Race and Ethnic Relations (Sociology 206)
SLO campus
Fall 2019
Contact information
Office location and hours
Required textbook and supplemental materials
The above textbook is required. The textbook is available at the campus bookstore.
Course description
Introduces students to the sociological analysis of race, ethnicity, and racism. Advisory: English 156. Transfer: CSU; UC. (Formerly SOC 206)
Course requirements
Exam 1 = 17 percent
Exam 2 = 17 percent
Exam 3 = 17 percent
Exam 4 = 17 percent
Exam 5 = 17 percent
Assignments = 15 percent
The scale below will be used when calculating your final grade
A 90 percent and above
B 80 to 89 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. You will need a Scantron Form 882 for all exams. Please bring five Scantrons to the first exam. You will use one and turn in four. I will then redistribute the Scantrons for your use at each exam.
Questions will be based primarily on the 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 Canvas (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.
You can make up one exam. You cannot make up Exam 5 or more than one exam except under truly exceptional circumstances. You must make up the missed exam before the next exam.
Turning in take-home exams through Canvas
All take-home portions of exams must be turned in through Canvas. Please double-space your essays. Here is a Canvas quick reference guide with instructions on how to log on: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/documents/distance_ed_students/Canvas_Quick_Reference_Students.pdf. Additionally, here are links to useful videos about navigating Canvas: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/fac_de_resources/Student_Videos.html
Assignments
You are required to turn in five assignments. One assignment is due for each fifth of the course. Exams mark the beginning and end of each fifth. You can only do one assignment per fifth of the course. Assignments will be announced in class. Assignments are due on the day of the exam. Each assignment is worth three percent of your grade.
You are allowed to turn in one assignment late--except Assignment 5, which is due that the day of the final exam. You cannot turn in more than one assignment late except under truly exceptional circumstances. You must turn in the late assignment before the next exam.
Resubmission policy: Any paper that receives a score of 18 or less (out of 20) can be revised and resubmitted. And the maximum score possible for a paper that is resubmitted is 19. There is a section on Canvas where you can turn in a resubmission. You will have until the next exam to resubmit. No late resubmissions will be accepted. The final assignment cannot be resubmitted.
All assignments must be turned in through Canvas. <-- THIS IS IMPORTANT; DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS DIRECTLY TO TURNITIN.COM. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH CANVAS, WHICH WILL DIRECT YOU TO TURNITIN.COM.
Extra credit: Canvas discussion forums (extra credit, up to three percent)
Participation on the Canvas discussion forums is not required; however, extra credit points will be given to students that do, up to three percent.
Other extra credit opportunities may be announced as the course progresses. However, three percent extra credit is the maximum allowed.
Problems logging on
If you are having problems logging on, go to Cuesta Technical Support (http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/technical_support.html) for information on how to get help. You can also try calling the Help Desk in the Computer Lab, room 3400. Their phone number is 546-3100 ext: 2802. If no one is there, send an email tosupport@my.cuesta.edu.
In-class discussion and etiquette
Please refer to the syllabus and the announcements that I make in class so that you will know what reading we will be discussing in class on any given day. Come prepared to discuss the readings in class.
Please display respect and tolerance for everyone in this class. Insulting, disrespectful, or impolite comments 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.
Also, please do not come in late, leave early, talk with your neighbor, sleep, or study for this class or another class. If you cannot refrain from these behaviors, please don't come to class.
Academic integrity
Cheating is absolutely not tolerated. You are encouraged to study together for the exams. You are encouraged to discuss take-home essays with others, but you cannot work on the essay together. Take-home essays should be written completely independently. Plagiarism will result in a zero on that part of the exam, at minimum. Also, asking someone who has taken an exam before you have about the content of the exam, for example, if there is an essay on the exam or not, or receiving information about an exam that you have not yet taken is prohibited. For more information on the college's policy regarding cheating refer to the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct (including Student Computer Technology Access Agreement) http://academic.cuesta.edu/president/2008BP/BP5000/AP 5500_Standards of Conduct.pdf.
Students with disabilities
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) or the instructor as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. The DSPS phone number is 546-3148, and they are located in the Academic Support Center, Building 3300. Here is the link to the DSPS page: http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/dsps/.
Dropping the course
It is the student’s responsibility to officially drop a class by the withdrawal deadline.
NOTE: All courses in which you earn a grade of "D", "F", "NP" and/or "W" are counted as "unsatisfactory" attempts to successfully complete the course. You are only allowed 3 attempts to repeat courses for which you receive an "unsatisfactory" grade. A "W" on your transcript will count as an "unsatisfactory" attempt to successfully complete the course.
Attendance policy
Students who are not in attendance at the first class meeting are considered “no shows” and may be dropped by the instructor unless the student contacts the instructor before the first day of class.
Attendance will be taken up to Census Date
Attendance will be taken and recorded of enrolled students at each regularly scheduled class meeting up to the Census Date.
As of the Census Date, no persons who are not officially enrolled or approved for auditing will be permitted to attend or participate in class.
Inactive students may be dropped on the Census Date
As of the Census Date, the end of the business day, any student who is no longer participating in the course, which includes excessive unexcused absences (missed more than 50 percent of meetings), may be dropped from the course unless the student contacts the instructor by the Census Date, the end of the business day.
The instructor will excuse absences resulting from illness, accident, other circumstances beyond the student’s control, or participation in authorized professional or college activities.
Work missed prior to the Census Date during any excused absence can be made up.
Reinstatement policy
If a student has been dropped due to the attendance policy, the instructor may reinstate the student if all of the following conditions have been met:
a. The student appeals for reinstatement based on extenuating circumstances for the absence. Extenuating circumstances are verified cases of accidents, illness, and other circumstances beyond the control of the student.
b. The student had been doing satisfactory work and has a reasonable chance of passing the course based on the instructor’s judgment.
c. The student is readmitted is by the end of the 12th week of the term.
Attendance policy after the Census Date:
Though attendance is required, attendance will not be taken or recorded after the Census Date.
College Support Services
Help and Technical Support
Course and College Policies
Student Expectations
Useful dates to remember:
Last day to add with add code: 25-AUG-19
Last day to drop with a refund: 25-AUG-19
Last day to drop without a "W": 25-AUG-19
Last day to drop with a "W": 03-NOV-19
Census Date: 26-AUG-19
Last day to choose Pass/No Pass grading: 06-SEP-19