SOC 202 DE Syllabus, Part 1

Course Information

Social Problems, Hybrid (SOC 202 DE)

Summer 2015 (CRN 50794)

Frank Ha, PhD

Syllabus, Part 1. Course information

Contact information

Office phone: (805) 546-3100 ext. 2679

Cell phone: (805) 598-0576 (feel free to text me at any time)

Email: fha@cuesta.edu (best way contact me)

Web page: academic.cuesta.edu/fha (google “frank ha”)

Facebook: http://facebook.com/iamfrankha

Office location and hours

Office: Building 6200, Room 6213

Hours: by appointment

Required textbook

THINK Social Problems, 2/E. 2013. John D. Carl. Pearson.

The above textbook is required. The textbook is available at the campus bookstore (link to the Cuesta campus bookstore).

Course description

Studies current major social problems and the application of basic sociological principles and concepts in considering solutions. Advisory: SOC 201A and eligibility for ENGL 156. Transfer: CSU; UC. (Formerly SOC 2)

Student learning outcomes

Demonstrate that I have the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the study of sociology.
Use critical thinking and perceptive reading skills
Use my skills for sociological analysis
Show an understanding of concepts, language, and definitions sociologists use to interpret their vision of social life.
Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method.
Analyze social events using major sociological perspectives.
Describe the characteristics of current social problems. Discuss the types and extent, the causes, the consequences, possible solutions, and the politics surrounding them
Describe the research methods and theories used to understand social problems from a sociological perspective
Display a critical understanding of how social problems are shaped by historical transformations and current societal patterns
Discuss the role of inequality, power, and prejudice in understanding social problems

Course requirements

There are 1000 points possible in this course. 900 points come from exams and 100 points are from participation in discussion and other activities. The five exams are valued as follows:

Midterm 1 = 180 points

Midterm 2 = 180 points (note that in the summer, midterm 2 and 3 are taken on the same day as midterm 2)

Midterm 3 = 180 points (note that in the summer, midterm 2 and 3 are taken on the same day as midterm 2)

Midterm 4 = 180 points (note that in the summer, midterm 4 and final are taken on the same day as the final exam)

Final = 180 points (note that in the summer, midterm 4 and final are taken on the same day as the final exam)

Use the scale below to calculate your letter grade for each exam:

A 93.0 percent and above

B 80.0 to 92.9 percent

C 67.0 to 79.9 percent

D 55.0 to 66.9 percent

F 54.9 percent and below

Discussion = 100

Total points possible in course = 1000

Grading

At the end of the semester, after weighting your exam scores (for example, if there are 50 points possible on midterm 1, your score is divided by 50 and multiplied by 180 to get a weighted score), adding them together and including class participation points, the scale below will be used to compute your final course grade.

A 930 and above

B 800 to 929

C 670 to 799

D 550 to 669

F 549 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. You will need a Scantron Form 882 for all exams (link to the Scantron Form 882 at Cuesta Bookstore). Questions will be based primarily on the Carl textbook and lectures. There may also be an essay component (either take-home or in-class). Take-home essay questions will be announced a week before the exam date and are due the day of the exam. Take-home essays are turned in through Turnitin.com (see below). Also the possibility of an in-class essay will be announced a week before the exam. You will be required to bring a blue book to the exam if the possibility of an in-class essay is announced (link to blue book at Cuesta Bookstore).

You can make up one exam. You cannot make up the final exam or more than one exam except under truly exceptional circumstances. You must make up the missed exam as soon as you are able.

The final is not cumulative.

Turning in take-home exams through Turnitin.com

All take-home portions of exams must be turned in through Turnitin.com on the day of the exam. Here are the instructions:

Step 1. Go to Turnitin.com

Step 2. Read the Student Quickstart Guide

Step 3. Follow the instructions and submit your essay.

In order to register for Turnitin.com, you will need the class id: CLASS ID WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MOODLE IF A TAKE-HOME ESSAY IS ASSIGNED and password: sociology. Please double-space your essays.

Discussion

Participation on our discussion forums is worth 100 points. 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, link discussion questions to the syllabus, 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.

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.