *All assignments due at 11:59 p.m.

Connect Quizzes Due

Paper 1

Paper 2

Research Paper

Final Analysis

February 7

February 12

March 5

April 9

April 30

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HDCS 1300 Spring 2019 FTF

Blackboard Email

uh.edu/emergency

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