COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2007
SOCIOLOGY 238
RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS
INTRODUCTION: Welcome to Sociology 238!
Race And Ethnic Relations is a course which invites us to more systematically consider
the meaning and nature of some of the human categories into which we find ourselves
placed and into which we often assign others. In essence, what does “race” mean
exactly? How did the different races develop? What significance is there in regard to the
physical differences which occur between various racial categories? Do these differences
present us with a rational justification for responding to each other differently? How
does “ethnicity” differ from race or nationality? Is it safer or smarter to view people who
are different than ourselves in these areas as “dangerous” or “inferior” or “superior”?
What causes prejudices to develop within individuals and/or between groups and what
are the consequences for each?
How do people adapt/respond to prejudice and
discrimination? Is continued subgroup conflict inevitable in the U.S.A.? What can be
done to ease the tensions between diverse groups of Americans in the short run and/or
over time?
Attempting to answer questions such as these is a major goal of this course. Also, a more
deliberate study of the origins, unique cultural heritage, special adjustment difficulties
and contributions to American society of a diverse population of racial and ethnic
minorities is undertaken.
The course description which appears in the CSI Catalog reads as follows:
SOCY 238 3 cr. hrs. Race & Ethnic Relations
An examination of ethnic, racial and other minority groups from both an historical and
contemporary perspective. Includes a review of theories concerning prejudice and
discrimination, patterns of minority relations and future relationship patterns in the
United States.
REQUIREMENTS:
Regular attendance is required because:
1. A significant amount of the information needed to perform well in this course
is presented in class and does not appear in the textbook
2. Studies show a high correlation between regular attendance and superior
performance and
3. individual involvement in the activities which occur during each class meeting
are essential to accomplishing the goals of the course (these activities include
note-taking; class discussions; making presentations in accordance with the
class project requirement and serving as an active audience for the
presentations of classmates.)
Thus, the following policy will be implemented to emphasize the importance of
participating in the course in a meaningful way:
A “class participation” value of 100 points (the equivalent of the point value of
one major examination) will be available through regular attendance.
This translates into 7 points per each class (or 3 1/2 points per each “half-class”
session). This 100 points will be recorded for you at the beginning of the
semester. To keep these points, you will need to attend each class meeting for it’s
entire duration. Roll will be taken twice each class period (at the scheduled
beginning for each class and again at the scheduled resumption of class after the
“break” which usually occurs midway through the class.)
If the class is cancelled due to weather and/or road conditions, you will not lose
the attendance points for that evening. These points will be part of the “baseline”
total to which the grading scale in the course will be applied.
Similarly, keeping up with routine reading assignments will lead to more effective class
participation and is essential in preparing for the major exams.
Each student is responsible for completing the major course exams. There will be a
minimum of three and a maximum of five major exams given. Each major exam will
have a 100 point value and will include completion, matching, identification and shortanswer essay items. All make-up exams will receive a 10% penalty. In cases of
medical, family, school or other obligations which prohibit taking a major exam when
scheduled, the 10% penalty will still apply. However, under these circumstances,
students will be allowed to answer an additional essay question with a 10-point value to
offset the effect of the penalty on their course grade. In such cases, it would be prudent if
at all possible to inform me of your situation before the exam is given in class. If it is
possible to take the exam early, the late penalty will not apply.
A 20 point preview examination, which is intended to introduce you as early as possible
to the nature of the items on the major exams, (and how they are graded), will be
administered prior to the first major exam. These points are part of the total points
earned in the course and as such will be included in the base number of points to which
the grading scale will apply. For instance, if three major exams are given, the
90/80/70/60 percentage scale would be applied to the total of 520 points (100 points for
each major exam, 100 class participation points, 50 points for each of the two classroom
presentations, and 20 points for the preview exam).
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Unscheduled quizzes may also be given to encourage regular attendance and/or as a
further check on the effectiveness of the learning process. These quizzes will have a 5point extra-credit value and, if missed, cannot be made-up at a later date. Extra credit
points are not included in the base number of points to which the grading scale will
apply. They are therefore truly, “extra” points.
