MANATEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
BRADENTON CAMPUS - Summer 2008
Class dates: 6/18/2008 – 7/28/2008
Meeting Times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00 – 9:50
OR
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00 – 11:50
COURSE TITLE:
COURSE NUMBER:
General Sociology
SYG 2430 (CRN30584 and CRN30585)
This course meets area III for the A.A. and the A.S. General Education requirements. This is an
introduction to the scientific study of basic sociological concepts, methods of investigation,
interpretation of professional and popular writings and fields of application.
READINGS:
Two books are required:
TEXTBOOK TITLE:
PUBLISHER’S NAME:
AUTHOR’S NAME:
Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials, 6th edition
Thomson/Wadsworth Publishing Company
Diana Kendall
TEXTBOOK TITLE:
PUBLISHER’S NAME:
AUTHOR’S NAME:
Sociological Odyssey, 2nd edition
Thomson/Wadsworth Publishing Company
Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler
INSTRUCTOR:
Gary M. Voelkl, Ph.D.
gvoelkl@mccfl.edu
Dr. Voelkl holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Purdue University.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York He has held
faculty and teaching positions at Indiana-Purdue University in Indianapolis, Miami
University, The State University of New York at Brockport, The University of South
Florida, Keiser College and Everglades University. In addition to his teaching, for 15
years Dr. Voelkl worked with Kodak, most recently as Corporate Manager of Diversity
Initiatives. He also served as Manager of Kodak’s Work/Life Programs and as an
Employee Assistance Program Counselor for the company.
INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY:
If you have any questions or issues about the course, your performance or circumstances I should
be aware of, I am always available before or after class. I can also be reached any day by e-mail.
If you would like a more extended face to face meeting, we will set a meeting time.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The primary goal of the course is for each of you to develop what C. Wright Mills called
the “sociological imagination,” or the awareness of the relationship between our personal
experiences and the social forces that shape them. Throughout the course, we will explore
our role as social beings whose ideas, perceptions, lifestyles, limitations and opportunities
are shaped by the various configurations of social structures in our individual lives. It is
my hope that, whether you decide to purse additional sociology courses or stop with this
class, you will find it useful to look at situations or problems from a sociological
perspective in your future career and everyday life.
It is my hope that you get involved this term. There will be lectures, of course, but please do not
spend the entire class period simply listening! Come to class prepared and willing to contribute.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
The student at the successful completion of this course will be able to:
1. Define the term sociology and the basic vocabulary of the discipline.
2. Differentiate between the three major sociological perspectives.
3. Distinguish between the variety of ways that sociological data is gathered, evaluated
and used.
4. Apply the basic terms and concepts used in analyzing cultures.
5. Examine the meaning and implications of socialization as a lifelong process.
6. Illustrate the deviance is a feature in all societies.
7. Analyze the role of sociological data in policy decisions.
8. Identify basic patterns of conflict present in social life on the interpersonal level and
among groups and nations.
9. Describe the organization and functions of the social institutions.
10. Examine course content through reading, writing, speaking or listening.
11. Demonstrate the use of technology through class assignments and/or activities.
12. Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze and organize information from a variety of
sources through classroom discussion or activities.
GRADED ACTITIVIES:
Your final grade in the course will be determined by your performance in four areas. Each is
explained in more detail below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Quizzes on Lectures and Reading:
Midterm Exam:
Final Exam:
Class Participation
45%
20%
20%
15%
100%
Extra Credit Available for satisfactory completion of reaction papers to articles in the reader.
The details are below.
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GRADED ACTITIVIES DETAILS:
Quizzes on Lectures and Reading: Four multiple-choice quizzes will be given during the
semester. They will cover the assigned chapters from the textbook and lecture material.
Midterm Exam: The midterm exam will be held on the fourth class week and will be multiple
choice.
Final Exam: The final exam is multiple choice and will include course material covered after the
midterm exam.
Class Participation: This will be determined by your prepared and active participation in class
discussion throughout the semester. Attendance is a significant factor in this grade.
Optional Extra Credit:
Reactions to Reader Articles: Extra credit is available for reacting to chapters in the reader,
Sociological Odyssey. Your reaction to each chapter should be about one, double spaced page.
Should you choose to do these papers, you will turn them in at the end of the semester. In each of
your papers, include the following information:




What were the main points made by the article?
What is your impression of the article?
What did you learn from the article that you were not aware of?
