Room Change:  Beginning July 5, we will move next door to 209 Bailey, and will meet in this room for the remainder of the semester.

Meeting Time and Place:

Office Hours:

During Summer II Semester, 2007, the professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

        Monday through Friday, 2:00 − 4:00 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 and the official syllabus on the course web page.  Check the web page periodically for changes, announcements, and information about the course.  The web page is located at:

http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC101SUII07/SOC101Syllabus.html

Reading and writing are important elements in this course, as they are in the discipline of sociology.  The following materials are REQUIRED.

Course Text:

Lisa J. McIntyre, 2006, The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology (Third Edition), McGraw Hill Higher Education, Boston, MA.  ISBN:  0-07-288524-6

Course Reader:

Lisa J. McIntyre, 2006, The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology (Third Edition), McGraw Hill Higher Education, Boston, MA.  ISBN:  0-07-288530-0

Writing Notebook:

We will use a Blue Book examination book, 11" x 8.5", with at least 8 sheets, for informal writing.  The bookstore sells one that is suitable, for less than 50 cents.

The text, reader and writing notebook are available at the campus bookstore.  You should purchase the text and reader, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course reading assignments.  YOU MUST PURCHASE A WRITING NOTEBOOK.

    • 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.

Learning Opportunities:

Assigned work is designed to provide you with learning opportunities, and you are responsible for completing all of the assigned work in this course in a timely fashion.  All work is due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted, and missed assignments generally cannot be made up.  If you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class, and you will receive a grade of zero for any assignment that you fail to turn in.

ALL work that you submit (except in-class work) should be typed/word processed.  If you submit a paper with more than one sheet, please attach all sheets with a staple or paper clip BEFORE you bring the assignment to class to turn in.  The instructor will NOT ACCEPT work that is handwritten or that has multiple pages that are not attached with a staple or paper clip.

Absences:

You are expected to attend all class sessions and activities.  Please make sure that you sign the roll sheet at each class meeting, as this will serve as official documentation of your attendance.  If you miss class, you must document your absence, or points will be deducted from your grade (See the information on grading attendance).  Please notify the instructor IN ADVANCE if you must miss class.  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.

Illnesses and Emergencies:  Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented with a note from a doctor or other professional.  You should bring the note to the next class meeting and submit it to the instructor.  Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others. 

University Activities:  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.

Making Up Missed Work:  If you miss an exam or other assignment due to a documented illness, emergency or official university activity, a make up will be given at the end of the semester.  The make-up exam may use a different format, such as an oral exam with the instructor or an essay exam.

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.

Class Participation:

Class participation is an important element in this course.  The purpose of class discussions 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.

If you repeatedly engage in disruptive behaviors during class discussions, 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.

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 exams or in-class assignments.  If the instructor sees a cell phone or other device during an exam or in-class assignment, you will receive a grade of zero on the exam or 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 arrangements with the instructor in advance.

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, fraud and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.

You should be fully aware of the Course Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating.  If you are suspected of cheating in this course, your case will be assigned to the Division of Social Sciences Academic Honesty and Ethics Committee.  The minimum sanction for a first offense will be a 10 point deduction or a zero on the assignment, whichever is greater.  Repeat offenses will result in stiffer sanctions, including dismissal from the course with a grade of "F."  In addition, a report will be filed with the Chair of the Division of Social Sciences, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and DSU'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 Student 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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The following exercises are assigned to assist you in learning the principles of sociology:

• You must purchase a blue book similar to the one indicated in the required materials section above.
• Keep up with the informal writing assignments in your blue book.
• Leave your blue book in the box in class after each class session.
• The purpose of the informal writing assignments is to provide you with opportunities to practice writing, and to help you think about the course material prior to lectures and discussion.
• You are expected to do your own work on these essays.  The policy on plagiarism and cheating will be enforced with no exceptions.

Additional Resources:

• Click here for tips on writing for this course.
• Click here for an explanation of the informal essays and grading.

Your grade in this course is based upon your performance in the course.  That is, your grade will reflect what you do.

Computing Your Grade:

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

Top

The faculty and administration at Delta State University are committed to assisting all students achieve success while at DSU and in their future careers.  In addition to faculty office hours and periodic workshops and seminars, the following resources are always available to students to help them prepare for college-level work, and to improve their study habits and skills.  We encourage you to take full advantage of these resources:

Roberts-LaForge Library

         Reference Desk:  (662) 846-4431
         Further information

Writing Center

         Bailey Hall 211
         (662) 846-4088
         Further information

Academic Support Lab

         H. L. Nowell Union 311
         (662) 846-4654
         Further information

Academic Success Workshops

         Further information

Office of Information Technology

         Bailey Hall 114
         OIT Help Desk:  (662) 846-4444
         Further information

Technology Learning Center

         Ewing Hall 130
         (662) 846-4444
         Further Information

Office of Career Services

         H.L. Nowell Union 300
         (662) 846-4646
         Further Information

PREPARATION and PERSEVERANCE are the KEYS to SUCCESS

Be prepared; don’t give up

See what others have to say about preparation

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