Course Syllabus

Link to Course Outline

General Course Information:

Facilitator(s): 

E-mail Address:

Technical Support: 877-362-2662 or onlinesupport@macomb.edu

First Day of Class:

Course Description:

An introductory study of the basic concepts, theoretical approaches, and methods of sociology. Topics typically include the analysis and explanation of social structure, group dynamics, socialization and the self, social stratification, culture and diversity, social change, and global dynamics. Course objectives include the ability to apply sociological ideas to everyday life. 

This is a four (4) credit course. You will be required to complete this course online using the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Each week you will be required to complete assigned readings from the textbook and actively participate in Discussion Forums. There will also be three short essay assignments, two exams, and an extra credit opportunity for participating in a Service Learning.

If you are new to Canvas, please go to the home page and review the Student Introduction to Canvas tutorial before opening Week One Module.

CANVAS Support is available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday.

Special hours such as Holiday and Semester Breaks will be posted on the Home Page. You can reach the Canvas staff by phone at 877-362-2662 or by email onlinesupport@macomb.edu

Any computer and/or internet issues can be addressed through Technical Support. All requests will be responded to within 24 hours.

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!

Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-11-5

You have several options to obtain this book:

• View online (Links to an external site.)
• Download a PDF (Links to an external site.)
• Order a print copy (Links to an external site.)
• Download on iBooks (Links to an external site.)
• The Macomb Bookstores have some print copies.

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand and apply the sociological imagination to a variety of contemporary social phenomena.
• Understand the historical development of Sociology as a separate discipline.
• Distinguish between the use of various research methods.
• Identify, compare and apply the primary sociological perspectives.
• Explain and apply key sociological concepts.
• Describe and explain the basic dimensions of social inequality and social change in historical and contemporary society.
• Assess what social forces and organizational structures are most prominent in shaping, guiding and influencing individual and group behavior in contemporary society.

Course Content:

• The Sociological Imagination
• The Historical Development of Sociology
• Major Sociological Perspectives
• Studying the Social World: an introduction to Research Methods
• Society and Culture
• Socialization
• Interaction, Groups and Organizations
• Deviance and Social Control
• Stratification: Class, Race, Ethnicity, Age, Sex and Gender 
• Social Institutions: Family, Education, Religion, Medicine, Economy/Work, Politics, Science and Technology
• Social Dynamics: Population, Urbanization, Environment and Globalization
• Social Change

Important Notes

• All first week assignments need to be completed and submitted by the due date to avoid possibly being dropped from the class.
• Attendance: Your online attendance and active participation is critical to the successful completion of this eight (8) week course. It is strongly recommended that you log onto this course a minimum of4-6 times per week in order to keep up with the readings, writing assignments, online resources, and Discussion Forum posts. Time management is an acquired skill. I strongly encourage you to record ALL of the weekly activities in your own personal calendar. In addition, you should download the weekly PowerPoint slides, as well as copy/paste and save your weekly posts in a Word Document. Weekly activities and their due dates are listed on the MODULE page and within each assignment. You can also view the weekly activities and the due dates by clicking on CALENDAR.
• Academic Honesty: The nature of higher education requires that you adhere to accepted standards of academic conduct. Violations of academic integrity/honesty will be addressed based on the provisions in the Macomb’s Student Handbook of Rights and Responsibilities www.macomb.edu/resources/.../Student-Rights-Responsibilities.pdf including but not limited to Article VII: Integrity of Academic Work.
• All students are expected to access and understand these provisions. The violations of academic integrity listed and defined include cheating and plagiarism. Examples of both include, but are not limited to the following: Having any other person complete any portion of your assignments or exams Using or copying any other work formerly submitted by another student and/or individual Using information from any published document or online source without appropriate citations Having any other person log onto your course and participate in any of the Discussion Forums
• Students who violate the codes for academic honesty will receive a failing grade on the assignment or exam in question. Students will also be reported to the academic dean for further disciplinary action.
• Confidentiality and Proprietary Information: Due to the nature of an online course, you are expected to utilize your best judgment when discussing personal and/or private matters in the Discussion Forums. Please remember that every word spoken is in writing and discretion of another individual’s reputation or credibility should be a priority. Please respect the privacy of your colleagues. Confidentiality of another person’s academic information and/or personal matters should be upheld at all times.
• ADA Students with documentation of any health and/or academic challenges and may need accommodations, you are encouraged to contact the Learning Resource Center prior to the start of this course. Accommodations will be made once you have provided the Instructor with the necessary documentation.
• FERPA In a accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we restrict internal access to student information to persons with legitimate need-to-know. We do not release private student information to any third party without prior written consent of the student.

