Soc 238 Race and Ethnic Relations
Spring 2011 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Matt C. Reynolds, Office: Aspen 118
Contact: (208) 732 – 6861,mreynolds@csi.edu
Office Hours: MWF 10:00 – 11:00 am, T TH 12:00 - 1:00 pm
The College of Southern Idaho Mission Statement
The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides educational, social and cultural opportunities for the
diverse population of South Central Idaho. In this rapidly changing world, CSI encourages our students to lead enriched, productive
and responsible lives.
Social Science Department Mission Statement
The mission of the Social Science Department is to provide educational, social, and cultural opportunities which encourage enriched,
productive and responsible lives primarily by instructing students to understand, interpret, and apply Social Science discipline
coursework.
Social Science Department Goals: This course addresses the following Social Science Department goals, which are to:
1. help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science subjects.
2. help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.
3. help students learn to distinguish between fact and opinion.
4. teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.
5. teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences to make better-informed decisions
6. help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.
7. prepare students to transfer to a university.
Sociology Program Mission Statement
The Sociology Program provides an understanding of the social forces which help shape our lives and the interconnectedness of all
peoples. It also prepares students for transfer to upper division sociology programs at the college or university of their choice, and
helps them to form rational and constructive relationships with their fellow human beings.
Sociology Program Objectives:
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To introduce students to major sociological theories and sociologists.
To provide insights into the relationship between the social organization of group life and its subsequent impacts on the
thinking, acting, and interaction patterns of individuals.
To offer a General Education choice for the Social Sciences.
To contribute to the knowledge base for Criminal Justice Administration, Social Work and other related careers.
To furnish quality courses for the first two years of a Sociology major.
To prepare students to excel in their upper division programs.
Sociology 238 Course Description: An examination of ethnic, racial, and other minority groups from both an historical and
contemporary social perspective. Includes a review of theories concerning prejudice and discrimination, patterns of minority
relations, and future relationship patterns in the United States.
Required Text: Parrillo. STRANGERS TO THESE SHORES. 10th. Ed. New York, New York. Macmillan Publishing Co. 2011.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT: Please be courteous and respectful to your instructor and fellow students. Be on time to class. No
excessive talking. No reading newspapers or other material during class time. No cell phones. No children or pets. No MP3, CD or
other listening devices. Laptops may be used during class time – but only for note taking purposes. The instructor reserves the right
to ask you to leave if your conduct is disrespectful and/or disruptive.
HONESTY POLICY:
Per 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 for the work in question. All papers will be run through a public and private database to check for plagiarism.
LIBRARY USE: Students are encouraged to utilize the resources in the Meyerhoeffer Library, to assist in achieving the course goals.
Disabilities: 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 e-mail Scott Scholes, sscholes@csi.edu.
CSI E-MAIL : Since email is the primary source of written communication with students, all registered CSI students get a college email
account. Student e-mail addresses have the following format: <address>@eaglemail.csi.edu where <address> is a name selected by
the student as a part of activating his/her account. Students activate their accounts and check their CSI e-mail online at
http://eaglemail.csi.edu. Instructors and various offices send messages to these student accounts. Students must check their CSI email accounts regularly to avoid missing important messages and deadlines. At the beginning of each semester free training
sessions are offered to students who need help in using their accounts.
On-line course evaluation statement: To help instructors continually improve courses, students are strongly encouraged to go
online to http://evaluation.csi.edu and complete anonymous evaluations which open two weeks before the end of the course and
close the last day of class. When students enter the site, they find evaluations for their enrolled courses. Thank you for this valuable
input!
Dropping this Course: A student may drop a course or all courses prior to the end of late registration (first Friday of the term)
without it being recorded on the student’s official transcript. A student initiated drop after the late registration period is considered
a withdrawal, and results in the grade of W. Students may drop courses online until the end of the late registration period. In order
to withdraw from one or more courses following late registration, a completed registration form is required. Instructions on the
form indicate when a signature of instructor and/or Financial Aid advisor is required. The completed form may be submitted to
Admissions & Records or any off-campus center. Students may withdraw from the course up until 11/14 but may not do so after that
date. You will receive an F If you do not drop the course but discontinue coursework.
