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Course Title:
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Introduction to Sociology
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Course Prefix & Number:
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SOCI1301
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Section Number:
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401
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Semester/Year:
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Fall/2019
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Semester Credit Hours:
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3
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Lecture Hours:
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3
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Lab Hours:
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0
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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
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required Course Materials:
John J. Macionis. Society: The Basics. 14th edition. Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-420632-5
Students are welcome to research bookstores and find the cheapest version of the textbook. If a student wishes to buy/rent an older version, I wouldn't go back more than one edition as you'll be tested on the most recent social statistics. I provide all Power Points, supplemental handouts, and exams. Students don't need to purchase extra keys/codes from the publisher to access this course.
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Stacie Stoutmeyer
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Campus/Office Location:
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Corinth Campus, Room 339
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6467 (Canvas email is my preferred method of contact as I am not always in the physical office.)
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E-mail Address:
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sstoutmeyer@nctc.edu (Canvas email preferred.)
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OFFICE HOURS
Monday/Wednesday: 12:30PM-2:00PM; Corinth campus 339
Tuesday/Thursday: 11:00AM-12:30PM; Corinth campus 339
Sunday: 6:00PM-8:00PM 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
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Point Values
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3 (out of 4)
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In-Class Exams (100 pts each)
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300 points total
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| 1 |
Research Project (Power Point)
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100 points
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Attendance
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25 points total
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
Course grades are based on three (out of four) in-class exams, one Power Point research project, and attendance. Total = 425 points.
EXAMS (300 points total):
I give four in-class exams, but students are only required to take three. Exams 1, 2, and 3 cover their associated modules. The fourth exam is a cumulative final. Most students aim to do well on Exams 1, 2, and 3 and not worry about the final (fourth exam).
The only students required to take the comprehensive final (Exam 4) are those who missed a previous exam and must replace that zero. All students who take Exams 1, 2, and 3 are exempt from the final regardless of their overall letter grade heading into finals week. For example, if a student has taken Exams 1, 2, and 3 (i.e. has not missed any previous exam) and has an overall C average heading into finals week, that student is still exempt from taking the final. The exemption is not reserved solely for "A" students. Additionally, students who are very close to possibly moving up a letter grade may opt to take the final if they would like to try and replace a lower exam score.
Exams are multiple choice and short answer/essay format. Approximately 75% of each exam will come from textbook material and about 25% will come from concepts solely added/discussed in lecture. Thus, attendance is important. I'll provide a review sheet prior to the exam, but it will not cover every single point or stat discussed in lecture.
LATE ENTRY ON EXAM DAYS:
Exams are given in-class at the start of class. Students must be on time with a pencil and a green scantron. Students entering 5-15 minutes late will automatically lose a letter grade on the exam. Students entering after 15 minutes will not be allowed to take the exam and will earn a zero on that exam.
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 Google Slides showing their work. (Note: If a student would like to write an 8-10 page essay paper instead, email me within the first three weeks of class, and I'll discuss requirements for that format. Students need special permission for the essay option, and it's usually only used by students in the Honors Program who must submit a research paper for that department anyway.)
Students may work alone on the project or in groups of two people (maximum). Students who work in pairs will turn in the same project, and they'll receive the exact same grade as I have no way of proving who did what work. Students who opt to work together must both email me before Sunday, September 22nd and sign a form stating they accept full responsibility for any challenges with can arise during group projects and potentially threaten grades. Personally, I highly encourage students to work alone on this project. Additional instructions are posted in the module.
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.
I'll also devote two class periods to helping students with their projects. The first help day will be Wednesday, September 25th and the second will be Wednesday, November 6th (the last class day before the project is due) . For the first discussion in September, students need to have some idea as to their topic. I'll help refine from there, offer additional ideas, suggest potential resources, etc. In the beginning stages of this project, students are often all over the place and end up trying to juggle multiple topics versus one clear project. I can catch that in our first meeting and offer a clearer path forward. The November day should simply be addressing any last minute questions, making sure you're on the right track and meeting all requirements, etc.
