Course Information
Introduction to Sociology (Sociology 201A), Hybrid
Summer 2017 (CRN 50025)
Contact information
Office location and hours
Office: Building 6200, Room 6213
Summer 2017 hours: by appointment
Mandatory meetings
This class will meet on the SLO campus on the following dates: Thursday July 6th and July 20th in room 6303 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.
Required textbook and supplemental materials
Giddens, Anthony et al. 2015. Essentials of Sociology. 5th ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company. ISBN 978-0393937459.
The above textbook is required. The textbook is available at the campus bookstore.
Required technology tools outside Canvas:
Course description and objectives
Introduces the basic principles of sociology including the study of the structure of human society, and group life. Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 156. Transfer: CSU; UC. (Formerly SOC1A)
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Define the terms basic to understanding sociological writing.
2. Compare the Functionalist Perspective with the Conflict Perspective.
3. Analyze past or present social events and situations in light of the two above-mentioned perspectives.
4. Apply the knowledge learned in the class to the ongoing events and experiences of their lives.
5. Develop the ability to view their lives in sociological rather than simply personal terms.
Student learning outcomes
Course requirements
There are two exams (a midterm and a final) and are valued as follows:
Midterm, Part 1 = 15 percent
Midterm, Part 2 = 15 percent
Midterm, Part 3 = 15 percent
Final, Part 1 = 15 percent
Final, Part 2 = 15 percent
The discussion component is 10 percent of your grade.
The activity assignment component is 15 percent of your grade.
The scale below will be used when calculating your final grade
A 93 percent and above
B 80 to 92 percent
C 67 to 79 percent
D 55 to 66 percent
F 54 percent and below
A correction factor may be added to an exam to account for its level of difficulty. Also, I reserve the right to modify the grade scale when computing final letter grades to account for the level of difficulty of the course. I will not modify the scale to your disadvantage.
Exams
All exams will have a multiple choice component. There may also be an essay component (either take-home or in-class). The final is not cumulative. Questions will be based primarily on the Giddens et al. textbook and lectures. You will need Scantron forms (Scantron Form 882) for all exams. Also, be ready for the possibility of an in-class essay and bring a blue book to all exams.
Turning in take-home exams through Canvas
All take-home portions of exams must be turned in through Canvas on the day of the exam. Please double-space your essays.
Discussion
Participation on our discussion forums is worth 10 percent of your grade. Students are encouraged to respond to my comments or comments made by other students. Please pay attention to the syllabus so that you will know what readings we are discussing on what days. I will embed discussion questions into my online lectures as well as post discussion questions on the discussion board. You are not limited to responding to the questions that I ask; you are encouraged to post any comment or question related to the course material we are covering.
Activity assignments
You are required to turn in five activity assignments. Activities will be announced on Canvas. Each activity assignment is worth 3 percent of your grade.
You are allowed to turn in one activity assignment late--except Activity Assignment 5, which is due that the day of the final exam. You cannot turn in more than one activity assignment late except under truly exceptional circumstances. You must turn in the late activity assignment as soon as you are able.
You will be allowed to resubmit one activity assignment if you scored lower than 93 percent. And the maximum score possible for a paper that is resubmitted is 93 percent. There is a section on Canvas where you can turn in a resubmission. You will have two weeks (or until the final exam) to resubmit. No late resubmissions will be accepted.
All activities must be turned in through Canvas. The instructions are above.
Etiquette
Please display respect and tolerance for everyone in this class. Insulting, disrespectful, or impolite comments on the discussion forums are prohibited. If someone makes a comment that you disagree with, attack the argument, not the person making the argument. As your instructor, I will make every effort to make this class a safe environment for all students.
For the following items, see the course welcome page:
Wait list procedure
Welcome and start date
Logging on to Canvas
Academic integrity
Students with disabilities
Dropping the course
Instructor-initiated dropping of students who do not log on to Canvas
Student computer competency requirements
Computer requirements
Student Expectations
Netiquette and Online Course Participation
Course and College Policies
Help and Technical Support
College Support Service