Instructor: Dr. Alan Barton
Office: 201A Kethley Hall
Telephone: 846-4097
E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu

Office Hours: The professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

    Mon., Wed., and Fri., 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

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

Course Text: Henslin, James M. 2004. Essentials of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach. 5th Edition. New York: Allyn Bacon/Longman.

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

Books are available at the University Bookstore. Students should purchase the text and reader, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course readings.

This course introduces college students to topics that sociologists study, results of sociological research, and the logic of sociological inquiry.  The course covers the general rubrics of social structure, social action, and social change, presenting theories that sociologists use to understand these dimensions of social life, and empirical research upon which these understandings are based.  Course material is presented in the class meetings, and in assigned readings from the course textbook and reader.

The course meets three times per week.  Mondays and Wednesdays consist of lecture and discussion on a weekly topic, drawing upon material presented in the course text.  Please read the assigned chapters before the meeting for which the chapter is assigned, and come to lectures prepared to discuss the material in the text.  Fridays are dedicated to discussions of readings from the course reader. Again, please read the assigned readings before the session, and come to class prepared to discuss them.

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

Click on hyperlink for study questions:

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Check this web site periodically for information on the course, changes on the syllabus, weekly study questions, and other information pertaining to the course.

Assignments and Grading:

All students must complete all of the following assignments:

(1) Reading, attendance and participation (15 points)

(2) Discussion Sections (20 points)

(3) Quizzes (20 points)

(4) Writing Assignments (20 points)

• Four in-class or take-home writing assignments will be assigned during the semester (5 points each).
• Students should complete each assignment and submit it at the specified time.
• Students should prepare papers using standard college prose, and should check for spelling and grammar errors prior to submitting the paper.
• For out-of-class assignments, the papers should be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced.
• For out-of-class assignments, students are expected to do their own work – see the policy on plagiarism and cheating; this policy will be enforced with no exceptions.
• Click here for tips on writing papers for this course.
• Click here for the writing assignments.

(5) Final Exam (20 points)

• Each student must take the final exam.
• The exam includes short-answer and essay questions.
• The exam tests the student’s ability to absorb and synthesize course material presented in the readings and lectures.
• The final is comprehensive.
• Click here for tips on taking essay tests.
• Click here for potential essay questions on the final exam.

(6) Discretionary (5 points)

• The instructor will evaluate each student’s performance based on factors such as the motivation, interest, and improvement the student demonstrates
• Click here for tips on developing good study habits.

There are a total of 100 points available for the semester.  Students that accumulate 90 or more points will get an “A,” students with 80 to 89 points will get a “B,” 70 to 79 points will get a “C,” 60 to 69 points will get a “D,” and less than 60 points will get an “F.”  Note that you start with zero and earn points; you do not start with 100 and lose points.

Students that comply with all course requirements and submit all of the assignments satisfactorily and on time can expect a “C” in this course.  To receive a higher grade, students must go beyond the minimum requirements, demonstrating a superior grasp of course material and an ability to apply the material in productive ways, an interest in the course material and in learning, and an achievement-based orientation.

Note that you simply cannot pass this class unless you attend the lectures and discussions regularly, as a substantial portion of your grade depends on attendance and active participation in class activities.

Additional Course Policies:

(1)  Students are responsible for learning the course material and for their progress in the course

• Students are expected to attend class regularly and complete all of the assignments.
• Students are expected to know all material presented during class sessions, whether the student attended the class or not.  Students that miss a class session should check with another student to see what they 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 a student misses class or an assignment for anything other than documented illness or emergency, he/she is making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class.  For this reason, no work can be made up unless the reason for the absence or missed assignment is documented.
• Assignments are due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted without a valid, written excuse from a doctor or previous arrangement with the instructor.
• Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others.
• If a student must miss class or an assignment for something other than illness or an emergency, the student should make arrangements with the instructor BEFORE the missed class or assignment; any arrangements after the event will require documentation with no exceptions.
• Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with medical problems or diagnosed disabilities.  Have Dr. Richard Houston at the Reily Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor to make arrangements.

(3)  Class discussion is an important element in this course

• The purpose of the discussion is to provide students with an opportunity to practice thinking skills in a safe environment.
• In discussions, students are encouraged to explore ideas presented in the readings and lectures, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.
• Students must demonstrate appropriate respect the opinions and ideas of other students.  Students that repeatedly show disrespect for other students will be asked to leave the classroom.
• Class discussions are NOT a time for students to chat with each other 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.  Students that repeatedly talk out of turn will be asked to leave the classroom.
• It is acceptable (and encouraged) to disagree with the perspectives of other students, but students 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.  Students whose phones or pagers repeatedly interrupt class will be asked to leave the classroom.
• Students asked to leave the classroom for disruptive or disrespectful behavior cannot make up any work they miss as a result.

(4)  Students are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook

• Students are expected to do their own work in this course.  Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.
• Click here if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism.  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.  Make sure you are aware of these BEFORE you submit any work in this class.

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