Participation in a class project is also a requirement of this course. You will need to
select two immigrant groups from the textbook and, (depending upon your selections),
present individually or in conjunction with one or more classmates, two reports to the
class which center around the chapters of the text that focus upon those particular groups.
Each student will need to include in their presentation a minimum of one reference from
a book other than the text and similarly a minimum of two references taken from two or
more journals and/or periodicals. Each presentation will have a 50 point value. More
information concerning this assignment will be provided in class.
STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES:
Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine
eligibility and secure
services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after
registration for a class.
Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls
Campus. 208-732-6250
(voice) or 208-734-9929 (TTY), or email aflannery@csi.edu
COURSE EVALUATIONS:
Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course.
Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching staff to continually improve the
course. Evaluations are available online at: http://evaluation.csi.edu. Evaluations open up
two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the
last day of the course. During the time the evaluations are open, students can complete
the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access,
including in the open lab in the Library and in the SUB. When students log in they should
see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are
anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should only take a few minutes. Your honest
feedback is greatly appreciated!
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Text – Parrillo. STRANGERS TO THESE SHORES.
8th. Ed. New York, New York. Macmillian Publishing Co. 2006.
Other – course syllabus, study sheets and olther materials which will be distributed in
class as needed.
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CLASS ROUTINE: The course will include lectures, instructor led informal question
and answer sessions, student generated class projects, audio visual aids and when
possible, guest presentations.
GRADES: Your course grade will be determined by the total number of points which
you accumulate on the major exams (100 points each), plus points earned on the Preview
Exam, (20 points possible), plus your earned Participation points (100 points possible),
plus points earned on any unscheduled quizzes which may be given and the class project
referred to above (100 point value) Of the points possible, you will need 90% for an A;
80% for a B: 70% for a C; and 60% for a D. Fifty-nine percent or less will result in an F
grade.
DROP POLICY: It is your responsibility to decide if and/or when withdrawing from
this course is in your best interest. I, in turn , have a responsibility to assist you in better
understanding your status in the course at any time and when asked, to help you to
determine if withdrawing would be a reasonable course of action. If a student’s name
remains on the official class list, (produced by the Records Office), at the end of the
semester, and if that student has quit attending class without officially withdrawing, a
course grade of F will be recorded in his/her name.
It is important to realize that students may not initiate a drop after the twelfth week of the
semester. Also, I retain the right to initiate a withdrawal for any student with a record of
nonattendance or excessive absences (see the current CSI Catalog for a summary of these
institution-wide policies). In addition, I may initiate a withdrawal at any time during the
course for any student who do to unusual circumstances, (death in the family,
hospitalization etc.), cannot initiate such action themselves and /or any student who
violates the classroom norms as stated in this syllabus.
HONESTY POLICY: In conformity with the CSI Student Handbook, if a student in
this course cheats on an exam or quiz and/or plagiarizes a written assignment, a score of
zero will be recorded.
CLASSROOM NORMS: While the vast majority of you do not need to be reminded of
traditional standards of personal conduct in the classroom environment, the following
exclusionary provisions are intended to make clear that certain behavior will not be
tolerated. These behaviors include, (but are not necessarily limited to), eating (excluding
cough drops, gum, hard candy); drinking, (any liquid beverages unless medical
documentation is provided that demonstrates precisely that a health related condition
exists which requires periodic consumption of liquid), arriving to class consistently late,
leaving class early without informing your instructor in advance (except in
emergencies), vulgar and/or abusive language and discourteous or disruptive conduct.
I hope that each of you agree that these prohibitions are not unreasonable restrictions and
that the behaviors involved would tend to interfere with the achievement of our common
educational goals.
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Please feel free to contact me during my office hours, (and/or before and after class), to
clarify any questions which may arise. I wish you an enjoyable and thought provoking
semester!
Sincerely,
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