Course Information:

Meeting Place:  204 Kethley Hall

Meeting Times:  Monday–Friday, 8:00–9:45 am

                          June 1–July 2, 2004

Instructor Information:
 

Course Webpage:

The most up-to-date information on the course can be found on the course webpage:

    http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC485/SOC485Syllabus.htm

Course Overview:

This course introduces students to demography, the study of population structure and change, and to causes and consequences of demographic conditions.  The course highlights demographic concepts, such as fertility, mortality, migration and population momentum; demographic topics, such as population change, overpopulation, and urbanization; and demographic relations, such as the nexus between population growth and agricultural production, environmental deterioration, and public health.  Population processes are situated in the context of sustainable development, to understand the interactions between population change and broader social and environmental change.

Prerequisite:  SOC 101 or permission of instructor.
 

Readings:

The readings for this course are all available on-line.  The Course Outline below lists the reading assignments for each class meeting; you should do the assigned reading BEFORE the class meeting for which it is assigned.  All of the readings are listed in the Course Readings section below, under the course outline, along with instructions on how to access each article.  Click here for tips on how to study the course readings.

WebCT:

WebCT will be used occasionally in this course.  All students should create a WebCT account.  Click here for instructions on how to create a WebCT account and for information on how to use WebCT.

Study Questions:
 

Each week, a set of study questions pertaining to the week's topic will be posted on this website. These questions are designed to assist you with the week's reading assignments.  It is recommended that you prepare short answers to these questions to prepare for lectures and discussions.  Questions for the quizzes, the final exam, and writing assignments are frequently drawn from these study questions.

Click on the link for the weekly study questions:
 

Learning is least useful when it is private and hidden; it most powerful when it becomes public and communal.  Learning flourishes when we take what we think we know and offer it as community property among fellow learners so that it can be tested, examined, challenged, and improved before we internalize it.          ~Lee Shulman

Course Objectives:

Students that successfully complete this course will be able to:

(1)  Define important demographic concepts and calculate demographic measures.

(2)  Explain how population structure has changed through history, and provide reasons why population structure has changed.

(3)  Explain the connections between population structure, population change, and food production.

(4)  Explain the connections between population structure, population change, and various environmental issues.

(5)  Identify and discuss current issues, and how they are shaped by population structure and change.

These objectives contribute to overall course goals:

(1)  Developing critical thinking skills.  The class discussions, readings, writing assignments and quizzes are designed to encourage you to develop and use higher-order thinking skills, including analytical, synthetic and applied thinking.  Click here for more information on thinking critically.

(2)  Understanding the social structures and processes that condition our lives.  A basic goal of all sociology courses is to help you understand the nature and workings of these social structures, and how they open opportunities and impose constraints on individuals operating within these structures.  C. Wright Mills called this using your "sociological imagination;" activities in this course are designed to encourage you to use your sociological imagination.  Click here for more information on the sociological imagination.

Course Organization and Approach:

This course uses a participatory, learner-centered, adult education approach.  An adult education approach recognizes that YOU are responsible for your own learning.  The professor can only provide opportunities to learn, but cannot force you to learn.  You are expected to work hard in this course, meaning that for every hour of class time, you should spend at least two to three hours outside of class preparing by doing readings, assignments, studying for quizzes and exams, and thinking about the course material.

You are expected to take responsibility for the success of the course, that is, you should take an active interest not just in the course material, but in the course itself, making it a success for all participants.  Factors such as interest, motivation, creativity, and initiative are important elements in evaluating your performance in the course and assigning a grade.

Course material is presented in several formats, including articles from scientific journals, pamphlets from government agencies and social service organizations, videos, lecture, and student-led class discussions.  The course material combines basic demographic concepts and tools, which are applied to historic and topical social and environmental policy issues.

