Heartland Community College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Course Syllabus For Students
Spring 2003
Course Prefix and Number: SOC 101-03
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: T,R 9:30 - 10:45
Introduction:
This course will familiarize students with the basic problems, methods, concepts, and theories of
sociological analysis. It is important that students come away from an introductory course in sociology with
knowledge of how a sociological perspective differs from and/or complements other perspectives (e.g.,
psychological, theological, philosophical, or biological) as well as an appreciation of how sociology
compares with various “ common sense” interpretations of the social world. In order to see these
differences, it is crucial to recognize that sociology has a scientific basis. Among the topics to be covered
are the family, religion, education, politics, the environment, deviance, gender, race, and social change.
Particular attention will be paid to the inequality within and between societies.
Catalog Description:
This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of society. Topics include power and inequality,
change, deviance, education, occupations, organizations, family/gender, religion, and racial/ethnic groups.
Students will develop a critical understanding of social forces. Prerequisite(s): None.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name:
Contact information:
Location of instructor’s office:
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours:
Doug Dowell
268-8591 email: dougd@hcc.cc.il.us
ICB 2105
MWR: 7:40 - 8:00 & 9:50-11:00
TR: 9:00 - 9:30 & 10:45 - 12:30 or by
appointment
Textbook:
Required:
Anderson and Taylor. (2003) 2nd ed. Sociology: The Essentials Belmont, CA.:
Wadsworth
Henslin, James. (2001) 11th ed. Down To Earth Sociology New York, NY: Free
Press
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 1999-2000 Heartland Community College catalog. This section of the catalog is
located under the heading Academic Integrity and is covered on pages 31-33. I encourage you to
read this section carefully.
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 objectives:
1.
2.
3.
Be able to explain how their individual level experiences are influenced by societal-level
changes and trends.
Have an appreciation for the fact that unique social context influences personal
perspectives and that different social contexts result in different perspectives.
Be familiar with a pool of sociological concepts to apply to their understanding of
sociological events.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Be able to analyze contemporary social issues from several theoretical perspectives.
Have knowledge of the history and development of sociology.
Be able to describe how social forces influence socialization.
Have an appreciation for and an understanding of local, national, and international
diversity, and how this diversity has influenced both society and the study of society.
Have an appreciation for the interconnectedness of groups within society, of societies
around the world, and of society and the physical environment.
Be able to articulate opinions about social issues, which are supported by research as well
as personal observations and experiences.
Be able to articulate the various ways in which local social issues are connected to
international or global social issues and how historical events are connected to
contemporary social issues.
Course/Lab Outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method
Culture
Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age
Social Interaction In Everyday Life
Groups and Organizations
Deviance
Social Stratification
Global Stratification
Race and Ethnicity
Gender
Age and Sex
Families and Religion
Education and Work
Government and Health Care
Population, Urbanism and Environment
Social Change and Social Movements
Methods of Instruction: The class is centered around the areas of student participation, small group
activity, and brief classroom lectures. The textbook and all outside reading are considered to be essential
in order for class to consistently progress. Therefore, it is important that all students be prepared for each
class meeting. Guest speakers and selected videos may also be utilized during some class sessions.
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.
5 Exams
@ 100
500
,
1 Final Exam
@ 100
100
5-10 In-class
@ 04
20-40
2 Quiz
@ 50
100
,
,
4 Reaction Papers
@ 20
80
,
,
2 Projects
@ 30
60
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
* In-class assignments can only be completed during the scheduled class time. If a student is absent
during that class session they are not allowed to make-up the assignment.
* You will be allowed to drop your lowest test score from the semester. Also you are not allowed to
make up an exam. You may not drop your final exam grade. The final is cumulative.
Participation (or Attendance):
Don’t Be Late. Students are expected to participate in class. Part of the class participation is fulfilling
all required assignments and readings, however, students are also expected to be a part of class
discussions and group activities. Most class sessions are centered around student participation. Some
assignments require that students participate in class discussion or group activity. If a student should
choose not to participate they will not receive credit for the assignment. You are expected to bring
your text to class on a daily basis.
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: Not allowed. Of the four exams I allow you to drop your lowest
exam score. Therefore, if you miss an exam you receive a 0 and can drop this as your lowest score.
The feature of dropping your lowest test score is designed to allow students to miss a test without the
fear of the lost points hurting their grade. In other words, if there is a family emergency a personal
illness, transportation troubles, etc. the student does not need to worry about a make-up. I do not hold
you accountable for the exam or an excuse for missing the exam. Please note that I will not allow you
to make up a missed exam to compensate for poor performance on another
Deadlines: Due dates are set for a reason. Assignments not turned in on time will be docked 5 points
for each class period they are late. On time is when I collect them. Any paper handed in after I collect
assignments will be considered late.
Student Conduct: During class, views and opinions may be expressed that you do not agree with.
Please be respective of others rights and their freedom to express them. I ask that everyone behave in
a professional and thoughtful manner.
