Course Title:	Introduction to Sociology
Course Prefix & Number:		SOCI1301	Section Number:	407	Semester/Year:	Fall/2018
Semester Credit Hours:		3	Lecture Hours:	3	Lab Hours:	0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): 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
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required Course Materials: John J. Macionis. Society: The Basics. 14th edition.  Pearson.  ISBN 978-0-13-420632-5 I provide all Power Points, outlines, etc. Students do not need a special access key/code to a publisher's canned course/shell. All Intro to Socio courses use the same textbook, and the NCTC bookstore only stocks one option. Because I do not require a special publisher's key/code, students are encouraged to research bookstores and find the cheapest version which works for them. If a student wishes to buy/rent an older version of the textbook, I wouldn't go back more than one edition as you'll be tested on the most recent social statistics.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Stacie Stoutmeyer
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth Campus, Room 339
Telephone Number:	940-498-6467 (Canvas email is my preferred method of contact as I am not always in the physical office.)
E-mail Address:	sstoutmeyer@nctc.edu (Canvas email preferred.)

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Thursday	Friday	Sunday
11:00A-2:00P	9:00-9:30A & 12:30-2:30P	9:00-9:30A	3:00-5:00P (Online)	3:00-5:00P (Online)
And by appointment.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

Compare and contrast the basic theoretical perspectives of sociology

Identify the various methodological approaches to the collection and analysis of data in sociology.

Describe key concepts in sociology.

Describe the empirical findings of various subfields of sociology.

Explain the complex links between individual experiences and broader institutional forces.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Point Values
2 (out of 3)	In-Class Exams (100 pts each)	200 points total
9	Online Chapter Quizzes (10-15 pts each)	100 points total
1	Research Project (Power Point)	100 points

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Course grades are based on two (out of three) in-class exams (I give three exams, but I will only count the highest two scores), nine online quizzes in Canvas over chapters, and one Power Point research project. Total = 400 points

Grading scale: A = 400-358, B = 357-318, C = 317-278, D = 277-238, F = 237-0

 

EXAMS (200 points total):

I give three in-class exams, but I will only count the highest two scores. Exams 1, 2, and 3 cover their associated modules. Students must take a minimum of two out of three exams. I offer this leeway, because in-class students do not have the ability to lean on notes during an exam like online students. Thus, this is your potential breathing room. Exams consist of approximately 50 questions. Questions are multiple-choice, true/false, and listing/short answer.

All make-up exams will be given on our designated final exam day. All students who missed a previous exam are welcome to make-up one exam, even if they do not have a documented medical/excused absence. Students will take the exam they missed; however, the order of questions and answers will not be the same as the original version. Students are only allowed one make-up exam.

I provide review sheets for exams. Review sheets are thorough; however, they do not re-list every trend, statistic, or concept on which you’ll be tested. Review sheets will be available at the bottom of each module.

LATE ENTRY ON EXAM DAYS:

Exams are given in-class at the start of class. Students must be on time with a scantron and pencil. Students entering 5-15 minutes late will automatically lose a letter grade on the exam (-10 points). Students entering 16-20 minutes late will lose 20 points. No late entry is allowed after 20 minutes as some students will have already completed the exam, and students not present by then will earn a zero on the exam.

 

ONLINE QUIZZES (100 points total):

Students are required to take NINE ONLINE quizzes over chapters. They are designed to help students gauge their comprehension and readiness prior to the larger exams. Questions are multiple-choice. Most quizzes are 10 questions, though a few have more. Students are allowed two attempts. Students are allowed between 20-30 minutes depending on the number of questions for that quiz. The ultimate due date for quizzes is the day before the associated exam opens (see syllabus). However, students are welcome (and encouraged) to take the quizzes earlier to self-assess their comprehension of material.

  

RESEARCH PROJECT (100 points):

The research project is worth 100 points, a substantial part of your semester grade. Instead of writing a traditional paper, students will create a Power Point (or Prezi or Google Slides) showing their work. I've provided a list of topics from which students must choose. It is important to follow all instructions. Click on the Modules tab. At the top, you will see a "Research Project" module. There, you will find the "Topics List" from which to choose, the detailed "Instructions for the Project," a "FAQ" page with additional info, the grading rubric so you can see what you'll be graded on, and two student examples. I've provided lot of info in that Research Project Module so students know exactly what's required and can get started early.   

The completed Power Point is due in the “Submit Your Completed Project Here” Canvas dropbox BEFORE 11:59PM Sunday, October 14th. This allows me to grade all projects prior to the last date in which students can withdraw with a "W." Feel free to email me any questions. However, I do not answer questions within 48hrs of the due date. Ask questions early. 

WARNING: Do not wait until the last minute to try and submit work in Canvas. You'll likely run out of time. If your work is not in the dropbox before it closes, you will FAIL this project. It takes time to navigate through Canvas and upload work. Students have been officially warned. If you email me your project within one hour after the deadline, the highest grade you could earn is a 50F, no matter how "hard" you worked. Anything that comes in after that is clearly late work and, thus, a zero.