Assignments, SOC 485:

All students taking the course for undergraduate (SOC 485) credit must complete the following assignments:

(1) Reading, Attendance and Participation in Class Discussions (20 points)
 

• You are expected to do all of the assigned readings and attend all class sessions

• You are expected to engage in classroom discussions, reflecting on the topic and readings

• In class discussions, the quality of your contributions is more important than the quantity of contributions

• Participation in class discussions is not graded based on whether what you say is “right” or “wrong;” rather, you are expected to engage the material critically, and demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply the course material in productive ways

Additional Resources:

• Click here for tips on taking effective class notes
• Click here for tips on getting the most out of class sessions
• Click here for more tips on getting the most out of class sessions
• Click here for tips on how to study the course readings.

(2) Quizzes (30 points)
 

• You will take four in-class quizzes during the semester

• Quizzes consist of short-answer questions (e.g. multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, matching terms) and practical questions (e.g. questions that ask you to calculate figures)

• The first quiz covers the course material presented since the beginning of the semester, including readings, lectures, films, and discussions; subsequent quizzes cover material since the previous quiz

• Each quiz is worth 10 points; the lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester

Additional Resources:

• Click here for suggestions on studying for quizzes

(3) Case Studies (30 points)
 

• You will prepare and submit a five-page research paper, due on Friday, June 25
• The paper will present case studies of demographic and environmental change in two countries; Use the link below for instructions on how to prepare this assignment

• You will present the results of your paper to the class during the final week of classes (June 28–July 2)

      • Your paper should be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced
• You are expected to do your own work on this project and paper; the course policy on plagiarism and cheating will be enforced with no exceptions.

Assignments:
 

• Click here for guidelines on preparing the SOC 485 case studies paper and presentation
• Click here for a list of paper topics selected by individual class members
• Click here for a schedule of the case study presentations
    
Additional Resources:
 

      • Click here for tips on writing papers for this course
• Click here for the course policy on plagiarism and cheating
• Click here for the Delta State Library's guide to plagiarism prevention
 

(4) "Demography in the News" Discussions (10 points)
 

• You will lead one 20–25 minute discussion on a topic of current interest pertaining to demography, population change, food production and/or the environment

• Select an article from a current newspaper or news magazine that pertains to your topic

• Submit your article to the professor two days before your discussion, along with a list of discussion questions; your article will be photocopied and shared with other students in the class

• You will then facilitate a class discussion on the topic, encouraging participation by all members of the class

• You should get other students talking about the topic, mediate the contributions of other students to keep the discussion focused, and guide the discussion to ensure that the social and policy issues are covered

Assignments:
 

• Click here for a schedule of "Demography in the News" discussion leaders

Additional Resources:

• Click here for tips on leading a discussion

(5) Discretionary (10 points)
 

      • The instructor will evaluate your performance based on factors such as the motivation, interest, and improvement over the course of the semester

Assignments, SOC 585:

All students taking the course for graduate (SOC 585) credit must complete the following assignments:

(1) Reading, Attendance and Participation in Class Discussions (20 points)
 

• You are expected to do all of the assigned readings and attend all class sessions

• You are expected to engage in classroom discussions, reflecting on the topic and readings critically, and demonstrating an understanding and ability to apply the course material in productive ways

• In class discussions, the quality of your contributions is more important than the quantity of contributions

(2) Quizzes (30 points)
 

• There will be four in-class quizzes during the semester

• Quizzes consist of short essay questions (requiring 3 to 4 paragraphs each) and practical questions (e.g questions that ask you to calculate figures)

• The first quiz covers the course material presented since the beginning of the semester, including readings, lectures, films, and discussions; subsequent quizzes cover material since the previous quiz

• Each quiz is worth 10 points; the lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester

(3) Case Studies (20 points)
 

• Prepare and submit a seven-eight−page paper, due on Friday, June 25

• The paper will present case studies of demographic and environmental change in two countries; Use the link below for more information on how to prepare this assignment

• You will present the results of your case study to the class during the final week of classes (June 28−July 2)

      • Your paper should be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced

      • You are expected to do your own work on this paper; the course policy on plagiarism and cheating will be enforced with no exceptions

Assignments:
 

• Click here for guidelines on preparing the SOC 585 case studies paper and presentation
• Click here for a list of paper topics selected by individual class members

      • Click here for a schedule of the case study presentations

Additional Resources:
 

      • Click here for tips on writing papers for this course
• Click here for the course policy on plagiarism and cheating
• Click here for the Delta State Library's guide to plagiarism prevention
 

