Sociology 101 Syllabus PDF

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SOCY 101 Fall 2020 COURSE DESCRIPTION

SOCIOLOGY 101: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY [DRAFT SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE]! VCU Fall Semester 2020! Asynchronous (All lectures and materials will be posted weekly)! Instructor: Dr. Travis L. Williams, PhD ([email protected])! Office Hours: Wednesdays 11-1 (Zoom)!!! Teaching Assistant:!!Baron Edwards ! Office Hours: 1-3 pm Thursdays (Zoom)! Welcome to Sociology 101! This course is designed to be a !course!for the discipline of sociology, which concerns the empirical- or evidence-based-- study of human societies and social behavior. Accordingly, we will cover a wide range of sociological topics including, but not limited to the the origins and history, the key theories, theorists, and the central concepts

that serve as foundations of the discipline.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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Understand the origins of the discipline of sociology and become familiar with its foundational figures Learn the basic research methods that sociologists use to investigate the social world Learn how societal values, behaviors and institutions are socially constructed and how these constructions shape what we perceive!as normal and abnormal Understand how social inequality shapes the world we live in Learn how society is!stratified by sociological variables such as race,!class,!gender,!sexuality,!nationality,!and citizenship status

REQUIRED MATERIALS, EVALUATION, & COURSE SCHEDULE

Introduction to Sociology by Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum, and Deborah Carr (2018, 11th edition) ISBN: 978-0-393-63945-5 (available at Barnes and Noble)

Evaluation: Your final grade will consist of the average of FOUR grades – your top two out of three tests taken during the semester + mandatory cumulative final + participation. Four multiple-choice tests and one class participation grade. Each exam will be 30 percent of your grade. Participation (PackBack) will be 10 percent of your grade. Three of the four tests will take place during the semester. Your lowest NONFINAL test grade is automatically dropped at the end of the semester. The final is mandatory and that test score cannot be dropped. There are no make-up exams. 30% + 30% + 30% + 10% = 100%

Class Participation Grade Your class participation grade will be determined by your participation with Packback.

Participation is a requirement for this course, and the Packback Questions platform will be used for online discussion about class topics. Packback Questions is an online curiosity community where you are encouraged to be curious and ask BIG questions about how what we’re studying relates to life and the real world. My goals for using Packback are for us to actively engage with course concepts, theories and materials and with another in ways that are not possible in class due to our large class size. !Your participation on Packback will count towards 10 percent of your final grade. In order to receive your points per week, you must post 1 Question and 2 Answers per week relevant to our class subject matter per week.

! Before you start posting, be sure to read the Community Guidelines found in the tutorial on Packback. If your post doesn’t follow the Packback Community Guidelines, there is a chance it will be removed and you won’t receive points for that post.

! There will be a Sunday 11:59 PM deadline for submissions in your community each week.

! Note: it takes 24 hours for the Packback team to moderate a post and send a coaching email. If by any reason your post is moderated because it does NOT meet the Community Guidelines, you will need to edit and re-publish your post to receive credit for the week. This is why it is important that you complete your

Packback questions and responses far before the deadline in case your post is moderated

! How to Register on Packback:

! You will receive a welcome email from [email protected] prompting you to finish registration.

! Packback has already created an account for you with your school email, all you need to do is reset your password. This email may be directed to spam or filtered out, so make sure you do a thorough scan of your inbox if you can't find the email.

! Backup Registration Instructions: If you search your inbox and still can't find the welcome email, or if you are new to the course, you may manually register by following the instructions below:

!

1.

Navigate to https://questions.packback.co and click “Register as a new student”. Note: If you already have an account on Packback you can login with your credentials.

2.

Make sure to register with your SCHOOL email address and real first name and last name.

3.

Enter our class community’s Community Lookup Key into the “Join a new Community” module on your dashboard. Please note, the following Community Lookup Key is only for locating the community; it is NOT a coupon code or access code. Our Community Lookup Code: e1652506-792d-4d12-8eeb-28435f158fca

4.

Follow the instructions on your screen to finish your registration.

If you have ANY questions or concerns regarding Packback throughout the semester, please contact the customer support team at [email protected]!

! For a brief introduction to Packback Questions and why we are using it in class, watch this video: vimeo.com/packback/Welcome-to-PackbackQuestions

Final Grade Scale 90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 60 = F Make-up Test Policy: THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP TESTS IN THIS CLASS. You may drop your lowest of the three NON-FINAL exam scores. Your final is mandatory.

