202025 SOC 101 Intro to SOC Mc Millan Lequieu,A PDF

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SOC101: Introduction to Sociology Winter 2020/2021 Mondays/Wednesdays 12:30-1:50pm Zoom Classroom ID: 811 4402 0010 Instructor: Dr. Amanda McMillan Lequieu Office: 3201 Arch Street, Room 204/ Zoom ID—867 1962 8268 Office Hours: Mondays 2-3:30pm, and by appointment Email: [email protected] Course Description: This course is an invitation to think sociologically. It is designed to introduce you to “the sociological imagination,” a particular way of looking at and gaining insights about people’s behaviors, relationships, and ideas within their social context. Sociology is about how we’re individually part of something bigger than ourselves, and how our everyday actions in turn shape those bigger forces. In this course, we’ll grapple with how our choices perpetuates the inequality of ourselves and others, and how society influences our own lives whether or not we’re aware of it. You’ll be introduced to key thinkers of sociology, methods and research design, and how sociology differs from (and builds on!) other ways of studying people. We will consider key sociological concepts, like culture, conflict, social structure, the individual, power, and social change, as well as some of the interdisciplinary topics that sociologists study like the economy, race, gender, science, and health. We will also discuss and write about contemporary issues, such as the impact of technology, media, and environmental change on our society. Learning Outcomes If you complete this course successfully, you will learn to:  Learn concepts and methods of sociology  Define and apply a sociological imagination to examine contemporary social crises  Understand who you are in society  Recognize theoretical perspectives, questions, and ideas central to various branches of the sociological discipline in everyday society  Analyze social issues in order to better define the scope (who, what, how, where, and why) of persistent social problems  Articulate, in exams, writing, and discussion, how you can create a more ethical and just world Required Textbook: You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking like a Sociologist, 6th edition, by Dalton Conley. WWNorton Press. ISBN: 978-0-393-67417-0 Be sure to purchase the 6th edition. The book is available as Ebook ($~40) or paperback textbook (~$70). All students will need InQuizative access, which is included with book purchases. If you purchase the paperback textbook new, you’ll find your Inquizative sign-up code in the inside cover; for the Ebook, InQuizative is included and linked. If you buy the book used, you will need to buy access to InQuizative separately. For either Ebook or textbook, navigate to InQuizative through our Blackboard site. Other readings: All other assigned readings listed in the syllabus will be available via PDF in the appropriate week’s folder on the course website.

Assignments and grading Your grade for this course will be based on the following:     

5% 25% 25% 25% 20%

Participation InQuizative Pre-Class Quizzes (10) Exam 1 Exam 2 Sociological Imagination essays (2)

1. Participation Even though we’re not in person, class will be most meaningful with your consistent participation. By sharing your thoughts and ideas in small- and large-group discussions, you can help each other think critically and engage the material. There will be multiple ways for you to participate—from responding to other students’ questions, to small group discussions, to discussion board assignments, to commenting or critiquing on the texts. Illness: if you become sick, do not provide me (or any professor) with a note from your doctor; simply email me and let me know your situation. We will work something out. 2. InQuizative Pre-Class Quizzes (10) Before each class, you will take an online, “formative assessment” quiz to review the reading. These are not typical quizzes: these are low-risk, open-book quizzes that help you check your learning before class, so you come prepared for discussion and activities. The quiz should take the average student 30 minutes to complete. But if you do not read the chapter beforehand, it will take you significantly longer. Read first, then take the quiz. Refer back to the text if you get the answer wrong. Over the course of the quarter, you need to complete TEN InQuizative quizzes. You have twelve opportunities to take quizzes. This gives you two “passes”—two quizzes you can simply skip. If you complete more than ten, only the highest ten scores will count towards your grade. If, at the end of the quarter, you’ve completed FEWER than ten quizzes, you will get a zero for each missing quiz. Here’s the (good) catch: you can achieve a perfect score for each of the ten required quizzes because you can answer as many questions—and take as long as you need—to get a perfect score. 3.

Exams (2) Exam questions come from lectures, films, activities, class discussions, and the readings. It is important to keep up with the readings, attend class, and take thorough notes. Both exams will be open-book and open-note. The tests will be a blend of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The exams are not cumulative—the first exam will cover material from the first five weeks of class, and the second exam will test material learned from week six through the end of the course.

4. Sociological Imagination essays (2) Twice this quarter, you will write a brief (500-750-word) essay linking a specific activity with sociological ideas. These assignments are critical examinations (not summaries) that show your understanding of how an experience is sociological. The goal of these assignments is to assist you in critically engaging with the course material in ways that expand your learning and improve your argumentation and writing skills. Each essay is worth 10% of your final grade. Essays are due on Blackboard by the beginning of class on their due dates. More information on the requirements and expectations for each essay will be provided in class and posted on Blackboard. Page 2

Plagiarism and academic honesty I understand that as the quarter progresses, you will be juggling multiple class assignments, studying for exams, and in some cases, pursuing part-time work and campus/community activism. Avoid cutting corners and any type of behavior that is dishonest, such as (but not limited to) copying and pasting material from the internet, using ideas and sentences from articles and books without proper attribution, or misrepresenting facts. Any form of cheating or plagiarism is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable in this class and at Drexel. Lack of knowledge regarding these guidelines will NOT be accepted as an excuse. Do the work and speak truthfully. Consult the full statement here: https://drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic-integrity/

Accommodations

Communicating with me

Students requesting accommodations due to a disability at Drexel University need to request a current Accommodations Verification Letter (AVL) in the ClockWork database before accommodations can be made. These requests are received by Disability Resources (DR), who then issues the AVL to the appropriate contacts. For additional information, visit the DR website at drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/ overview/, or contact DR for more information by phone at 215.895.1401, or by email at [email protected].

