Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed.
E-mail: woodsides@mjc.edu
Website: http://woodsides.faculty.mjc.edu
Office Phone: 575-6123
Office: Founder s Hall 160N
Office Hours: Monday 11:30-12:30; 12:30-1:30
Thursday 4:00-5:00
Wednesday 11:30-12:30; 12:30-1:30
Henslin, J. (2009). Essentials of Sociology: A down-to-earth approach. 8th ed. San
Francisco, CA.: Allyn and Bacon.
Optional: MySocLab (included with text if bought through MJC bookstore).
Friendly Tip!
This course requires a research paper. Organization and time management, plus a healthy dose of personal commitment to your education, will serve you well in this process.
WELCOME I.
I want to take this opportunity to personally welcome you to Sociology at Modesto Junior
College. Over the past years, I have found Sociology offers insights into the world in which I live which helps me keep events, both personal and global, in perspective. One of my goals is to help you find Sociology a valuable asset in your lives.
The goals of this course are threefold and fairly simple. First, we will work to familiarize ourselves with the sociological perspective and its major theoretical and methodological tools.
Second, we will discover how these sociological perspectives can bring about “desired” change in ourselves and our communities. Lastly, we hope to connect Sociology with your future lives and careers.
Even if you do not intend to major in Sociology, the tools and perspectives you uncover here will, if applied, make you better citizens of the communities in which you reside. And that, ultimately, is what Sociology is all about.
The following points are the “overall” objectives of the course:

Recognize and apply the basic terminology used in sociology.
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Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed.

Define and apply the “sociological perspective” to an understanding of the patterns of human social behavior.

Recognize and apply how the scientific method is used in the field of sociology through a research project.

Recognize the impact that the social structure including socio-economic status, gender, and race/ethnicity has upon social behavior.

