Course Title:	Introduction to Sociology
Course Prefix & Number:		SOCI1301	Section Number:	380	Semester/Year:	Spring/2021
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/Textbook: John J. Macionis. Society: The Basics. 14th edition.  Pearson.  ISBN 978-0-13-420632-5 FAQ: Do students need to buy the textbook? Per the department, online students are expected to secure the above Macionis textbook. However, there are several formats from which to choose these days (ebook, rental, etc.). Students are welcome to shop around for the cheapest version. If a student wishes to rent/buy an older version of the textbook, I wouldn't go back more than two editions since this course includes recent social statistics (though my Power Points also tend to list those stats). I don't use publisher access codes, so that's not a requirement for this course. I provide all Power Points and supplemental materials, and I personally create all assignments and exams based on chapters we'll cover.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Stacie Stoutmeyer
Campus/Office Location:	Not on campus this semester.
Telephone Number:	Not on campus this semester. (Use Canvas email.)
E-mail Address:	sstoutmeyer@nctc.edu (Canvas email preferred.)

 

OFFICE HOURS

In light of the on-going pandemic, my office hours will be conducted online this semester. Feel free to email me any time you have a question or need clarification. I'm also happy to schedule a WebEx meeting with any student.

 

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
3 (out of 4)	Exams (100 points each)	300 points total
1	Assignment #1: Intimate Partner Violence	50 points
1	Assignment #2: Conspiracy Theories	50 points
1	Assignment #3: Divorce & Children (Learning Outcomes Assessment)	50 points
-	Discussion Boards as Extra Credit Opportunities

 

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

Course grades are based on the following requirements: three (out of four) exams (100 points each), one assignment on conspiracy theories (50 points), one assignment on intimate partner violence (50 points), and one assignment on divorce and children (50 points). Total = 450 points

Discussion boards will be offered as extra credit opportunities.

 

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR - Use CANVAS email.

Canvas email is my preferred method of contact because it clearly identifies students/sections. Click the Inbox tab in Canvas then choose this class and instructor. I check email at random times during weekdays; however, emails sent after 5PM will typically be answered the following day. I do not check email on Saturdays. On Sundays, I check email during 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.). 

 

EXAMS (300 points total; 67% of grade) - Please READ IN FULL!

All students are required to take three (out of four) exams. I give four exams, but students are only required to take three. This allows a bit of leeway in case a student misses or scores low on one exam. Exams 1, 2, and 3 cover their associated modules. The final/fourth exam is a comprehensive final covering all chapters. Most students aim to do well on Exams 1, 2, and 3 and not worry about the final/fourth exam.

Students Who Miss an Exam:

The only students REQUIRED to take the comprehensive final (Exam 4) are those who MISSED a previous exam and must replace that zero. If a student misses two exams, the final can only replace one zero; the other zero will still count in the gradebook. 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 As.

Students Who Did Not Miss a Previous Exam But Want to Try for a Higher Score:

Students who did not miss any previous exams (#1, 2, 3) but who'd like to try and replace a lower exam score are welcome to take the final and possibly replace their lowest test score. If the student scores lower on the final than the exam that student hoped to replace, the final exam just gets dropped (i.e. the final cannot hurt their grade).

Taking the Online Exams:

Online exams are not designed for students to casually flip through and copy off notes at their own pace. Exams are TIMED. Students are given ONE ATTEMPT and 75 minutes to answer 45-55 questions.  I do not re-open exams for students who run out of time while taking exams. Doing so would be unfair to other students.

Once you begin an exam, you CANNOT save it and come back later. If you sign out of an exam, that counts as your one attempt, Canvas will score all unanswered questions as incorrect, and that will be your grade. Once you begin the exam, you must complete it in one sitting.

Exams are listed in the "Quizzes" tab when they are ready to open. I also put a direct link to the exam on the home page when the exam is set to open. Do not wait until the hour before an exam closes to start the exam as you may run out of time. Due dates are listed in the syllabus, the "Assignments" tab, and the "Quizzes" tab.

