SOCIOLOGY 105E – INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Summer 2015- Harlaxton
Mon-Thur: 10:30-12:30
Office Hours: By Appointment in the Visiting Faculty Office
Dr. Mari Plikuhn
Email: mp168@evansville.edu
Catalog Description:
Introduces major concepts used by sociologists to understand and predict the behavior of individuals in group
settings. (3 credits)
This course meets the General Education requirement for Outcome 9: understanding core concepts of
society, human behavior, and civic knowledge; and Overlay Outcome B: global diversity- U.S. component.
Course Learning Objectives and Goals:
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1) describe sociology and its role as the scientific
study of society; 2) define and explain its core concepts and theories; 3) articulate a broader sociological
perspective; and 4) critically evaluate information in a global society. 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, 11th Edition (or International 11th 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.
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.
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.
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 reflection papers together,
copying another’s work on exams or reflections, plagiarism (please see the handout on our course
Blackboard site “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.”
As a condition of taking this course, all papers will be subject to submission for textual similarity review to
Turnitin.com. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database. Any student caught violating the Academic Honor Code in any way will be given a zero on that
assignment, reflection, 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.”
Extra Credit, Incompletes, and Withdrawal:
There will be no opportunities for extra credit, regardless of your current grade. Please study accordingly to
achieve the grade you desire. Incompletes will not be given except under extraordinary circumstances. It is
the responsibility of the student to be aware of the final date to withdraw from the course and still receive a
“W” on the transcript. This date is readily available on the University of Evansville academic calendar.
Grading:
Exams – 2 x 125 points each
Quizzes – 10 x 10 points each
Assignments – 7 x 20 points each
Total Possible Points
B+
C+
D+
=
=
=
250 points
100 points
140 points
490 points
A
=
438 - 429
389 - 380
340 - 331
F
=
490 - 439
B
=
C
=
D
=
291 or less
428 - 390
379 - 341
330 - 292
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, Bluetooth, 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 and will
not receive attendance points. Also, please refrain from bringing tablets 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.
Credit Hour Policy and Course Time Commitment:
This course meets the federal requirements of 15 in-class hours plus an expected 30 hours of out-of-class
work per credit hour. You are expected to attend each scheduled course period for the entire assigned time;
class begins on time and I do not let class out early. However, the time you spend in class is only a portion
on your expected time commitment. For every hour you spend in class, it is expected that you will spend
two hours outside of class in preparing for or critically examining the course material and content. This
includes: reading the chapters, working on assignments, and preparing for quizzes and exams. This
expectation of time is the standard for all 3-credit courses at the University of Evansville. Please consider
this time commitment when budgeting your time across the condensed semester.
ADA Notice:
It is the policy and practice of the University of Evansville to make reasonable accommodations for students
with properly documented disabilities. Students should contact the Office of Counseling and Health
Education at 812-488-2663 to seek services or accommodations for disabilities. Written notification to
faculty from the Office of Counseling and Health Education is required for academic accommodations.
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. You can also email me with any further questions or concerns.
Course Outline
Att
√
Class
Chapter Assignment
Welcome to SOC 105!
May 18
Why Do We Study Society?
May 19 Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective
Due
Ch 1 Quiz
Assign 1
May 20
May 21 Chapter 2: Culture
Ch 2 Quiz
May 25 Chapter 3: Socialization
Ch 3 Quiz
Assign 2
May 26
May 27 Chapter 4: Social Structure & Social Interaction
Ch 4 Quiz
May 28 Chapter 5: How Sociologists Do Research
Ch 5 Quiz
Jun 1
Test 1
Jun 2
Chapter 10: Social Class in the United States
Ch 10 Quiz
Jun 3
Chapter 11: Gender and Sex
Ch 11 Quiz
Assign 4
Jun 4
Jun 8
Assign 3
Chapter 18: Religion
Ch 18 Quiz
Assign 5
Jun 9
Jun 10
Chapter 12: Race and Ethnicity
Ch 12 Quiz
Jun 11
Chapter 16: The Family
Ch 16 Quiz
Assign 6
Assign 7
Jun 15
Jun 16
Chapter 17: Education
Jun 17
TEST 2
Ch 17 Quiz