My goal is to set you up for success and learning in this class. Please attend my weekly office hours, talk to me before or after class, or, better yet, schedule a one-on-one meeting with me. Email is the best way to get in touch with me. When you email me, address me formally (Dr. McMillan Lequieu or Dr. ML), and be specific about your question and what you need. I will typically respond to you within 24 hours, but I only check my email twice a day (8am and 12pm), Monday through Friday. If you are struggling with the course, consult with me as soon as you can so we can design a solution that will help you be successful in the class. To communicate to the entire class, I will post an Announcement on Blackboard.

Appropriate Use of Course Materials It is important to recognize that some or all of the course materials provided to you are the intellectual property of Drexel University, the course instructor, or others. Use of this intellectual property is governed by Drexel University policies, including the IT-1 policy found at: https://drexel.edu/it/about/policies/policies/01Acceptable-Use/ Briefly, this policy states that all course materials including recordings provided by the course instructor may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or re-posted, unless otherwise given prior written approval by the University. Doing so may be considered a breach of this policy and will be investigated and addressed as possible academic dishonesty, among other potential violations. Improper use of such materials may also constitute a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct found at: https://drexel.edu/cpo/policies/cpo1/ and will be investigated as such.

Recording of Class Activities In general, students and others should not record course interactions and course activities in lecture. The recording of lectures and discussions may only be carried out by the students enrolled in the class who have an approved accommodation from Disability Resources with their instructors’ prior knowledge and consent. Students with approved accommodations may be asked to turn off their recorder if confidential or personal information is presented (such as during discussions or small-group activities). If a student has any comments, concerns, or questions about provided class materials and/ or recording, talk to your course instructor first. If this does not resolve the issue, you can also reach out to the Department Head, and use the process described for a grade appeal to move your concern forward. The process described for grade appeals can be found at: https://drexel.edu/provost/policies/grade-appeals/ Page 3

Illness and extenuating circumstances If you become sick, do not provide me (or any professor) with a note from your doctor. Simply email me and let me know your situation. We will work something out. Likewise, if you are managing caregiving responsibilities for people in your household, let me know so we can work together towards your success in this class.

Food/Housing Insecurity When students face challenges getting enough to eat or having a stable and safe place to sleep at night, it can make learning difficult. If you find yourself struggling with food or housing insecurity here in Philadelphia, please reach out: 

Philabundance (215-339-0900); www.philabundance.org

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Food Cupboard—19 S. 38th St.Philadelphia PA 19104, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Mondays, 10am.

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Tenant Union Representative Network (http://rturn.net/); legal services and know-your-rights trainings for renters.

You are also welcome to come speak with me if you feel comfortable and I will do my best to help connect you with resources. You deserve access to the tools you need to reach your potential.

Improving your writing and study skills 

Drexel’s Writing Center—free, peer-to-peer ONLINE workshopping for your writing success. https:// drexel.edu/coas/academics/departments-centers/english-philosophy/university-writing-program/drexelwriting-center/

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Drexel’s Center Learning and Academic Success Services—free information about strategies and skills for academic success. (215-762-8121), https://drexel.edu/studentlife/student_family_resources/class/about/

Mental Health Services Things are going to happen while you’re a student that will make it difficult for you to complete your work, attend class, and learn effectively. It is my job as an educator to equip you with all of the tools you need to succeed, but your success is ultimately in your hands. If anything is going on in your life that is making it hard for you to succeed in this class, please come talk to me. Additional resources available to you are: 

Drexel’s Counseling Center—free, in-person individual and group counseling. (215-895-1415), https:// drexel.edu/counselingandhealth/counseling-center/appointment/

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7Cups—free, online emotional support conversation service. https://drexel.edu/counselingandhealth/ counseling-center/7cups/

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Drexel Psychological Services Center—a counseling and therapy clinic based out of Drexel’s Department of Psychology offering sliding scale fees. (215-553-7128, https://drexel.edu/coas/academics/departmentscenters/psychology/clinic/

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The Family Practice and Counseling Network—sliding scale counseling, dental, and medical care. https:// www.fpcn.com/

Changes to the course It’s the prerogative of the professor to make changes to the course schedule during the term. Changes will be rare, and if they occur, students will receive an email from the professor explaining the changes in a timely manner. Page 4

Add, Drop and Withdrawal Policies: You can add this course until the end of week 1, and you can also drop this course until the end of week 1, meaning the course will then be removed from your transcript. The course withdrawal deadline is the last Friday of Week 7. If you have any questions about your progress at any time of the term, please contact me. If you choose to Withdraw, a “W” will be recorded in your transcript. As we continue to live through unprecedented times, the Provost’s Office, Deans and Faculty Senate have agreed to continue offering the Pass/No Pass grading option. The deadline for selecting Pass/No Pass for courses is the last day of finals. Review the Pass/No Pass FAQ: https://drexel.edu/provost/academic-affairs/overview/faqfor-students-pass-nopass/ and talk with their academic advisors before making a decision. You do not need to notify your professor if you decide to take the class pass-fail.

Grading Scale

97-100 A+

87-89 B+

77-79 C+

67-69 D+

93-96 A

83-86 B

73-76 C

60-66 D

90-92 A-

80-82 B-

70-72 C-...