! Tips for being successful in this course Come to class prepared • Come to my office to review your tests to see what questions you • missed and to explore how you might be able to improve on your study habits Make notes, rewrite notes, share notes • Form small study groups that meet regularly • When you study, focus on key theories, key theorists and key • concepts.! Don't get lost in details.!! Do not approach me late in the quarter to let me know you have • been doing poorly in the course and then ask me what you should do. Please do not discuss your personal academic standing or financial • aid package in relation to the grade you currently have in the course.! Such items should be discussed with your academic!advisor.!! Please!avoid asking to be treated in a way that would be unfair to • your fellow students! ! CLASS SCHEDULE WEEK 1 (08.17): INTRODUCTIONS: WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? !Giddens!et al.!3-18 + Lecture

WEEK 2 (08.24): WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? Cont'd !!Giddens!et al.!3-18, 18-25 + Lecture WEEK 3 (08.31):!!SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS Giddens et al.!31-49 + Lecture WEEK 4 (09.07): SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS/ SOCIAL INTERACTION Giddens et al.!31-49 + Lecture

WEEK 5 (09.14):!SOCIAL INTERACTION AND EVERYDAY LIFE Giddens et al. 31-49 + Lecture *TEST 1 WILL BE ON 09.14

WEEK 6 (09.21):!CONFORMITY, DEVIANCE, CRIME Giddens et. al. 181-208 WEEK 7 (09.28):!LABOR, ECONOMY, STRATIFICATION Giddens!et.!al.!213-272 WEEK 8 (10.05):!LABOR, ECONOMY, STRATIFICATION Giddens!et.!al.!213-272!

WEEK 9 (10.12):! TBA!

WEEK 10 (10.19):!SEX & GENDER Giddens!et!al.!279-325 WEEK 11 (10.26):!SEX & GENDER Giddens et al.!279-325

WEEK 12 (11.02) SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES Fitzgerald 2018 (Chapter 1 on Blackboard) + Lecture The Fitzgerald readings are from a non-required text, lecture attendance is very important

*TEST 2 WILL BE ON 11.02 WEEK 13 (11.09): SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES Fitzgerald 2018 (Chapter 1) + Lecture The Fitzgerald readings are from a non-required text, lecture attendance is very important

WEEK 14 (11.16): SOCIOLOGY OF!RACE & ETHNICITY! Giddens et al. 325-347 + Lecture

WEEK 15: (11.23) LAST WEEK OF CLASSES FOR VCU FALL 2020 SEMESTER + TEST 3 *TEST 3 WILL BE ON 11.23

FINAL EXAM WEEK: 11.30-12.07 The final exam for this class will be online and available 12.02.2020! on BLACKBOARD.!! *All dates and assignments listed above are subject to change according to the needs of the instructor

Academic Support Services: Campus Learning Center!http://www.vcu.edu/clc/ -- learn how to • study / learn better Writing Center!http://www.vcu.edu/uc/writingcenter/ --improve your • writing. Student Counseling!http://www.students.vcu.edu/counsel/ • students.html!-improve your!stress!management skills ! A(endance Requirements: Students at Virginia Commonwealth University are expected to a(end all classes and to noBfy the instructor when absences are necessary. Students are responsible for all materials, homework, tests, and other assignments, which they miss due to absences from class. Please click here to reviewVCU's a(endance

policy in the Resource Guide. Campus emergency information

What to know and do to be prepared for emergencies at VCU: •

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Sign up to receive!VCU text messaging alerts. Keep your information up-to-date. Within the classroom, the professor will keep his or her phone on to receive any emergency transmissions. Know the safe evacuation route from each of your classrooms. Emergency evacuation routes are posted in on-campus classrooms. Listen for and follow instructions from VCU or other designated authorities. Within the classroom, follow your professor's instructions. Know where to go for!additional emergency information. Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and objects. Keep your permanent address and emergency contact information current in!eServices.

Class registration required for attendance Students may attend only those classes for which they have registered. Faculty may not add students to class rosters or Blackboard. Therefore, if students are attending a class for which they have not registered, they must stop attending.

Honor System: upholding academic integrity The VCU Honor System policy describes the responsibilities of students, faculty and administration in upholding academic integrity, while at the same time respecting the rights of individuals to the due

process offered by administrative hearings and appeals. According to this policy, "Members of the academic community are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity." In addition, "All members of the VCU community are presumed to have an understanding of the VCU Honor System and are required to: Agree to be bound by the Honor System policy and its procedures; • Report suspicion or knowledge of possible violations of the Honor System; • Support an environment that reflects a commitment to academic integrity; • Answer truthfully when called upon to do so regarding Honor System cases; • Maintain confidentiality regarding specific information in Honor System cases." •

More information can be found at in the VCU policy library under the Education and Student Life tab. Important dates You can view important dates for the semester in the academic calendar. First day of class: August 18, 2020 Last day to Add a Class: August 24, 2020 Last day to drop a class: August 31, 2020 Last day to withdraw with a "W": November 24 Last day of class: November 24, 2020...