If you fail to submit the research project, no--an extra exam cannot take the place of your missed project. Exams and the research project are not interchangeable. They require different degrees of work and gauge different skill sets. 

 

MISSED ASSIGNMENTS & MAKE-UP POLICY: 

See the exam policy above regarding make-ups for Exam 1, 2, or 3. Make-ups for other work, such as online quizzes, are only offered to students who experience a formally documented medical emergency or military service requirement. I require original documentation. Make-ups are not offered due to missing class for celebrations, extracurricular activities, changes in work schedules, relationship problems, arrests, or undocumented medical issues. 

 

 

COMPUTER ISSUES: 

It is well known among professors that many “computer issue" excuses are fabrications versus legitimate issues. If you contact me on the premise that you experienced a "computer issue" and I find info which suggest otherwise, I will consider that scholastic dishonesty and you will earn a zero. If you do experience a legitimate computer issue, I require THREE forms of documentation before I will even consider options: 

1) First, immediately take a snapshot IMAGE of the ERROR MESSAGE so you have something to show our IT department and me. You can either take an image using your smart phone or by hitting the "PrtSc" (Print Screen) key on a your PC. If you have a Mac, Google the process now so you are ready should something happen in the future. Without VISUAL proof of an issue, I do not consider options.

2) Second, immediately contact the NCTC eCampus HelpDesk by sending a request TICKET for assistance. Click on the word "Help" in the upper right hand corner of Canvas, near "LogOut," and follow the instructions. The phone number is (940) 668-3335, and the direct website to submit a request for technical assistance is http://www.nctc.edu/eLearning_Department/Support.aspx.

3) Third, you may then send me an email but you MUST include the snapshot IMAGE *and* the TICKET NUMBER (found in parenthesis in the automatic email response generated from the HelpDesk upon submission of your ticket and sent to your email address on file; make sure your email is up-to-date) once you submit. The only reason to then email me is to give me a heads up that the Help Desk is working on your issue. However, if there is no image and no ticket number to provide proof of your issue, I do not offer any special consideration.

 

GRADES:

Grades are always posted in Canvas. Keep track of your grades as the semester progresses. If you have a question about your grade, check Canvas first. Once you have viewed Canvas, you are welcome to contact me via email in Canvas.

 

EXTRA CREDIT:

Leeway is already built into this course, primarily by way of the ability to use the highest two out of three exam scores and the two attempts offered per chapter quiz. I may attach a few extra credit questions to the major exams, though that offer varies for each exam and is not guaranteed.

I do not answer emails at the end of the semester asking for more points to raise a grade. The vast majority of students understand this to be an inappropriate request to teachers. Those who do send me such emails will receive the following response: "Instructors find these types of emails highly inappropriate, as stated in my syllabus. Such emails essentially ask teachers to give students special favors over others. An instructor cannot do so per NCTC policies regarding class integrity, nor should students reduce their own integrity via unfair requests."

 

TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

MODULE ONE

Chapter 1: Sociology Perspective/Theory/Method

Chapter 2: Culture

Chapter 3: Socialization

Chapter 4: Social Interaction

Chapter 5: Groups and Organizations

Quizzes #1-3 due before 11:59PM Wednesday, September 26th

EXAM 1 in-class Thursday, September 27th

 

MODULE TWO

Chapter 7: Deviance

Chapter 8: Social Stratification

Chapter 6: Sex, Gender, Sexuality

Chapter 11: Race & Ethnicity

Research Project due in Canvas dropbox before 11:59PM Sunday, October 14th

Quizzes #4-7 due before 11:59PM Monday, October 29th

EXAM 2 in-class Tuesday, October 30th

 

MODULE THREE

Chapter 13: Family & Religion

Chapter 14: Education, Health & Medicine

Chapter 15: Urbanization, Population, Environment

Quizzes #8 & 9 due before 11:59PM Monday, December 3rd

EXAM 3 in-class Tuesday, December 4th

 

On Thursday, December 6th, I'll offer a review for anyone taking a make-up exam the following week. Attendance is optional.

Final Exam Day--Tuesday, Dec. 11th (same time, room). The only students required to attend are those students who need to make-up a previously missed exam.

**See aforementioned exam policy.

I do not expect schedule changes. However, should one occur, students will be notified via a class announcement and email in Canvas.

  

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Statement Prepared By the College:

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL).

The Instructor-Specific Policy:

DAILY ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is the key to passing this course. I take attendance every class as required by NCTC. Students do not receive a separate grade for attendance in this class, and you do not need to email me each time you miss a lecture.

LATE ENTRY/LEAVING EARLY ON REGULAR LECTURE DAYS:

Late entry and leaving early is disruptive to the flow of lecture. If late arrivals or early exits become a noticeable issue for any student, that student will lose all extra credit opportunities, including any extra credit I might offer on exams. An "issue" is defined as 3 late entries or early exits. If you have to leave early one day for another obligation, simply be courteous and let me know in advance at the start of class. However, this should not be a frequent occurrence.

