Backman SOCY1000
Brass Tacks
See the Syllabus
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For all details IN WRITING, see
syllabus
• Close to a contract
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www.auburn.edu/
~backmcb/socy1000/syl1000f13
No printed copy (saving trees)
• Strongly recommend you make copy (so
much for trees)
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Not directly available on Canvas
Reading
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Syllabus
Textbook
Additional readings online
• 10 to 30 pages per week
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Reading is the most
important out of class activity
of college students !!!
Read the Syllabus
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It will be on exams
Textbook
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Textbook: The Sociology Project,
by Jeff Manza and 19 other profs at
New York University (NYU)
Known to professionals as Manza
• Publisher Pearson
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There was some confusion with
various bookstores in town
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Had wrong book for this course!
Be sure to get the correct one
Online Reading
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Assignments and how to get to them
are available by clicking on Readings
on home page
Some assignments may require
using E-Reserve from the library
• Password will be announced at that time
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Exam 1
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Syllabus
Textbook for exam 1:
• Chapters 2, 3, 5, 11 required
• Chapter 1 recommended; no exam qs
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First readings for Exam 1:
• “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema,” by
Horace Miner
• Excerpt from The Sociological
Imagination, by C. Wright Mills
Grading
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Four regular exams
• Each one sixth of grade
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Final exam
• One third of grade
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Homework and unscheduled quizzes
• Tie breakers
Lecture
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You are responsible for everything I
say in class
• Well … maybe not the bad jokes
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Lecture notes will usually be
available through Canvas
• Not when attendance begins to drop
below a C (70 percent)
• Preferably before class, but not always
Lecture and Reading
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Lectures and reading are largely
independent
• That is, you’ll have two sources of
sociological insight: me and the reading
• There is some overlap between the two,
but not a lot
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Therefore, if something in the reading
confuses you, be sure to ask me about it.
First time I mention it in class may be when
we are going over an exam
Exams
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Regular exams
• Semi-cumulative – includes material
that was new for the previous exam
• Roughly 50% lectures and 50% reading
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Final exam covers entire semester
Mostly computer scored
• Blue scantron, pencil
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Each exam scored on 4 point scale
• Actually 4.5
Quizzes and Homework
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Unannounced quizzes cover previous
lecture
Homework varies
• Incentives to do homework:
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You will learn more
Some exam questions may be based on
homework results
Grades for people on the borderline will be
determined by quizzes and homework
• Borderline = average ending in .5
Schedule
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Schedule is on syllabus and home
page
You must take your final exam when
scheduled
Final Exam Schedule
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IF YOU CAN’T TAKE THE FINAL
WHEN SCHEDULED, DROP THIS
CLASS NOW
NOTE NOW final exam date:
• 10am section: Tue 4/30
• 1pm section: Thu 5/2
• 2pm section: Mon 4/29
Classroom Comportment
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When we’re together in class:
Quality time
All we are doing is SOCY1000
• Requires concentration
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Especially when I’m lousy
Also when you’re lousy
• Respect Sociology
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Ask questions
NO ELECTRONICS
More Classroom Comportment
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PUT AWAY ELECTRONICS
REMINDER !!!
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See me
• One of my great pleasures is talking to
college students
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Best times:
• Right after class
• Office hours
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Includes BY APPOINTMENT