Social Movements
SOC 215 - Portland Community College
Dr. Kim Smith
Dr. Kim Smith
My name is Kim Smith and I will be your instructor for SOC 215. I look forward to working with you this term and sharing how sociology can help us make sense of the world!
Please read below for details on our course and how to start off on the right foot. You will see the complete syllabus, course calendar, and more when class begins and the D2L page opens.
Sociology is a wonderful discipline that allows us to reflect on the world and our roles within it. We will use different sociological tools to make sense of the social contexts in which we live.
I will facilitate your success by providing the framework and resources you will need to explore the world through different sociological lenses.
You will have a variety of opportunities to explore the culture(s) in which you have been raised, how societies are organized, and how institutions are changing around the world. I will develop the content of the course and support you in our course discussions and assignments. You are invited to participate in co-teaching the course through your examples on our discussion board, as your experiences and insights are key to the process of learning and help the lessons come alive.
I will do my best to support you in being successful in our course, but it is your responsibility to stay on top of course materials and assignments. Each of our online activities are designed to help you learn, with clear guidelines and due dates, so be sure to organize your time to complete the readings and assignments on time and engage in our online discussions each week.
I hope that you will enjoy the journey!
I am committed to treating you with dignity and respect, and I expect the same of everyone in this class. I am passionate about interacting with students of various cultural backgrounds, and I ask you to join me in enriching our knowledge of the rich diversity in our society, showing respect for this diversity and differences in opinion as we pursue this journey together.
It is really important that we create and maintain a respectful and engaging course environment and dynamic, so please be clear on PCC's expectations for online etiquette or "Netiquette". Click here for more information about Netiquette.
I invite you to listen to my welcome video.
PCC courses are on the Quarter system and 11 weeks move quickly. Getting off to a good start is the best way to prepare yourself for success. Read this section carefully and be ready to participate in our Week 1 activities.
This course is a remote and online course, meaning that we will have a weekly Zoom class on Mondays and all of our course materials and activities will be online and asynchronous. You will be able to access all course materials via our D2L course page on your own schedule each week. The Week 1 modules will open at 6:00 am on the first day of class.
Read through the Class Details page.
Get the book for our class:
1) Loeb, Paul Rogat. 2014 (2Ed). The Impossible Will Take a Little While. New York, NY: Basic Books.
You can purchase the book through the PCC Sylvania Online Bookstore or at your favorite independent bookstore.
All other course materials will be provided in the class.
Read the Introductory chapter in the textbook before class starts to be ready for our Week 1 Discussion.
Read through the Intro to Online Learning module and the Course Information module asap.
Read the syllabus and course calendar to be clear on assignments and due dates.
Complete the readings and activities in Week 1.
Read through our Introductory Modules and watch Orientation Videos:
Introduction to Online Learning
Course Introduction Module
Module 1
Read Textbook:
The Impossible Will Take a Little While: Introduction
Complete Intro Quiz
Post and Respond - Discussion 1: Introductions
Read the weekly announcements.
Read the announcements on the class homepage and view the instructional videos. Announcements frequently include feedback and information you will need to be successful.
Be proactive.
Use the Course Calendar to confirm due dates for coursework. Read the Module introduction for each new week to see the learning activities and assignments so you can plan your time. New modules are released every Monday morning at 6:00 am.
Complete all learning activities.
This includes reading the modules and course materials, viewing videos, participating in discussions, and completing quizzes and assignments.
Seek help.
Reach out for help when you need it, through your instructor, our Q & A discussion, a librarian, or the tutoring center.
Aim for thoughtful sharing.
Aspire to share well-developed thoughts and ideas in discussions and on assignments, using course concepts and theories.
Treat other students with mutual respect and civility.
Sociology covers a variety of topics that be controversial. Disagreements may arise as they are part of the learning process. We all must take responsibility to ensure that each person feels included and is treated with dignity and respect.
Plan to complete assignments early.
You will do more thorough work on assignments if you are not rushed by a deadline. Set a goal to complete your work a day early, and you'll be relieved to have a little extra time when challenges arise.
Communicate.
Ask questions! I am here to support you. Keep me informed if are confused about a concept or theory or if you run into a challenge for meeting a due date. If you have a technical issue, please contact the Student Help Desk.
Alternatively, you may email me directly at kdsmith@pcc.edu
I will try to respond within 24 hours.
Phone: 971-722-4097
The Ask Questions section on our Discussion board is a great place for course-related questions. Your classmates might even answer you there! If your question is personal in nature, please send it directly to me through email.