Exam 1 opens Sunday April 4th and closes at 11:59PM Sunday, April 11th (Required)

Exam 2 opens Sunday, April 18th and closes at 11:59PM Sunday, April 25th (Required)

Exam 3 opens Sunday, May 2nd and closes at 11:59PM Thursday, May 13th (Required)

Cumulative Final Exam/Exam 4 opens Friday, May 14th and closes THAT evening at 5:00PM (Only required for students who missed a previous exam; Students who did not miss a previous test may also take this exam to try and drop a lower test score.)

 

FAQ: How should students study/prepare for exams in this online class?

1) First, print out the REVIEW SHEET provided for each module and associated exam. Use it as you read each chapter to hone in on core concepts. You can also write notes on the review sheet as you won't have time to casually flip through notes during the timed exams. I'd write definitions and key words by each concept on that review sheet. Then, I'd also write an example (i.e. an example of material vs. non-material culture) and/or any stat (i.e. 43-47% of marriages end in divorce) when given.

2) Read each assigned chapter AND all additional materials provided (the detailed Power Points I've created, any handouts I include, etc.). Students should also watch the short Crash Course videos as they cover core topics. I also provide "Instructor Video" reviews. Some are rather long as there's a lot of info in some chapters, but they're designed to focus on concepts which I'll include on the exam. Pay close attention to any concept mentioned in multiple places (i.e. the textbook AND the Power Point AND a video) as that's a good indication the concept has been deemed very important.

3) If you have any questions about a concept, feel free to email me for further explanation but please do so at least 24hrs before an exam so I have time to respond.

 

COMPUTER ISSUES - I require documentation.

It is well known that some students fabricate stories of computer issues. As such, students who experience a legitimate computer issue need to provide the following before make ups will be considered:

1) First, immediately take a snapshot IMAGE or a VIDEO of the ERROR MESSAGE so you have something to show me and our IT department. If you do not have a smart phone, you can take a snapshot image 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. If you take a VIDEO of the issue, that video must show the exact time, date, and issue--all three--or it will not be considered.  Without VISUAL proof of an issue, I do not consider options.

2) After taking an image or video, you may then email me. Include that image or video in the email and a detailed description of what occurred. That EMAIL must be sent IMMEDIATELY upon experiencing the issue. For example, if you experience an issue at 8PM, the email needs to be in my Canvas email no later than 8:15PM.

3) Some issues may require the assistance of the NCTC eCampus HelpDesk. You may send them 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. You then need to give me the TICKET NUMBER, usually at the top of the email.

 

THREE REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS (150 points total; 33%) - Please READ IN FULL!

Instead of requiring one large Power Point research project as I've done in the past, students this semester will complete three short assignments. All three are required & missing even one will drop a student's overall average by a letter grade.  Instructions for each are listed in Canvas. Each has a set due date. All are open on the first day of the semester, and students are welcome to complete them earlier if they'd like! Assignments #1 and #2 simply require students to watch short video lectures and submit a fill-in-the-blank assignment. Assignment #3 requires a bit of research, but students can click on the assignment to see that topic and what's required in advance. 

Assignment #1: Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking due before 11:59PM Sunday, April 4th (Given as a special lecture before eventually discussing deviance [violence as a form of deviance], the family chapter, etc.)

Assignment #2: Conspiracy Theories due before 11:59PM Sunday, April 25th (Given as a special lecture since this topic has been frequently discussed via media/social media in relation to current events. Covers foundational info and misconceptions, not any one theory.)

Assignment #3: Course Assessment - Divorce and Children due before 11:59PM Sunday, May 9th (Coincides with the Family chapter. This is a TIMED course assessment in the form of a 3-question quiz with 1 short essay. It's required by the department. Click on the instructions at the start of the semester to see the topic you'll need to research in advance.)

