Office: GTM 120

Phone: 257-4741

Office Hours: TR 11:50-1:50; MWF 8:15-9:15; 10:45-11:45

Special Accommodations: If you need special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, advise me before, during, or immediately after the initial class meeting. I will work with you and the ADA Coordinator to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.

Civility: University classes are not immune from the trend of decreasing public civility in American society. Your personal conduct will have a significant effect on the other members of this class. Therefore, in the interest of everyone’s rights and in maintaining an environment conducive to learning, side-conversations or uncivil actions of any kind will not be tolerated. (Refer to the section entitled "Class Conduct/Disruptive Behavior" for more information.) If this occurs, you will be required to leave the class. You will not be permitted to return until attending a meeting with the instructor, the department head, and/or the dean to discuss your inappropriate actions. Your major advisor, department head, and/or dean will also be notified in writing regarding your inappropriate actions.

Text: Macionis, John. 1998. Sociology: The Basics of Structure and Interaction. Second Edition.

· become familiar with the theories and methods sociologists utilize.

· develop an understanding of social reality from a sociological point of view.

· learn to critically analyze the social world.

· gain insights on how to apply sociological insight to everyday life.

Exams: There will be THREE exams. Bring a scantron sheet and an No. 2 pencil with you to the exams. You will be tested on class lectures and discussions, reading assignments, and films. Note: Make-up exams will NOT be given. If you miss an exam, you will receive zero points for that exam. I am in charge of this class, not your physician.

Exam 1 (100 Points): January 4 (Thursday) Exam 2 (100 Points): February 1 (Thursday)

Exam 3 (50 Points): February 15 (Thursday)

Writing Assignments: You may earn up to 50 points. You will be given writing assignments to complete in class and/or outside of class throughout the quarter. Late assignments will NOT be accepted for any reason. Don’t ask. If you fail to give me any assignment on time, you will receive zero points for that assignment. Refer to the "Attendance" section on this syllabus for more information.

GRADING: You may earn a total of 300 points. Final grades will be based on the following scale:

· A: 270-300 points · C: 210-239 points · F: 179 points or below

· B: 240-269 points · D: 180-209 points

Attendance: There will be NO excused absences. Attendance is expected. You are also expected to arrive to class on time and not to leave early. IF YOU CAN NOT ARRIVE TO CLASS ON TIME, DO NOT COME UNTIL THE NEXT PERIOD. It is in your best interest to attend all class meetings. If you miss just one class period, it could adversely affect your grade. You will be held accountable and responsible for all materials covered in this class despite valid reasons for absence from class. Class attendance will be taken daily. The assignments for the course are listed on this syllabus. Other assignments will be announced in class.

Class Participation: Throughout the course, attendance, participation in class discussion, and group participation are expected from each student. An effort will be made to maximize learning experiences for you with a blend of lecture, discussion, and selected films. Many of the lecture materials are not taken from the textbook. However, lectures will compliment text readings. Individual participation and discussion indicating alternative points of view, disagreement with materials, and/or clarification of materials, etc. are encouraged.

Reading Assignments: You are strongly encouraged to read. I reserve the right to give unannounced pop quizzes based on the assigned readings. You are expected to read and gain a general understanding of the assigned materials before the time for which they are to be discussed.

Class Conduct/Disruptive Behavior: Teacher and student behavior in class has a great impact on learning. I have certain expectations of you, and you, no doubt, have certain expectations of me. Some of the things I will do to enhance learning include: a) being available when you request help; b) starting and stopping lectures on time; and c) returning graded tests in a timely manner. On the other hand, I expect you to be attentive in class, to respect the rights of others in the class, and to refrain from the following activities during class: a) talking with classmates during lectures; b) writing letters or working on other class material; c) reading newspapers or materials unrelated to this class; d) sleeping; e) using cellular phones and pagers (turn cellular phones and pagers off during class); f) arriving to class late and leaving early; and g) entering and exiting the classroom throughout the class period. Each time you engage in these activities (or other inappropriate, disruptive activities), 10 points will be deducted from your final grade. You will also be eligible for the disciplinary action described in the section on "Civility" on page one of this syllabus.

Academic Dishonesty: I do NOT tolerate academic dishonesty. Do your own work. The expectation of all students in this course is that complete integrity will be demonstrated at all times. The penalty for academic dishonesty may be a grade of "0" for the assignment on which the dishonesty occurs and a recommendation for additional disciplinary action by appropriate university officials. You should be aware that both "actively giving and taking" and "passively giving" improper assistance constitutes academic dishonesty. For example, "passively giving" improper assistance would be to not cover a test paper when you know someone is looking at it.