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Fall, 2008
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SOC 268   Bulletin Board
    Final Text Reading Assignment & Extra Credit:

    Chp.  17 -- Social Change:  Development & Global Inequality
    Chp.  18 -- Population Changes

    You have the option to take a Test on these two chapters at the end
     of class during our last class meeting on April 29.  If you score 70%
     of the questions correct, I'll increase your Classwork Average by
     5% or half a letter grade.


                     
     Publisher's Study Guide for Text:   Click Here

  

 Spring, 2008 Class Pictures:


 

Course of Study:

SOC  268        8:00-9:15   TT,  Room 649 & Elluminate

                                                                                                           John Barnes
                                                                                                           Office:   654
                                                                                                            Phone:   863-2886         
                                                                                                           Home Phone:  862-1271
                                                                                                           Cell Phone:  540-691-7763

Web-enhanced lecture courses use the world wide web,  Blackboard course management system, and Elluminate web conferencing software to provide interactive links, email communication, testing, homework assignments, study sessions, virtual office hours and discussion board as well as assignments and other course information.  Class attendance is required because much of the course content is still provided in classroom activities and some of the Bb and computer activities occur in a monitored classroom setting.

To take this class you will need:
      1.)  a college email address to receive course communications and access Bb (This detail will be taken care of the first day of class if you don't already have one.); 
          2.)  access to the internet (Not necessarily from your personal home computer--you may use computers available at the college);
          3.)  the textbook.  

Course Description:

SOC  268--Social Problems (3cr)  Applies sociological concepts and methods to analysis of current social problems.  Includes delinquency and crime, mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual behavior, population crisis, reace relations, family and community disorganization, poverty, automation, wars and disarmament.

Developmental Prerequisites: ENG 01 & 04 Developmental Corequisites: ENG 03 &05

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:
This course is designed to introduce you to the general principles of sociology.  The viewpoint of the sociologist is perhaps the most useful single thing you can hope to gain from contact with a survey of the discipline.

The course will communicate something of the sociologist’s intellectual orientation toward behavior and defining the subject matter of sociology.  It will attempt to develop the basic tools of sociological research and analysis.  Most students take this course as part of a sequence with SOC 200--Principles of Sociology;  although the courses are designed so they stand alone also. Some major social institutions will be analyzed systematically applying the tools of sociological research. Finally, a systematic study of social change, social control, and social problems with be undertaken.

Ideally, you will be motivated to develop a framework of thought whereby you can more effectively and critically judge contemporary social issues. You are also expected to increase you ability for critical evaluation and effective 
communication.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGIES:

The course instructional procedures include reading, writing, discussion, lecture, audio-visual presentations, research, testing, homework, group projects and individual conferences with me. To a great extent, classroom activities will be independent of the text and other readings. I will not attempt to "cover" or duplicate reading assignments in class. You are expected to complete all reading and related homework assignments before we cover a topic in class so you can better understand classroom activities and participate meaningfully in them. It is important that you take good notes of classroom activities to use as you prepare for quizzes and exams. You should make arrangements for someone to tape class and/or provide you a copy of their notes for any classes you must miss since you will be responsible for all material covered.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

EXAMINATIONS--There will be two examinations, a mid-term and a final exam.  The mid-term will cover material for the first half of the term and the final will cover material for the second half of the term.  Each of these exams will count for twenty percent (20%) of your course grade.  The exams will consist of questions taken from the tests for each half of the course plus essay questions which will be provided in advance on a study sheet, which will contain all the possible essay questions.  The short answer portion of the exam will count for one-third and the essay portion for two-thirds of the exam grade.  The exams and tests will be taken in a proctored environment.

TESTS-- The remaining sixty percent (60%) of your course grade will be the average of your test scores.  There will be about six tests during the term.  Each test will consist of multiple choice, true-false, and short answer questions.  They will be based on the reading assignments plus notes from classroom material.  After the tests are graded, a score for the test will be entered in the Bb grade book.  We will go over each test in class and it is important that you take good notes on this review because some of the test questions will also be on the exams.