• Any student needing accommodations should inform the instructor. Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the office of Academic Advising.
• Duration Successful completion of this eight (8) week course requires organization and time management skills. Chapter reviews, reading assignments, exams, writing assignments, and scheduled Discussion Forums will be made available in weekly Modules throughout the eight week course. Again, it is strongly recommended that you log onto this course a minimum of 4-6 times per week in order to keep up with the assigned course work. Successful completion of the course work may take up to 12 hours per week.

  To succeed in this online course, please schedule your time accordingly throughout each week. Grading Policies & Scale Point values, grades, comments for each Discussion Forum and Writing Assignments, both Exams, and course evaluations will be completed at the end of each week. Your final grade will be based on the total points earned at the end of the semester.

  GRADES All student grades are accessible via CANVAS gradebook. I will be available to review your grades or progress at any time during the semester. Please be advised of the college’s last day to officially drop a class for the semester. If you do not drop the course by the college’s official deadline date, I have the right to submit your final grade based on your completion of any Writing Assignments, Exams, and Discussion Forum participation.

  Grade	Score
  A	94-100%
  A-	90-93%
  B+	87-89%
  B	84-86%
  B-	80-83%
  C+	77-79%
  C	74-76%
  C-	70-73%
  D+	67-69%
  D	64-66%
  D-	60-63%
  E	0-59%

  To check your grade

  1. Log into your SOCY 1010 online course

  2. Click on GRADES

  Assignments/Points Breakdown Weekly Modules containing course assignments will be available at 12:00 a.m. every Saturday and will close on the following Sunday at the end of each instructional week. Again, you should download the weekly PowerPoint slides, as well as copy/paste and save your weekly posts in a Word Document. Weekly activities and their due dates are located in the MODULE and within each assignment. You can also view the weekly activities and the due dates by clicking on CALENDAR.

  Here is a brief overview of the Module assignments, which are described in detail below. You will be required to actively participate in a Discussion Forum each week. This includes an Initial Post and two responses to any one of your colleagues’ posts. Weekly Quizzes are meant to assist you with the key concepts for each chapter. The questions on each quiz are used for the Mid-Term and Final Exams. There will be a timed Mid-Term Exam scheduled during Week Four and a timed Final Exam during Week Eight. Lastly, there will be Extra Credit available during the semester.

  Discussion Forums Active learning begins with your engagement and participation in a weekly Discussion Forum. There are Seven (7) individual DF’s and One (1) Group DF, worth Ten Points each, or 80 points total. You can access the weekly DF’s by clicking on the Week One Discussion Forum. At the start of each week, I will post a series of questions in the DF that will require you to productively and positively apply your knowledge of the assigned chapter reading, the PowerPoint slides, and personal experience. During Week Eight, you will be assigned to watch and discuss one of a list of selected films with a small group of your colleagues. Thought provoking discussions, rich details, and specific examples used in your Initial Posts and both of your Responses to your colleagues’ posts increase your chances are of receiving full participation-10 total points-credit.

  Once you have completed the assigned reading, go to the Discussion Forum and type your Initial Post response to the questions no later than Wednesday (11:55 p.m.). You will have until the end of the week Saturday (11:55 p.m.) to productively and positively respond to TWO of your colleagues’ posts. There are three (3) total required/graded posts. It is imperative that you respect the ideas and beliefs of your colleagues, so keep in mind the Netiquette guidelines. Although my participation in the Discussion Forums will be limited, I will closely monitor ALL post and responses.

  Again, it is strongly recommended that you set a timer or mark your calendar for each week’s DF Initial Posts (each Wednesday) and 2 Responses (each Saturday). The DF’s close at the noted times above. The weekly Modules open on Monday and close on Sunday. You cannot go back to submit a post if you forgot to do so during the week. THERE IS A 3 POINT DEDUCTION FOR EVERY INITIAL RESPONSE THAT IS NOT POSTED ON TIME.