(4) Teaching About Demographic Research (20 points)
 

• Select one of the research articles listed below under "Discussion Articles"

• Prepare and lead a 30-minute discussion with the other graduate students, covering the demographic, environmental and social issues raised in the article and relating the article to other material presented in the course
• Prepare a lesson plan detailing how you would teach the topic of this article to a group of elementary or high school students

• Submit the lesson plan on Monday, June 21

Assignments:
 

• Click here for guidelines on preparing the lesson plan

• Click here for guidelines on leading the discussion

• Click here for a schedule of "Teaching About Demographic Research" discussion leaders

Additional Resources:

• Click here for tips on leading a discussion

(5) Discretionary (10 points)
 

      • The instructor will evaluate your performance based on factors such as motivation, interest, and improvement over the course of the semester

Grading:

There are a total of 100 points available for the semester.  Your final score is simply the sum of all points earned over the semester.  If you accumulate 90 or more points over the course of the semester, you will get an “A” in the course.  If you accumulate 80 to 89 points, you will get a “B,” for 70 to 79 points you will get a “C,” and for 60 to 69 points will get a “D.”  If you total less than 60 points, your final grade will be an “F.”  Note that you start with zero and earn points; you do not start with 100 and lose points.

If you comply with all course requirements and submit all of the assignments satisfactorily and on time, you can expect a “C” in this course.  To receive a higher grade, you must demonstrate a superior grasp of course material and an ability to apply the material in productive ways.  It is also helpful to show an interest in the course material and in learning, and an achievement-based orientation.
 

Your final grade in this course represents an evaluation of your performance in the class.  It is not an assessment of you as a person, nor of your knowledge and abilities in general.  If you want to get a higher grade in this course, you should focus on meeting all of the course requirements and doing well on the assigned coursework.
 

This table summarizes the total possible points for each assignment:

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?

Policies and Expectations:

(1)  YOU are responsible for learning the course material and for your progress in the course

      • You are expected to attend class regularly.  An attendance sheet will be passed around at every class session.  Make sure you sign the attendance sheet at each class meeting – this will serve as the official record of attendance, and if your name is not on the sheet, you will not receive credit for attending on that date.

      • You are expected to complete all of the assignments and 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.

(2)  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 an assignment, you will receive a grade of zero.  In some cases, 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.  Points will be deducted from your grade if you simply do not show up for a presentation.

(3)  Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented

      • If you must miss a 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 you, not to your 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.

      • Notified absences (i.e. you notify the instructor before the event) count as one-half absence.  Excused absences (i.e. you bring a note from a doctor or other professional) will not count against you for the first two; after that, each excused absence counts as one-half absence.

      • You are responsible for all material presented in the class, 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) or documentation for any missed class.  It is risky to simply tell the instructor and expect him to remember.

(4)  Appropriate accommodations will be made to accomodate medical problems or diagnosed disabilities.  If you require special arrangements, have Dr. Richard Houston at the Reily Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor.

(5)  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, lectures, and films, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.

      • You must demonstrate appropriate respect 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.

      • 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.

      • Please make sure that all pagers, cell phones, etc. are turned off during class time.  If your phone or pager repeatedly interrupts class, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
• During quizzes and other closed-book in-class work, leave your phones and pagers at home.  If your phone or pager interrupts the class during a quiz or closed-book assignment, you will be asked to turn in your quiz or assignment immediately.  If your phone is visible during a quiz or closed-book assignment (e.g. it is sitting on your desk), you will be asked to turn in your quiz or assignment immediately.

      • If you are asked to leave the classroom for disruptive or disrespectful behavior, you cannot make up any work you miss as a result.

(6)  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.

      • Click here if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism.  The DSU Library's "Plagiarism Prevention: A Guide for Students" is also a good resource.  If it is still unclear, see the instructor.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES.  If at some point in the semester you are suspected of committing plagiarism, pleas of “I didn’t know what plagiarism was” will not be accepted.

      • The sanctions for plagiarism are outlined on the web page linked above.  Make sure you are aware of these BEFORE you submit any work in this class.

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