The following list is expected appropriate behavior. It is not my intention to offend anyone’s sense of
good judgement. However these are issues that have come up in the past and it is easiest to address
them now rather than throughout the semester. The list is not all encompassing but does provide an
understanding of my concerns.
1. Please shut off cell phones before starting class.
2. Please shut off beepers, pagers, etc. (anything that makes noise) before class.
3. Do not be late to class
4. Do not leave while class is in session.
5. If you need to leave class early please let me know before class begins.
6. Children are not allowed in class (school policy)
*Any questions please let me know.
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:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were
your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were
your own.
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.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Academic Support Services (Academic Support Center) www.hcc.cc.il.us/divisions/asc
Heartland Library Information
www.hcc.cc.il.us/library
The Library, located within the Academic Support Center (ASC) on the Normal campus, provides
Heartland students with a variety of on-campus resources that support both class work and personal
inquiry. These include reference tools (print and non-print), periodicals, audio-visual materials and
equipment, reserves, a general circulating collection, and a fiction collection. Computer terminals
provide access to various electronic resources, including Academic Universe, FirstSearch, and
EbscoHost databases, CARL online card catalog, and Internet access. Several electronic resources are
accessible from computers off campus. Students may borrow books from the fiction and general
collections and may renew materials, in person or by phone, if requests have not been placed on them.
Heartland students also have Interlibrary Loan privileges from Heartland Library. Items usually take 1
to 3 weeks from date of the order to arrive.
The Library maintains a quiet study environment. Assistance is available for all library and
information needs. Heartland Library is open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday 7:30
a.m. to 4 p.m., when the college is in session, but is closed on holidays that Heartland observes.
Intersession and summer hours are reduced.
Milner Library at Illinois State University is a public institution, and students and faculty may use their
collection on site. In order to check out materials, ask for a free Community Borrowers card
application at the Milner Library circulation desk. It is important to identify specific titles to request
for checkout at the time of application. The card provides access to their circulating collection for
three months, with a four-week checkout period. To qualify for this service a person must live within
50 miles of Milner, have a current state ID (driver's license) with current address, and be over age 18.
The application process takes a minimum of two days time.
For more information about Library services please call the Library at 268-8200.
http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/asc/tutor.html
Tutoring Center
Learning assistance is available in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at the Tutoring
Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Trained tutors are available at convenient
times throughout the week. Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are
also available by request. For more information about tutoring services available at each location,
please call the Tutoring Center in Normal at (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; or
the Lincoln Center (217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/asc/testing.html
The Testing Center proctors make-up exams for students enrolled in traditional courses. In addition,
regularly scheduled exams for alternative delivery courses are also proctored at this Center. Exams are
proctored free of charge in a secure and quite environment. For more information about exam
proctoring services contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
Open Computing Lab
http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/asc/computerlab.html
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times throughout
the week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the use of approximately
70 computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
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:
January 14
16
Introduction to class, syllabus and Chapter 1
Chapter 1 cont. and Henslin #3 “The Promise” and Henslin #4 How Sociologists Do
Research”
21
Quiz #1 over Chapter 1 and the readings Chapter 2 covered after quiz
23
Chapter 2 Culture and Henslin #7 “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”
28
Chapter 2 cont.
30
Subculture Posters
Feb. 4
Chapter 3 Socialization and Video “Genie
6
Chapter 4 Society and Social Interaction and Henslin #18 Behavior in Pubic Places” and
Chapter 5 Groups and Organization
11
Chapter 5 cont. and video “Social Situations” and Henslin #21 “If Hitler Asked You To
Electrocute a Stranger”
13
Exam #1 Chapters 2-5 and all outside readings
18
Chapter 6 Crime and Deviance and Henslin #22 “Survivors of Flight F-227”
20
Chapter 6 cont. and Henslin #24 “Saints and Roughnecks”
25
Quiz over Chapter 6 and all readings
27
Chapter 7 Social Stratification and Henslin #30 “Uses of Poverty”
March 4
Chapter 8 Global Stratification
6
Exam #2 Chapters 7 and 8 and all outside readings
11
Spring Break
13
Spring Break
18
Chapter 9 Race and Ethnicity and video “Class Divided”
20
Chapter 9 cont. and Chapter 10 Gender and Henslin #15 Sexuality and Gender in …”
25
Chapter 11 Age and Sex
27
Exam #3 Chapters 9-11 and all readings and video
April 1 Chapter 12 Families and Religion
3
Chapter 12 cont. and Chapter 13 Education and Work
8
Chapter 13 cont. and Chapter 14 Government and Health Care
10
Chapter 14 cont.
15
Exam #4 Chapters 12-15 and all readings and video
17
Chapter 15 Population, Urbanism and the Environment
22
Chapter 15 Population, Urbanism and the Environment
24
Chapter 15 cont. and film “Garbage”
29
Chapter 16 Social Change
May 1 Exam #5 Chapters 15 and 16 and all readings and video
6
Pass back exams and review for final
8
Optional review for final