LATE ENTRY ON EXAM DAYS:

As stated in the exam policy section above, students must be on time with a scantron and pencil. Students entering 5-15 minutes late will automatically lose a letter grade on the exam (-10 points). Students entering 16-20 minutes late will lose 20 points. No late entry is allowed after 20 minutes as some students will have already completed the exam, and students not present by then will earn a zero on the exam. 

MISSING/SKIPPING LECTURES & VIDEO REVIEWS:

If you skip/miss a lecture, contact a fellow student to see what you missed and watch my video reviews when they open. I do not re-lecture or type lecture summaries for students who miss class. Nor do I answer emails by students asking me to fill them in on "anything important" after missing a class. I create chapter videos reviews for my online classes, and I'll give traditional students access to those, as well. I'll give the class access to those videos the week before an associated exam. Students who attended regular lectures are not required to watch those videos, though they are welcome to if they feel they need a review. Video reviews cover core concepts, but they do not include every point on which face-to-face classes be tested.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 8th

 

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION________________________________________________

TECHNICAL ISSUES w/ COMPUTERS:

Students who experience technical issues at any point and for any reason need to first contact the NCTC eCampus Help Desk. The instructor cannot fix your personal computer issues.

To contact the Help Desk, click on "Help" in the upper right hand corner near the word "Logout." Follow the directions from there. Typically, you will need to send a request ticket to the Help Desk. The phone number is (940) 668-3335, and the website to submit a request/ticket for technical assistance is http://www.nctc.edu/eLearning_Department/Support.aspx. Also, read the "Computer Issues" section above in this syllabus.

 

EMAILS, CANVAS, NOTIFICATIONS, and DUE DATES: 

Use Canvas to download lecture materials, take chapter quizzes, submit the research project, read class announcements, track due dates and grades, and email me.

You might want to set NCTC emails and Canvas notifications to be forwarded to the email account you check most regularly.

Since most due dates are listed on the syllabus and/or can be viewed in the Assignments tab, I do not send reminders for every item of graded work. Students need to keep track of all due dates and ask questions early. 

I recommend signing into Canvas at least three times a week to stay on top of everything and remind yourself of what’s coming up. This does not mean you will have work in Canvas or announcements everyday.

Link to Canvas is found at the very top of the main NCTC home page (www.nctc.edu). Direct link to sign-in page: https://nctc.instructure.com/login/canvas

 

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR:

Canvas email is my preferred method of contact, because it clearly identifies students/sections. Click on your Inbox tab in Canvas, choose this class and instructor. I check email twice a day at random times during weekdays, but I do not tend to check email after 5PM on weekdays. I do not check email on Thursdays or Saturdays. On Sundays, I check email during online office hours. Please allow 24 hours for return emails during the week. Emails sent on Thursdays and Saturdays may take longer to return. If you email me outside of Canvas, please identify yourself using your full name and class section (e.g. 340, 400, etc.). 

 

A NOTE ABOUT WORK SCHEDULES/FAMILIES:

The majority of students work while going to college. Many students also juggle caregiver duties. This, of course, can be quite tough at times. However, to be fair to all students, I do not offer special favors/consideration due to work schedules or family issues.

 

BEHAVIOR:

I have never had a behavioral issue; however, so we’re on the same page, I expect students to be respectful to all. Specific action taken during and following a disruptive incident will depend on the nature of the incident, but it is possible to be removed from this course for scholastic dishonesty or behavioral issues.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

Sign up to receive text messages on campus closings due to inclement weather or a campus emergency via the LionAlert system. Info on LionAlert: https://my.nctc.edu/ICS/Need_Help/LionAlert.jnz

 

TRANSCRIPTS:

At the end of the semester, transferring students occasionally ask teachers when grades will be updated on their official transcript. Instructors enter final grades into the MyNCTC system but are not responsible for and do not have access to college transcripts. Students should go to https://www.nctc.edu/current-students/transcript-request.html for more info.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (e.g. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

OSD Students: Please email me in Canvas me the first week of the semester, so I can make sure all accommodations are met. You do not have to disclose your disability/diagnosis; that's confidential. Instructors only need to know your allowed accommodations. 

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______     

X       Social and Behavioral Sciences

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core) 

X   Critical Thinking

X   Communication

X   Empirical and Quantitative

o   Teamwork

o   Personal Responsibility

X   Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

X   Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online. http://www.nctc.edu/catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook/nctc-student-handbook.html

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)].” 

Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy: Canvas allows instructors to track student movements. If you email me on the premise you attempted work but experienced a “computer issue” and I find no evidence to support your claim, I will consider that scholastic dishonesty.

Students can be reported to NCTC admin and dropped from this course, with no refund, for scholastic dishonesty.

  

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Department Chair:	Crystal R.M. Wright
Office Location:	Gainesville Campus, Room 24
Telephone Number:	940-668-7731, ext. 4320
E-mail Address:	cwright@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dr. Bruce King
Office Location:	Gainesville Campus
Telephone Number:	940-668-4267
E-mail Address:	bking@nctc.edu