 

EXTRA CREDIT DISCUSSION BOARDS (25 points total)

All discussion boards this semester are offered as EXTRA CREDIT opportunities. In total, students may earn up to 25 extra credit points. While that might not sound like a lot, there are only 450 total required points in this class. Thus, the extra credit is actually substantial. I encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity. I do not re-open boards or accept late work that does not align with the below make-up policy.

 

MAKE-UP POLICY - I require documentation.

Due dates are listed under the "Tentative Due Dates" section below. Students are encouraged to put those dates in a planner, a cell phone calendar, or whatever location they access regularly. 

Make-ups are only offered to students who experience a formally DOCUMENTED medical emergency or military service requirement. 

Medical Emergencies: Students who experience a medical emergency (e.g. ER visit, unexpected surgery, etc.) which interferes with an assignment should contact me within a week so we can determine how to proceed. Original documentation from the medical provider is required; however, that documentation does NOT need to disclose any private info about your actual diagnosis. For example, students often send me an image of their medical bracelet as that shows they received care at a facility on a certain date but does not disclose their diagnosis. Or, students send me an image of the top of their discharge instructions sheet which shows their name, date of service, and location, but info on diagnosis can remain concealed.

COVID-19: If you or a dependent tests positive for COVID-19 during the semester and it impacts your schoolwork, email me immediately and we'll go from there. Do NOT wait until the end of the semester as I will not backtrack weeks worth of work. Instead, email me within five days of the positive diagnosis. In your email, attach an image of the positive documentation. I cannot make special considerations without documentation as we are aware of student fabrications in this area. NCTC also requires students who are positive to notify the college. (Side Note: My son was a dual-credit student last semester and tested positive, so I too had to provide documentation to multiple sources.)  

Funerals: Unfortunately, some students fabricate stories of a death in the family. As such, documentation is required if you miss an assignment/exam and seek a make-up for this reason. As above, students should contact me within a week so we can determine exactly how to proceed. Students typically provide an image of the pamphlet from a memorial service alongside their textbook. A general link to an online obituary does not count unless the student is identified within the obit. Death is a serious matter and to protect students who sadly do experience such an event, I do not tolerate fabrications in this area. Fabricating a family sickness/death for personal gain is a form of scholastic dishonesty.

Military Service: The military service stipulation for late work is only offered to the military personnel himself/herself/themself since that student's 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--as some of my students were for the pandemic or recent hurricanes--please notify me via email as soon as the word comes down so I can anticipate any necessary adjustments. Usually, there is not a problem making adjustments, so don't worry. Feel free to email me any questions on this matter.

 

GRADES

Grades are always posted in Canvas. If you have a question about your grade, check Canvas first and then you are welcome to contact me via email in Canvas.

 

EXTRA CREDIT - I do not offer additional extra credit opportunities for individual students.

Leeway is already built into this course by way of the "3 out of 4" exam policy and the extra credit discussion boards. I do not grant additional opportunities for individual students as that's not fair to others! Students who email me seeking more points/opportunities will simply be directed back to this section.

 

VIDEOS

I upload various videos for each chapter, and they're posted in the Canvas modules. I've also created a YouTube channel to house videos, and I'm in the process of uploading various videos in case there's an issue (such as slow buffering) with the Canvas platform. Direct link & click on "PLAYLISTS" to select your class: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwrjUf1FNzL2pnfYYarQNKQ

 

TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

*Chapter numbers vary by textbook edition, starting with Ch5. As such, after the first few chapters, pay attention to the TITLE of the chapter listed below more than the numeric number. We will not be covering all chapters in the textbook.

 

MODULE ONE

Chapter 1: Sociology Perspective/Theory/Method

Chapter 2: Culture

Chapter 3: Socialization (You will not be tested on Freud, Piaget, and Gilligan)

Chapter 4: Social Interaction (Only the info on status and roles [everything], Goffman & dramaturgical analysis and presentation of self, idealization; Pp. ~101-111 in the 14th edition of textbook.)