  Your initial post response should be 175+ words and both of the responses should be 65+ words each. Remember, it is not the quantity so much as the QUALITY of your posts that matter most. Please use appropriate terminology and vocabulary throughout your response, while bolding the numbers only (please) for each question that is stated in the Discussion Forum questions.

  The following rubric will be used to grade your initial post, two responses, and your writing and knowledge skills.

  Criterion	Outstanding	Proficient	More Effort Needed
  Initial Post	Substantive course content and personal experiences clearly interwoven. On time. 3 points	Limited course content and/or personal experiences. Not clearly interwoven. On time. 1-2 points	Course content and/or personal experiences not included.  Not on time. 0 points
  Replies	Demonstrate thoughtful analysis of 2 posts.  Used strategies to promote deeper dialogue with others.  6 points	Demonstrate thoughtful analysis of 2 posts. Did not employ strategies to promote deeper dialogue with others. 1-5 points	Only one or no attempt to interact and/or enrich the discussion.    0 points
  Writing	No writing errors.  1 points	Several writing errors.  0 points	Difficult to understand.  0 points

  Essay Assignments In order to understand the dynamics of social science research, you will have the opportunity to explore society from a sociologist perspective. Each essay assignment is unique and will involve a variety of hands on learning and social engagement. During this semester you will be completing several essay assignments worth 15 points each. Instructions for each essay, the due date, and the rubric used for grading will be located in the weekly Module or in Assignments. Each essay will be a minimum of One Full page (max of 2 pages) each, typed in a Word Document, 12 font size, double spaced, name ONLY in right hand upper corner. You will have until the end of the instructional week to complete and submit your typed assignment. You are required to demonstrate your ability to incorporate a variety of sociological concepts, thoughts, and ideas.

  If you are a Mac user, you MUST CONVERT YOUR ESSAY into a WORD document before submission. Please contact the Angel staff if you need assistance with any conversion or submission of essay assignments.

  Exams There will be two Multiple Choice/True/False exams during the course semester. The Mid-Term exam is scheduled during the Fourth week and the Final Exam is scheduled during the Eighth week of class. Each exam is comprised of 40-50 multiple choice questions. The Mid-Term exam will cover Chapters 1-5; the Final Exam will cover Chapters 6-10. Exams can be accessed in the Module or in Quizzes. Once you click on the exam, you will have exactly 2 hours to complete approximately 50 questions. Questions will be shown one at a time. If you do not complete the exam within the noted time frame, your exam will close and you will receive 0 points. Be prepared with your textbook, PowerPoint slides and/or notes and time yourself accordingly. Exam scores can be accessed within one day following the completion of the exam.

  There will be no early access to the exams and there are NO EXCEPTIONS for scheduling another exam date. Unless there is in-patient hospital documentation for yourself or a death, please do not inquire about making up an exam. You are expected to take each exam on your own and without assistance from anyone.

  Course Evaluations During weeks Four and Eight, you will be able to evaluate this course by completing a brief Mid-Course and Final Course Evaluation, (10 points total). Course Evaluations will be located in the weekly Module or in Assignments. In order for me to properly assess your active learning and success in this course, it is important for you to provide constructive feedback on each component of the SOCY 1010 online course. Please be candid in your responses as to what you’ve enjoyed participating in, what you would like to see altered, and what recommendations you would like to contribute to this course. The Course Evaluations are anonymous so you can feel free to be honest.

  Activity	Points	Percent Of Total
  Participation/Contribution
  Getting Acquainted Video	5
  7 Discussion Forums (10 pts. each)	70
  1 Group Discussion (10 points)	10
  Subtotal	85	27%
  Assignments
  3 Essay Assignments (15 pts. each) 3 Song Reaction Papers (5 pts) Website/Podcast Paper	60 15 10
  Material Culture - Extra Credit	(10)
  Racism-Extra Credit	(15)
  Subtotal	85	27%
  Evaluations (Mid and Final Course)	22
  5 Chapter Quizzes	35
  Exams: Mid-Term	40
  Final	50
  Subtotal	147	46%
  TOTALS	317	100%