The completed Power Point must be submitted in TWO FORMATS: 1) The project must be uploaded in the “Submit Your Completed Project Here” CANVAS DROPBOX before class starts on Monday, November 11th. 2) Students must also bring a HARD COPY (paper copy) TO CLASS on November 11th. Projects will be collected at the start of class. Students must be ON TIME to class or points will be lost. Feel free to email me any questions early in the semester. However, I do not answer questions within 24hrs of the due date. Ask questions early.
LATE PROJECTS: Do not wait until the last minute to submit work in Canvas. You may run out of time. Students who submit their project late will see the following minimum point deductions:
If the project is submitted less than two hours after the dropbox closing deadline (i.e. less than two hours late), the student will lose a letter grade (-10 points). If the project is submitted 2-4 hours past the deadline, the student will lose two letter grades (-20 points). Given that the dropbox will be closed by that time, the student will have to email me the project via Canvas. If the project is submitted 4-6 hours late, the student will lose three letter grades (-30 points). If the project is submitted 6-8 hours late (emailed via Canvas), the student will lose four letter grades (-40 points), meaning the highest possible grade is a D. No late work is accepted after eight hours, and those students earn an automatic F/zero regardless of any slides submitted.
If you fail to submit the research project, no--the final 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.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Make-ups are only offered to students who experience a formally documented medical emergency or military service requirement. Make-ups are not offered due to missing class for celebrations, extracurricular activities, changes in work schedules, relationship problems, arrests, or undocumented medical issues.
Medical Emergencies: Students who experience a medical emergency (e.g. ER visit, unexpected surgery, delivery, etc.) which interferes with an assignment must contact me within five days of that documented emergency so we can determine how to proceed. Students need to attach an image of the hospital documentation along with their initial email. I do not need to know the specifics of any diagnosis, so an image of the hospital bracelet showing the student's/patient's name and date of admission will usually suffice. A portion of the discharge instructions sheet hospitals must provide patients--the section showing the name of the patient and date(s) of service--will also usually suffice. Having worked in a hospital myself for nearly a decade, if anything appears sketchy, I may request additional information or documentation.
Funerals: Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for students to fabricate stories of a death in the family. As such, I require original funerary documentation if you miss an assignment/exam and seek a make-up for this reason. As above, students must contact me within five days of the death so we can determine exactly how to proceed. Death is a serious matter and to protect students who sadly do experience such an event, I do not tolerate fabrications in this area. I consider fabricating a family sickness/death for personal gain to be a form of scholastic dishonesty. As such, the student will receive an automatic zero for the work in question.
Military Service: The military service stipulation is only offered to the military personnel himself/herself since their access to a computer may be temporarily disrupted. It does not extend to significant others who, albeit a stressful time, still have home/school access to computers. Students who need to meet a military service requirement during the semester should contact me in advance of leaving for service so we can determine how to proceed with schoolwork. If a student is unexpectedly called into service to assist with a crisis/disaster (e.g. as occurred during Hurricane Harvey a few years ago), please notify me via email as soon as the word comes down so I can anticipate any necessary adjustments. Feel free to email me any questions on this matter.
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.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Any schedule changes will be announced in class and via an email and class announcement in Canvas.
MODULE ONE
Chapter 1: Sociology Perspective/Theory/Method
Chapter 2: Culture
Chapter 3: Socialization
Chapter 4: Social Interaction
Chapter 6: Sex, Gender, Sexuality
EXAM 1 Monday, September 23rd (Be on time with a scantron and pencil.)
MODULE TWO
Chapter 7: Deviance
Chapter 16: Collective Behavior sections
Chapter 8: Social Stratification
Chapter 10: Gender Stratification
Chapter 11: Race & Ethnicity
EXAM 2 Monday, November 4th (Be on time with a scantron and pencil.)
No Class Wednesday, November 20th for Thanksgiving Holiday
Research project due by the start of class Monday, November 11th.
(Due in the Canvas dropbox and bring a paper copy to class. See the Research Project module in Canvas for all instructions.)
MODULE THREE
Chapter 13: Family and Religion
Chapter 14: Education & Health/Medicine
Chapter 15: Population, Urbanization, Environment
EXAM 3 Monday, December 2nd (Be on time with a scantron and pencil.)