Did you feel the article to be worthwhile reading?
As the semester progresses (and your understanding of sociology grows) you should demonstrate
your sociological knowledge and thinking in your writing. If someone were to read your paper,
would they feel it had been written by a college level student who has knowledge of sociology?
Or, would it read as if it could have been written by anyone with an opinion?
Extra Credit Available: 20 papers completed satisfactorily = 10 points added to final grade
10 papers completed satisfactorily = 5 points added to final grade
NOTE: This is the only form of extra credit available in this course.
GRADING SCALE:
Your final grade in the course will be determined from the following scale:
A:
B+:
C+:
D:
F:
93-100%
87-89%
77-79%
60-69%
Below 60%
A-: 90-92%
B: 83-86%
C: 73-76%
B-: 80-82%
C-: 70-72%
Tests will be given on the days indicated in the syllabus. You are expected to be in class unless
you have a legitimate excuse. If this is the case, contact me soon as possible regarding your
absence so that we can discuss your situation. Make-ups will be available only in the case of a
verified/documented absence.
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COURSE SCHEDULE:
Week Date
1
6/18
6/19
2
6/23
6/24
6/25
6/26
3
6/30
4
5
6
7

Reading Due
None
Text: Ch 1
Text: Ch 2
Text: Ch 2, 3
Text: Ch 3
Text: Ch 4
Text: Ch 4, 5
7/1
7/2
7/3
7/7
7/8
7/9
7/10
7/14
7/15
7/16
7/17
7/21
7/22
7/23
Text: Ch 6
Text: Ch 6
Text: Ch 7
Text: Ch 7
Text: Ch 8
Text: Ch 9
Text: Ch 9
Text: Ch 10
Text: Ch 10
Text: Ch 11
Text: Ch 11
Text: Ch 12
Text: Ch 13
Text: Ch 13, 14
7/24
7/25
Text: Ch 15, 16
Class Content
The Sociological Perspective
The Sociological Perspective and Social Research
Culture
Culture and Socialization
Socialization, Quiz 1
Social Structure and Interaction
Social Structure and Interaction, Groups and
Organizations
Deviance and Crime
Deviance and Crime, Quiz 2
Class and Stratification
Class and Stratification
Global Stratification, Midterm Exam
Race and Ethnicity
Race and Ethnicity
Sex and Gender
Sex and Gender, Quiz 3
Families and Intimate Relationships
Families and Intimate Relationships
Education and Religion
Politics and the Economy
Politics and the Economy, Health Care and
Disability, Quiz 4
Population and Urbanization, Collective Behavior
Final Exam
Course requirements are subject to change by the instructor as deemed appropriate to
meet the needs of the program and students.
It is the responsibility of each student to read and comprehend the syllabus and guidelines prior
to the end of the first week of class. After carefully reading the syllabus, if there is anything about
the course requirements and/or grading you do not understand, be sure to contact the instructor.
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IMPORTANT POLICIES AND PRODEDURES:
Attendance: Rules regarding class attendance at the college are available in the MCC Catalog.
Please note that students may be asked to withdraw after missing four hours of class. Attendance
in this class is expected and will impact you class participation grade.
Withdrawing from the Class: In accordance with the Manatee Community college policy as
stated in the college catalog, students may withdraw from any course or all courses without
academic penalty of a WF if they do so by the withdrawal deadline as listed in the Manatee
Community College academic calendar. This semester this date is July 14th. The student must
take responsibility for initiating the withdrawal procedure. Students are strongly encouraged to
talk with their instructors first before taking any withdrawal action.
Effective Fall 1997, a student will be permitted a maximum of three attempts per course. An
“attempt” is defined as registration in a class after the end of the registration period. Upon the
third attempt, a student cannot be withdrawn and will receive a grade for that course.
A student should take responsibility for initiating the withdrawal procedure. A change of
registration form should be obtained from the Office of Educational Services (located in the
Student Services Building on the Bradenton Campus and in the Administration Building on the
South Campus), completed by the student and returned to the Office of Educational Services. If
this procedure is not followed, a grade of “F” may be recorded for the student and calculated in
the grade point average.
Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism, which is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material,
data, direct or indirect wording of another scholar and /or writer – professional or student –
without giving proper credit, will result in an “F”, and could involve expulsion, suspension, or
any lesser penalty imposed for plagiarism.
Standards of Conduct: Students are expected to abide by all Lancer Student Handbook
guidelines.
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