No make-up tests are permitted.  If you have a compelling reason for missing a test, you must communicate it to me before the test is scheduled, unless that is manifestly impossible to do.  If  I agree to excuse the test, you will take a special mid-term or final exam that will count as both an exam grade and for the missed test, or some other assignment that I determine will substitute.

Two Test Grades will be entered for class participation (therefore, you will have approximately eight test grades).  Class participation includes attendance (must attend whole session), and all other assignments and projects.  I assume you registered for this course intending to master the content and earn credit for the class. To accomplish this will require a significant investment of time and effort on your part. If your personal circumstances won’t allow this level of effort, perhaps you should reconsider your decision to enroll at this time.

The key to success is to attend every class session (much of the information you will need for quizzes, homework and examinations will come only from classroom activities), take good notes, study all assigned readings, thoroughly prepare for each test and examination, and successfully complete all writing assignments, projects, and homework on time. Take advantage of my office hours and study sessions, as well as the services of the Achievement Center, to get all the individual help you need.

Classroom Conduct--Students must assume a great deal of the responsibility for maintaining a good teaching/learning environment in the classroom. Your contribution needs to include:

1. Arrive on time and don’t leave until class ends;

2. Remain awake, alert, participate, and arrive prepared;

3. Don’t carry on side conversations, pass notes,  or induce other distractions including beepers, cell phones, irrelevant computer activities, and text messaging;

4. Don’t bring children to class.

The grading scale is: Below 60%=F; 60-69%=D; 70-79%=C; 80-89%=B; 90%+=A.

OFFICE HOURS:

My office is located in Room 654, ACC. A copy of my class schedule with office hours marked is posted there and one my Social Sciences Home Page.   Please feel free to call or email me if that’s more convenient.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

Withdrawal from the class with no penalty may be made up to the end of the eighth week of regular class. You will be allowed to withdraw from the course with a grade of W after this date only if you have a documented mitigating circumstance. Initiating a withdrawal is your responsibility. I will not initiate the Administrative Withdrawal procedure.

 

Course Content:
 

SOC 268 -- COURSE SEQUENCE -- SPRING, 2008

Following is a topical list of the topics we plan to discuss this semester in their approximate sequence. You are responsible for the reading assignments for each topic before we cover it in class. Regular quizzes, homework assignments, and study sheets are planned for this class and these will provide you with more specific objective to help you study for the examinations. The reading assignments are in the required textbook for the course, Sociology by Rodney Stark, 10th edition and in handouts which will be provided in class or on-line.

Preface & Introduction:   The Sociological Perspective on Sex Role Socialization 

A.    Chapter Seven: Crime and Deviance:
            Chapter Eight: Social Control
                An examination of various theories of the causes  and cures of deviance

B.    Chapter Nine: Concepts and Theories of Stratification
            Chapter Ten: Comparing Systems of Stratification
            Karl Marx’s Scientific Socialism   
            C.  Wright Mills’ Power Elite
            Comparing the Conflict and Functionalist views of stratification; the politics of poverty

C.        Chapter Eleven:   Racial and Ethnic Equality and Conflict
            Chapter Twenty-one: Social Change and Social Movements
            Case Study of Japanese-American Relocation
            Causes, consequences, and cures of prejudice and dysfunctional discrimination

D.    Chapter Thirteen: The Family
            Sociology of the Family; Contemporary American Family Patterns
            Dealing with conflict within the family

E.    Chapter Eighteen: Population Changes
            Demography and the study of family planning and population control

F.    Chapter Fourteen: Religion
            Comparative Religion; elements of religion

G.    Chapter Seventeen: Social Change:  Development and Global Inequality
            The Rise of the West; Technological Determinism;  The Arms Race

H.    Chapter Fifteen: Politics and the State
            Chapter Sixteen: The Interplay Between Education and Occupation