  Guidelines for a Successful Online Learning Experience

  Successful online learning requires your commitment, time, and active participation. You will be expected to complete the reading and essay assignments, contribute to discussion forums in a productive and respectful manner, and perform satisfactorily on the exams. A rich and rewarding learning experience occurs when everyone is engaged and actively contributes to each other’s learning.  Please contact the Canvas team for ALL technical inquiries and/or challenges throughout the semester.  I cannot assist with the technology questions, only the course content.  The Canvas team is very friendly and helpful seven days a week and it is YOUR responsibility to follow through immediately if experiencing any technology difficulties.

  Student Resources On the Student Resources Canvas page, you can access Macomb’s Student Resources, technology resources, software accessibility statements, and other college resources and information.

  Student Assistance and Special Services Students who require assistance to succeed in college due to a physical disability, learning disability, or language barrier should contact the Office of Special Services (586) 445-7420. This should be done within the first two weeks of class. Additional information is available at Special Services.

  Food for Thought Student Food Pantry If you need help putting food on the table, please visit Macomb’s Food for Thought Student Food Pantry (My Macomb login required). The Food Pantry is available to currently registered students. South Campus K-251 • sasouth@macomb.edu • 586.445.7446 Center Campus P-127 • sacenter@macomb.edu • 586.286.2090

  Student Options for Success The SOS program connects Macomb’s students with a variety of community and public benefit organizations that can you help with living expenses while you pursue your education. Contact the SOS office at 586.447.8609 or SOS@macomb.edu for information about the program and how you may qualify. Please visit the SOS Program website.

  Institutional Policies Macomb Community College students must adhere to the policies described on the Policies on Rights and Responsibilities website and the Macomb Student Code of Conduct.

  Title IX Like all faculty and staff at Macomb Community College, I am required to share any information that you disclose to me in class discussion, papers, journals, meetings or otherwise about your experiences of abuse, sexual assault or sexual harassment to our Title IX coordinator. If you share information with me about a recent sexual assault, the police will be notified. If you would like to discuss these issues in a confidential setting, please consider reaching out to Turning Point at 586-463-6990 or the Turning Point website. For more information, please visit the Macomb Title IX website.

  Confidentiality and Proprietary Information To ensure free and open discussion we ask you to respect the confidentiality of the information that is shared, while exercising good judgment in what you choose to share, avoiding non-public or sensitive information. Please refrain from sharing any proprietary, confidential, organizationally-sensitive, or protected trade secrets information. The safest way to share your experiences is to ensure the organizations and/or individuals are not identified.

  Successful Learner Interaction

  1.Successful learners in a college course are active and contribute. This means attending regularly, and completing your assignments in a timely manner. The greatest learning emerges when you are actively engaged with others in the learning process.

  2.Model the behavior you’d like others to emulate; be an active, engaged learner who completes assignments on-time, asks for help when needed and treats everyone with respect. We are all teachers and learners who have much to learn from one another. There are no “experts.” We are working together and learning from one another.

  3.An important foundation for building solid learning communities is to get to know your peers. Each person has unique perspectives and experiences that can expand our thinking. Take time to respond to different peers rather than limit yourself to those you know. This will enhance your learning and network of peers well beyond this course.

  4.To succeed, be sure to block enough time to complete each week’s assignments. It is difficult to “catch up” once you have fallen behind schedule and I certainly don’t want you to subject yourself to any unnecessary stress.

  5.Since learning takes place in real-life, like you, I face many everyday life challenges. Given the interdependence of learning in a college course, you are required to submit assignments when they are due. Handing in assignments after a topic has been covered hinders the class and impacts everyone’s learning. Please contact me to discuss your situation any time you feel you might be falling behind in the course. I am a professional, considerate person vested in your success.

  What You Can Expect of Me

  I am committed to your academic success. Although I will limit my engagement in the Discussion Forums to allow you and your colleagues to discuss important topics, I will monitor your participation in the forum throughout the course semester.  Each week, there is a page that introduces the activities for that week. Be sure to go to MODULES so you can see everything laid out from week to week. If you need further assistance or have any inquiries, please let me know via Course Mail  I will respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.