SOC 101: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Dr. Jack Stauder
Fall 2014
Office: Liberal Arts 392F
University Extension
e-mail: “jstauder@umassd.edu”
Office hours MWF 1:00-1:30 pm, Th 5:30-6:15 pm
An inquiry into modern American society and culture, with an emphasis on current trends in the
economy, government, family life and moral values that will challenge and shape your future.
READINGS. The following books are required:
Dinesh D’Souza, What’s So Great About America
Charles Murray, Coming Apart
Charles Sykes, A Nation of Moochers
Leo Johnson, Understanding the Global Warming Hoax
(2009 Expanded and Updated Edition)
Jonathan V. Last, What to Expect When No One’s Expecting
Reading assignments and class schedule are found on an attached sheet.
GRADES. A student's final grade will be based on points accumulated through weekly quiz
questions and the Final Exam. Extra credit will be awarded for participation in class discussion.
Grades will be based on an academic curve. In order to pass this course, a student must score at
least half the points of the highest scoring students.
Final Exam. There will be a final exam on December 11. It will consist of a mixture of true/false,
multiple choice, identification, and open-ended questions that can be answered briefly. Questions
will cover the whole semester and will come from the readings, lectures, class discussions, and films.
The only “study guide” for this exam will be the reading questions for each book. Students are
expected to take their own notes to review for the exams. The final exam will be worth 50 points,
or about 40% of the points possible during this course.
Reading Questions. The instructor will distribute in advance the reading questions for each
assignment, in order to guide students to the most important issues. Reading questions will often be
the basis for quiz questions, and will be reflected among the questions on the Final Exam. These
questions will also be used for class discussion. Therefore it is important for a student to do the
reading and know the answers to the questions before the assigned dates (see attached Schedule).
Quizzes. There will be three quiz questions for each class after the opening week, usually two
questions at the beginning of class, and one question during the second half of class. Each question
will be worth two points, or a weekly total of six points. Quizzes will be based on the “Reading
Questions” (see above) or on other information presented in class –videos, DVDs, lectures or
discussion. Quiz questions and papers together will determine about 60% of your grade. At midsemester, you will be given an estimate of your grade at that time.
A student missing class, or scoring less than three points on a weekly quiz, may make this up two
times only during the semester by writing a make-up paper answering the reading questions (see
below). Make-ups should be submitted within two weeks of the week being made up.
(continued, next page)
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Written Assignment and Make-ups. On Thursday November 27 (Thanksgiving), there will be
no class. However, there is reading assignments for this week, and a two and a half page paper is due by
the next class. The paper should answer the Reading Questions for that date. The same is required
for a make-up. These questions should be answered in order, and each answer should be about one
paragraph, usually a quarter of a page minimum. Pages should be printed on only one side if
possible, double-spaced, and neatly presented, stapled or clipped together. The spacing should be
standard, as well as the font (12 or 14 point).
A satisfactory assignment or makeup paper will receive the same number of points as the average of
all the other weekly quiz point totals a student has earned at the time grades are calculated.
However, papers may be rejected or lose points for such causes as
* failure to answer all the reading questions
* for being skimpy, less than two full pages
* failure to provide a substantive, serious answer to each question
* failure to provide answers in one’s own words -- do not copy from the book!
* lack of evidence the reading was completed or comprehended
* superficiality in content
* multiple mistakes in grammar & spelling
* messiness or shoddiness of presentation
* lack of paperclip, staple or other binding -- folding and tearing is unacceptable!
* late submission, more than two weeks after due, or after the week being made up
* Note: no papers will be accepted via e-mail. Only hard copy will be accepted.
Participation. Students will also receive credit for participation in course discussions. This is the
only extra credit offered in this course. Every student is welcome to join class discussions, with
questions, opinions, observations, or whatever contributes to the question at hand. The instructor
will note the contributions of students, and raise students’ grades according to the quality and
frequency of their participation. Students who participate often and well over the semester will be
rewarded an extra two steps to boost their grade (e.g., a B- would become a B+, or a B+ would
become an A, etc.) Students who participate moderately will receive one extra one step added to
their grade (e.g., a B- would become a B, or a B+ would become an A-, etc.) (Note: “F” students in
terms of points earned are ineligible for any step raises for participation.) Students who do not participate much
or who do not participate seriously will receive no grade increase.
Negative Participation. Students will have their grades lowered by one or more steps for the following
infractions:
– constant talking or whispering with neighboring students while the instructor is talking, or
during an audiovisual presentation.
– leaving the room (whether to return or not) while class is in session, without prior permission of
the instructor, unless there is some emergency that can be explained to the instructor. (There will
always be a ten minute break half way through class when students may leave the classroom.)
– using a smart phone or any electronic device for any reason during class after it begins.
(This prohibition does not apply during the class break.) All electronic devices should be stowed
away: having one in sight will be considered an infraction of this prohibition. This prohibition also
includes the use of laptops. Use of electronic devices during the Final Exam will result in an “F”.
The instructor will not necessarily interrupt class to confront these behaviors, but will simply lower your
grade at the end of the course if you have indulged in them.
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SOC 101, SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:
Sept. 11:
What’s So Great About America, Preface and Chapters 1-3
Sept. 18:
What’s So Great About America, Chapters 4-6
Sept. 25:
Coming Apart, pages 1-68
Oct. 2:
Coming Apart, pages 69-121
Oct. 9:
Coming Apart, pages 124-167
Oct. 16:
Coming Apart, pages 168-231
Oct. 23:
Coming Apart, pages 234-306
Oct. 30:
A Nation of Moochers, Preface and Chapters 1-6
Nov. 6:
A Nation of Moochers , Chapters 7-11
Nov. 13:
A Nation of Moochers, Chapters 12-20
[Nov. 13: last day to withdraw from courses]
Nov. 20:
Understanding the Global Warming Hoax, whole book
Nov. 27:
What to Expect When No One’s Expecting, Introduction and Chapters 1-4
No class (Thanksgiving). However, a paper is due on this reading assignment,
the same as a make-up paper (see syllabus), to be submitted December 4.
Dec. 4:
What to Expect When No One’s Expecting, Chapters 5-9
Dec. 11:
Final Exam