SOCIOLOGY 300: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Spring 2008 TELECOURSE INSTRUCTOR: PAM FLAHERTY 3 UNITS Class meets in RS263 This telecourse is designed to introduce students to the discipline of Sociology. We will begin by studying basic sociological concepts and developing the sociological imagination, and progress to learning how to apply the sociological imagination to everyday life. The televised programs are augmented by the textbook and the telecourse study guide, in such a way as to maximize the benefit to the student. This, of course, requires that students carefully view all programs, read the assigned chapters and complete the assignments in the study guide. You will need to purchase the following books: 1. Sociology in a Changing World, Eighth Edition by William Kornblum, 2. Telecourse Guide for sociology in a changing World, Third Edition by Jane A. Penney This guide has been specially prepared to cover material in both the video and text lessons. Telecourse Activities Quick Guide 1. 2. 3. 4. Attend Orientation Session and 5 other meetings as assigned. Follow "Review" steps in telecourse guide for each lesson. (see Review below) Complete one exercise per lesson, under "Related Activities" in Telecourse Guide. Take two Exams. Each Lesson in your Telecourse Guide will have a review section with lesson completion instructions. Most reviews ask you to do the following: Review Activities a. Scan the Lesson Focus Point Questions. b. Read the assigned text pages. c. View the video. d. Your Review only: Write answers to the Lesson Focus Point questions. e. Choose one "Related Activities" assignment in your telecourse guide at the end of each lesson, and turn in to your instructor according to instructions below. Assignments are due by the Friday after the weekly Mom/Wed video presentations. f. Your Review Only: Take the Practice Test and check your answers with the Answer Key located at the end of each lesson. 1 Instructions for submitting Related Activities Assignments: There are 4 ways to submit assignments: 1. Drop the assignment off to Pam Flaherty's mailbox in Rm RN 226 2. Mail it to: Pam Flaherty BSS Division, 3835 Freeport Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95822 3. Drop the assignment off in person to Pam Flaherty's office in RS 282. 4. Submit by email carefully following email instructions: email to flaherp@scc.losrios.edu Your name, lesson# and Related Activities #'s must be in the subject line of your email and on the first page of any attachments. Do not send zipped files. If you are in doubt paste the assignment into the email message. I. Attend Orientation Session and five (5) other class meetings. The orientation session will be held at the following time and place: SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE Thursday – January 24, 2008 5:30-6:55pm RS263 Anyone who cannot attend the orientation session MUST contact the instructor at 650-2940 or at flaherp@scc.losrios.edu prior to January 24, 2008. (If it is necessary to leave a message, please state your name and phone number clearly and repeat them once.) II. View 22 telelesson programs entitled Exploring Society: Introduction to Sociology. Programs can be viewed on AT&T Comcast Channel 15 on Monday (first weekly 30 minute program) and Wednesday (second weekly 30 minute program) from 4:30pm until 5pm., or by request in the Sacramento City College Learning Resource Center. Videos can also be rented by contacting Jory Hadsell at 558-2635.Students are encouraged to videotape programs and view them at a convenient time. Note that Program repeats 17, 18, 19, and 20, repeat at the end of the semester. III. Read the assigned chapters in the textbook, "Sociology in a Changing World, 8th edition, by William Kornblum, published by Thomson/Wadsworth, at the assigned times. IV. Complete the study guide assignments in Telecourse Guide for Exploring Society: Introduction to Sociology, 3rd edition by Jane A. Penney, published by Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007 at the assigned times. Complete one exercise under the title "Related Activities" for each 2 chapter. The "Related Activities" assignments (only) will be turned in for points. The assigned "Related Activities" exercises should be placed in my mailbox in RN226, e-mailed to flaherp@scc.losrios.edu or, dropped off (or under the door in my office, RS282 or mailed to Pam Flaherty BSS Division, Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95822.. The due dates (by Friday after the Wednesday program) are guidelines for keeping up with the course. However all related activities for programs 1-12 must be turned in by the exam night for Exam #1 and Lessons 13-22 must be turned in by Exam #2. If you are turning in work on review classes or the night of the exam you must bring hard copies of your work to the exam. Lecture and Review Sessions These sessions will provide an opportunity to review course material and clarify any problems which may arise. The lecture session is for clarification of the foundation material and to return the first assignment. It is important that the first assignment be reviewed during the lecture session, so it will not be accepted after that time. Review sessions are primarily for questions, but I will also try to help you focus on the most important elements covered in that section of the course. All in-class meetings will be held in RS263 from 5:30-6:55pm on the following Thursdays: MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Orientation: 1/24/08 Lecture: 2/7/08 Review #1: 3/6/08 Exam #1: 3/13/08 (Lessons 1-12) Review #2: 4/24/08 Exam #2: 5/1/08 (Lessons 13-22) The class will meet on the Sacramento City College campus (RS263) on the dates and for the purposes listed in this syllabus. All exams will be preceded by a review session that will help you prepare for the test. Please bring a picture I.D. to all exams. Course Objectives 1) Demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the relationship between the individual, culture and society. 2) Develop the ability to analyze everyday experience from a sociological perspective, and learn to use the sociological imagination. 3) Compare, contrast and apply the major theoretical orientations in sociology to social issues. 3) Analyze the societal dynamics of socialization, deviance, group interactions and other social processes. 4) Evaluate social institutions such as the family, religion, educations and politics within the context of the larger society. 6) Be able to identify how individual experience is affected by social forces for lifelong personal growth and effective social skills. Grading Criteria for Related Activities Assignments: Each of the "Related Activities" assignments (one per lesson ) must be carefully completed and must show evidence that the sociological imagination has been used in the process of preparing it. Responses will be graded on a scale of "1" to "5" with a "5" being superior. A "1" reflects little effort. A "2" has information that is inaccurate. A "3" is an 3 adequate answer. A"4" is an answer that shows critical thinking and student has provided at least one example of what they are discussing. A "5" shows a synthesis of information, example (s) and has an evaluative component. All answers will be scored higher if evidence of video and text integration are included. Grades will be determined by a point system, which will ensure that your grade will be based on your own effort and competence. Each person completing sufficient points will receive the corresponding grade. A curve will be established at the end of the semester. College guidelines for student conduct will be enforced. It is each student's obligation to become familiar with those guidelines and abide by them. Grades in this class are established on the basis of a curve, so cheating directly harms everyone who does not cheat. To discourage this behavior, any student caught cheating will receive a "0" on the test or assignment and will be required to sit in the front row while taking all future tests. Although no one has ever cheated twice, anyone attempting to do so will be dropped from the course. Please note that this class is a “Safe Zone,” which means that discrimination, jokes or derogatory comments that target race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, language, age, etc. will not be tolerated. The Student Conduct guides for behavior (available from any dean) will be adhered to. Grading Scale Two (2) exams @ 75 points each Orientation assignment 22 Related Activities @5 points each 150 points 20 points 110 points Total 280 points Instructor will grade on a curve, roughly 90%-100% = A, 80%-89%=B, 70%-79%=C, 60%-69%=D, Below 60% = F. 4