Chapter: Groups (Only the info on primary/secondary groups, reference groups, leadership, conformity, and in-groups/out-groups; Pp. ~124-130 in the 14th edition of the textbook.)

Assignment #1: Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking due before 11:59PM Sunday, April 4th

EXAM 1 - Closes at 11:59PMSunday, April 11th

 

MODULE TWO

Chapter: Deviance

Chapter: Race & Ethnicity

Chapter: Sexuality in Society

Chapter: Social Stratification

Chapter: Gender Stratification

Assignment #2: Conspiracy Theories due before 11:59PM Sunday, April 25th

EXAM 2 - Closes at 11:59PM Sunday, April 25th

 

MODULE THREE

Chapter: Social Change (Only the info on collective behavior, crowds, riots, protests, social mvmts, and disasters; Pp. ~490-495 in the 14th edition of the textbook.)

Special Lecture on Sociology of Disasters (Expands on the above chapter but this is a special lecture not in textbook.)

Chapter: Family and Religion

Chapter: Education and Health/Medicine

Assignment #3: Course Assessment - Divorce and Children due before 11:59PM Sunday, May 9th

EXAM 3 - Closes at 11:59PM ***THURSDAY*** May 13th

 

Final Exam/Exam 4--Closes at 5:00PM FRIDAY, May 14th--the last day of the semester. *The only students required to take the cumulative final exam in this class are those who need to make-up a previously missed exam. See aforementioned exam policy.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Instructor-Specific Policy

In this online course, students should sign in at least three times a week to stay on top of assignments, announcements, etc. On many days, there will be nothing new and you can log out after reading any new emails/announcements. Please keep track of all due dates. I do not send extra emails/announcements reminding students of every due date. Due dates are usually listed in advance on assignments, and Canvas often shows "To Do/Coming Up" reminders in red on the class home page.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 26th.

 

CANVAS, NOTIFICATIONS, and DUE DATES - Set Canvas notifications.

Use Canvas to download lecture materials, read class announcements, track due dates and grades, and email the instructor. For this online class, all assignments, exams, and discussion boards are submitted in Canvas.

Set NCTC emails and Canvas notifications to be forwarded to the email account you check most frequently. Click on your profile icon to add info/change settings, and you'll see the word "Notifications."

Since most due dates are listed on the syllabus and/or are listed alongside the assignments/exams title in Canvas, I do not send reminders for every item of graded work. Please keep track of all due dates and ask questions early. 

Students also need to check class announcements regularly. Students can also click on the "Announcements" tab to review announcements.

 

BEHAVIOR

In online courses, students are expected to remain civil in all forms of communications, such as emails and discussion boards. Specific action taken during and following a disruptive incident will depend on the nature of the incident, but it is possible to be reported for behavioral issues.

 

NCTC's COVID-19 POLICY

NCTC's COVID info page is http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html.

 

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. 

OSD Students: Please email me asap 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    

X   Social and Behavioral Sciences

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

X   Critical Thinking

X   Communication

X   Empirical and Quantitative

X   Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

X   Academic NCTC Core Curriculum

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online. https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/student-handbook.pdf

 

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, a few students have fabricated stories about not being able to access Canvas and wanted make-up work for missed assignments. Be aware that Canvas allows instructors to track student log-in's, work, etc. Fabricating stories of any kind for personal gain is also a form of scholastic dishonesty. Any form of scholastic dishonesty will result in a zero and may be reported to administrators at NCTC.

  

QUESTION OR CONCERNS AFTER SPEAKING WITH INSTRUCTOR FIRST:

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. Larry Gilbert
Office Location:	Corinth Campus, Room 160A
Telephone Number:	940-498-6216
E-mail Address:	lgilbert@nctc.edu