Apply the major sociological theoretical paradigms to an analysis of social institutions, social structures, and societal issues.
II. GRADING
Exams : 70% of final grade (points will vary depending on length): You will be taking three exams over the course of the semester. Exams are based on reading your textbook and understanding the material.
Research Paper 30% Written Presentation : Grading for research papers is stringent . This is a complex skill that is graded to a set of standards outlined in the grading rubric that will be provided to you. Research writing standards are predicated upon the standards of the discipline and critical thinking.
You will be graded against the standards of critical thinking which focus on the logic, precision and clarity of your writing. The mechanics of writing impact those three primary standards. If you do not know how to effectively write a paragraph, your logic is profoundly impacted. What constitutes an “A” paper in English
101 will not necessarily net you and “A” from the perspective of writing within the discipline of Sociology. Papers will be submitted to turnitin.com
NOTE: Having read the syllabus and choosing to remain in class constitutes your permission to have your papers retained and monitored by turnitin.com for the express purposes of monitoring for plagiarism.
You will be given feedback on your class standing as we go through the semester. This will enable you to make informed decisions about your remaining in the class and receiving a final grade.
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Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed.
III. CLASS EXPECTATIONS/POLICIES
1) Students are expected to attend class regularly . Classroom activities are an integral part of your educational experience. You have a responsibility to yourself and the education of your fellow classmates. Class attendance will be monitored.
The law now requires we track attendance in order to monitor those who are receiving financial aid. Non-attendance for those individuals reaps a consequence of having to pay back monies received. The by-product of this policy is that all individuals are caught in this net. Nonattendance of four consecutive class periods results in being dropped from the class. However, a total of four missed classes during the course of the semester will net the same result.
2) Adds/Drops a) It is your responsibility to withdraw from the class if you do not wish to complete it. Of course, as stated in the previous section on attendance, I will initiate a withdrawal you miss four classes, it is primarily your responsibility to initiate this action if you know you don’t want to finish the class. Please contact MJC Admissions and Records for further details on policies regarding adding and withdrawing from courses. College deadlines for adding, withdrawing, or filing for Credit/No Credit can be found in the MJC Schedule of Classes or by contacting Admissions. b) I will initiate an instructor drop for the following reasons : i.
Attendance during the first two weeks of the semester is essentital : You have a responsibility to show up, even though you are officially enrolled, in order for instructors to accommodate students who wish to add. Failure to show indicates you have no interest in maintaining your seat in the class. I will give your seat to a wait-listed student who has demonstrated their commitment and you will lose your seat.
3) Class participation is expected. You must determine what you want from your educational experience. Class discussion and interaction with the instructor and fellow students is a valuable way to digest ideas and explore their relevance to your personal life.
4) Reading your textbook and handouts prior to coming to class is a requirement . Being prepared in this way facilitates our ability to participate in class discussion, get more from lectures, and better retain information for testing purposes.
5) You must take all assigned exams . Failure to participate in all exams will result in a failing grade on the Exam portion of your final grade .
A 70% “F” grade will have a profound effect on your final grade. Be advised and plan accordingly.
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Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed. a) Students are expected to take the exam on the scheduled class date at the scheduled time, including the final exam . However, I understand that there are extenuating circumstances which may, occasionally, prevent you from so doing. In the event that you are unable to take the exam, you must notify me prior to the exam date.
After the fact notifications will not be honored. You are only allowed to make up one of the first two exams.
The final exam must be taken on the scheduled date at the scheduled time. DO NOT
COME LATE - YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE EXAM! My time is every bit as valuable as yours. As adults, you are expected to manage your time appropriately and be responsible for basic social standards – you won’t keep a job for very long if you simply wander in whenever you feel like it. . .why should this be any different?
There are no makeups or early testing for this exam. You have four months to make sure your schedule is cleared. If you already have plans that you cannot change, then this is not the class/section for you.
Your best method of notification is to contact me by phone and leave a detailed message. If I have not received a phone message from you prior to class, you will not be allowed to make up the exam.
I will check my phone messages 10 minutes prior to the start of class. I will create a list of those allowed to take make-up exams. If your name is not on the list you cannot take the exam.
6) Cell Phones and Pagers a) Turn off your cell phone when you enter class. If you have some type of emergency that requires you be available by phone at all times, let me know prior to the beginning of the class session. Otherwise, set pagers and phones to vibrate, or turn them off! a) The business of the day is Sociology, not text messaging. I’m not sure when we, as a society, decided we could not live without each other for more than five minutes, but if talking to your friends electronically seems more valuable than being focused on what is happening in class, don’t waste my time and yours by taking up space a more dedicated student could use. . .The first time you will be asked to put your phone away. The second time, you will be given a student disruption form and asked to leave class. You will not be allowed to return until you have seen the Division Dean
7) Cheating and Plagiarism a) Cheating and plagiarism constitute misconduct , according to the Student Code of
Conduct. Students are subject to college discipline, which may include failing the assignment, failing the course, or being expelled from the college.
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Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed. i.
Cheating : Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise; misrepresenting or nonreporting of pertinent information in all forms of work submitted for credit. ii.
Plagiarism : The deliberate adoption or reproduction of ideas, words or statements of another person as one’s own, without acknowledgment. This includes all group work and written assignments. b) If you are caught cheating on exams or assignments or plagiarizing, you will fail the specific assignment.
Your name is also submitted to the Division Dean and the Vice President of Student Services. You will be called into an interview with the Vice President of Student Services and your behavior will be tracked.
Repeated incidents of cheating and plagiarism in your college career can result in expulsion from the college. c) Other students are not permitted to hand in your work for you . i.
You must be present to win. You are expected to be in class to process your paper with the group. Work submitted under my office door, or handed in and then you leave, is not considered officially submitted-in other words, you receive zero credit. So-make a decision now. You are committed to your education and wish to seriously participate in it, or you are not and should seriously consider dropping the class.
8) Disruptive/Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. a) This is college , not high school (or, in some cases junior high or even elementary school) . No student has the right to interfere with the educational pursuit of another student. Students will be removed from class for disruptive behavior and not allowed to return until they have met with the Division Dean.
b) If you arrive late to class, please be respectful to the instructor and your fellow students. Enter the classroom and take a seat close to the door. Do not walk in front of the instructor, or guest speakers if we have any. c) All activities during class should be focused on the pursuit of course objectives. All discussion should be focused on asking and answering questions about the topic of the day. Keep your discussions civil, even when you strongly disagree.
If you are having sidebar conversations that interfere with the instructor’s ability to lecture and your fellow students’ ability to hear, you will be asked once to curb your
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Socio 101: Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Sandra Woodside, M.S. Ed. enthusiasm. The second notice will be removal from class with a disruptive student form. This is the form that requires you to visit with the Dean prior to being allowed to return to class. Please notice how much time and energy is wasted in having to
“police” student behavior.
Bullying or threatening fellow students or the instructor will not be tolerated. Any display of bullying behavior will result in immediate dismissal from class. You will be asked to leave and if you refuse, security will be called. d) Homework for other classes should be done at home or on your breaks. If work for other classes is more important to you than participating in this class, then do not come to class. . . it is disrespectful to me and to your fellow students to take up space and time and not contribute to what is going on in class. If I see you doing homework for another class, you will be asked to leave class since your time in class is obviously not important to you.
As the saying goes, this is not a dress rehearsal. Your education – all of it – is preparing you for your place in society. I assume you are here because you hope to find a career and/or a job that pays more than minimum wage. Education, at the college level, is a privilege, not a right.
It’s not free and there are limits to the number of times you can cycle through the system.
Now - let’s focus on doing Sociology and having some fun!
Note: This Syllabus and the Course Map are subject to change at the discretion of the Instructor.
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