Course outcomes:
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Understand how to apply sociological theory and principles to the struggles of racial, ethnic, religious, and immigrant groups
Comprehend differences and similarities in the experiences of a wide variety of racial, ethnic, religious, and immigrant groups.
Understand contemporary and historical immigration patterns
Comprehend the meaning of “Race” and Ethnicity and the consequences there of.
Understand the causes and responses of prejudice, discrimination, and racism.
Comprehend how political, religious, economic, and other social factors create and fuel racial, religious, and ethnic conflict.
ASSESMENT METHODS: Students will be assessed on these outcomes through examinations, papers, presentations, and
attendance.
GRADING
Reflection assignments: During the semester there will be five “reflection” assignments. Each student is required to complete three
of them (5 points each). Each will give the student the opportunity to offer his/her opinion on a given topic. These assignments will
cover a variety of topics related to the course and will be issued later on this semester. The student will write a response to the
assigned question or topic that must be between ½ to one full page (double spaced, 11 or 12 font, and normal margins). The topic
will be assigned on a Friday and due the following Wednesday to blackboard (11 pm).
Papers and Presentations: There will be Three (3) papers and a presentation this semester; totaling 90 points. All Papers must be
submitted through blackboard – emailed or personally handed papers will not be accepted. No late papers will be accepted
Family Immigration paper (25 points) – this paper will require the student to do some family history work. The purpose of this paper
is to tell of your family’s immigration experience by ascertaining the dates of immigration, the nationality, and the socio-cultural
experiences of the students predecessors. While some may have ancestors deriving from several nationalities the student is only
required to choose one. Students will also report on any current family practices that originally come from other nations. The
instructor understands that it is not possible for all students to complete this paper. The student and instructor will make
arrangements for a replacement paper. DUE – Wednesday 10/12. See assignment guidelines for further information.
Affirmative Action Paper (20 points) – One of the most widely misunderstood social phenomena is that of Affirmative Action. Thus,
this semester the students will read a book on reserve at the library about Affirmative Action. This is a collaborative paper. Thus
each student will read only a segment of the book and then write a summary of that portion. Please see Assignment guidelines for
further instructions. Due – Monday 9/26.
Group paper and presentation (45 points) – In a group of three, students will select a special topic not covered in class and write a
paper on their experience within the United States. Students will also give a 7-minute presentation on the topic. Presentations will
occur the last week of this course and will be worth 15 of the 40 points. A portion of the paper grade will be given by your peers
within the group to discourage freeriding. To ensure the students are on the right track an outline will be due – Monday 11/14.
Paper Due –Friday 12/2. See assignment guidelines for further information.
EXAMS: There will be Four (4) exams during the semester; each is worth 50 points. The exams will include multiple choice and essay
questions. The exams will be based upon lectures and text. The exams will be in class the day scheduled for the exam. The student
may take an exam late with a 15 point penalty. If the student will be gone on the scheduled exam day due to a school activity, the
student will need to take the exam prior to leaving to avoid the penalty. It is up to the student to notify and schedule arrangements
with the instructor. The final exam will be a collaborative exam covering chapters 9, 12, 13, and 15. For this exam the students
should work together in answering the questions. This exam will be open note but not open book. It may not be taken late.
Syllabus Quiz (5 points): Student must take a syllabus quiz located in blackboard. The quiz will be 10 multiple choice questions
covering material on this syllabus. The student must take this quiz by Friday 8/29 by noon or the student will risk being dropped
from the course.