Wednesday, December 4th is a review day for anyone taking the cumulative final the following week.
Final Exam Day--Monday, December 9th (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.
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 (25 points total):
Attendance is graded in this course. Attendance is worth 25 points. Students receive one point for each day of attendance. There are approximately 28 days of standard class this semester, but since I only count 25 days for points, a little leeway is built in should you miss a few classes. Each day, be sure to sign the attendance sheet at the start of class. Students who show up late to lecture will be counted as such and will not earn a point for that day. Since attendance points are basically “free/easy” points, I do not offer extra credit in this course.
LATE ENTRY/LEAVING EARLY ON REGULAR LECTURE DAYS:
If you have to enter late or leave early one day for another obligation, simply be courteous and let me know in advance. However, this should not be a frequent occurrence. Late entry and leaving early is disruptive to the flow of lecture. Since late entry/early exit is disruptive to the flow of lecture, after four occurrences, students who persist will lose five points on the next exam for every late arrival or early exit that has not been discussed with me in advance.
LATE ENTRY ON EXAM DAYS:
Students must be on time with a pencil and scantron. Students entering 5-15 minutes late will automatically lose a letter grade on the exam. No late entry is allowed after 15 minutes. Students not present by then will earn a zero on the exam.
CONTACT A FELLOW STUDENT IF YOU MISS/SKIP LECTURE:
If you are not present for a lecture, please contact a fellow student to see what you missed. It is not logistically possible for me to re-lecture or type email summaries for each student who skips/misses class.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 1st.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
EXTRA CREDIT:
Leeway is already built into this course, primarily by way of the ability to use the final exam to replace a lower exam score. Attendance points are also easy points to earn. 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.
TECHNICAL ISSUES w/ COMPUTERS:
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 https://ecampushelpdesk.nctc.edu/hc/en-us/requests/new.
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.
EMAILS, CANVAS, NOTIFICATIONS, and DUE DATES:
Use Canvas to download lecture materials, submit the research project, read class announcements, track due dates and grades, and email me.
I encourage students to have NCTC emails and Canvas notifications automatically forwarded to the email account they check most regularly. Click on the Canvas "Account" icon, then scroll through both the "Settings" and "Notifications" options.
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. That does not mean you'll have work in Canvas or announcements everyday.
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 at random times during weekdays, but I do not tend to check email after 5PM on weekdays or on Saturdays. On Sundays, I check email during online office hours. Please allow 24 hours for return emails during the week. If you email me outside of Canvas, please identify yourself using your full name and class section (e.g. 340, 400, etc.).
BEHAVIOR POLICY:
I have never had a behavioral issue in class; however, so we are on the same page, I expect students to be respectful to all and refrain from classroom disruptions. Students may briefly and occasionally check cell phones during class. However, frequent texting (defined by eyes fixated on the phone for multiple minutes and/or multiple times a class) or usage that distracts fellow students counts as a disruption. In such cases, the student will lose all extra credit opportunities for the semester and may be asked to leave the classroom for the day. Specific action taken during and following other disruptive incidents will depend on the nature of the incident, but it is possible to be removed from a course for behavioral issues.
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: Plagiarism, cheating, and/or collusion of any type will result in a zero for that assignment, exam, or project. Also, in the past few semesters, a few students fabricated stories about not being able to access Canvas in the first weeks and wanted make-up work for missed assignments. Upon quick investigation, Canvas logs showed they, in fact, had access and had been signing in. Be aware that Canvas allows instructors to track student log-in's, work, etc. Fabricating stories of any kind for personal gain is a form of scholastic dishonesty, will result in a zero, and may be reported to upper admin at NCTC.
LIONALERT SYSTEM:
Sign up to receive text messages on campus closings due to inclement weather or other campus-related emergencies 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 do not have access to college transcripts. Students should go to https://www.nctc.edu/current-students/transcript-request.html for more info.
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS AFTER SPEAKING WITH INSTRUCTOR FIRST:
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Name of Department Chair:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 24
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-4267
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E-mail Address:
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bking@nctc.edu
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