Meeting Time and Place:

Tuesday & Thursday, 9:25 – 10:40 a.m.
204 Kethley Hall

Instructor:

Office Hours:

During Spring Semester, 2005, the professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

      Monday:  10:00 – 11:30 a.m.; 3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
      Tuesday:  10:45 – 11:45 a.m.; 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
      Wednesday:  10:00 – 11:30 a.m.; 3:45 – 5:00 p.m.
      Thursday:  10:45 – 11:45 a.m.; 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

If you cannot make one of these times, contact the professor to set up an appointment.

Course Web Page:

You can find the most up-to-date information pertaining to the course on the course web page.  Check the web page periodically for changes to the syllabus, weekly study questions, and other information about the course.  The web page is located at:

http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC101, Sp 04/SOC101Syllabus.htm

Course Text:

John J. Macionis. 2004. Society: The Basics. 7th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Course Reader:

Leonard Cargan and Jeanne H. Ballantine. 2003. Sociological Footprints: Introductory Readings in Sociology. 9th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson.

The books are available at the campus bookstore.  You should purchase the books, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course reading assignments.

    • Click here for tips on how to study the course readings.

                                                                                                       ~Lee Shulman

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16.9% of Mississippians have a college degree.  For the U.S., the figure is 24.4%  (Source:  U.S. Census, 2000). 

When you finish your degree, you will join an elite group.  What is your strategy for finishing your degree? 

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:48 

Will you be ready to live up to the responsibilities of a college graduate?

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Responsibility:

YOU are responsible for learning the course material and for your progress in the course.  You are expected to attend class regularly and complete all of the assignments.  You are expected to know all material presented during class sessions, whether you attended the class or not.  If you miss a class session, you should check with another student to see what you missed.  “I didn’t know” is NEVER a valid excuse.  If you don’t know something, it is your job to find out.

Assignments:

Missed assignments CANNOT be made up.  It is assumed that if you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class.  For this reason, none of the assignments or coursework can be made up.

Assignments are due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted.  If you miss a quiz or writing assignment, you will receive a grade of zero for that assignment.  In the first instance, this will count as your lowest grade and will be dropped.  Subsequent instances will be scored as zero.

If you must miss a presentation or other in-class activity, it is up to you to arrange to trade with another student before the event.  Please notify the instructor of such changes.

If you miss a scheduled presentation, points will be deducted from your grade.

Illnesses and Emergencies:

Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented.  If you must miss class due to illness or another personal emergency, notify the instructor BEFORE the missed class period either by e-mail or telephone.  If you cannot notify the instructor in advance, bring a note from a doctor or other professional to the next class meeting.

Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others.  If you must miss class for an official university activity, you should make arrangements with the instructor BEFORE the missed class.  Appropriate documentation is required.

If you are absent, and do not notify the instructor or bring a note, it will count as one full absence.  If you notify the instructor before the absence, the missed class will count as one-half absence.  If you bring a note from a doctor or other professional, the first two missed classes will count as excused, and will not count as an absence.  After two excused absences, each additional excused absence counts as one-half absence.  One or two absences during the semester will result in a one point deduction from your attendance and participation grade; three or four absences will result in a two point deduction; five or six absences will result in a four point deduction; seven or eight absences will result in a six point deduction; nine or ten absences will result in an eight point deduction.

You are responsible for all material presented in all classes, even during an excused absence.  You should get class notes from another student for all class sessions you miss.

It is in your interest to provide the instructor with written notification (e.g. a note or e-mail) to document any missed classes.  It is risky simply to tell the instructor and expect him to remember.

Make sure that you sign the roll sheet at each class meeting.

Class Discussion:

Class discussion is an important element in this course.  The purpose of the discussion is to provide you with an opportunity to practice thinking skills in a safe environment.  In discussions, you are encouraged to explore ideas presented in the readings and lectures, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.

You must demonstrate appropriate respect for the opinions and ideas of other students.  If you repeatedly show disrespect for other students, you will be asked to leave the classroom.  Class discussions are NOT a time to chat with other students about topics not related to the course.  Talking privately with other students while the rest of the class is trying to carry on a discussion is disruptive, bothersome, and disrespectful to other students and to the professor.  If you repeatedly talk out of turn, you will be asked to leave the classroom.  If you are asked to leave the classroom for disruptive or disrespectful behavior, you cannot make up any work that you miss as a result.

It is acceptable (and encouraged) to disagree with the perspectives of other students, but you should phrase this to show disagreement with the idea or opinion, not with the person presenting the idea or opinion.

Electronic Devices (Cell Phones, Pagers, etc.):

Please make sure that all cell phones, pagers, and similar electronic devices are turned off during class time.  If your phone or pager repeatedly interrupts class, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

DO NOT bring cell phones or other portable communication devices to class during quizzes, exams, or in-class assignments.  If the instructor sees a cell phone or other device during a quiz, exam or in-class assignment, you will receive a grade of zero on the quiz, exam or in-class assignment, and you will be asked to leave the classroom.

If you must have a cell phone or pager (e.g. if you are a volunteer fireman or emergency responder), you MUST make special arrangements with the instructor.

Academic Honesty:

You are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook.  You are expected to do your own work in this course.  Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.

You should be full aware of the Course Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating.  If you are caught cheating in this course, you will be dismissed from the course with a grade of "F."  In addition, a report will be filed with the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES.  Make sure you know what constitutes plagiarism and cheating BEFORE turning in any assignments.  Once you turn in an assignment, you are representing it as your own work.  If you are suspected of committing plagiarism, pleas of “I didn’t know what plagiarism was” will not be accepted.

If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, see the DSU Library's "Plagiarism Prevention: A Guide for Students."  The Course Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating also outlines examples of plagiarism.  If it is still unclear, see the instructor.

Special Accommodations:

Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with medical problems or diagnosed disabilities.  Have Dr. Richard Houston at Reily Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor to make arrangements.

An international study of 13-year-olds ... found that Koreans ranked first in mathematics and Americans last. When asked if they thought they were "good at mathematics," only 23 percent of the Korean youngsters said "yes" − compared to 68 percent of American 13-year-olds. The American educational dogma that students should "feel good about themselves" was a success in its own terms − though not in any other terms.

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You must complete all of the following assignments:

Computing Your Grade:

Your final grade in the course will be calculated as follows:

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