Tentative Exam Dates:
#1 – Wednesday 9/21 (chapters 1,2, and 5)
#2 – Monday 10/17(chapters 3,4, 6, and Affirmative Action paper)
#3 – Monday 11/21 (chapters 7,8, 10, and 11)
#4 - Finals Week (Chapter 9, 12,13, 15 - Collaborative and open note)
Attendance: Attendance is expected. Attendance will be taken at the end of each class period; each is worth one point. Points are
only granted to students who attend the full class period. However, the instructor understands that sometimes “life” happens and
the student is unable to attend class at times. Thus, each student is granted three days of acceptable absence where the missed day
will not count against your grade. There are 43 class periods this semester; total attendance is worth 40 points. Any points earned
over 40 will count as extra-credit. Students who are involved in a school activity and who will miss class need to notify me with a
written note, prior to that class period. A class missed to required participation in a verified school activity will not be consider an
absence.
Point Scale
Exams x 4 - 200 points
Syllabus Quiz - 5
Attendance - 40 points
Reflection papers x 3 – 15 points
Family history – 25 points
Affirmative Action paper – 20 points
Paper and presentation – 45 points
Total points - 350
A 90% = 315 – 350
B 80% = 280 – 314.5
C 70% = 245 – 279.5
D 60% = 210 – 244.5
F 59% ↓ = 209.5 points and below
Race/Ethnic Relations Lecture and reading requirements
Grade Breakdown
August
M 22 - Syllabus Day
W 24 – Lecture: Stranger/Minority/Migration
Reading: Social Distance (5-7)
F 26 - Lecture: Race/Ethnicity
Reading: Ethnocentrism (12-14)
M 29 - Lecture: Sociology Theory
Reading: Interactionist Theory (19-20)
W 31 - L: The Enemy
R: No reading
September
F2L: Movie
R: No Reading
W 7 – L: Culture change/Subculture
R: Concept of culture/ Reality Construct (24-28)
F9L: Social Class/Stratification
R: Intergroup Conflict (36-37)
M 12 - L: Early immigration periods
R: English (101-103)
W 14 – Catch up day (see instructor email)
F 16 - L: French/Germans
R: Dutch (103-105)
M 19 - L: Irish
R: Scandinavians (114-116)
W 21 - EXAM 1 (Chapters 1-2, 5)
F 23 - L: Prejudice/ Sociology of prejudice
R: Psychology of Prejudice (46-49)
M26 - L:Stereotyping/Ethnophaulisms (Affirmative Action
paper due)
R: Can prejudice be reduced? (57-58)
W 28 - L: Discrimination
R: Racial Profiling (64)
F 30 - L: Minority Group Response
R: Assimilation Theory (85-86)
October
M 3 - L: Minority Group Strategies
R: Amalgamation theory (86-88)
W 5 - L: Dominant group Responses/Hate Groups
R: Accommodation theory (88-89)
F7L: Sociohistorical perspective/Polish
R: Slavic Americans (131-133)
W 12 - L: Italians (Family history paper due)
R: Russians (135-137)
F 14 - L: Greeks/Social Analysis
R: Romani (145-146)
M 17 - Exam 2 (Chapters 3-4, 6, and Affirmative Action
paper)
W 19 - L: Native Americans (pages 153-166)
R: Hawaiians (box page 155)
F 21 -
L: Present Day/ Red Power
R: Courts/B.I.A/Urban N.A. (176-180)
M 24 - Movie
R: No Reading
W 26 - L: Chinese
R: Model Minority (215-216)
F 28 - L: Japanese
R: Recent immigrants (200)
M 31 - L: Asian Indians/Vietnamese
R: Filipino (200-203)
November
W 2 - L: Slavery/ Jim Crow/ Tulsa Riot
R: Afro Caribbeans (269-272)
F4L: Desegregation/Urban Unrest
R: African Born Americans (272-273)
M 7 - L: Special lecture
R: Race or Class (267-269)
W 9 - L: Mexican Americans
R: Struct. Conditions/Cultural Differentiation (282284)
M 14 - L: Puerto Ricans (Outline Due)
R: Attitudes/Attributes/Patterns (284-286)
W 16 - L: Cubans
R: Hispanic Progress (286-290)
F 18 - L: Special Lecture
R: No Reading
M 21 - Exam 3
M 28 - Movie
W 30 - Movie
December
F2Movie/ Group Paper due
M 5 - Presentations
W 7 - Presentations
F9Presentations