INSTRUCTOR:	Larry Stern
OFFICE — PHONE — EMAIL:	L207 (SCC) – 972-881–5608 – LSTERN@COLLIN.EDU
OFFICE HOURS:	Monday & Wednesday 10:30 - 12 & 3:45-4:15; and Tuesday & Thursday 1:30 - 2:30 & by appointment
WEB PAGE:	http://iws2.collin.edu/lstern
CLASS MEETING TIMES & LOCATION	Web

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Course Description: The scientific study of human society, including ways in which groups, social institutions, and individuals affect each other. Causes of social stability and social change are explored through the application of various theoretical perspectives, key concepts, and related research methods of sociology. Analysis of social issues in their institutional context may include topics such as social stratification, gender, race/ethnicity, and deviance.

This course will provide students the opportunity to discover how the discipline of sociology—an approach that studies social factors that affect all human actions and their consequences in society—can help them make sense out of their daily lives and interpret broader societal issues.

Prerequisite:  Meet TSI college-readiness standard for Reading and Writing; or equivalent

Course Delivery Method: Various readings, web-site visits, movies and Power Point presentations.

For a statement that outlines my teaching philosophy, what I expect from you in this class – your obligations and responsibilities – and a tentative description of some of the topics and issues we can profitably use to illustrate what sociology is and how we go about our business, go to "Introductory Remarks". If you are interested in "who I am" and why I chose teaching as a profession, go to "About Me" and "Why I Teach."

Supplies: An active, open-minded, critical brain with functioning synapses.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• State Mandated Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Compare and contrast the basic theoretical perspectives of sociology. (Critical Thinking)
2. Identify the various methodological approaches to the collection and analysis of data in sociology. (Empirical and Quantitative Skills)
3. Describe key concepts in sociology. (Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Social Responsibility)
4. Describe the empirical findings of various subfields of sociology. (Empirical and Quantitative Skills)
5. Explain the complex links between individual experiences and broader institutional forces. (Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Social Responsibility)

Course Requirements and Student Obligations & Responsibilities:

Reading of all assigned materials and the completion of all assignments, including papers and exams is of course required. But also please note the following: As mentioned in my "Introductory Remarks," this class will be student-centered. As such, you will be encouraged to be an active learner. This also means that there are certain obligations and responsibilities that you must live up to in order to do well in this course. Although this is a "web based" class, you will be expected to spend the same amount of time with our subject matter as you would had you been enrolled in an on-site class. This means that in addition to reading the required text and supplemental materials - just as on-site students do - you will also be viewing power point/video lectures, engaging in on-line discussions/debates and visiting various web sites that will take roughly the same amount of time as would regular on-site class attendance.

Copyright: Materials used in connection with this course may be subject to copyright protection.

Readings:

(1)    Textbook: Society: The Basics, 13th Edition, John J. Macionis, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2015

It will be acceptable for you to use a 12th edition of the text. Specific reading assignments are listed on the calendar. 

(2)    Internet Sites: You will be asked to visit and review a number of internet sites (see course outline).
"This course includes distance learning components which may contain links to Web sites operated and maintained by other public or private entities. While Collin College instructors provide link information to these sites, the College assumes no responsibility for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. It is recommended that users consider the individual privacy policy statements of each web site they visit."

Exams, Writing Assignments, & Labs:
Specific assignments and their due dates are listed on the course calendar. Late work will not be accepted.

(1)    A ten question multiple-choice/true-false quiz will follow the completion of each unit. Of these fourteen (14) quizzes, you must complete ten (10). These quizzes will cover definitions of basic sociological concepts and theories and will be available online for a four-day window - opening Thursday at 9AM and closing the following Monday at 11:59PM - during the week the particular unit is scheduled. Taken together, these ten quizzes will count for 25% of your final grade.

(2)   A number of topics for "summary and response papers" will be listed for each of the fourteen (14) units covered in the course. Altogether, you will complete seven (7) of these papers. Here, you will directly apply concepts and theories that have been covered in the assigned readings and/or other materials to your social life and/or contemporary events. Each paper will require roughly two-to-three pages (500 - 750 words) and will be submitted via the portal on Blackboard. Options can be accessed from the course calendar. You will choose six of the first thirteen assignments - assignment #14 is required of all students.These seven assignments, combined, will count as 50% of your final grade.

(3) For your final exam, you will submit one larger take-home essay question. It has been posted on the class calendar. This will count for 25% of your final grade.

(4) You are encouraged to participate in various on-line "discussions/debates" that will accompany each unit.Your participation is NOT mandatory - no specified percentage of your grade depends upon it. As described more fully in the course orientation, bonus points in will be awarded to students who play an active role in these online discussions. For each unit, you will be given a number of topics that are relevant to the materials covered.

Grading Summary:

Ten (out of fourteen) Quizzes	=            25%
Seven Summary-Response writing assignments	=            50%
Final Take-Home Essay	=            25%
Web discussions	=        Bonus Points

==> The last day to withdraw and receive the grade of "W" is March 21st

Rules:

(1)    Please refer to your Student Handbook for the complete student code of conduct.

(2)    Scholastic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and/or collusion. Students caught doing so will receive a zero for that assignment or exam and be referred to the Dean of Students. See the College Policy listed below.

(3)    Late papers will not be accepted.

(4) Above all, students—and the Professor—will conduct themselves in a civil manner and treat all others and their ideas with respect.

Academic Ethics:

Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:

Plagiarism is the use of an author's words or ideas as if they were one's own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet files, using someone else's work for assignments as if it were one's own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to providing a paper or project to another student, providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an examination; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.

See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.

==> Academic dishonesty will likely result in a “zero” grade on the particular assignment or test. A second offence will be referred to the Dean of Students.

Student technical support is now provided 24/7 for students at (972) 377-1777 or at the eCollin Learning Center

Collin College Course Enrollment Policy:

You may repeat these courses only once after receiving a grade, including W.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:

Collin College will adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and locl laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity.  It is the student's responsibility to contact the faculty member and the ACCESS Office (SCC-D140) or 881–5898, (V/TDD-881-5950) to arrange for appropriate accommodations. See the current Student Handbook for additional information.