INSTRUCTOR:  Suzanne Reilly, http://virtual.parkland.edu/sreilly

OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS:  D-169/ 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Tuesdays in Angel

CONTACT INFORMATION:  (217) 353-2047; sreilly@parkland.edu

REQUIRED READINGS:  Kendall, Diana.  Sociology In Our Times, 6^th edition.  United States.  Thomson Wadsworth Publishers, 2007; Assigned readings.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  The principles and concepts of general sociology.  A general education course for the prospective sociology major.  Application of scientific methods in the study of social phenomena.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interaction.  This course will introduce you to the basic concepts used by sociologists to explain the social world and social interaction and provide you with the skills to understand the social world in order to understand and change it in ways you find appropriate.

GOALS:  Through sociology, we can increase our awareness and understanding of social life and ultimately increase our power to make a difference in the world by seeing what choices are available to us as members of society.  As with all things in life, you will grow from this class to the degree that you participate, so I encourage you to engage yourself fully.  By the end of the semester my specific learning goals for you as the student are to be able to:

• analyze social structures and to understand relationships between macro-level and micro-level structures
• use sociological theories to analyze social problems and aspects of human social behavior
• integrate sociological knowledge in order to gain a better understanding of global issues - social, political, economic, health issues
• integrate new (and old)  ideas, critically evaluate them and recognize their value/impact - both personally and on society
• decide to become more open minded to new ideas and new ways of thinking
• use learned skills to communicate with others in respectable and constructive ways

POLICIES:  The due dates for all assignments are clearly marked on the syllabus.  You need to abide by all due dates as late work will generally not be accepted.

Students must keep copies of all work done for this class.  I will not accept late work because a student claims s/he e-mailed me a document by a due date but I have no record of receiving it.  I suggest that you keep a folder in your e-mail system specifically for this course and move all messages that you have sent to me in it.  Also, never delete work that you have done for a course until you are sure that the instructor has received the work and has given you credit for it.

Before you begin an Internet class, make sure that you have good, reliable access to the Internet.

Technology sometimes fails but as a student you need to responsible if and when this occurs.  If you have trouble accessing the Internet and a due date for an assignment is approaching you should do everything that you can to get access to the Internet.  You could go to a local library or to Parkland, if you are nearby, to either e-mail me about the problem or finish and submit the assignment.

If you have trouble accessing the Internet and you cannot find an alternative way to get access, you can call me at my office number and leave a message on my voice mail or call the department office (351-2229) and leave a message for me there.  If you cannot find access to the Internet and a due date is approaching you must call me RIGHT AWAY.  If I get a frantic message from a student before a due date has passed that her computer has crashed, I will probably grant that student an extension.  If I get a message two days after the deadline, I probably would not grant the student an extension.

Finally, I check my e-mail account daily during the week.  If you e-mail me and don't hear from me within two days, you might want to e-mail me again or call me at my office.  Although I do check e-mail occasionally on the weekends, sometimes, if I am out of town, I am not at my computer on the weekends.  So, if you e-mail me late on a Friday afternoon, I may not be able to get back with you until Monday morning.  Be aware of this, in case you need to contact me.

Withdrawals
On the ten day roster, I am required to assess your attendance. If you have not attended regularly to that point, you will be withdrawn. After the ten day roster, you should not plan on an instructor withdrawal if you want to drop the course. You are ultimately responsible for your own withdrawal by the withdrawal date. Nonattendance after the ten-day roster will result in an F if you don't withdraw yourself. 

Withdrawals for online students
If you complete the first week's assignments, I consider that you have attended the course. If, subsequently, you make no further postings, do no other assignments, and do not contact me about your absence, I will be forced to withdraw you for nonattendance. Such a withdrawal does not entitle you to a refund!

Academic Policies
Anyone found to be cheating may be removed from the class and receive a failing grade. The complete policy may be found in the Student Policy and Procedures Manual. An atmosphere of mutual respect between and among teachers and students is expected. Finally, late work or make-ups will not be accepted unless the student can demonstrate they had no other alternative and the student informs the instructor in advance (excepting emergencies).

 

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS:  The Center for Academic Success provides a wide range of academic support services to enable you to learn well, grow as a student, succeed in your classes, and excel at what you do.  These services include the following:

• Tutoring and Learning Assistance:  Make use of walk-in tutoring services provided by faculty, staff and trained peer tutors on a daily basis.  Many students come to get help in reading, writing, math (all levels), and study skills. 
• For-credit Instructional Modules and Supplemental Tutorials:  Enroll in one-credit hour Tutorials to supplement classroom instruction in reading, writing, and math.  Instructional Modules are also available to eligible students to complete certain coursework requirements.
• Advising and Advocacy:  Work with our team of advocates and academic advisor to plan a semester schedule, understand transfer requirements, or manage issues that stand in the way of school.  For more information, please contact:

    Anita Taylor    Room D120    403 - 4580

    Gail Hoke        Room D120        351-2441     or  send e-mail to CenterForAcademicSuccess@parkland.edu

If you believe you have a disability for which you may need an academic accommodation (e.g. an alternate testing environment, use of assistive technology or other classroom assistance) please contact:

    Becky Osborne, Coordinator, Office of Disability Services    Room X148        353-2082

    or send e-mail to bosborne@parkland.edu

GRADING:  In order to assure fairness and improve accuracy, grades are determined by the combination of different assessment techniques.  Your performance on these assessments earns you a particular grade.  You control the grade you earn; you are responsible for the grade you earn.  If you do not understand how you have earned a particular grade – see me.

Exams:  There will be three multiple-choice and short essay exams which will cover major sections in the course.  There will also be a partially cumulative final exam at the end of the semester.  Each exam is worth 100 points. 

Activities:  Throughout the semester, you will participate in group activities that are designed for you to explore sociological concepts introduced in class.  Each group exercise is worth 10 points.

Short Writing Assignments:  Throughout the semester, you will write two short papers usually on concepts and issues explored in group activities.  Each writing assignment is worth 50 points.

Instructor Points:  At various times in the semester, I will assign homework for you to improve your comprehension of the material as well as ask you to react to articles, and web sites on topics within the discipline.

Discussions:  Eight times this semester, you will have a discussion board to which you must post twice.  You must post a reply to my initial posting and you must also reply to a fellow student within a specific time frame.

To summarize the grading system:

730 – 657 = A             656 – 584 = B             583 - 511 = C             510 – 438 = D

~   COURSE SCHEDULE  ~

The last day to withdraw from courses with a “W” is May 2.