S
105
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I
S
Office Hours : By Appointment in the Visiting Faculty Office Email : mp168@evansville.edu
Course Goals:
This is an introductory course designed to increase your knowledge of sociology and its concepts and theories. We will explore the basic social institutions, systems of inequality, and social forces that shape the world in which we live. Our main focus will be on the intersections of social institutions and how they impact our lives.
Required Text:
Henslin, James M. 2012. Sociology, 11 th
Edition (or International 11 th
Edition) . Boston: Allyn and
Bacon. ISBN: 9780205230969
Contacting Me:
The best way to reach me is via email, as I check my email frequently. Please allow 24 hours before emailing me again. The best address to reach me is mp168@evansville.edu. Please include your full name and our class number (SOC 105) with each email. Also, feel free to visit me or schedule an appointment for a time that is more convenient to you.
Attendance Policy:
Per the Harlaxton handbook: Attendance in class is mandatory and only permitted for verifiable medical reasons or personal situations excused with prior approval of the Principal or in unusual circumstances the
Dean of Students, who will confirm the absence in writing to the faculty members concerned. Additional unexcused absences will result in a grade penalty, namely the lowering of the student’s final grade by one letter for each absence in excess of the permitted quota.
Given the amount of material covered, it is in your best interest to attend all classes. Some of the material covered in class is not found in the text but will be on the test. Attendance will daily record your presence.
Because this is a condensed 5-week semester, only 1 absence will be permitted before the penalty of one letter grade per absence begins. This means that you can miss one class for any reason without penalty; after one missed class, your final grade will be reduced by a letter grade for each excessive absence.
Tardiness is unprofessional and disruptive to your fellow classmates. Per the Harlaxton policy:
“In the case of a student who is, without good reason, more than ten minutes late arriving for class, the faculty member may deem the offender inexcusably absent for that class period.” In addition, you will not be allowed to turn in assignments or take your quiz or exam. Leaving class early is equally disruptive, so please avoid it.
I respect your time; if I am late to class, you will receive 5 bonus points for the day if you are in attendance.
Examinations:
There are two multiple-choice and short-answer exams given in this course, each of which is worth 125 points. These exams are worth 250 points total, or over 51% of your final grade. The dates of each exam are provided on the course outline. Late exams will be given without penalty ONLY IF prior arrangements have been made with the instructor or in the event of a documented emergency. If prior arrangements are not made, a make-up test will be given. These tests are similar to, although not necessarily identical to, the regular exam. Make-up exams will be scheduled by appointment only for times other than the regular class period. If you miss a test, you will lose 10 points from the test score per day (including the day of the test) that the test is not taken. For example, if you take the test after our class time on the day of the test, you will lose 10 points; the day after the scheduled exam day, you will lose 15 points, etc. If the missed test is not

taken before the next test, the missed test will automatically receive a grade of zero. Students with tests receiving a score less than 70% (87 out of 125) will meet with me during office hours or by appointment to discuss ways of improving future test scores.
Reading Quizzes:
There will be 11 reading quizzes throughout the semester, one for each chapter we cover. You should read each chapter prior to the class we begin that chapter. Quizzes will be at the start of class on the first day of each chapter; quiz dates are listed on the course outline. Each quiz will consist of 10 multiple-choice or short-answer questions over the chapter and will be worth 10 points total. If you do not attend a class that has a reading quiz, you will not be allowed to make it up. Your lowest reading quiz score will be dropped for your final grade. Quizzes are worth 100 points total, or over 20% of your final grade.
Assignments:
Seven short assignments will allow you to put what you have learned from the chapters into practice.
These assignments will be worth 20 points each. The due dates and topics for each of these assignments are listed on the course outline. Assignments must be submitted at start of class on the due day (except
Assignment 5, due via email by midnight on due date). Assignments turned in late will lose 5 points for each day they are late ( including after the start of class on the due date). The due dates for assignments are listed on the course outline. Assignments are worth 140 points total, or nearly 29% of your final grade.
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty of any sort will not be tolerated. This includes working on assignment papers together, copying another’s work on exams or assignments, plagiarism (please see the handout “Avoiding
Plagiarism” for a more detailed description of defining and avoiding plagiarism), and all other forms of cheating. If you are unsure, ask me first . Per our Academic Policies and Procedures: “Ignorance is not accepted as a valid excuse for a violation of the Academic Honor Code.”
Any student caught violating the Academic Honor Code in any way will be given a zero on that assignment, quiz, or exam and their actions will be reported to their Advisor(s) and the Dean of Students. If this violation is the first offense reported to the Dean of Students, you may be allowed to informally resolve the incident. If it is the second Honor Code violation reported to the Dean (from any class), your actions will result in a hearing before the Honor Council and may include greater penalties. If it is the third Honor Code violation, you will be expelled from the University. Please be aware: there are several resources on campus for help on assignments, papers, and studying for exams, including coming to office hours and talking to me! Do not fail an assignment or class because you did not utilize these resources.
As in all University of Evansville courses, we will abide by, and commit to, the Academic Honor Code:
“I understand that any work which I submit for course credit will imply that I have adhered to this Academic Honor Code: I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid nor will I tolerate an environment which condones the use of unauthorized aid.”
Grading:
Exams – 2 x 125 points each
Quizzes – 10 x 10 points each
Assignments – 7 x 20 points each
Total Possible Points
250 points
100 points
140 points
490 points
B+ =
C+ =
A =
438 - 429
389 - 380
490 - 439
B
C
=
=
428 - 390
379 - 341

D+ = 340 - 331 D =
F = 291 or less
330 - 292
Extra Credit:
There will be no opportunities for extra credit, regardless of your current grade. Please study accordingly to achieve the grade you desire.
Class Discussion:
Sociology is a discipline covering many interesting topics that can often lead to lively discussion. You do not always have to agree, but please remember to be courteous and respectful of other students and other ideas and opinions. Disrespect will not be tolerated; those unable to remain respectful will be asked to leave the discussion and will be considered absent for that class period.
Electronic Devices:
Please make sure to turn off and leave in your bag all cell phones, smart phones, earpieces, earbuds, headphones, iPods, and all other electronic or noise-making devices before entering class. They are disruptive to your fellow classmates. If your cell phone rings during class, you will be counted absent during that class period. Also, please refrain from bringing netbooks or laptops to class.
Syllabus Changes:
This syllabus and the information contained within it are subject to change. Any new information will be distributed from the instructor as soon as changes are made. Students are expected to keep up-to-date with any changes to the course or calendar changes. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.
ADA Notice:
It is the policy and practice of the University of Evansville to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification to faculty from the Office of Counseling Services
(OCS) is required for any academic accommodations. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with me and allow two weeks notice. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the accommodation can be received on a timely basis. For questions about services for students with disabilities or procedures for requesting services, contact the OCS at 812-488-2663.
Emergency Procedures:
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Should circumstances occur which necessitate these changes, I will email you with a revised course outline and grading scale. In addition, I will post information about any changes for this course on our course
Blackboard web page. You can also email me with any further questions or concerns.

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